Western Beef

Remember Western Beef? It was huge! It had that giant freezer section where you'd practically catch pneumonia every time you walked through, and big burly butchers wearing their disgusting bloodstained aprons, and all types of unusual and fascinating packaged foods. When I lived in Queens, my family would shop there, when we didn't go to the huge Pathmark to spend some time in No-Frills Land. I loved No-Frills Land! (All that solemn black and white packaging.) I really miss Western Beef and Pathmark. But I guess there's no room for them in Massachusetts.

Nope, I have no idea why I thought of all this, I just felt the need to share.

Not bored games

I played some really fun games last night at Myriad: Apples to Apples (which I absolutely loved); a game like Apples to Apples using beautiful, thoughtful, arty pictures instead of words, named Dixit (it was really nice, but not as goofy -- and I usually prefer goofiness); a cooperative game where we were supposed to get off some island together (it was okay, but I forgot its name); and Fluxx, Martian version (cute, but so many changes. Heh.)

In a twisty way, Apples to Apples reminded me of Balderdash, which I haven't played in like, 25 years. There are so many fun games out there! And I want to try them all... or at least a lot more...

Stupid Market Basket. Stupid teeth!

Sometimes, shopping at Market Basket is so annoying. How obnoxious of them to put the canned fruit directly next to the candy! I wonder what their rationale is. And more annoying, they place step stools in front of the store brand cans! I can only assume that they do that out of the desire for more profit. (I just pushed the step stool in front of the candy instead. Ha!)

I was in the aisle trying to find some canned fruit so I could eat some healthy fruit but not have to chomp into a hard peach or pear. Not only is is down to 46 degrees again here in Massachusetts, but I broke another tooth! I hate my teeth. A very good friend is now calling me "Teeth of Sand." Sigh.

It happened yesterday, when I was finally hungry enough to think about eating. I had to stay home on Sunday, away from a lovely day in Maine because I was having tummy troubles. I was afraid to be away from a bathroom for the length of the drive, and then the thought of being that uncomfortable throughout the day at someone else's house was abhorrent to me. I stayed home from work on Monday, and that was a good choice. I even stayed home today, but I felt sooo much better after 10AM. So I guess it was a 48-hour bug.

Anyway, I was finally hungry, so I made scrambled eggs and put them on a soft tortilla. I bit into it, and chewed, and swallowed, and then felt something sharp where nothing sharp should be. And it was my tooth. Damn it! I think this is the tooth that is supposed to have the root canal later this year. I guess that will be pushed up! At least it doesn't hurt.

So I was at the market today before my chiropractor appointment (I am in the maintenance phase now, yay!), trying to find something sweet that would not make my tooth worse. I wanted candy, both out of habit and out of the need for comfort. But I prevailed! I did not buy candy! And I did buy the store brand fruit. Take that, Market Basket!

I could have banged all night

You remember that I have been trying to expand my horizons, right? Of course right. So a week ago I attended a drum circle in Arlington in addition to the Wednesday Myriad meetup. A drum circle! How fun! Drumming has always been something I’ve wanted to do. I was even thinking about taking a class in it!

The group was small – just six people including me and a friend, maybe due to the pouring rain. The leader and a couple who also attended brought about a zillion drums (some small, most large) and percussion instruments. I had no idea that drums are so heavy! Anyway, I banged my little heart out. I also rang numerous bells and shook some nuts. Heh. This was actually an instrument with a lot of huge nuts attached. I forget what it was called, but it was VERY loud. Oh by the way, I’m a natural. I totally laid down some mean rhythms. Not bad for a first-timer! Tee hee.

It was very much more satisfying than GH World Tour or Rock Band, and although I always pictured myself surrounded by a rock-music-style drum set, the djembes and the other type (cylindrical, taller than bongos, I played two at one time) were very cool. There is a meetup this Sunday in Malden for a different type of drum circle led by the woman half of the couple who attended the one in Arlington, but I am not sure if I want to get involved with “sacred spaces” and plus, that one seems to be a lot more heavily attended (eek! lots of people!) I just like the drumming…

CC’s b-day

Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday to me! Happy birthday, Clever Ca-at! Happy birthday to me!

I’m two years old now! I’m two years old now! I’m… ok, you get the picture.

The blog is now two years old. Two weeks ago Butch and Twinkie turned twelve. And Niecey turns seven in five days! Seven! I’m rubbing my eyes and staring forward in astonishment. Blink blink. Whuh happa?

The board meeting

Well, the condo board meeting was... okay... and the emails that have followed are less than okay.

I won't share any information since that would be inappropriate, but as I think about it, I just feel like cheerfully saying to some of the people involved, "Hey, idiots! You're idiots!" Sigh...

10.40% off postage

Today, get 10.40% off everything at Zazzle using the code "TAXDAYZAZZLE." Now is your chance to save some dough! The link to buy Clever Cat postage is right here.

Silver anniversary

What. The. Hell!?

Not quite two years ago I found a long silver hair on the right side of my head while washing my hands in the office bathroom, assisted by the natural light pouring in from that side. Not knowing what to do, I yanked it out and marveled at it. Strong, multi-textured, and glittery, it seemed kind of cool. I put it in my pocket and told Vitamin N, then threw it away when I got home after winding it around my finger several times (yeah, I know, I’m weird).

While primping at home several weeks ago, I saw it had returned – and it was the length of the rest of my hair (medium-length, a little over ten inches from root to end). Hmm. I pulled it out and tossed it, not letting it bother me. Then four days ago I was beautifying my underarms (shaving) when I saw… omigod! a silvery hair on the right side, hiding amongst its darker friends. I tweezed that one, chucked it, and was significantly less charmed than when I saw my it on my head.

As if that wasn’t bad enough, I was grooming my brows last night when I saw a short silver hair at my eyebrow line! Well, not in my eyebrow proper, one of the baby ones under the brow but over the eye. You know what I did with it. Ouchie. But before cursing at it I checked it out, and what ho! I got the follicle. I looked closer, and found that the follicle was dark! And the hair was silver! So what is that all about? I would have thought that a dark follicle would produce a dark hair, but I guess I am wrong. And by the way, why is this all happening on my right side?

One thing is for sure, I am certainly not checking anywhere else…

Postage

Postage, anyone?

Just in case anyone wanted to buy Clever Cat postage, the link is above.

Welcome to the Board

Guess who is now on her condo board? Meow.

A recently appointed board member (and also a good neighbor... and dare I say... friend?) called me up and asked if I wanted to join (there are four board members now when there should be five). What are the commitments? Two years of monthly meetings, numerous emails, and decisionmaking. Sure, why not? So now I am the youngest board member. Good thing I have worked in facilities for the past five years! At least I have taken classes about building recently! Thank goodness I have learned about the life of buildings along the way!

And all this despite the fact that I had told him that I couldn't find my way to the office last time. (It turns out the meeting was being held -- and now I know to ring the bell.)

Meeting tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes.

Honey oranges

Yum! I just had the most delicious Honey orange. If they have them near you, pick one up. It will definitely make you feel good.

Washing your face

… with seltzer water?

Do you think it would remove more facial oils than ordinary water? I wonder if the carbonation would help face gunk pop out more easily. I would imagine so. If the carbonation got under the dirt then it should be easy to clear out pores, magically lifting leftover makeup etc. from your face! I’m gonna try it and report back.

A very small fire

I knew I meant to blog on Sunday night. I wanted to post about the fire! (In case I ever forget, and I apparently almost did.)

It was just a little one. What happened was this. I put as many sliced mandelbrot as would fit on the large sheet pan to complete the toasting step under the broiler. But a few wouldn’t fit. So my mom suggested using the same small disposable aluminum pan we originally baked them in, before we did the slicing. Great idea! The sheet pan toasted for about 4 minutes, and I was in charge of making sure they didn’t burn. They came out looking yummy and smelling almondy and Italian (like biscotti). Everyone loves this smell!

So we put the small pan back in the oven, I set the timer for a minute… and 30 seconds later, I’m not exactly smelling almond perfume. Have I ever mentioned my supersonic nose? The one that can detect cigarette smoke in a closed car next to me? I looked down, and oh, no! Tiny flames are licking each piece. Crap!

“Ok, I turned off the oven. Now what!?” “Close it up! Shouldn’t it burn itself out?” We stared helplessly through the oven window at our handiwork as flames shot from each cookie laying passively on the silvery pan of death. “I’ll open the door. You tell me when.” “Now. Now!” My mom crossed the kitchen in four steps, holding the smoking sweets far in front of her on the way through the door. By the time we made it outside, they were charcoal. I guess we shouldn’t have reused the pan, or maybe we should have covered it with foil first. Poor mandelbrot!