Now and Forever

OHMIGOSH - Two blogs, two days in a row! I'm on fire!

When I moved into my new apartment I knew I MUST have internet, but cable TV? I wasn't so sure. I couldn't remember the last time I turned on the TV to watch something specific, something I was really looking to watch. Every once in awhile, I would turn it on while I was cleaning up my room or just before bed to watch Law & Order re-runs. So I decided, what the heck, why do I want to pay for a service I don't even use? I decided not to subscribe, even though I have never lived in a place that didn't have at least 70 channels.

I'm about a month an a half in and so far I don't miss it. Over the holidays, I rented a bunch of movies from Blockbuster and racked up quite a rental bill, so I decided to subscribe to Netflix. That way I can watch instant movies AND get unlimited DVDs (2 out at a time) in the mail. I can even catch up or start watching TV shows that I didn't have time or access to before. Maybe I'll get tired of this and end up ordering cable TV, but for now I'm content with what I've got.

So the whole point of my mentioning that I don't have TV is that I don't watch TV for news. Most of it is all teasers and crap stories anyway. I usually listen to American Public Media's (APM) Marketplace for my news. It is described on the APM website as "hosted by Kai Ryssdal, award-winning Marketplace is public radio's daily magazine of business and economics. Airing weekday mornings and evenings, it boasts the largest audience for any business program in the U.S. on radio, cable or network television."

I like it because I can download a podcast (a digital recording) of each episode and listen when I have time. When I have time is usually while I'm getting ready for work in the morning or while I'm driving to or from work. Sometimes episodes pile up on me and sometimes I listen to the podcast on the same day that it was published. I do not like driving because I always feel like I could be doing something better with my time, but this helps keep me entertained during traffic or while blow-drying my long hair.

SIDE NOTE: Not sure if you knew, but my hair is not blonde anymore. It's actually been varying shades of red for the past few months. It'll probably be back to blonde by summer, but I am having a ton of fun as a red-head right now. I think it really makes my blue eyes stand out and still looks good with my fair complexion.

Certainly, not all of the stories are interesting to me, but even when they aren't I usually learn something new. The two following stories have perked my ears over the last couple episodes. Neither of them are very long, so don't be afraid to click the link and read the whole text.

How to pick a great wine from the seller - This story is about a book "Drink This: Wine Made Simple" by Dara Moskowitz. Dara talks with Marketplace's host about how to pick a wine and mentions specifically: "there's essentially no correlation between price and value [with regard to wines]." This is something not many people know and I sometimes forget! I still have yet to find my favorite wine, but I like some of the things the author suggests in the interview to help you find out.

Divorced couples aren't the half of it - While wrapping up 2009, Marketplace has been doing a series on business or finance stories that haven''t made the major headlines unlike health care reform, recession and Tiger Woods. "This year will record the lowest divorce rate since 1970...Today's low divorce rate is part of a steady decline that has now lasted 30 years. Yes, you heard that right, divorce has been falling for the last three decades." I am nowhere near getting married, but I found the details of this story pretty interesting. you have to click the link to read the rest.

So now the theme of this blog is outed. The song Now and Forever - Richard Marx, is a nod to those who have made it to the only other option for a ending a marriage (a.k.a. 'til death do us part).

It's Been Awhile

Wow, it's been a really long time since I last posted and because of that, this blog is named for It's Been Awhile by Staind. I TOTALLY love lala.com and I love that when you search on Google for a song (i.e. "it's been awhile") you can immediately play it from lala without leaving your search results.

I'm LITTLE now! I'm a little more wordly (I went to England for three weeks), a little less mobile (I tore my left Achilles tendon and I'm still recovering), a little less crowded (I have my own 1 bedroom apartment!), and also a little more caffeinated (I drink coffee on a regular basis).

I guess I at least have to list all the places I've been since my last blog:

• Long Island, New York - April 20-24
• Seattle, Washington - May 28 - June 1 (This was a fun vacation trip)
• Minneapolis, Minnesota - June 7-12
• Chicago, Illinois - June 21-28
• London/Birmingham/Solihull, England - July 24 - August 13
• Dallas, Texas Oct 13-18 (part work, part vacation)
• Arlington, Virginia Oct 27-31

Phew, that's a lot of flying! Right around the time I went to England I made Gold Frequent Flyer status with American Airlines. I've got a couple fun vacation cruise trips coming up in January (Catalina & Ensenada) and February (Western Caribbean), but no official travel plans for work.

My Achilles tendon injury has kept me from going on a couple of fun trips and at least one work trip because I couldn't walk on my left leg for almost 7 weeks. I was using crutches and a scooter (coolest ride EVER!) to get around. It was a pain and I ust could not wait to walk again. I got the cast off and was able to walk just in time for my work holiday party.

I LOVE my new apartment. The boxes are nowhere near unpacked, but it just feels awesome to finally have my own place. I have a parking spot (high on my priority list), a dishwasher (also high), and a mirrored closet (low, but still nice!). The best part is that it is half a block down the street from my most favorite person on earth! My littlest sister. She has been one of the biggest helps to me while I couldn't walk.

I can't talk about help though without thanking Alison, Jason, and my dad for moving me in to my new place. I felt so guilty just having to sit there and watch, but thanks to their help and some über-downsizing of crap that I've been doing over the last year, it only took a few trips from the storage unit and from my old apartment. Most of the stuff I downsized, I've been collecting up and taking to the goodwill, unless it's just ratty, then I'll throw it away. I still need to get rid of stuff I will never use again, like textbook from college talking about Microsoft Office 97. In that case though, I think I want to do some art project with it.

For Christmas season, while I was decorating, I wanted a wreath to hang on my door, BUT I didn't want to have to store it for 11 months of the year. About the same time I had been collecting up a Sunday newspaper and a bunch of holiday advertisements fell out. DING! A light bulb went on. I could make a wreath out of scrap holiday newspaper ads!

The first version turned out fabulously (if I do say so myself)! I told Jason about my idea and he made a wire frame and started threading some ripped up ads on it. We finished it, and then I eventually went to CVS and bought a 99 cent red bow. I have all sorta of ideas about how to do this again next year, especially to make it look a little less trash like. Maybe make a bunch to give to friends/family, too. The best part is that the paper has already been used (read), re-used (made into a wreath), then you can take it off the wire frame and recycle it!