My Dog Matches My House

Did I ever tell you about when I volunteered at the pound in Chicago?

I loved it.  Playing with puppies is the best.

But you know what was not the best?

People who give their sweet puppies up -  for stupid reasons.

The pound isn't much fun for a pup.

I think I've told you this before, but my favorite "reason" was...

The dog didn't match my decor.

Yikes!

But isn't Heidi lucky?

See we painted the bedroom to match her. 

So she doesn't have to worry about such nonsense.

Good thing, huh?

Now she can get back to napping.

Do you let your dog sleep in your bed?

I hate it.  I think it's kind of gross.

Except when I'm cold.

She's pretty cozy.  

And I have to admit she's a good snuggler.

OK I guess I don't hate it that much.

Want or Need?

I'm not sure whether this is airing my dirty laundry a lil too much, but one of the biggest fights Nick and I have regularly is on the issue of purchasing a car.  My little American self does not like walking.  Call me lazy if you will but when a 5 minute car ride turns into an hour walk, I really have no desire to get off my arse.  And I can honestly say that our lack of car is seriously holding us back from enjoying the beautiful English countryside.

So, even though my husband says we'll get a car, I'm not sure when, if ever, this is going to happen, so I have started contemplating the purchase of a bike.  The problem is, they are kind of pricey and I wonder whether I will actually use it or I whether I will be just as lazy as a pedaler as I am a walker.  Also, running errands with a bike doesn't seem that appealing because where do I put stuff?  Groceries?  Dry cleaning?  I can't figure it out.

Enter Madsen Cycles.  I first saw these cargo bikes on the lovely Kera's blog.  Even though I thought she was adorable carting her two little boys around in one, I didn't really see the potential for my childless self.



But I keep seeing them around the blogs these days, and so I went to their website to have a little gander.  And it hit me...



The dog, the blue color, the flowers.  I need this bike.  I would take Heidi deep into the countryside and then we would go exploring, sans vehicle.  How cute would we look?  Hey, I could even put my husband in the back - he never learned to ride a bike (sad childhood I know!).  I might cycle him along to a new restaurant since the only one we ever go to is the one within walking distance.  Talk about a date.  Do you think it would be for or against man code to have your woman drive you around in the bucket of a bike?  And I could go grocery shopping without having to pay for a cab.  And I could make it to rowing practice without having to find a ride.  Oh the joy of being self reliant!

Do you want one too?  Madsen Cycles is having a contest where you can win one by linking back to their site.  I wasn't going to tell you because I wanted to up my chances of winning, but I feel too guilty.  Damn you, conscious.

Update: I just read the contest rules again, you have to be in America to win.  Bullocks.

24 Hours Unplugged

The other day, Molly challenged me to go 24 hours unplugged.  

I'm game.  Bring it on.

I knew it would be challenging, but I seriously thought I could do it.

I think Molly tried to go totally gadget free, but I just wanted my computer turned off because that is my biggest problem.  I'm not addicted to my phone and don't really use it for anything but calling Nick, so I didn't have a no phone rule as part of the challenge.  

Here is a break down of my technology free day in response to Molly's breakdown....

7:00 - wake up.
8 - 10:00 receive delivery of new kitchen!!  Woooo hoooo!! 
10:00 - Notice they have provided us with the wrong piece of counter top.
10:13 - Call Nick to discuss this.  He sends me a file with our order on it that he his unable to open.  Asks me to open it for him.
10:14 - Shit.  OK well this is important I will turn the computer on for a minute.
10:15 - Computers on.  Check facebook. 
10:22 - Open email document Nick sent me. 
10:25 - Call Nick back and sort our little problem out.  Should be fine.  Turn computer off and tell myself it will be off for the rest of the day.  Yeah.  Sure.
11:00 - Kitchen fitter arrives.  Talk through plans.  He requests money and tea.  Seriously, the British can't do anything without tea.
11:26 - Take Heidi out for a walk. 
12:10 - Walk past a swing set.  Realize I have plenty of time on my hands since I have no computer and I sit down on the swing and watch Heidi stalk birds in the field.  Then I start to swing.  Like really swing.  Hell yeah!  This is as much fun as I remember it being 10 years ago. I'm FLYINGGGGGGGGGGGGG.  Why haven't I done this in ages!?
12:30 - Arrive home.  Go into new kitchen and it is already looking awesome.  Seriously brings a tear to my eye.
1:00 - Eat lunch.  
1:30 - Iron Nick's shirts.
 2:00 - Ummmm what am I supposed to do now?  Crawl into bed with Heidi and pass out despite lots of banging and drilling and construction noise.  Oh insomnia, I hate you, but you do provide me with the best day time naps.
3:30 - Nick calls and is on his way home. 
4:00 - Nick gets home.  Show him the kitchen and talk to the kitchen fitters.  He is pumped.  
4:30 - 5:45 - I talk to my husband.  Like actually talk to him.  Without any internet distractions. Amazing.
5:30 - Nick asks if I have looked for jobs today.  I tell him no - I am trying not to use my computer today.  This pisses him off.  He understands the point of not doing useless stuff on the computer, but he thinks I need to be looking for jobs.  
5:35 - I turn on the computer.  I check facebook, I read blogs.
5:45 - I look at a few jobs.
5:55 - I introduce Nick to Total Frat Move.  Hilarious.  But such a waste of time.  He thinks my internet addiction really is a problem.
6:00 - Nick gets ready to go to a work party.  He bought new shoes and a new suit and he looks hot.  I actually take the time to tell him this because I have closed down TFM.  I could tell how good it made him feel.  Must remember to tell him this more often.
6:30 - Nick's cab arrives and I make dinner.
6:30 - 7:00 - Eat dinner in front of computer.  Send Molly a message to tell her I failed on 24 hours unplugged.
7:00 - Turn off computer.  Begin painting wood work in hall way.
8:00 - Mom calls.  Cell phone dies mid conversation.  Ugh.  Must turn computer back on to return her call on Skype.
8:30 - Back to painting.  Computer is left on, meaning I sporadically check email and facebook mid paint, but I try not to do it as much as normal.  And I have a revelation.  More on this later.
10:30 - Finish painting.  Take a much needed bath since we still do not have a shower.  Thats OK though, I used Lush products and that makes life better.  
11:00 Nick comes home.  I check my email and facebook before bed and decide that I have royally FAILED at being unplugged for 24 hours.  


And that my friends is my day unplugged.  Really, I wasn't unplugged at all.  But the truth is, this made me more mindful of my internet usage.   While trying to avoid using the computer made me feel slightly anxious at first, I quickly figured out how much my productivity and enjoyment of the simple things in life would increase if I could manage use it less.  

Also noted, when my computer is turned on, I have the urge to check it more and get sucked in.  If it is turned off, that urge is much MUCH easier to resist.


The thing I think I've realized is this:  Using your computer is like eating.  Hear me out.  It's not a sin.  But if you eat too much, that is gluttony, and that IS a sin.  Likewise, using your (my) computer too often for mindless activity is wasting YOUR (my) potential.  From now on, I will make an effort to use my computer mindfully.  

Can you go 24 hours unplugged? 

Today I am a Negative Nancy

I just need to spill my guts today.  I hope you're OK with that.  

I don't know whether it is the changing of seasons here right now, or the fact that I have inhaled a lot of paint fumes lately, but I am feeling pretty down in the dumps.

It might also be the fact that I've lived off mostly microwaveable food for the past 3 weeks, and it is sure doing weird things to my body.  My skin is worse than it was in high school, I feel fat and bloated, have no energy, and let's just say Nick and I would both benefit from this right now.  I'm not even joking.  How do people live like this all the time?  The large lady in front of us at the grocery store the other day was buying Mac and cheese IN A CAN.  I dry heaved.  Literally.  I didn't even know that existed till then.  The good news is our kitchen arrives Thursday and should be fully functioning by the beginning of next week.

Furthermore, every time I look at the doorsteps of our neighbors, which are devoid of any pumpkins or other Halloween decorations I feel kind of homesick.  Reading your blogs with pretty pictures of fall, apple picking, and Halloween decor is not doing me any good either.  I'm jealous and willing to admit that.  

Lastly, the fact that it is currently mid October and Christmas decorations are on sale is making me feel super anxious about life.  I feel like I have been very unproductive this year.  Like my personal world is changing around me but I'm not really making any of these changes happen like I should be, and I need to be a whole lot more active and creative and goal oriented.  I constantly feel like a lost puppy.  The good news is next week I managed to get 5 weeks of paid work, which will be the first work I have had since December last year, and bringing home a little bacon is sure to make me feel slightly more productive.

Do you ever think about how much time you waste watching TV, facebooking, or whatever else your vice is?  I wish I didn't check my email, facebook, and reader every 5 minutes.  My life would certainly NOT be worse off, but I can't seem to restrain myself.  I think it's an addiction.  Does anyone else have this problem.  Better yet, does anyone have a cure for this problem?  

Also, we really need cheap furniture, and there is no Ikea around here slash we don't have a car (did I mention my license is expired in England now, so even though we want one, I can't drive until I pass the super hard British test, which takes months to book anyways?).  Where do you buy cheap furniture thats not Ikea or stolen from your mom (mum)?  Our clothes are currently hanging in cardboard boxes.  It's not working too well.

That's all.  Sorry for writing an essay.

Lean On Me

This video made my day.

ps.  I hope you have someone to lean on.

pss. If you don't, lean on me.