Jan 31, 2016 | Food, Hobbies, Holidays |
For Christmas, The Other, got me the most coveted item on my wishlist. A Triumph Daytona 675R. It finally came in last week and we went today to pick it up!
It was a balmy 42 degrees F today but sunny so honestly not too bad. Would I want to do this regularly? probably not, but it wasn’t the shiver-fest I was expecting. Scott met me at the Harley shop (which also happens to be a Triumph dealer) to ride home. It made what probably would have been a rush to get home into a pretty great ride. We did stop for coffee once to warm up and rest but otherwise we rode straight through. Regardless it was fantastic and I can’t wait for spring so I can ride regularly. I was even thinking of taking it out tomorrow to fill it up with gas..
This bike is completely different from the Spyder (which is still a great bike, don’t get me wrong). Everything on the bike is made for performance so its not exactly make for cold weather and heavy boots and gloves. It has features like a lap time and shift alert based on RPMs. The sales guy said they do some track days (including track training) and invited me out so maybe I will try that and really see what this bike can do!! It definitely likes to go fast – about 50 mph the bike really smoothes out. So much fun!!
For dinner The Other and I made a Blue Apron recipe “Chicken and Sage Biscuit Pot Pie” which was perfect after a cold day of riding. It was easy to put together and super delicious – I would make this recipe again. I really liked that to make the biscuits you simple dropped the dough on the top of the filling mixture and then cooked in the oven for 12 minutes. I also liked that the vegetables were large and roughly chopped. Again, this was a fast quick saving tip that made everything come together faster. The only thing we changed in this recipe was to make the Roux (flour/oil mix) in a separate pan before adding it to the pot of vegetables – I think any other way would have resulted in a mess and a watery sauce.
Dec 17, 2014 | Holidays, kittens |
Day by day the Burmeseys are becoming better friends. In full disclosure I put Luna here but she kept trying to go up and was a little frightened. This was the first time Brutus didn’t bite her to chase her away from his “territory”. They are still figuring things out between them but this picture gives me hope that my life won’t be filled with hissy/growly/screaming for the next 18 years…
In other news, Luna has discovered the best way to get around the house is the hood of my sweatshirt. I full expected to claw her way out but she settled in for the long haul. It started to get a bit chokey though so I took her out, which of course is when she used her claws!
And finally my little man, Brutus, enjoying his Christmas present a bit early since we will be out of town. It is a gift box filled with all sorts of super cat goodies. The company is KitNipBox and they even offer a monthly subscription! Brutus was more excited about the box and the package which stunk of catnip over the actual toys and treats but you know how cats are! KitNipBox knows – the shipping box even turns into a little cat house!
Dec 15, 2014 | Current Events, Holidays, Travels |
This past weekend we headed down to Northerly Island in the city for Polar Adventure days. There was birds, snakes, dogs, hot chocolate, stories, and snacks! A small event but a lot of things to see and do and not too many people to get in the way.
Here is my highlight reel, courtesy of Google Auto-Awesome #ThroughGlass
Jan 4, 2011 | Current Events, Philsophy, Politics |
The holiday season for 2010 is done and I am left reflecting on something I never gave much thought before – Thank You Cards. That’s not to say I don’t thank people for my gifts but I don’t know if I ever wrote formal notes. I still don’t now. More importantly, when I was younger, if someone wasn’t in the vicinity when I opened my gift, I wouldn’t say thank you at all.
I remember once when I was younger being scolded for not sending a thank you note to one of my relatives. I was told that if I didn’t start sending thank yous I would stop receiving gifts. After that, fear of being cut off made me to be sure to thank the giver in some manner, although I still saw it as a bit of a unnecessary endeavor.
However, the older I get the more I identify with the tyrannical rule of my elders.
These last few years I have become more and more disgruntled at people who do not acknowledge the gifts I send them. I am not expecting a handwritten note or anything so formal. A text, facebook IM, phone call, email, or any of the other many means of communication would be fine.
I find it interesting that I am now annoyed by the very thing I used to do. Is it because I am older now and see the error of my ways? Is it a biological clock thing? Is it just turning into a crotchety old lady?
After sending a gift and hearing nothing back, my first concern is that you didn’t get the gift at all. The second thought is more selfish – did you like it? Wasn’t it great?
If you didn’t like it that’s ok, but I am still hurt when I don’t hear back. I feel like you don’t like me personally. That your dislike of the gift is a mirror of what you feel toward me. I wonder if my relative felt the same way?
This isn’t just from individuals either, I have donated to many nonprofit organizations both big and small. Some will send a thank you note or email while others just ignore me. I’d like to think the money I give your cause is going to something special – even if I know logically its going into a big fund. I like to receive thank you notes detailing all the items my money will be used for or just thanking me in general for supporting the cause.
This may be selfish, and reading it back it definitely comes off that way. I’m not looking for a gift back, all I’m really looking for is a “Got the gift, thanks!” I think we all want to be recognized for the things we do and as much as I try to fight against it I too need that recognition. I find it interesting that I need something so primal, and I do try to work against it. I mean, in reality I do not know the other side of the story about why thanks wasn’t sent – I am too busy focus on myself and the irrational perception that I have somehow been wronged.
In the end I realize that what I feel is irrational emotion so I don’t act on it. I will not stop sending gifts nor will I require a thank you. I think it’s important to examine our knee-jerk reactions to see how we can better ourselves. Sometimes just looking at something under the microscope highlights just how silly it is.
But what do you guys think? Do you feel bad when you don’t get a thank you note? Does it change how you interact with those people/organization?
Dec 10, 2010 | Current Events, General Chit-Chat |
So for whatever reason I get the National Geographic Holiday Catalog.
Not sure what I donated to or signed up for that got me this but I don’t mind – it makes me feel sophisticated.
I imagine it like
“For Buffy and Jeeves I got matching hand knitted sweaters made by Himalayan Sherpas”,
as I drink tea with my pinky finger out.
Anyways, as I was paging through I noticed that on page 58 Tom got this lovely puzzle from Debs for his birthday:
But then on page 65 he got this other puzzle from Beth:
Hmmm, seems like someone has been playing both sides of the fence!
How do I know its the same Tom? What other Tom do you know that likes puzzles??
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