Paying for procrastination

During the past few weeks, I've managed to bring my already admirable level of procrastination to new levels. It's amazing how long you can put off buying food, doing laundry, getting a new passport, preparing for a parsha chabura, repairing boots, and paying bills if you're really determined. Fortunately, my determination is strong.

Though in the past few days I've caved in to most of my list, and will probably have to deal with the rest of it before the weekend is out. Notably, I got my black boots repaired a couple of days ago, which I've been putting off since last winter. Why is this significant? Well, try walking around the city in a skirt without the benefit of at least having knee-high boots to keep you somewhat warm. I've been going around in my brown knee-high boots in the meantime, but it only matches 2 skirts I own, and there's only so often I can get away wearing a jean skirt at the office. It's nice having my black boots back.

I also finally went to get a new passport today, now that I've gotten enough ID to prove that I exist. Hopefully I'll receive it before I go to Israel in 2.5 weeks, otherwise, apparently, I won't be going. And in this case, my procrastination only cost me an extra $60 to get the expedited service. Zoinks.

I put off preparing for an informal shiur I sometimes give until last night at 5pm. When does the shiur take place? Oh, at 9pm. I actually put together something I was fairly happy with (Why the makkot are divided into 2 separate parshiot, why specifically does G-d harden Par'oh's heart for these last three, and why should we care?). Unfortunately, no one ended showing up. Which ends up being really discouraging, somewhat embarassing (did they hate the last one?), and very annoying since I could've gone out to dinner with a friend instead. Or done laundry.

Which I suppose I can't procrastinate for any longer, so that'll be my excitement for tonight. But bills are too depressing. I think I'll make those wait a bit longer. Food can wait too. I still have half a pint of ice cream in the freezer.

Mazel tov

To me and CF, who during our Tuesday night chavrusa this week, finished Sefer Hoshea! It was really difficult language, and I feel like I don't understand half of what we learned, but I'm deluding myself into thinking that if we would go over it again, it would be way easier and quicker. It's amazing how long it takes to do 14 p'rakim.

On to Yoel next week!

wondering

Why I still get surprised and disappointed and somewhat disgusted when I find out about orthodox friends and their 'unorthodox' doings. it's just very frustrating when there are many of us who do try to keep our behaviors in check and attitudes and beliefs steady and growing. It's the difference, I suppose, as someone put it to me many years ago, between being outwardly observant and being genuinely religious. It's just hard to tell them apart until you see actions that were supposed to go unnoticed.

But if you're not religious, why go through the bother of putting up a front?

chinese travel

Went to a wedding in Boston yesterday, and decided to leave on motzei, taking the Chinese bus. It was unbelievable--$10 for a bus ride that would be about $70 on Greyhound. It goes from Chinatown to Chinatown, and was half-empty (at least, my bus was). I have no idea how they make money, but I'm certainly not complaining.

Of course, I more than made up for the money I saved when I realized, 2 hours into the busride, that I had left my wedding shoes in NYC. Oops--now that's typically me. So I hit the stores second thing on Sunday morning, picked up a pair of gorgeous 3-inch heels for way too much money (which I really could use them in any case, so it wasn't that useless). Came back to my friend's at 12:25, and got to the wedding at 1:30. I could improve my timing, but it was pretty impressive, I thought. Plus, I squeezed in getting together with some old friends for breakfast beforehand.

I got a lift back to the city with some girls who I was so impressed with, but also got me feeling very frustrated. These were 2 girls, both of whom went to Bais Yakov, and then to BJJ, then to great colleges in their respective hometowns. One's now working, the other's in med school, and they were just incredibly frum, down-to-earth, intelligent, and fun, and I left them wondering where are the equivalent guys for them? I certainly haven't come across anything similar to them in my dating adventures.

Amazing Grace...

All these colors! I got a new computer at work today, and this screen's colors seem to be much more accurate than the old laptop I was using beforehand. Comes in handy when I'm viewing things coming into our department from design. And, more important than just work-related benefits, I can now see my friends' blogs how they were meant to be seen, instead of blinding blues and purples. Sorry to all those who asked me for color-based opinions when I was on my old PC. Was blind, but now I see.

From here on, I have no excuse for my lack of taste (at least in the blog-designing area).

reaching new lows...

Answered the door to a chasid from Israel collecting money for a Yeshiva there. After I gave him a check, he was going to make out a tax receipt for me, and pointed to my name on the check... (imagine the rest of this conversation going on in Hebrew)...

'What's your husband's name?'
'I don't have one'
'What?'
'I don't have a husband'
'Ah' [and here he turns over a piece of paper which has a variety of scribbling on it] 'I do shidduchim too! What are you looking for?'
'Really, it's ok. Have a good day.'

No offense to him, but I don't think he'd be able to find an appropriate match for me. And don't say 'You never know,' because sometimes, you just do.

Shiny happy cellphones

I caught a cold over the weekend. Which didn't stop me from going skiing yesterday with JJ and SR, so I couldn't really justify not showing up at work today. So here I am, at work, blogging, instead of figuring out all the issues that went wrong on Friday before I left. Who can remember that far back anyway?

In other news--I've finally joined the 20th century (just a little behind the times)... I picked up a cell phone on Sunday! It's purty. And I can take pictures with it (completely unnecessary, but how fun!). All shiny and new. As EDL would say... precioussssss.

Sigh

I almost went on a ski trip this morning. Two days in Vermont. But I don't know many other girls around here who go skiing, and couldn't find one willing to go so last minute, in time to catch the ride up there. I'll just have to settle for going to a local place tomorrow. On the bright side, at least I'll be able to go shopping today. That is, if I can get myself out of my apartment before all the stores close.

Going to eat breakfast now.

Saving Marriage

I wonder if he'll give me a scholarship to get married...

the tooth fairy visits

And charges me everything she used to give me. plus interest. plus inflation. It's a good thing I only used to get a quarter.

My wisdom teeth left me on Friday, and thank G-d I got them all out at once, since there's no way I would go back. The laughing gas made me cry, the painkillers made me ralph, I'm still swollen, and was thoroughly miserable. But now I'm better. Mostly. Really the guy was pretty good, it's not his fault that my body can't deal with any painkiller stronger than Aleve. Oh well.

I had many DVDs to get me through (thanks for all the donations). Plus, I found a copy of Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure in the bookstore on Friday morning. It was excellent. Well, now I've had enough of baby food, and am ready to go on to semi-grown up food (I had pizza last night for dinner, and even though I had to cut it into small pieces, I was thrilled to be having something solid). Thanks for all the phone calls, advice, and well-wishing.

ouch.

Horse Glue

I was reading an article this morning that reminded me of a conversation I had with my sister and sister-in-law on Chanukah. I said something about glue being made from horses... and my sister-in-law thought it was a myth.

So, this morning, I finally got around to looking it up, and here's the source for horses going to the glue factory.

From Straight Dope: I don't know much about the site, but from what they say, and who they source, they seem to be credible.

"It's mostly used as a figure of speech these days, but yes, horses typically were sent to the glue factory or rendering plant back in the days when they were mostly used as work animals. These days, it's more common (an undocumented source says 90% of all domestic horses) for unwanted horses to be sent to a slaughterhouse if still alive, or a rendering plant (AKA the knackers, the knackery) if deceased.

Animal (origin) glue is made from connective tissue, found in hoofs, bones, tendons, ligaments, and cartilage in vertebrate animals.

Rendering plants are the recycling links in the food chain. They take fat and bone trimmings from grocery stores, waste scraps from restaurants, and dead animals. They cook the meat and fat products together and grind it up. It's used for animal feed and non-edible products like soap, various lubricants, and of course glue--the heavy kind that's used to glue furniture together, for example. "

Other fun facts I came across here:
(a site completely devoted to telling you what kind of glue to use for what!!)

When you are sucking in all the toxins from your cigarette, you can rest assured that the glue used to hold it together is completely non-toxic. It is made from a combination of casein (milk) and wax (to increase moisture resistance), and is absolutely harmless.

The Aztec Indians in Central America used animal blood mixed with cement as a mortar for their buildings, many of which still remain standing today.

Terrified

I made an appointment to get my wisdom teeth pulled. All. Four.

I'm terrified. Everyone at my office is telling me that it's not so bad, and then supplements that comment with their own horror stories. Just so that you know, that doesn't help much. I've never had anything crazy done in my mouth--no braces, no teeth pulled... I don't know what to expect. But I do want many painkillers.

mmm. vicodin.

***
Building my vocabulary: convalescence. recuperation. dread. indisposed. intimidated. unconsciousness

guess who...

...got tickets for The Producers?

Yummy...

and not a bad psychoanalysis of me either. Not great, but not too far off. Maybe I should take the quiz again...


You're chocolate. You're the old soul type, people
feel that they have known you their entire
life. Many often open up to you for they view
you as thoughtful and trustworthy. Although
people trust you, you have a hard time trusting
them. You prefer to keep your feelings bottled
up inside, or display them very quietly. It is
alright to open up every once in a while.


Which kind of candy are you?
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Conversations that should not exist

Someone Else: What do you do for a living?

Me: I'm a project manager for....

Someone Else: Oh, so do you enjoy teaching?

Now, considering I work for an education company, I shouldn't take such great offense, but couldn't they even *pretend* to pay attention?