Thing-a-day.com

Day 5 ended up with me sleeping after a long day.  I had a job interview in North Philly which I was skeptical about but ended up loving it.  It’s an intimate environment, I would be a lead teacher for about 30 neighborhood kids in an after school program.  It would involve other things than just teaching because it’s so small.  I wouldn’t get paid alot but I would get health, dental, and vision coverage which is what I need in life right now.  It went pretty well and I’m excited about taking the offer, it will be a great opportunity.  I also bought plane tickets to Manchester, England to visit friends.  I actually bought them on Monday but I got my ticket confirmation yesterday.  I’m really psyched about this trip, I haven’t seen my friends in England since I left in June, 2004.   I went to the gym, where I did weight training on my own for the first time.  I had to have my little chart with me and I tucked it into my pants when I didn’t need it.  I’m sure I got some stares on that one.  I went running as well, I didn’t do as great as I wanted to, only 2 miles.  I kept getting side stitches which hasn’t really happened much before.  Anyway……moving on.

I didn’t take a picture for Day 6, I should probably take one tomorrow.  I made vegetarian chili, and it was pretty good.  I consulted two books and decided on my spices.  I chopped a whole medium sized onion and sauteed it in olive oil, and added veggie crumbles to it.  I poured a little water in like a half a cup.  Then I added, a can each of tomato sauce, red and white kidney beans, black beans, and diced tomatoes.  The spices I added were cumin, paprika, chile powder, red pepper powder, garlic powder, cinnamon, black pepper, and a little salt.  I threw in some frozen peppers and onions, and a little hot sauce.  Then, I remembered I half a Dagoba dark chocolate bar with chile nibs in it, yup, I cut it up and threw it in the pot.  I let it simmer for a half hour, and it was pretty delish.  I ate it up with a salad and some cornbread.  The heat of it is very deceiving, I love when chili doesn’t seem too spicy at first but then after awhile it builds up and your nose starts clearing.  Mmmmmmm…..

I really used to take Chinese New Year for granted when I was younger. My family would have all manner of activities and festivities to ring in the New Year. It seems like we celebrated for an entire month. Since I moved away from them a few years ago I’ve really started to miss and appreciate all the fun and lively decorations and customs we had. This year I’m trying to do make sure I carry on some of the traditions of Chinese New Year and also make some New Year’s crafts. Since 2008 is the Year of the Rat I designed some mouse paper tonight:

so I could make some very simple paper lanterns with them:

They kind of turned out looking like aliens, but they were fun Happy New Year!

Today I made another accordion book. I wasn’t as happy with this one as the last one, but it will work and it did turn out okay in the end.

My girls made projects today as well, but I’m not sure where they left them =)

My cat’s demanding a lap so I have to right this quickly (back off, kitty!). I framed a piece of sheer fabric that I had laying around. The fabric has these floral appliques adhered to it. I backed the sheer fabric with a light turquoise fabric, and wrapped it all (no kitty, bad kitty!) around a piece of adhesive foam core. Then I lined the edge with two different kinds of ribbon. I was going to do two of these, but I ran out of ribbon, and since it’s a 20-odd year old remnant, I don’t think I’ll be able to find any more of it. Anyway, here it is. Sorry the picture’s so dark, but I have terrible lighting in my house. I’ll try to get a better photo tomorrow.

It’s been a long day. I chose to wrap an empty tin with some pretty Martha Stewart wrapping paper. I can’t decide if I should spray paint the lid white? I already switched the original red one for this black one. Thoughts?

The yoga poses written out will have to wait until another day…

Day 6 shall be that other day. Yoga poses shall be written out and placed in the tin.

Today I have achieved the following…

Day 5

Super Tuesday is finally here. We have been on street corners, crossroads and making phone calls. Observing the pprocess by working it gives me an entirely new perspective.