nycdilettante

Downturn

Well...you can tell the economy is down.  The country club is offering an upgrade to go from a social membership to a fitness one for a special lowered upgrade price.  Usually to upgrade to a fitness membership costs $1000 bucks.  They've lowered it to $200 bucks and you don't pay the higher dues until Feb. 

Right now I pay $82.50 for my social membership.  The fitness membership is $165.  I'm thinking about it because of the swimming pool.  But I wanted to be sure I'd use it before I really committed to that $165 a month.

So today I went to the Claude Moore Recreational center and bought a 25 visit pass so I could see if I can commit to using the pool.

It went okay for the most part but I can now say I'm officially an old person.  There were kids all over the place kind of straying over into my swim lane.  And one annoying girl instead of swimming in the lanes...swam across all the lanes while her mother walked beside her on the concrete. 

My feeling is...there is a huge leisure pool where people can run all over the place...so why not play over there kidlets? 

Well...no grown ups to annoy, is how I'm feeling.  What fun is swimming unless you can hang on the lane dividers and annoy adults doing a slow swim up and down?  And parents seem to just be fixated on how wonderful their kids are and not how annoying they are being. 

Just another reason I would not be a good parent.  Kids have to mess up and stuff.  If I was a mom I would be all obsessed with my kids not annoying people in a public place.  This does not seem to be an issue any longer.  Is this a good thing or not?  Partially it's good because kids try more things and don't have so much fear.  But they also have a sense of entitlement that is highly annoying and makes them lazy.

And bugs me at the pool.  Next time...I'll go earlier in the morning.

So much for my career farming

The tobacco hornworm is one of the largest insects that damage tobacco. The larvae are greenish in color with white bars on their sides and with a slender reddish horn projecting from near the rear end. They may reach 3 to 4 inches (7.5-10cm) in length and are such ravenous feeders that they may completely defoliate plants if not controlled.

The weekend before last...I discovered 9 of these lovely bugs on my tomato plant.  I went on a search to discover them all and ended up cutting a lot of foliage from my tomato plant.

Now I've discovered that there are some other caterpillar types eating my pansies.  I found 2 caterpillars...but I am still finding little black dots of caterpillar poop...which means they are not all gone yet.

Farming even on a small scale can be a booger.

Labor Day - celebrated since @ 1885

On some level Labor Day is a weird holiday.  According the the Department of Labor web site...Labor Day is "a creation of the labor movement and is dedicated to the social and economic achievements of American workers. It constitutes a yearly national tribute to the contributions workers have made to the strength, prosperity, and well-being of our country."

Labor Day is actually related to May Day (May 1st), also known as "International Worker's Day" that is celebrated all over the world.  May Day is important in China and the Soviet Union...and it actually was celebrated to commemorate the Haymarket Massacre in Chicago in 1886, when Chicago police fired on workers during a general strike for the eight hour day, killing a dozen demonstrators.  The reason that May Day isn't celebrated as Labor Day in the US is because President Cleveland did not want to commemorate the riots, but did want to celebrate the hardworking men and women of the United States.

Which works out very well for Americans.  May 30th, Memorial Day marks the start of summer (and celebrates the American soldier) and the first Monday in September marks the end of summer.  We like our holidays.  But what is most interesting about Labor Day is that it's white collar workers that celebrate.  Blue collar workers spend the day working...at least part of it...at fast food places, grocery stores, etc, etc.  All of the white collar workers are either traveling on vacation, or they are having a cook out or what not. 

Except this year it's so expensive...people are having stay-cations.  At the farmer's market this morning...it was packed with people.  When I went into Leesburg to have breakfast...usually the Leesburg Diner is empty.  Especially at 9:00 AM.  Today it was packed.  And the parking lot at the Leesburg outlet looks like it was filling up.

As for me...I'm going to a cookout tonight.  Where at some point I may play ping pong.  I made a reduction of balsamic vinegar to put over my tomatoes.  Last wkend I went to a wine bar in DC called CORK.  They use local suppliers and only serve food that is in season.  We ordered a tomato salad, which was an assortment of local tomatoes, heirloom, and so forth with delicious thick, syrupy balsamic vinegar over them.  So I'm going to bring my tomatoes to Rob and Sandy's...pour the vinegar over them and see how it goes.

New Glasses

Surviving my vacation

I really don't know what to say about my trip.  It was amazing...but in ways I didn't really expect it to be.  Traveling to Europe was very intense.  Just being on a plane for the length of time I was, was intense to me.  And I'm getting over my trip.

I went to work on Thursday, even though my throat hurt...I figured it was just a cold.  On Friday I woke up with a weepy eye and I had to grit my teeth to swallow.  So I made a doctor's appointment and I have streph throat. A friend made the comment..."You're just getting the germs and diseases of all the people from all over the world that have been on the flights before you." Thanks...that makes me feel so much better.  I have the germs of Europe and the US all over me.

Another fun story is the one where on my last night, we went to eat at a place near the beach.  The tables are on a teak floor...but I missed the step up.  I tripped and flung myself headfirst into a table of teenagers.  I smashed my hand, my head, and I have bruises all over.  On Friday my right eye started to weep.  And today it just ocurred to me that was the eye I smashed into the table.  Luckliy I have some eye ointment to put on it to help heal it.

And I have a huge blister on my right foot that still hasn't finished healing.

Europe just tore me up...but I'm hopeful I'll be better by Monday...since work didn't stop while I was off being battered around in new countries.

Back from Monaco

I'm back...tired...and I have a cold. 

4:00 PM

It's 4:00 PM and my flight leaves at 8:50 tonight.  I'm packed...and ready to make it happen.  I have my money belt, my passport, my debit and credit card, my international phone...so it's just a matter of hours before I leave.

I doubt I post from Monaco...so have a good week and I'll see you when I'm back in the States.

Getting ready to travel

 

I leave for my trip on Tuesday.  I've never gone to Europe before so this is a huge deal to me.  I've read Rick Steve's website over and over for travel tips.  I have a Rick Steve's backpack and I'm planning to carry on my backpack.  I rented an international phone so I can call my family when I land.

I've gone to Iberia's website a zillion times to check on my flights...on what I can take on the flight.  I didn't realize you have to put your 3 oz fluid items in a zip top quart bag.  I have a baggie...but not with a zip top...so I'll have to go out and buy a box of those.  Those TSA guys are very specific.

Tomorrow I have to go get the zip top quart bags...I'm getting a manicure/pedicure...I'm taking a yoga class.  Monday I go into to work (you know I'll be at work late) and then...Tuesday I'm taking the whole day off to get ready.  I have to get my car inspected.  I need to get a universal adapter.  I need to put all my plants in the sink so they'll stay wet.  I need to get the litter boxes ready and put a good amount of food out for the cats.  My friends Sandy and Rob will be checking on the cats while I'm out.  So naturally the house has to be spotless because I am crazy. 

I also feel like I need to be relaxed and rested.  Which is why I'm NOT going in to work.    I need to get to get to the airport around 6 or so for my 8:50 flight.  And after that...I have no idea what will happen.  I have 100 euros to start out my trip...a money belt to safeguard my cash...so I think I'm prepared.

It's going to be awesome.

Happy Birthday to me

the hat is my birthday gift...just in time for my trip to Monaco on the 20th for the Grand Prix.

I dragged Pedro into my bosses office for his birthday Monday.  It was a good prank.  His wife bought him this from Home Goods a few years ago for his birthday and it's resided in their living room since that time.  I decided Pedro needed to take a trip somewhere new...like my bosses office.  Everyone in the office has enjoyed meeting him.

this is a kick ass picture of Mickey that I tood with my new Digital SLR...the NIkon D40.  I like it...but I might take the extra lens I got back.  Still thinking on that.

I'm a little overworked

Ring Ring (phone at work)

"Hello, Susan speaking, how may I help you?"

"Hey Susan this is Charles, you called me."

"Oh hey Charles, this is Susan....which you know...because you called me...sorry..."

I think I need to just go home...