Vegan Mofo VI-Day 18- An Apple A Day

 This week has been crazy. I have had to let a few things go to the wayside. I really need to get some rest, but there was just too much that needed to be done. I foolishly tried to do it all and now here I am, super tired and feeling like absolute crêpe. I usually end up doing this to myself about once a year, but this one came early. I have been drinking lots of tea and gargling with an apple cider/water solution. I slept in until about 11 a.m. this morning. I should be feeling much better in a few days. Now that some of my stressors have been knocked out I should be able to get back on track tomorrow. Yay!

If I didn't already mention it, I work in a library. We have a weekly storytime which is a lot of fun, at least when I observe from the desk. We recently did an apple theme, which was one of my favorites since I love apples. We take turns choosing topics, books, crafts/activities. My boss chose the topic so I helped pick the craft and the books. I don't remember the books because we do our planning so far in advance, but the craft was super cute. We cut a frame out of construction paper, lay it down on a piece of contact paper and let the children stick colored tissue paper on top to fill it in. We always do a test to make sure it's not too difficult and to have an example to show the kids. Since I'm a big kid and I'm the one who found the craft, I got to make the sample. Isn't it adorable?

My other co-worker bought several different types of apples so the kids could have a variety to choose from. She dropped them off at my house and asked me to make labels for them. More fun for me! The best part was that after the shift was over, she had way too many apples to take home so she let me have a few. She knows I am crazy about honeycrisps so those are the ones she gave me. The only thing better than honeycrisps are FREE HONEYCRISPS, right?

I don't know how true it is that an apple a day will keep the doctor away, but it sure couldn't hurt to try. I think I'm going to have one for my snack during "Scandal" and work toward catching up on my 5 a day. Peace!

Start!

We Celebrate You Babe!

There are lots of changes for 2012, it's going to be an amazing year of new thoughts, new actions and new people. I started my job four weeks ago and every day has been wonderful. I am so glad to be back in the library where I belong. I'm at the bottom, but I am damn good at working my way up so I am not worried about that at all. I am glad to be surrounded by books all day and can't wait until things get better and there are more full time positions. Thankfully it does leave me plenty of time for the dog, my chores and all of the reading I plan to do now that I have so many more books at my disposal. I already have more than I can handle so I need to step it up.

Another huge change is my driving. I started taking lessons about a month ago and I have my driving test in a few weeks. I am really excited to be doing this. So many doors are going to blow open once I have that little card in my wallet. I was so nervous at the beginning but I am much more relaxed and confident. Sometimes I am a little too relaxed and forget to watch my speed, but I am working on that too. My brother is going to get a newer car from his friend, so I am probably going to inherit his van when that happens. I really don't have money to buy one right now and I am only going to drive to and from work so it should be perfect.

So now that I have a job and soon will have a license and a car, you know that means it is time to get out there and find myself a man. I am working on changing my attitude about the area I live in. I just do not envision the rad guy I will fall for living here, but I am pretty awesome and I live here, so maybe he is hiding out here somewhere. I would love to save gas money and drive time, so I'll keep my mind and eyes open.

Even though this year is going to end well, it did not start off so great. I was shocked to find out that a very dear friend of mine was murdered in her home early on New Year's Day. I still cannot believe someone would do something so horrible to such a loving and beautiful person, but that sad fact is that these terrible things happen everyday and I've been lucky to have avoided them for as long as I have. It's been three weeks and there does not seem to be any good leads or news of progress on the case so that is making it even harder to accept. We want this man off the streets before he can hurt anyone else. Fortunately, my amazing friend, has many other amazing friends who got together and planned all sorts of fabulous events to raise money for her family to help cover funeral expenses and so forth. There are tons of other blogs and tributes much more well written than this one. I am going to try my damnedest to honor Esme's memory by being as energetic, enthusiastic, kind, loving, and supportive as she was to everyone she knew while she was here. ¡Viva la Esme B!

The fabulous folks at Girls Rock Camp Austin, put together a 37 piece band for this performance at her memorial in Austin. It's so beautiful I had to stop crying and smile.

lie-brary

My local library is tiny and old, but I am remaining loyal to her, even though a newer, fancier library just sprouted up. I still have access to all the books in the county thanks to the awesome hold system, which I use, dare I say, abuse, frequently.

The other day I went to pick up a hold and return two books I had finished. I always feel funny waiting in line since they have self check out now. If I could sneak behind the counter and grab my own books I would totally check myself out but that's not allowed...yet. The only bummer of the self check out is that instead of having two or three people at the circulation desk, there is usually only one. The lone loaner is usually issuing a library card or checking out a pile of books to someone who cannot or will not use the self check out station.

I tend to get annoyed waiting in line behind these people because I am secretly mad at myself for not getting there a few minutes earlier and beating them to the front of the line. I just need that book behind the desk. I can see it from where I am standing. There is a huge piece of paper with my last name and first initial rubberbanded to the spine.

I have to wait five to eight minutes before I can get it because the lovely lady ahead of me is trying to get a new library card. She gives her driver's license to the lovelier lady behind the desk. Upon entering the DL# she lets her know that she already has a card in the system, under her maiden name and a previous address. The patron plays dumb and says that is her old name and address. The library lady tells her she cannot get a new card since she already has one. She can get a replacement card for $2.00...but she cannot use that card until she pays her late fines from 2005down from $40.00 to under $10.00. The saddest part was it looked like she was trying to get a card for her daughter, who cannot get one now. I wish I could have hung out longer to see if she would ask someone else to come down and get a card or check out the books for her.

Slowly but surely, the library will catch up to you. Remember thst episode of Seinfeld?

slow-mo mofo

sI had all intentions of baking carrot cake cupcakes for boss' day tomorrow, but since I am starting to get sick, I had to cancel. Luckily my boss' birthday is in two weeks so I can make them for that instead. I'm sure the carrots I bought can get souped. I had some sniffles earlier this week, no big deal but this morning I woke up with a sore, scratchy throat. I know I will be fine by Monday but today I felt like I was in a fog and I'm not sure how much I'll be worth tomorrow. I am trying to not get too bogged down or stressed out about it. I just have to do the best I can and not push too hard, especially since I have a 10K on Sunday that I cannot back out of for anything. It's the AIDS Walk, you can't whine about a cold in the face of AIDS, right? I lagged on getting sponsors so I ended up sponsoring myself. I'll have to hustle harder next year.

After work I ran some errands with my mom and got a Martha Stewart stock pot on clearance at Kmart. I almost got a cast iron skillet too but I had to slow my roll. Our payroll hasn't been going through the last few weeks so I didn't want to go overboard on my "fun" spending. I am excited for my new pot and cannot wait to make something delicious. I picked up Nava Atlas' soups and stews from the library last night so it is all timing up correctly. Now if only I could find a deal on the straining ladle.


p.s.

My mom was the first to notice about my vanilla-free cookies but it hasn't stopped any of us from devouring them.

p.p.s. I am glad to see some blogs revived, most especially Wing It Vegan and Vegan Chicks Rock.