Over the Hump

Hooray- we made it over the hump! The end of the week is around the corner, and I'm liking that trajectory. It has been a little while since my last post - what have I been doing, you ask?

Well, I found out that I didn't get the comm/sales job that I didn't really want. The feeling of relief was incredible.  So I've successfully (or should I say unsuccessfully?) gone through the entire internal hiring process for both jobs now.

In other news, we got a new couch. Well, technically it was a hand-me-down. I LOVE it and Cricket is also a fan. Great color, cozy, and hardly worn at all. When you sit on it, it holds you up! Who knew.

She looks like she's saying "pet my belly," but this is actually a trap.

I'm also working on a few creative projects - it never ceases to amaze me how much joy I get from sitting down with fabric/embroidery or paper/photos for a few hours and making something new. Or even just for an hour. This summer I'm planning to finally learn to knit dishcloths (I know, it is so easy, I've just never taken the time) - because they are my dish scrubbing tool of choice - not to mention that they're super cute.

Other than that, I've continued to be obsessed with soft-boiled eggs. I make them on the weekends for breakfast. Check this out! I mean, it is a peeled egg that maintains it's shape and is filled with warm liquid yolk! David Chang would be proud.

Submerge egg in boiling water 5 min.
Move to ice bath (or cold water).
When cool, peel egg carefully.

Slice up and add salt, pepper, and your choice hot sauce.

Victory

Haruki Murakami, one of my favorite authors, was anticipated to win the nobel prize in literature this year, but was not selected. I was also recently NOT selected for something - for the job I wanted. But hey, I DID finish Murakami's newest book this week - 1Q84 - and it was masterful so we both win. It is definitely the longest book that I've ever read - over 900 pages. And yet, the entire book manages to be suspenseful. Can't wait to read another of his books, although I've got a stack to read before I go back to Murakami. Next up, the newest Michael Chabon novel - Telegraph Avenue.

Other notes:

- I just made a baked pasta dish. If you know me you know that this is my least favorite style of food, but it hit the spot on this, our first day of "snow" (really, it was just a few flakes).

- SB is so great. I'm having a blast day-to-day with him. All of those nerdy quotes that essentially say that marriage is living with your best friend and is therefore the best thing ever, they're so true. Get this - our Monday night tradition is watching the next episode of Star Trek -- because we're watching the ENTIRE original series (and then the Next Generation series) IN SUCCESSION and we both LOVE it. Love.

- I made my own chicken stock from scratch for the first time last weekend. I was so ashamed of wasting our past chicken carcasses and I finally made it happen. Got three pints out of the deal. Looking forward to trying it out this week.

- I started a new craft project. More to come on that soon...

- Also, read these blogs: The Blogess and Maddie the Coonhound. They are my new staples.

You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go

This week's CSA share. Next week is the last box! I'm going to miss it.

Soaking up the Color

The week is looking sunny and warm - perfect weather for getting outside and enjoying the vibrant autumn colors in the treetops. Fall is upon us! In honor of it, a seasonal poem:

III. NATURE. XXVIII. AUTUMN.

Emily Dickinson

The morns are meeker than they were,


The nuts are getting brown;


The berry's cheek is plumper,


The rose is out of town.

The maple wears a gayer scarf,


The field a scarlet gown.


Lest I should be old-fashioned,


I'll put a trinket on.

As was stated in a recent post - my work dynamic and feelings toward it change every day. Today I had another interview and a first interaction with my new supervisor. I felt fine about the interview, and the meeting with my temporary new boss was great. She is going to train me in new (to me) areas of marketing research and expose me to interesting data that we collect at a national level. I'm feeling like I'll be making an important contribution again - and perhaps more than I ever have before at the organization - wahoo! :)

Lesson learned: change is never as bad as I anticipate, and can be quite rewarding!

Autumn Beer

Autumn is, for my palate, the best of all beer seasons. Malty, spicy, and often sweet - and sometimes even featuring winter vegetables - I love it all.

Best beers so far:

Sweet Yamma Jamma - a new seasonal beer this year from Indeed, my new favorite local brewery. Amazing can artwork, humble brewery space, and a variety of very delicious beers. Not all hops, like the snobs like! They make 'em any way you want 'em.

Shipyard Smashed Pumpkin Ale - I had this with a few other pumpkin beers one night with friends, and I liked this best - had the pumpkin spice and vanilla just right.

Tommyknocker Pumpkin Harvest Ale - had this at our favorite little gastropub - the rich maltiness was pure deliciousness.

Pumking - a usual favorite of SB's. The quintessential pumpkin beer. Always in high demand at the liquor store.