Tea and Cake

I've become one of those people who drinks loose-leaf tea. It was finding the adiago unbleached paper tea bags that converted me. Now I'm on the path to becoming really snobby about tea, too. I'm low on Earl Grey and was thinking over my next tea order but I just can't figure it out yet. I'll make due with what I have until I decide how much money I really want to spend on something so fleeting.

I'm taking a sick day today. I have a bit of a cold and just couldn't face leaving my bed today. My last day with my current employer is in about a week, so I do feel guilty. But then again, my life's felt pretty busy and it's about to get much worse. Today was a good day for doing tiny projects and bothering the cats. I was listening to the Librivox version of "The Island of Dr. Moreau" but it's too beautiful a day, and besides the house of pain isn't exactly what I want in my imagination as I put together a simple lemon cake.

I'm a little worried that I will finding running a shop (part of my new job) overwhelming. I've never had a real cash drawer before, besides having a table at a craft fair. I also don't want to miss out on the Saturday morning farmers' market, now that they're offering something besides root vegetables. The plan is to get up at 8 on Saturdays and get to the market early, which would actually mean *more* delightful treats, since they won't be sold out yet. We'll see. I have to remind myself how damn much I missed strawberries for the past 11 months. 

Tights

Ok, yeah, I am completely crazy about legwear, and have too much of it. But still, I do wear most of it frequently. I was looking for some lighter colors to wear for spring and finally gave WeLoveColors.com a try. Ick, I hate the tights that came in the mail a MONTH after I ordered them. They are just the kind you may remember from childhood Easter luncheons or from grammar school plays. They wrinkle, they don't stretch, and they don't come up *quite* high enough. I forced myself to try a pair today and it's just made me mad enough to order some of the new sheer pantyhose from AA. They look sturdier than the Jonathan Astin ones I ripped during one wearing. I'll let you know!

Better

Feel much better. Planned most of my Massachusetts trip and even get to try to Boltbus for one leg of it. I'm treating myself to a private driver instead of an airport shuttle, and I think that will start the trip off on the right foot. I want to arrive at S's place all excited and happy, not miserable, and $40 may make all the difference.

I am applying for a job that I think I would LOVE. It would be a new direction for me.

Also, I just got back from the vet, who congratulated me on taking such good care of my little PM Pudding.

It's a beautiful day in Bmore and I have a date to meet up with people at 5 at the beer gardens (part of the spring fair on campus.)

I've had this job longer than any other: 2 years and 4 months. I'm working on my next step. My boss and I may be moved to a terrible new office. Everyone else seems to know all about it, but we are being kept in the dark. I will have to make a move sooner than I'd like. Boo.

Pep talk

I feel run-down and exhausted, although I don't know why. I feel like I'm shutting down a bit. I'm hoping it's PMS.

Work is killing me. I'm just so bored. E is teaching me how to run SQL, so that's my short-range plan. Why not add another random skill to my resume?

I need to get it together for the trips I'm taking this weekend, next week, and then the week after that! Ok, off I go.

Spring arrives

On Thursday, I met up with C's roommate J, to try to see the vision of loveliness J has been telling me about for the past 6 months. No luck, but it was the perfect afternoon to spend pondering beauty.

On Friday, I was desperate to get out, so E and I went to Fell's Point. I wore a loose dress that I've been waiting to wear for weeks. I was happy to keep walking around, but E made me pick a place so we went to Mezze (It's Mediterranean tapas.) I chose somewhat badly, but still adored the pastirma. The meal took a while and E told me about some details of his field. I also took stock of Baltimore and found that although I didn't like most of the other patrons, I was happy to see such people spending their money in my city. (I was just sober enough to not correct the man describing the Meadowlands Sports Center. The Devils don't play there anymore, and they never played in Giants Stadium!)

Saturday meant running errands. I went to Nordstrom to get a bra, and walked out with a very, very pretty extra one. J called and demanded I/we meet up with him to see his divine woman, but I needed a rest before going out again. Later, E and I walked to his place and we made strange cocktails. (I was happy to have a gin and sprite, like I would drink a decade ago in college. Blue drinks are not ok with me.) Drunk, and hungry, E and I convinced J to accompany us to Ruby Tuesday, where we both got mini-burgers and the salad bar. And more drinks.

I slept in a bit on Sunday and read.

Madness

My dear friend C went to UNC, and is a Tarheel extraordinaire. Under her tutelage, I have become interested in college basketball over the past four years, changing from someone who went to the bar and sat and talked through games to someone who doesn't want to miss interviews with Tyler Hansbrough.

I work in an office in a financial capacity that allows me to think my standoffishness is reasoned. So, last year, I was not even invited to participate in the office march madness pool. This year I sought it out, and by last week I was regarded as the probable winner. Several women expressed, in whispers, their desire to see a woman win the pool. It amused me that I did not see the pool in this gendered light, because I often do regard things, especially my own actions, that way.

On Friday I grew nervous, feeling as though somehow my performance was at issue. Of course, once you lock in your bracket, you can't do anything but watch the games. First, UCLA fell to Memphis. Next, the beloved Heels got beat up by Kansas and played a miserable game. My bracket was trashed. Worse still, I watched the games with C, who grew depressed and even angry about the Heels performance.

I got into the office Monday morning burdened by the knowledge that I would not win the pool. I would come in 3rd (out of 27) no matter what happened in the final game. But! After the upsets of the weekend, my boss shot up through the ranks and she was tied with a man, for the lead. Kansas won, and she won, and we collected our winnings this morning.

Before today, there was also talk of her tipping the guy who kept the spreadsheet, and possibly buying bagels for us all, but I counseled her that she won like a man, and she should take the money home like a man. Not sure if it worked, but I talked her down to Munchkins as a last resort.