Yesterday's Hy-Vee Grocery List:
1 container Tidy Cat Cat Litter
1 box organic sensitive systems cat food
7 cans Fancy Feast cat food
2 bags (different flavors) Temptations cat treats
3 frozen dinners (on sale)
2 boxes Macaroni and Cheese
1 bag tortilla chips
1 jar salsa
1 cat toy
The woman working at the checkout looked at me funny, then smiled and asked how many cats I have.
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Monday, April 25, 2011
Results of the "My Next Minnesotan Adventure" Survey
Since I am a huge geek who is kind of lame, loves history, and goes out to intentionally learn more about stuff in my free time and of my own volition, I love to go on little adventures to museums, historical landmarks, or pretty much any educational thing. Also, since I am kind of weird myself, the stranger, odder, more confusing, or quirkier the adventure, the better. This is why I enjoyed Ye Olde Curiosity Shop in Seattle so much. Of course I sincerely got a kick out of the Jacques Cartier House in Montreal as well that provided this confusing and amusing puppet display.
What is happening here?
My geekiness clearly knows no bounds, but it always nice to be terribly, nerdily informed about not only the world, but the place where you live. It is for this reason I decided to start exploring southeastern Minnesota. With the weather turning nice, I also decided to focus on outdoor activities.
What should I do on my next MN adventure?
Tour of Mystery Cave in Forestville | (75%) |
Bluff Country Studio Art Tour in Lanesboro | (0%) |
Niagra Cave tour in Harmony | (0%) |
Bird Banding Whitewater State Park | (0%) |
Mayowood Mansion tour in Rochester | (0%) |
Oxbow Park and Zollman Zoo in Byron | (25%) |
As you can see, it seems I will be going to Mystery Cave in Forestville. Now the only questions that remain are when? who will go with me? and should I take the one or two hour tour?
Unfortunately, only four of you voted. This could be due to the fact that I didn't remind you ever, or it could be that none of you care anything about geeky educational activities available in southeastern Minnesota. Either way, I am a little disappointed. But not that disappointed. I am going to go explore a cave! (Although maybe not until the end of May.) And joke's on you, too, because I still fully intend on going to the Zollman Zoo.
Sunday, April 24, 2011
"I Want a Spring Romance" Playlist
The sun was actually shining today, and it was warm enough that I wore a t-shirt and no jacket today. This is amazing because it actually snowed twice last week.
This warm, bright, happy weather has lifted my spirit. Sure I am currently searching for two jobs, my future is extremely uncertain, my allergies are making my voice husky and nose runny, and so what if a fourth grader basically told me my life was pathetic and I was a lost cause. (Correction - not "basically", that is what the fourth grader said.) The sun is out, the sky is blue, and I feel happy.
All this happiness is making me want to direct my efforts towards cultivating a spring romance. I'm turning into a dopey, lovesick sixteen year old girl, I guess. But I suppose worse things could happen.
In honor of my loss of insanity as well as the recent glimpse of spring, I present to you an "I Want a Spring Romance!" playlist. Please enjoy and make sure you sing along nice and loud. Dancing is also required for most tracks.
Spring Romance - Bend Sinister
Obviously this song makes the cut for a number of reasons. The reason it is at the top of the list is, of course, the title of the song. Besides that, Bend Sinister is awesome, the album is awesome, and I really enjoy the song musically. The content speaks to me as well. On the first listening, you might not be too impressed, so I encourage you to listen to it two or three times in a row, then come back and re-listen the next day. You’ll end up really liking it.
I Want You to Want Me - Cheap Trick
I’ve already discussed this song before, but it is truly a great song. Not only does it necessitate crazy dancing and singing out of tune, but, as I’ve asserted before, it is extremely fun to quote in a serious, conversational tone to friends.
I'm Gonna Be (500 Miles) - The Proclaimers
This annoyingly catchy song has been a part of my life since about the time I learned to ride a bike. It is one of those songs that is both irritating and fantastic simultaneously. In fact, I have recently recovered from a couple-year-spell where I did not particularly care for this song, but now I can listen to it a couple of times in a row and enjoy it more with every playing. It is kind of a sweet song. He’d walk 1,000 miles to fall down at her door. That’s a lot of miles. No one is proclaiming they’d do that for me.
Also, I don’t know what “havering” is, and I know I could easily look it up online, but at this point I feel like it would ruin part of the magic of the song.
And Then He Kissed Me - The Crystals
This Crystals' hit is one of the many songs on my playlist consisting entirely of 1960’s girl group songs. It is a pretty amazing playlist of cliché lyrics, predictable melodies, non-existent harmonies, and fantastic story lines. The Protagitron was once compiling a playlist of teen love tragedy songs, and I suppose this is my not-as-depressing version. “And Then He Kissed Me” is so delightfully upbeat and fun to sing along with. I also enjoy making funny faces and shaking my hips to this ditty while scrubbing the stovetop. It makes chores more fun.
(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones
Though it certainly isn’t for lack of trying.
In a Different Light - The Bangles
This eighties hit is a little creepy, but to be fair, many songs from the eighties were creepy or inappropriate. While most people know “Walk Like an Egyptian” and “Manic Monday” off of this album, this track is actually the name of the entire album. It certainly has a driving beat and a catchy refrain.
She's So High - Tal Bachman
This song really brings me back to middle school. I know that I was a huge dork in middle school, and I know that I am still an enormous geek, and I am ok with that. Recently, Dani went back to our middle school where one of our favorite and most beloved teachers tried to tell her that we were not huge dorks. While I appreciate her effort, I’ve embraced my uncoolness. Anyway, this song was basically on the radio non-stop one year – possibly 7th grade?
It should be noted that while this song was released on cd, it was also released on cassette tape. Remember cassette tapes? I tried to explain what a walkman is to my first graders last week. It did not go well.
Love Man - Otis Redding
While I'm not a man, six feet something, 210 lbs, nor do I want to take out a bunch of girls, I somehow still connect to this song. I don’t know how. It is in many movies that I enjoy, and I really like to circle my hips and skip around while this song plays.
Syrup and Honey - Duffy
You may recognize the distinctive voice from the incredibly popular “Mercy”, but I think this song is just as good. I completely agree with her, too. I don’t want any future significant other wasting money on syrup and honey, because I am sweet enough. Also, I don’t want them spending every minute “making a living” because I’d probably like to see them sometimes, too. I assume we are together because we enjoy each other’s company. Anyway, good song, and should I ever be in a real relationship again, I’m sure I’ll feel something similar.
Oh! Darling - The Beatles
Ever since I got my driver’s license, I’ve loved – LOVED – listening to this song at an alarmingly loud volume on repeat while basically screaming the lyrics and using my entire upper body to emphasize certain words.
If You Wanna Be Happy – Jimmy Soul
I once had a good friend tell me this song gave her hope. She’s of course ridiculous since she is an amazing and beautiful person, although she’d probably deny it until her face turned blue. As someone who is not, shall we say, “pretty”?, I get a kick out of this song. Sure I’m not gorgeous, but there are certainly good things about that. Plus, I love the screaming in the song that reminds me of Scuttle from Disney’s “The Little Mermaid”.
Luckiest Guy on the Lower East Side - The Magnetic Fields
Again, I know I’ve already discussed this song, but I really, truly enjoy it. It is one of the songs that really got me interested in The Magnetic Fields. It is quirky and funny and real, and I certainly appreciate that.
Ain't We Got Fun - Doris Day with The Norman Luboff Choir; Paul Weston & His Orchestra
Off my album “Ain’t Misbehavin’”, I can’t help but raise my eyebrows and pretend like I know how to dance like they did back in the Roaring Twenties.
Hold Me Tight - Evan Rachel Wood (from "Across the Universe")
A Beatle’s cover, I actually prefer the version from the movie to the original. “Hold Me Tight” is a good song to belt out at while really shaking it at a stop light on the drive to work. It sounds better if the window is rolled down. It is simple science, really.
You Really Got Me - The Kinks
I actually really like The Kinks, and while this is definitely one of their most popular songs, it should not be discounted because of it. One of the best parts of this song is mimicking some of the interesting vowel pronunciations. Did I mention I’m a huge geek?
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
Maybe I licked my phone. Maybe I didn't.
Oftentimes I make questionable decisions, especially when I am alone and there is no one near to judge me. Of course, even with people around to judge me and deter me from questionable decisions, I may still proceed because I have little shame. The whole point of being judged by other people - and having a fear of being judged by other people - I think is to make you stop and think twice before doing something that society frowns upon or that just might not be good for you. Sometimes I shrug and carry on anyway.
Take for example, my habit of eating food I find on my apartment floor. (Please note that I do not eat food that I find on the floor in my classroom. That would be gross, and I would certainly have several dibilitating diseases now if I did that.) If I find a piece of popcorn on the rug near the couch, I totally eat that. If I find a jellybean in bed, even if I can't remember the last time I had a jellybean, I eat it. After swallowing, I might begin to think about how long that jellybean has been in the sheets, but whatever. I have no regrets. A marshmallow falls on the kitchen floor and I don't find it until the next evening. That marshmallow is still good!
Unfortunately, this inability to hesitate before eating food can sometimes backfire. I don't mean that I eat a piece of popcorn that has been under the couch for a month and then I get sick. That could possibly happen, but it would never teach me to stop eating popcorn off my floor. I'm not that smart. (Or maybe I'm just incorrigible and adorably stubborn?) The kind of "backfiring" I am talking about is when I eat something off the floor, out of the couch, or out of the bedsheets, and it turns out not to be food. Maybe it is a piece of fuzz. Maybe it is something else. I don't know.
Maybe just now after eating popcorn, I sat back down and thought I saw a piece of popcorn on my phone. Maybe I then licked my phone to make sure that the popcorn made it into my mouth and didn't fall on the floor and also to get over the need for an intermediary (my hands). Maybe then that piece of popcorn turned out to be a piece of paper. Maybe I hesitated before spitting it out.
Maybe.
Take for example, my habit of eating food I find on my apartment floor. (Please note that I do not eat food that I find on the floor in my classroom. That would be gross, and I would certainly have several dibilitating diseases now if I did that.) If I find a piece of popcorn on the rug near the couch, I totally eat that. If I find a jellybean in bed, even if I can't remember the last time I had a jellybean, I eat it. After swallowing, I might begin to think about how long that jellybean has been in the sheets, but whatever. I have no regrets. A marshmallow falls on the kitchen floor and I don't find it until the next evening. That marshmallow is still good!
Unfortunately, this inability to hesitate before eating food can sometimes backfire. I don't mean that I eat a piece of popcorn that has been under the couch for a month and then I get sick. That could possibly happen, but it would never teach me to stop eating popcorn off my floor. I'm not that smart. (Or maybe I'm just incorrigible and adorably stubborn?) The kind of "backfiring" I am talking about is when I eat something off the floor, out of the couch, or out of the bedsheets, and it turns out not to be food. Maybe it is a piece of fuzz. Maybe it is something else. I don't know.
Maybe just now after eating popcorn, I sat back down and thought I saw a piece of popcorn on my phone. Maybe I then licked my phone to make sure that the popcorn made it into my mouth and didn't fall on the floor and also to get over the need for an intermediary (my hands). Maybe then that piece of popcorn turned out to be a piece of paper. Maybe I hesitated before spitting it out.
Maybe.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
My Next Big Investment?
Are you sick and tired of normal toilets? Yeah. Me, too. If your current toilet only does standard toilet-y things, then your current toilet is not only sub-par, but lame.
Luckily, Kohler has created a new super-toilet that I'm sure will be in all American and Canadian homes by the end of this year. According to David Kohler, the company's president, "The luxury market's coming back in this country and (is) very strong in other parts of the world. This product is targeted at those consumers who want the best -- they want the latest in design and technology (and) want a fashion statement in their home." (USA Today) I couldn't agree more. As a United Statian (I'm convinced this will catch on.), I am always thinking about how the perfect way to integrate more technology and design into my home is to buy a really expensive toilet.
Oh, no - wait - that's not right. I have the bare minimum technology in my home, which is decorated primarily with used or clearance furniture as well as an eclectic variety of artwork, vases, trinkets from my travels, and books. While none of it goes together, I like to believe their is cohesiveness in the discontinuity of my decor. Also, I'm a renter, so the last thing I would think about spending money on is a luxury toilet.
Perhaps I am an American anomaly, however, and the rest of you are all lusting after fancy deluxe toilets. If that is the case, then you are going to be extremely excited by Kohler's Numi toilet.
As you can see from their website, the Numi toilet is an amazing piece of art with extraordinary features in design, comfort, and control. Not only does this toilet look really cool, but it has several, necessary technological features. Some of them actually seem like they would be pretty nice, such as the heated seat. The foot warmer also seems pretty nifty, although not really necessary. We have already invented socks, after all.
But while some features, such as the above mentioned, seem luxurious in a very reasonable way, the many other features of the Numi toilet verge on ridiculous. The toilet is covered in motion sensors, I guess, so that the lid raises and lowers as you go in and out of the bathroom. Even more sensors at the floor level have the toilet deciding for you if the seat should go up or down. I won't lie to you friends - If I walked into my bathroom more than half asleep at 3am, the whole movement of the lid going up and down might scare the living daylights out of me. It isn't just a little movement. Check it out.
Of course the advanced bidet functionality with integrated air dryer offers more than one setting. Not only can you choose the wand position, water temperature, and pressure, but you can choose between an oscillating, pulsating, or wave patterns. Naturally, the integrated air dryer provides more efficient drying. What did people do before integrated air dryers on their advanced bidet functionalities? That certainly could not have been efficient!
Another delightful feature of Kohler's Numi toilet are the illuminated panels on the side that supposedly create "a soft, inviting glow". My current toilet doesn't light up at all, let alone provide a "soft, inviting glow"!
Perhaps my favorite toilet feature of all time, however, is the music feature. The Numi has built in speakers, and not only can you choose to listen to pre-programmed audio, but you can scan through FM radio stations or the tracks on your mp3 player. How awesome is that? I wonder what kind of pre-programmed audio the Kohler folk chose to put on the Numi? Given its $6,300 USD price tag, I assume it is Handel's "Messiah", Beethoven's 9th Symphony, and various other grand musical compositions. For this price, an actual string quartet should come serenade the person.
I always thought that Japan was the country obsessed with oddly unnecessary technological advances in the field of toilets, but I guess I was wrong. Gone are the days where Japan leads the world in completely unnecessarily advanced toilets. The United States wants in on this crazy.
This young man has made a video of the toilet. I also learned from his blog that the touchscreen mini-pad can operate the toilet from up to twenty feet away. Unlike this man, however, I can understand why you would want to be able to control the toilet from twenty feet away. If a person spends all their money on a toilet, and that toilet has a built in radio/mp3 player, you have to be able to sit in the living room and continue enjoying the features of your ridiculously expensive toilet.
So even though I rent an apartment, I am a young, single teacher with student loans, I am currently scouring the job boards, and I have an uncertain economic future, I am still considering the Kohler Numi toilet as my next big investment.
That's a lie. No, I'm not. I am, however, seriously considering buying a pint of ice cream tomorrow.
Luckily, Kohler has created a new super-toilet that I'm sure will be in all American and Canadian homes by the end of this year. According to David Kohler, the company's president, "The luxury market's coming back in this country and (is) very strong in other parts of the world. This product is targeted at those consumers who want the best -- they want the latest in design and technology (and) want a fashion statement in their home." (USA Today) I couldn't agree more. As a United Statian (I'm convinced this will catch on.), I am always thinking about how the perfect way to integrate more technology and design into my home is to buy a really expensive toilet.
Oh, no - wait - that's not right. I have the bare minimum technology in my home, which is decorated primarily with used or clearance furniture as well as an eclectic variety of artwork, vases, trinkets from my travels, and books. While none of it goes together, I like to believe their is cohesiveness in the discontinuity of my decor. Also, I'm a renter, so the last thing I would think about spending money on is a luxury toilet.
Perhaps I am an American anomaly, however, and the rest of you are all lusting after fancy deluxe toilets. If that is the case, then you are going to be extremely excited by Kohler's Numi toilet.
As you can see from their website, the Numi toilet is an amazing piece of art with extraordinary features in design, comfort, and control. Not only does this toilet look really cool, but it has several, necessary technological features. Some of them actually seem like they would be pretty nice, such as the heated seat. The foot warmer also seems pretty nifty, although not really necessary. We have already invented socks, after all.
But while some features, such as the above mentioned, seem luxurious in a very reasonable way, the many other features of the Numi toilet verge on ridiculous. The toilet is covered in motion sensors, I guess, so that the lid raises and lowers as you go in and out of the bathroom. Even more sensors at the floor level have the toilet deciding for you if the seat should go up or down. I won't lie to you friends - If I walked into my bathroom more than half asleep at 3am, the whole movement of the lid going up and down might scare the living daylights out of me. It isn't just a little movement. Check it out.
Of course the advanced bidet functionality with integrated air dryer offers more than one setting. Not only can you choose the wand position, water temperature, and pressure, but you can choose between an oscillating, pulsating, or wave patterns. Naturally, the integrated air dryer provides more efficient drying. What did people do before integrated air dryers on their advanced bidet functionalities? That certainly could not have been efficient!
Another delightful feature of Kohler's Numi toilet are the illuminated panels on the side that supposedly create "a soft, inviting glow". My current toilet doesn't light up at all, let alone provide a "soft, inviting glow"!
Perhaps my favorite toilet feature of all time, however, is the music feature. The Numi has built in speakers, and not only can you choose to listen to pre-programmed audio, but you can scan through FM radio stations or the tracks on your mp3 player. How awesome is that? I wonder what kind of pre-programmed audio the Kohler folk chose to put on the Numi? Given its $6,300 USD price tag, I assume it is Handel's "Messiah", Beethoven's 9th Symphony, and various other grand musical compositions. For this price, an actual string quartet should come serenade the person.
I always thought that Japan was the country obsessed with oddly unnecessary technological advances in the field of toilets, but I guess I was wrong. Gone are the days where Japan leads the world in completely unnecessarily advanced toilets. The United States wants in on this crazy.
This young man has made a video of the toilet. I also learned from his blog that the touchscreen mini-pad can operate the toilet from up to twenty feet away. Unlike this man, however, I can understand why you would want to be able to control the toilet from twenty feet away. If a person spends all their money on a toilet, and that toilet has a built in radio/mp3 player, you have to be able to sit in the living room and continue enjoying the features of your ridiculously expensive toilet.
So even though I rent an apartment, I am a young, single teacher with student loans, I am currently scouring the job boards, and I have an uncertain economic future, I am still considering the Kohler Numi toilet as my next big investment.
That's a lie. No, I'm not. I am, however, seriously considering buying a pint of ice cream tomorrow.
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Feeding the Birds
This evening I accomplished something I've been dreaming of for about five months now, and it feels good. When I lived with my parents, one of my favorite things was watching the birds. Their house has many windows, and outside many of these windows are bird feeders or bird baths where I could watch a variety of birds from woodpeckers and nuthatches to cardinals and goldfinches.
While living in Montreal, not only did I not have the energy or the level of commitment to purchase, set-up, and maintain a bird feeder, but I'm pretty sure it only would have attracted pigeons. This would have been bad since I don't particularly care for pigeons, and our landlords were actually taking measures to ward off the pigeons. Putting up a bird feeder would have been very counterproductive.
Now in Rochester in my second floor apartment, I have been dreaming of putting up a bird feeder. Right now I can watch the occasional bird in the tree that grows right up against the house, or I can stand at the window and watch them hop around in the yard, but I want more of them up close! Now, I could buy a shepherd's hook and hang it out in the yard, but then I would have to stand at the window and look down. This would mean I would miss a lot of the bird feeding activity. This would be less than ideal.
Growing up one year, my family received a bird feeder with a one-way mirror that hung in the kitchen window. Gradually, the suction cups gave way and that particular bird feeder fell to its death from the kitchen window onto the rocks two stories below, but I got it in my head last month that that was the kind of bird feeder I need.
Since that idea burrowed into my head, I have been casually browsing for such a bird feeder whenever I went to any sort of store. Unfortunately, these window bird feeders are apparently hard to come by. This evening, however, I decided enough was enough and I was going to find that bird feeder, fill it with bird seed, and hang it in the window or die trying! Alright, maybe I didn't want to die trying, but I was pretty determined.
First, I went to the feed store at the corner of Broadway and US-14. Certainly such a place has a variety of bird feeding apparatuses. Most of my parents' bird feeders were purchased at the local feed store in their town. Unfortunately, this particular Rochester feed store is closed on Sundays.
Not at all deterred, I continued on my quest, driving southbound on Broadway. I did a drive-by of the tractor store since I remembered seeing advertisements for birdseed there a while back. After a skeptical look at the outside and a cursory examination of the trucks in the parking lot, I decided that this was probably not the store I was looking for, so I continued to weave through the business park.
It was a bit confusing, but I did manage to zig and zag and make it to Fleet Farm. Once inside, I turned right and found lots of interesting things including camouflage bikinis and archery equipment, but not bird feeders. I asked a gal if they carried bird feeders, even though I was 99% sure they did and probably could have just wandered around the behemoth store and eventually find them. She smiled and chattered away to me about the beauty of an outdoors store as she led me to their enormous bird feeder selection. It was truly amazing, and they had so many that I liked! However, they did not have any that hang in windows, nor did they have any devices that I could find to hang a bird feeder in the window. I was about to go through their stock a bit more thoroughly when it was time for the store to close, so I moseyed back out to my car.
Once in the car, I zipped across the street to Lowe's and immediately found the birdseed and feeder section. While significantly smaller than the selection at Fleet Farm, Lowe's had what I was looking for. I purchased to little window hooks with suction cups that can each hold up to five pounds. Then I purchased a suet cage for less than two dollars, and some nut-free berry suet for less than two dollars. Since I also like birds such as chickadees, I wanted a non-suet feeder as well, but the limited selection made it difficult to find a small feeder that would weight less than five pounds when filled with seed that I could hang practically up against the window. Eventually I settled on a pre-filled sack of seeds that has thistle in it, which should attract goldfinches. This set me back about five dollars.
More than pleased with my purchases, I rode home with the sunroof open, singing along to my music at the top of my lungs. Once in the door, I immediately set to work setting up both feeders in the only living room window that doesn't have a screen. I would hang one up in the kitchen window to watch as I do the dishes, but I don't particularly want to encourage the cat to start sitting in the sink. I could also hang one up in the bedroom window that doesn't have a screen, but I spend almost no time awake in my bedroom, and would not be able to enjoy the feeders as much in there. So, I decided to attach them both to one of the living room windows. Perhaps the neighbor will get a kick out of this as well, as it is the window facing her living room window.
Read for action, I cooked myself some dinner and sat in the living room doing work on the computer and watching television. Alas, no birds have come to the feeder yet. I know that I set the feeders up late in the day, and also bird need time to scope out food sources and will watch a bit before determining the feeders safe, but I can't but help feel a little disappointed. Now a little after 8pm and officially dark out, I will close the blinds, but you can bet they'll be open bright and early at 6am tomorrow!
I fully intend on watching happy little birds eat at my bird feeders every morning while drinking my tea. I'm sure Squeaky will enjoy the new "Kitty TV" as well.
While living in Montreal, not only did I not have the energy or the level of commitment to purchase, set-up, and maintain a bird feeder, but I'm pretty sure it only would have attracted pigeons. This would have been bad since I don't particularly care for pigeons, and our landlords were actually taking measures to ward off the pigeons. Putting up a bird feeder would have been very counterproductive.
Now in Rochester in my second floor apartment, I have been dreaming of putting up a bird feeder. Right now I can watch the occasional bird in the tree that grows right up against the house, or I can stand at the window and watch them hop around in the yard, but I want more of them up close! Now, I could buy a shepherd's hook and hang it out in the yard, but then I would have to stand at the window and look down. This would mean I would miss a lot of the bird feeding activity. This would be less than ideal.
Growing up one year, my family received a bird feeder with a one-way mirror that hung in the kitchen window. Gradually, the suction cups gave way and that particular bird feeder fell to its death from the kitchen window onto the rocks two stories below, but I got it in my head last month that that was the kind of bird feeder I need.
Since that idea burrowed into my head, I have been casually browsing for such a bird feeder whenever I went to any sort of store. Unfortunately, these window bird feeders are apparently hard to come by. This evening, however, I decided enough was enough and I was going to find that bird feeder, fill it with bird seed, and hang it in the window or die trying! Alright, maybe I didn't want to die trying, but I was pretty determined.
First, I went to the feed store at the corner of Broadway and US-14. Certainly such a place has a variety of bird feeding apparatuses. Most of my parents' bird feeders were purchased at the local feed store in their town. Unfortunately, this particular Rochester feed store is closed on Sundays.
Not at all deterred, I continued on my quest, driving southbound on Broadway. I did a drive-by of the tractor store since I remembered seeing advertisements for birdseed there a while back. After a skeptical look at the outside and a cursory examination of the trucks in the parking lot, I decided that this was probably not the store I was looking for, so I continued to weave through the business park.
It was a bit confusing, but I did manage to zig and zag and make it to Fleet Farm. Once inside, I turned right and found lots of interesting things including camouflage bikinis and archery equipment, but not bird feeders. I asked a gal if they carried bird feeders, even though I was 99% sure they did and probably could have just wandered around the behemoth store and eventually find them. She smiled and chattered away to me about the beauty of an outdoors store as she led me to their enormous bird feeder selection. It was truly amazing, and they had so many that I liked! However, they did not have any that hang in windows, nor did they have any devices that I could find to hang a bird feeder in the window. I was about to go through their stock a bit more thoroughly when it was time for the store to close, so I moseyed back out to my car.
Once in the car, I zipped across the street to Lowe's and immediately found the birdseed and feeder section. While significantly smaller than the selection at Fleet Farm, Lowe's had what I was looking for. I purchased to little window hooks with suction cups that can each hold up to five pounds. Then I purchased a suet cage for less than two dollars, and some nut-free berry suet for less than two dollars. Since I also like birds such as chickadees, I wanted a non-suet feeder as well, but the limited selection made it difficult to find a small feeder that would weight less than five pounds when filled with seed that I could hang practically up against the window. Eventually I settled on a pre-filled sack of seeds that has thistle in it, which should attract goldfinches. This set me back about five dollars.
More than pleased with my purchases, I rode home with the sunroof open, singing along to my music at the top of my lungs. Once in the door, I immediately set to work setting up both feeders in the only living room window that doesn't have a screen. I would hang one up in the kitchen window to watch as I do the dishes, but I don't particularly want to encourage the cat to start sitting in the sink. I could also hang one up in the bedroom window that doesn't have a screen, but I spend almost no time awake in my bedroom, and would not be able to enjoy the feeders as much in there. So, I decided to attach them both to one of the living room windows. Perhaps the neighbor will get a kick out of this as well, as it is the window facing her living room window.
Read for action, I cooked myself some dinner and sat in the living room doing work on the computer and watching television. Alas, no birds have come to the feeder yet. I know that I set the feeders up late in the day, and also bird need time to scope out food sources and will watch a bit before determining the feeders safe, but I can't but help feel a little disappointed. Now a little after 8pm and officially dark out, I will close the blinds, but you can bet they'll be open bright and early at 6am tomorrow!
I fully intend on watching happy little birds eat at my bird feeders every morning while drinking my tea. I'm sure Squeaky will enjoy the new "Kitty TV" as well.
Friday, April 15, 2011
Going Popless
'Tis the season of Lent, in case you didn't know, and this year I gave up pop. It wasn't that I drink a lot of pop, I just noticed that I was enjoying an impulse buy bottle of Coke more often at lunch, or if I went out with friends, they'd often have alcoholic beverages, while I would suck down a couple more Cokes or Pepsis. It just felt like while I wasn't out of control yet, it could've easily gone that way.
And so I decided to nip the problem in the bud and give up pop for lent. And things were going pretty well until today.
Today I had many data meetings at work where we sat in a room looking at enormous spreadsheets of data making decisions and highlighting qualifying markers, etc, and then typing this information into another spreadsheet. It was tedious and not terribly interesting, and everyone else in all of my meetings had a bottle of pop.
OH MAN did I want a bottle of pop. Everyone else was sitting there, chugging their sugary, effervescent goodness while I sat there with nothing but a highlighter and a pen. I couldn't even doodle or write snide comments or reminders to myself on the spreadsheets, because other people had to look at them.
I guess mostly I wanted the bottle of pop as a fidget - something to play with or something to do during the meetings, but truth be told, the extra caffeine and sugar was pretty enticing as well. I managed to stave off temptation, but that was partially because I was scheduled for back-to-back meetings in the same room, so I couldn't even have gone to get one if I wanted to.
But let's pretend it was sheer will. Or even better, pretend I wasn't even tempted.
And so I decided to nip the problem in the bud and give up pop for lent. And things were going pretty well until today.
Today I had many data meetings at work where we sat in a room looking at enormous spreadsheets of data making decisions and highlighting qualifying markers, etc, and then typing this information into another spreadsheet. It was tedious and not terribly interesting, and everyone else in all of my meetings had a bottle of pop.
OH MAN did I want a bottle of pop. Everyone else was sitting there, chugging their sugary, effervescent goodness while I sat there with nothing but a highlighter and a pen. I couldn't even doodle or write snide comments or reminders to myself on the spreadsheets, because other people had to look at them.
I guess mostly I wanted the bottle of pop as a fidget - something to play with or something to do during the meetings, but truth be told, the extra caffeine and sugar was pretty enticing as well. I managed to stave off temptation, but that was partially because I was scheduled for back-to-back meetings in the same room, so I couldn't even have gone to get one if I wanted to.
But let's pretend it was sheer will. Or even better, pretend I wasn't even tempted.
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