Give Blood

Today there was a blood drive at work with the American Red Cross bloodmobile. Talk about a tiny place with too many people. Since I haven't given a while (since college!), two people in my office tried unsuccessfully, and I have great veins and a rare-ish blood type, I decided this was the year. It was fairly easy and painless, plus I got cookies, a cute Halloween t-shirt, and a good excuse to skip work for 2 hours. So I recommend donating if the bloodmobile comes to you.

Relaxing Weekend for Once

For once we didn't have a bunch of things stacked up to do this weekend, one of those rare times when we could do anything we felt like without time restrictions. We kept busy, but in our own timetable. What a luxury. Friday night we went out for pho at Pho Tay Ho in Arlington for some great Vietnamese noodle soup. Saturday we slept in late then went to 2Amys restaurant in DC for some authentic Neopolitan Pizza certified by the D.O.C (Denominazione di Origine Controllata).

Last night we went to see Rachel Getting Married. It could have been a lot more emotionally impactful if they'd cut out about 30 minutes of useless scenes--things like people making wedding toasts, dancing at the wedding, etc. It's bad enough having to listen to these long, drawn-out speeches when going to an actual wedding, and certainly something you don't want to see on screen in endlessly long scenes. Some things really didn't make sense about the movie--like why Rachel's wedding was an Indian one--but if the crazy long scenes were deleted, it was a pretty good movie. Especially if you have a dysfunctional family and siblings.

(On a side note, earlier this week we finally watched The Namesake on video, and I was pleasantly surprised. For once, I think the movie was actually better than the book.)

Today was just grocery shopping and not doing much at all. Very nice indeed. I wish the weekend didn't have to end. It was a pretty crazy week--I had to attend a conference downtown unexpectedly for two days--so it was nice to have some R&R this weekend.

Food Network Magazine

What could be better than a magazine put out by one of my favorite cable channels--www.foodnetwork.com? And just in time for the holidays too. Now, granted, I barely have time to read the magazines I already subscribe to, but what the heck. If I like my first issue, I might be getting this as a gift for friends this year. Now, if only HGTV had a magazine!

Wow, Fall is Finally Here

It's a beautiful day out today, but oh so chilly! I think fall has decided it's finally here to stay. So it's time for the annual summer/winter switch of clothes, which I have just completed. I really hate the thought of doing it, but once I get going it really doesn't take all that long. And now all my warmer-weather stuff is accessible, cause I'm going to need it.

Tonight Jeffro and I are having our farewell dinner with NOAAgirl, and tomorrow I'm having dinner with some neighborhood girls. Should be a fun time.

Last night we went to St. Elmo's to hear my friend Libby Wiebel play. A nice night for a coffee shop outing.

Guess I Should Post

I've been very negligent about posting lately . . . just don't feel like getting back on the computer these days after work. But all is well here, just enjoying the "Indian Summer" of the past 2 weeks. Last weekend I spent a good deal of time outside at a community yard sale, and this weekend I'm thinking about transplanting some bushes in the yard and staining the deck. Looking forward to having Monday off.

Things at work are crazy as usual, but at least amid all the chaos they have taken pity on us poor workers and given us a token bonus in lieu of a raise. So at least that is something.

This weekend we are going to dinner with friends, then there is yet another family birthday party for one of my nieces. So busy as usual.