Quitter

It's official...sort of. I have quit my job. I realized yesterday that I kept saying I was going to quit, but everyday I was saying things to myself like, "Come on, you can make it through the end of today." So, everyday I was trying to make it through the misery for one more day. I decided that wasn't a healthy way to go through life, and I promptly resigned. Talk about a shock to my boss.

I am about to join the ranks of the unemployed. I haven't even really made an effort to find another job, and I'm not in a huge hurry to find one. I was thinking about working at Starbucks, but they probably wouldn't just let me work from 10am-3pm, and I don't do early, and I don't want to work late. I sound very demanding. I just don't know what I want to do now, and this job has me pretty run down.

Now here I am. Twenty-six years old, retired. Ha! I think I'll spend some time playing with Otis the wonderdog and reading books and watering my garden. Then maybe I'll see about Starbucks or Barnes and Noble or something. We'll see...

The great vegetable experiment

Anyone who knows me/us well enough to be reading this knows that my husband does not like vegetables. He swears that they stunt your growth and he (6'5") offers me (5'3) up as support of said hypothesis. Just the same, I keep plugging away at his hatred of nutritional value. (That's not entirely fair, he eats fruit.) My major concern is that we'll someday have children that I can't convince to eat their veggies because I can't convince their father to eat them, so I'm trying to find veggies that he likes before that time rolls around. Tonight's effort is spaghetti squash, and it's kind of a double whammy because I don't normally like squash, which means I can't fuss at him for being picky if I won't eat it either. Of course, my distaste for squash is generally based on texture issues (which makes me a non-supporter of eggplant and zucchini, too- unless they're grilled) and the fact that I thought my grandma's fried squash looked funny when I was a little girl. I've got my fingers crossed that I have found a healthy, vegetarian dinner with no pasta or rice that we'll actually enjoy. Wish me luck on that one...

In other news, the garden is coming along nicely, and Otis seems to have forgotten about eating the dirt. The basil is really taking off, and I have even more lettuce sprouting. I'm so excited!! Also, we are officially looking at digital cameras, so maybe someday there will actually be pictures on here that I didn't take with one of the crappy work cameras. I think we have it narrowed down to two models, but I don't remember the numbers. I guess you'll know if we succeed- you'll actually have something to look at. What a nice change that will be (although I comfort myself by saying that making you imagine what I'm talking about encourages creativity- ha!!)

Taking the cure

I suppose you could say I am back in civilization. Hot Springs, AR really feels like the middle of nowhere, which is not a bad thing. Neither me nor my aunt had ever been there, and neither of us had ever been through the whole bathing ritual thing either ("taking the cure"). I must say, it's a little disconcerting to be naked in a tub with a large woman with a biker chic tattoo exfoliating your legs to increase circulation. Anyone who knows me has to be shocked I even went through with it. I am such a prude.

Of course, to get to Hot Springs, we had to go through Memphis. I think that made me happier than anything else. I wanted to go by the Williams-Sonoma outlet to see what linens and dishtowels they had, so we took a little jaunt through the city. I drove past campus (waving at Thad and the geography building as I passed), and we got some iced tea at McAllister's. I wanted so badly to scrap the evening's massages and just stay in Memphis to say hello to friends. Alas, that wouldn't have been much of a vacation for favorite aunt Mel. Off we went into the Natural State.

All in all, we had a great time. We ate when we wanted to eat, we napped when we were sleepy, and we had ice cream everyday. When you add in being massaged, it makes for a pretty relaxing break. We also took the Duck Tour, which was silly, and my right arm got a smidgen fried. Of course, I've never taken a vacation in my entire life that didn't involve at least a little bit of a sunburn...I don't know why I'd break the streak now.

Now it's back to the daily grind, and the pile of laundry in my bedroom is the ultimate sign that life is still exactly as it was when I left, except someone spoiled the dog rotten while I was away. OTIS IS NOT ALLOWED TO SLEEP IN THE BED!

I'm glad to be home. I missed my little family.

On the road

What kind of mother am I? Otis turns ONE today, and I'm heading out of town. At least we had a great morning together. The whole family in a pile on the bed as I woke up. A nice walk. A big hunk of soil eaten out of my garden. What more could he want? I'm sure he'd love a nice juicy steak, but we've forked out too much money getting his intestines in order to blow it now. Maybe Marc will put a candle in the evening kibble??

I packed up some CD's this morning for the road. I threatened my aunt Mel with Fiddler on the Roof and Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, which are legitimately in the car, but I grabbed some good road tunes as well. One was Hootie and the Blowfish, which I rocked out to all the way to work this morning. Flashbacks of junior prom. Nice.

So, off I go this weekend for baths and massages and facials and food. I'm a little bummed that I know my aunt won't want to go to the park there, but if I whine enough, she may cave. The weather there is supposed to be nice- sunny and 90 degrees. That's my kind of weather...that's hot.

Oh, I'm stealing Allison's thing: five senses Friday (don't be mad, I have no originality)

Sight: Otis's eyeballs (I hadn't seen them in awhile), the really good black soil in my garden- with the little green plants sticking up

Sound: Hootie; yesterday's thunderstorms

Touch: my new short hair- I feel so much lighter

Taste: Cilantro Pesto that I made for dinner the other night, it was delish, and I'm happy to share the recipe; fresh mozzarella on last night's chicken pizzas

Smell: freshly mowed grass; the deep conditioner that Suzie used on my hair the other day

Cue ball

Tomorrow is the big day- Otis's first birthday. I'm like a proud mother...actually, I guess I am a proud mother. He looks quite handsome with his new haircut, and it hurts substantially less for him to jump on me now that his nails are clipped, too. I've been working on the invitation (the colors aren't really coming through) to his birthday party next weekend. If anyone is actually reading this, feel free to come celebrate.

I guess there's not much else going on in the Pearson household right now. I am going to Hot Springs this weekend with my aunt, and I don't think I've ever so desperately needed a break from work. I can't imagine what things are like with children as I already feel like I have no time. I need one of those Harry Potter time-turner gadgets. Anybody got a spare one lying around??

Eat dirt

Finally! It actually didn't rain yesterday. I officially have a "garden" in my backyard. Granted the whole space is about 3x6, but there are legitimate vegetables planted there, so it counts. Anyway, I'd rather have a small success than a truly spectacular failure on this one. All of my tomato plants, basil, peppers, and lettuce are in the dirt (and hummus). I don't know why I always manage to get things like this accomplished when Marc is out of town. Otis tried to be "involved" in the planting. He kept running up behind me and taking off with mouthfuls of soil. What a ding dong.

Speaking of Otis, he's getting the cue ball treatment right now. I like him when he get's shaved. He's so funny, and somehow his not having hair equates to his not having stank either. You've got to love a dog that doesn't smell!

Manic Monday

It really would be more appropriate if it was bi-polar Monday as there is rarely anything manic about the day. There's usually (at least in my experience) way more depression involved. Of course, this is a terrible way to start the week.

On a high note, Otis and I had a great walk this morning. The wind was very slight and a little cool, but the temperature was nice, so I was nice and warm and my cheeks were just a little chilly. I like that feeling on our morning walks. He also didn't try to mutilate any birds this morning, and that's always a plus.

As for the weekend, it did rain most of the time, so the garden still isn't happening. I suppose it will happen sooner or later. I did get some more work done on Marc's quilt, though, and I managed to work in some reading time.

On top of all that, I actually got to hang out with my husband yesterday, and it feels like that never happens anymore. I love being reminded of how much fun I have with him. He laughs at me, I laugh at him. It works...plus he's tall and can reach stuff all the way at the back of the top shelf at the grocery store. What more could a girl (especially a short one) ask for?

Shake on it

Saturdays at work. What a true joy. Are you picking up on my sarcasm? As Marc and I both had to go to work this morning, we actually were both awake around the same time. Even he refuses to go to work before 7 on Saturdays. Workaholic. As I was washing my hair, I hear, "Say hello to your mother." Marc pulls back the shower curtain, and there is Otis, wondering what the heck is going on. He is normally not allowed into the bedroom based on his love of undies and SmartWools. I said hi and petted him, but he didn't much care for it as my hand was wet. Who ever heard of a Labradoodle who doesn't like water?

Just the same, as I was getting out of the shower, Marc was getting ready to leave and decided to leave Otis in the bedroom with me. He told Otis to be good and not get into the laundry. Then they shook on it. I'm not sure that Otis understood he was entering into a contractual agreement, but it was pretty funny to watch my husband and my dog in negotiations. So, that's how this day has started. For the record, Otis is in breach of contract as I had to chase him around the bed for my left Nike twice and once for a sock.

This is my life.

Oooh, I also finally made cupcakes the other night. Chocolate with caramel topping, chocolate frosting, and pecans. They are very gooey, but very yummy, too. I think I'll have one for breakfast right now. If I have to work on Saturdays, I might as well get to eat cupcakes for breakfast.

Setting the Table

You know, my worst nightmare is that someone will come to my house for dinner and I won't have any clean napkins or the proper fork or enough serving pieces. I spend a majority of my time on a quest to ensure that never happens. (My husband will verify.) I made some strides in this quest today- amazingly while I was at work! I went to the Pomegranate warehouse sale, and I found some really great stuff. I bought some random happies for friends, and I bought myself a tablecloth and some napkins. The patterns are really fun, so I think I'll enjoy them for a long time.

Of course, now that I have all of my fancy china out on Grandma's antique buffet, I am not sure that all of my "fun" linens really work in the dining room. I don't really care...well, I kind of care. I made sure that I bought a tablecloth that would work on the patio furniture. That way, if the pigs are too much for the dining room, I can at least enjoy them outdoors. Oink.

It's still rainy out today, so there are still no immediate plans to work outdoors, and my grilling is still on hold. It's funny how I feel like there has been a major climate shift, putting the Artic Circle right smack in Lexington...it's something like 55 degrees. I am a wimp.

Of course, I am going to have to suck it up because Otis NEEDS a walk this evening. I am convinced that it is my fault that he is being so bad this week. He ate some papers out of the file sorter on Marc's desk this morning and decided that the antique sugar bowl was a chew toy. He dropped it down the stairs like he does his bones. I am lucky (better said, he is lucky) that it didn't break. I guess he hasn't learned to fear my wrath over broken china. Give him time.

The rain in Spain...

Once again, my plan to finally plant my garden is foiled. It's been raining all day, and the wind is cold and gusty. I hope that I'll be able to get that done this weekend. I know Marc is itching to build a fence.

With the weather being uncooperative, dinner plans are also down the drain as I was planning to grill, and I'm much too big a wimp to stand in the cold rain. Maybe I'll go all out Southern heart failure and fry the pork chops- or maybe I'll improvise.

I did pick up a new book today, so I think I'll just curl up on the couch and read tonight. Otis, however, hasn't been happy with that whole parents laying around thing this week. You can tell he is still all puppy when he acts up because you haven't thrown anything for him or played tug-of-war in 18 seconds. Even after I played with him this morning, he still stole a tupperware bowl out of the sink and shredded it while I was in the shower. Free-range Otis is about to lose his privileges- he has been quite the handful this week. His birthday is right around the corner, though, and all the puppy will be gone at one year old, right?

The longest day in history...

I got to work this morning at 4:30 to cook for the morning show segments we were doing from the store. The day did not start well when I realized that I should have made the coffee cake last night as it was supposed to take an hour and a half and the show's host was expected in 45 minutes. Thank God for convection ovens. Of course, it was delish when finished, and although I rarely advocate "not from scratch", I must say that the Barefoot Contessa Sour Cream Coffee Cake was wonderful.

Since then, I've been trying to hold my eyes open, and the consistent drizzle and gray skies outside aren't helping the fight against gravity. Between the weather and exhaustion, I doubt I'll accomplish anything productive today. I wonder if I'll even make dinner...I am certain that Marc would appreciate dinner as I hear his day is also less than stellar.

To help alleviate my mood, I'll see what I come up with for the five senses thing that Allison got me thinking about...things today

Sight: the color of the raspberry butter I made to go with the mini biscuits this morning

Sound: the jumping graduation owl in the store that "hoots" pomp and circumstance- hysterical at 6am

Smell: the smell of shampoo this morning as I tried desperately to wake up

Touch: the new Lillian August fabric samples...if my sofa felt like any of those, I'd be glued

Taste: the coffee cake from this morning

Valiant Failure

Okay, okay, okay...the artsy fartsy free-form aluminum garden did not work. It looked like part of the great tragedy (particularly the new tin roof that was mangled and flung into a tree during the fall tornadoes). After digging holes for the posts and then wailing on them with a sledgehammer to drive them into the ground, I realized that the whole thing was a disaster. I left the cleanup for hubby. I couldn't bear to look at it...and I felt awful for the holes I'd created that went nearly to the core of the planet. I hope Otis doesn't fall in.

Once that greatly misguided adventure was wrapped up, Marc dug up an area in the corner of the yard for me to use. He's going to put a fence around it for me once we've determined that it's enough space for all of the rapidly growing plants, which are still in their little peat pods- not in the ground where they belong. Maybe this afternoon?? As soon as there is something to look at...Should I worry about the fence keeping light out in addition to dogs and bunnies and squirrels?

Beyond the gardening, I started a t-shirt quilt for Marc. Otis is terribly interested in all the scraps lying around. I spend more time chasing after him and shredded bits of old t-shirt than I do piecing. Of course, I'm sure there are plenty of Colgate tennis tees to go around.

Other Otis news- he ate the fancy, schmancy remote control this morning before I got out of bed. So, we mourn the passing of the only remote that has ever allowed us to really have just one remote. Luckily, all of the originals are in one place, and we've never gotten rid of any remotes- even the ones for the electronics we no longer own- so we won't have to (gasp!) walk to the television. Maybe I'll do something with those old clickers someday- a nice black plastic sculpture, "Ode to Pioneer and Panasonic." I can see it now. It's not pretty.

Into the great wide open...

I don't really know why I'm venturing into the blogosphere. Maybe it's because I look at my friend's blog everyday, hoping to sneak a peek into what's going on with her life, which leads me to look at the blogs linked from her site- then the blogs linked on those sites. Wayward and down. Of course, all of those bloggers are people with children and interesting hobbies that would make people want to see what they are doing. I'm just rambling, but I want to be interesting, so I'll just type, and I'll see what happens. As if making the thoughts in my head a real visible stream of letters will somehow make the thoughts interesting...

It's Derby day, and we live in Lexington, so life is shut down for the day. At least we're not in Louisville where life really is shut down. My plan is to work on my garden today. Growing vegetables in the dirt is after all a major step on my mission to become Ouiser Boudreaux. I have already started two types of tomatoes, sweet basil, bibb lettuce, and cilantro from seed. I bought the yellow and green bell pepper plants. Cheater. I have constructed a planter to build a raised garden out of aluminum flashing and 2x2s. Of course, I have to make it stand up and hold dirt now. I wish I could just plant the stuff in the ground, but Otis the wonderdog would thwart my gardening efforts in a nanosecond if there wasn't some semblance of an impediment.

Of course, I'd also love to take a nap today, but it's gorgeous out, and I am sure that Otis would love to be outside in the yard with me and Marc for most of the afternoon.

I'm off to the garden now. Wish me luck...