Upsides/Downsides

Having time to work on the list of house projects that I was afraid would never happen, including some that were strictly optional yet potentially fun

Working on half-finished craft projects, like the quilt I'm making out of fabric from when I was a kid and the cross-stitch for my sister I've been working on for over ten years

Not being too tired to cook in the evenings, and cooking more things from scratch

Mid-morning naps

Mid-afternoon naps

Catching up on Dexter, Burn Notice, and Angel

Putting a bunch of stuff on Craigslist sooner rather than later

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Filing for unemployment in one state while residing in another is apparently too complicated to do online

Having to get rid of our unlimited text feature on our cell accounts

Having to get rid of cable TV (but substituting Netflix/Hulu)

Turning down the heat even more to save on the gas bill

Stressing out over our lack of groceries and also lack of grocery money

Potentially going back to retail just to have some income

Anticipating having to pay out the nose for COBRA insurance coverage

Having to borrow money from our parents (at least it would be interest-free.... right, Mom?)

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(At least the cons are all in future tense. We're hoping we won't have to do all of them.)

I spoke to damn soon.

So. Now you know why I named this blog what I did.

Last Friday I wrote a short post about how I'd been busy, but I had big plans for later this year and here's hoping and all that.

I fucking jinxed it, ya'll.

I am totally jobless.

My ass got laid off.

I'm not sure how many other people were in the same boat as me today (at least 6 that I'm sure about). The exec's that I wound up speaking to all reassured me that this was totally temporary. Whether we all define temporary the same, well, I guess that remains to be seen.

In the meantime, I'll be filing for my slice of the gov'mint cheese, and working on some projects around the house that have been put off for a while. And I'll keep hoping that temporary means sooner rather than later. And I'll update my resume, just in case it doesn't.

Book Review: Food Rules

*I wrote this (unpaid, unsolicited) review for my workplace 'green' blog and thought I'd share it here as well.

Michael Pollan, bestselling author of In Defense of Food: An Eater's Manifesto and The Omnivore's Dilemma, has published what is called a "definitive compendium of food wisdom." Food Rules is a short, easy-to-understand guide to eating real food and avoiding over-processed "food-like substances."
Pollan's mantra of "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." was established after the extensive research he did for his previous books. He found that all the science and techno-babble about the nutritional value of food could be simplified down to its core: real food is what's important. Not the additives, the preservatives, the artificial, the pre-packaged - real food. This philosophy is reiterated again and again, with rules such as "Avoid food products that have ingredients that a third-grader cannot pronounce," and "It's not [real] food if it's called by the same name in every language (Big Mac, Pringles, Cheetos, etc.)"
The book not only discusses what to eat, but also how to eat. Pollan discusses the problem with "Western" food culture in the introduction, and breaks down the way we eat as one of the key issues alongside what we eat. Common sense wisdoms such as "Stop eating before you're full" and "Spend as much time enjoying the meal as it took to prepare it" encourage readers to pay attention to how they're eating to avoid overindulgence.
Pollan's previous works cover some of the same material, but go into much more detail regarding the science and statistics behind the reasons for avoiding processed foods. Food Rules is, in essence, the simplified version. Some of the 'rules' were written by Pollan, but in the introduction he discusses his process for this book, talking to not only nutritionists, doctors, and food scientists but also folklorists, anthropologists, mothers and grandmothers, looking for insight into what rules, ideas, wisdoms, and sayings about food are not only truthful, but have survived the tests of time and culture. The result is a common sense, simple to follow guide for eating healthfully.
(If you'd like to borrow my copy of the book, feel free to ask! It's also on sale on Amazon.com for $5 - less than half the cover price.)

Whole lotta nothin'...

Get this!

I've been busy.

I know, right? It's very unusual for me.

I'm undertaking a couple of big projects at work, which look like they might turn into another one or two or ten bullet points on my job description. This is good! This is exciting! And once it's certain I'll tell you all about it!

There's also some other big plans in the works that I don't want to jinx by shouting them from the rooftops just yet, but let's just say it'll involve a change in scenery. (!!!) And maybe some other changes too... but like I said, it's all still in the works. Which, being the control-freakish-gotta-have-a-plan type of person I am, is like making me sit in a big tub of broken glass.

So basically, I have stuff to write about, just not quite yet. In the meantime, here's this. It almost makes me want a puppy... but then my brain turns back on.

Last week's @dailyshoot

Jan. 10 - Silhouette

Jan. 11 - Favorite Color

Jan. 12 - Music

Jan. 13 - Staying Warm

Jan. 14 - Scale

Jan. 15 - Converging Lines

Jan. 16 - Discarded

Another Tuesday, another...

It's Tuesday already? Lord. If I'm not careful, my entire blog will consist of RTT's.

***

I need a new pillow. Not that mine is worn out or anything, but it's definitely not right. I've had consistent neck and shoulder pain for a long time now, and I think it's about time to do something besides bitch and moan and wish for a massage. I sleep on my stomach and on my side the most - I don't really need a pillow when I'm on my stomach, but I need something really supportive when I'm on my side. Anybody have any suggestions?

***

Ashley from The Accidental Olympian sent me a bag of Oly Rollers coffee as a thank-you for helping her pick her roller derby name (Ash & Burn!) and holy cannoli, is it good. Strong and dark and just right for waking my sluggish ass up in the mornings. Thanks Ash!

***

I'm trying to be better about accepting compliments. My Inner Critic doesn't like it, and doesn't believe it when people say something nice, so the automatic reaction is to laugh it off or deny it. I've found that the simple act of accepting a compliment does wonders for my self esteem. Yesterday a co-worker really buttered me up, and it had me literally buzzed on an ego-high all day. It was awesome. The Inner Critic is still there of course, but I'll try to use her to keep me grounded rather than letting her bring me down. It'll be hard to do but I think it's a good goal.

***

I hate being on the verge of a decision, but not being able to make the decision. It's like sitting on a precipice, trying your damnedest to keep your balance for just a little longer, until you really know which way to step. And all the while you have something flying around your head, buzzing and whirring and bugging the ever-loving shit out of you, trying to knock you off-kilter. I'm going nuts, trying to wait and be patient, when I just want to know what's going to happen and what I need to do next. I'm over-thinking things (as usual) and it's just making my emotional state even more of a roller coaster. So I'm reading a book on how to reign in the over-thinking side of me - and hoping it gives me something to grip, and a fly-swatter.


***
I always seem to be one step behind the music scene. Just in the last few months did I catch on to Muse, The White Rabbits, Vampire Weekend, and today, Rodrigo y Gabriela. LOVE.

This week's @dailyshoot

So earlier this week, the creative and sweet Hip Mama B posted on her blog about this photography project she was participating in called The Daily Shoot.  I've been trying to use my camera more often (I have a Canon Rebel XT, which is pretty basic but I like using it) so I checked it out & started following the project.  It's been a lot of fun, and pretty easy to do around the house.

I've been posting my pics on Flickr and then linking to it from Twitter and Facebook, but here's what I've done for the project this past week.

January 4 - Circle

January 5 - Reflections 

January 6 - Light

January 7 - Snow

January 8 - Glasses

January 9 - Newspaper

Dear So & So, From the Couch Edition

Dear Workplace,
Why is it that I feel guilty when I take a sick day (or have to go home early)?  It's not like anybody says anything to me or looks at me sideways, so why do I care?  And for that matter, why don't more people stay home when they're sick rather than sharing their germs with the whole damn office?  There is something psychological going on here... hidden messages in our screensavers or something...

Sincerely,
*cough* *sniff* *coughcough* *hack*

***

Dear Self,
I swear I witnessed you latching the kitchen babygate last night.  So how the hell did the dog get in there, eat the cat food, eat the zucchini bread that was thawing on the counter, and shit in the basement?  Apparently head colds amplify memory loss or something.

So Much for Breakfast,
Me

***

Dear Dog,
Since you seem to have developed thumbs overnight, you can clean up your own shit.

No, You Don't Get Breakfast So Quit Dancing Around By Your Dish,
Mama

***

Dear Princess Fuzzy Butt,
Yes, I know the dog ate your food and the world is ending because your dish is empty.  LET. ME. SLEEP.  You are THIS close to being shut in a closet.

Get Your Fat Ass Off My Chest,
The Lady Under the Blankets

***

Dear Mother Nature,
Dumping six inches of snow on the day I stay home sick is a happy coincidence!  It's pretty, and I don't have to drive.  My favorite kind of snow.  Too bad I can't go out and take pictures.... or get groceries.  Oops.

Many Thanks,
The Smart Person Who Failed to Stock Up Before the Storm

Wordless Wednesday: Winter Fruits