One thing I have noticed, is that once you are considered "grown up" you automatically get a new realm of responsibility. Especially if you have your own place or family: Couple + kid (or) house = hosting assumption.
With any luck, one can avoid this with much ease, provided you are crafty about doing so.
For example: holiday dinners. Regardless of whether it is Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, or whatever other holiday one might have family over for, some how a default question is "So, what are you making for (insert group meal here)?" Now, while I have no kids, I have also never had anywhere to host anything until recently, so avoiding this was easy. I just went where the food was. If I did it right, I was able to spread out the food festivities over a few days.
This year, as I technically have a place (not quite fully inhabitable yet as I am missing a few major details) I had offered to host a Christmas dinner for my blood family. That fell through due to aforementioned issues, so my brother's girlfriend offered up their place for replacement. So I still had cooking responsibility, but no longer hostess responsibility. My brother's girlfriend must be a bit of a masochist though, as our Christmas was the third they had hosted. (See above equation) Despite the last minute location move as well as shopping for food, it was a really good evening.
Then I talked to my aunt later that same night. Somehow I have inadvertently agreed to do Easter at my house this next year. I can't tell you the last time I spent Easter with my family (again, I go where the food/people already are) so this will be different. I don't even know when Easter is, but apparently I am hosting this year.
I must say though, to be at dusk of my 28th year, and only now be hosting a holiday, I have been fairly good at skirting this assumed responsibility of being "grown up." Depending on how Easter goes, I might offer up another holiday, but that wouldn't be until Christmas so I have some time to recover.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Epicurious
You know what's great about being grown up? Alcohol.
You know what's even better than alcohol? Events that are centered around alcohol!
No, I do not have a problem. So don't judge me.
Anyway. Living 20 minutes from a large, diverse and culturally exciting city definitely has its perks once you enter a state of 'grown.' In the summer there is fest ever weekend somewhere in the city. Ove could literally eat their way though the warm months here (which is ironic since that's when everyone is 'trying' to watch what they eat.)
The cooler months are no different, it just takes a bit more effort. My favorites are the wine events. What is better than hundreds of wines paired with all sorts of edibles?! Not much to be honest.
That is until my boyfriend and I found a place that does a beer and bacon tasting. Oh. My. Goodness. Now don't get me wrong, I still prefer wine, but I can definitely appreciate a quality beer, especially when paired with various bacon flavors. Food is that much more enjoyable when someone that is passionate about what they are serving takes the time to explain what it is you are enjoying and why.
I think I am going to make it my new year's goal to attend at least two new food/beverage events a month. Expanding my pallet sounds like a delicious 'resolution' to me.
You know what's even better than alcohol? Events that are centered around alcohol!
No, I do not have a problem. So don't judge me.
Anyway. Living 20 minutes from a large, diverse and culturally exciting city definitely has its perks once you enter a state of 'grown.' In the summer there is fest ever weekend somewhere in the city. Ove could literally eat their way though the warm months here (which is ironic since that's when everyone is 'trying' to watch what they eat.)
The cooler months are no different, it just takes a bit more effort. My favorites are the wine events. What is better than hundreds of wines paired with all sorts of edibles?! Not much to be honest.
That is until my boyfriend and I found a place that does a beer and bacon tasting. Oh. My. Goodness. Now don't get me wrong, I still prefer wine, but I can definitely appreciate a quality beer, especially when paired with various bacon flavors. Food is that much more enjoyable when someone that is passionate about what they are serving takes the time to explain what it is you are enjoying and why.
I think I am going to make it my new year's goal to attend at least two new food/beverage events a month. Expanding my pallet sounds like a delicious 'resolution' to me.
Sunday, December 11, 2011
The relevance of time
I have found that as I grow up, time has evolved into something I am forever trying to figure out. As soon as I think I have, I am once again proven wrong.
Example A: The "average" work week. 5 days long. 8 hours a day. Nothing rocket science about this. However, have something exciting waiting for you at the end of that week, and it feels like eons before you get done. Or have trying projects, coworkers, customers, etc and the week feels like purgatory where you can't pray enough for it to be done.
Example B1: The weekend. If there is nothing of significance going on, a weekend can feel like it lasts f-o-r-e-v-e-r. Not that you want Monday to get here any quicker, but you certainly don't want to get ready for bed and realize it is only 7p.
Example B2: The weekend. On the polar side of this, you have the weekend that follows the former part of "Example A." You wait all week for the weekend like a kid waits for Christmas morning and Santa. When it finally gets here, you are beside yourself with joy. You wake up early and go to sleep late to maximize your ability to enjoy it. But despite your best efforts, Monday is knocking on your door and got your alarm in on the plot for kicking your ass and making it feel like you were just in a time warp that didn't actually happen. All you have are faint memories and gummie bears as proof of the joy that passed too swiftly.
Example C: The promise. As as adult, we tend to be cynically hopeful. While it doesn't seem like a logical combination, it is. Take my word for it. Work promises us, family promises us, friends promise us. We are hopeful that things follow through, but we are doubtful just in case they don't. "Hope for the best, but expect the worst" is a pretty clear way of putting it.
Example D: The year. Ever January we make lists of how this year is going to be different. How we are going to improve our lives, act different, eat different, work different, date different, etc. And then, before we know it, Spring is upon us with it's dewy glow of hope for something wonderful. Summer follows close after, not missing a beat, comforting us with its warm embrace. Fall sneaks up on us, lets us think that we have some more time left to hang out with Summer, only to realize that while we were distracted with the warmth, the smells, the food, everything around us changed. And before we are even able to get our barrings on what just happened, winter swoops in with is bitter attitude and slaps us in the face. Reminds us who is boss. We bundle up. Find our layers. Huddle together for warmth wondering where the year went and what we did with it.
On the plus side, I was actually quite productive with my year and pleased as to where I am at the moment. Made a lot of life decisions, and they seem to be working out for the better. However, in regards to Example C, when someone tells you a time frame for something to be done, multiply that by two and a half (minimally) and then be prepared to expect exactly that, if not longer. THAT, my friends, has been my most recent disappointment with time.
Example A: The "average" work week. 5 days long. 8 hours a day. Nothing rocket science about this. However, have something exciting waiting for you at the end of that week, and it feels like eons before you get done. Or have trying projects, coworkers, customers, etc and the week feels like purgatory where you can't pray enough for it to be done.
Example B1: The weekend. If there is nothing of significance going on, a weekend can feel like it lasts f-o-r-e-v-e-r. Not that you want Monday to get here any quicker, but you certainly don't want to get ready for bed and realize it is only 7p.
Example B2: The weekend. On the polar side of this, you have the weekend that follows the former part of "Example A." You wait all week for the weekend like a kid waits for Christmas morning and Santa. When it finally gets here, you are beside yourself with joy. You wake up early and go to sleep late to maximize your ability to enjoy it. But despite your best efforts, Monday is knocking on your door and got your alarm in on the plot for kicking your ass and making it feel like you were just in a time warp that didn't actually happen. All you have are faint memories and gummie bears as proof of the joy that passed too swiftly.
Example C: The promise. As as adult, we tend to be cynically hopeful. While it doesn't seem like a logical combination, it is. Take my word for it. Work promises us, family promises us, friends promise us. We are hopeful that things follow through, but we are doubtful just in case they don't. "Hope for the best, but expect the worst" is a pretty clear way of putting it.
Example D: The year. Ever January we make lists of how this year is going to be different. How we are going to improve our lives, act different, eat different, work different, date different, etc. And then, before we know it, Spring is upon us with it's dewy glow of hope for something wonderful. Summer follows close after, not missing a beat, comforting us with its warm embrace. Fall sneaks up on us, lets us think that we have some more time left to hang out with Summer, only to realize that while we were distracted with the warmth, the smells, the food, everything around us changed. And before we are even able to get our barrings on what just happened, winter swoops in with is bitter attitude and slaps us in the face. Reminds us who is boss. We bundle up. Find our layers. Huddle together for warmth wondering where the year went and what we did with it.
On the plus side, I was actually quite productive with my year and pleased as to where I am at the moment. Made a lot of life decisions, and they seem to be working out for the better. However, in regards to Example C, when someone tells you a time frame for something to be done, multiply that by two and a half (minimally) and then be prepared to expect exactly that, if not longer. THAT, my friends, has been my most recent disappointment with time.
Thursday, December 8, 2011
A chance to catch up..
So you got the extra basic basics in the profile info portion. Now to elaborate and get you up to speed.
I keep doing things that are supposed to qualify me as being "grown up," but I really don't feel it. Is there a day when you wake up and realize "HARK! Today I am grown! Let me go forth and act thusly?"
I really don't know what I am supposed to be doing with my degree, so I just keep paying it monthly hoping to some day be done owing on it. But I do love to talk, so I guess it isn't a total loss.
Majority of my friends are married, which is nice because it means I am almost done spending money on others celebrations. However, that also means that now there are a plethora of babies to spend on instead. Not sure how I feel about this. I keep trying to find a way to celebrate "not married and no babies," but have yet to think of a good plan to date
I bought my 3rd ever car last year, all by myself. Which in my world is a big accomplishment. Then I went and bought a condo this year, all by myself as well (monetarily speaking anyway). There is much significance to the condo. For one, it is the first time in over a decade that I have had a permanent address. Secondly, it is some place that I can make mine, with grand visions of how I want things done.
With that being said, buying a place that "needs some love" is greatly misrepresented on HGTV. The demo part is spot on with how TV portrays it (until I broke my foot anyway). But putting it back together, now THAT is a different story. We are currenty on day 13 of a "10 day" project. I should have known it was too good to be true. But being a "property virgin" I was delusional and hopeful. Let's just say what I see thus far doesn't match my vision yet. Which is a problem as I volunteered to host Christmas dinner this year. Eep!
This is an experience if nothing else.
On the plus side, my boyfriend has been great in all of this. Even the parts where I lose my mind. Patience of a saint I tell you.
Now you are mostly caught up. Future posts will most likely be shorter, but I make no promises.
I keep doing things that are supposed to qualify me as being "grown up," but I really don't feel it. Is there a day when you wake up and realize "HARK! Today I am grown! Let me go forth and act thusly?"
I really don't know what I am supposed to be doing with my degree, so I just keep paying it monthly hoping to some day be done owing on it. But I do love to talk, so I guess it isn't a total loss.
Majority of my friends are married, which is nice because it means I am almost done spending money on others celebrations. However, that also means that now there are a plethora of babies to spend on instead. Not sure how I feel about this. I keep trying to find a way to celebrate "not married and no babies," but have yet to think of a good plan to date
I bought my 3rd ever car last year, all by myself. Which in my world is a big accomplishment. Then I went and bought a condo this year, all by myself as well (monetarily speaking anyway). There is much significance to the condo. For one, it is the first time in over a decade that I have had a permanent address. Secondly, it is some place that I can make mine, with grand visions of how I want things done.
With that being said, buying a place that "needs some love" is greatly misrepresented on HGTV. The demo part is spot on with how TV portrays it (until I broke my foot anyway). But putting it back together, now THAT is a different story. We are currenty on day 13 of a "10 day" project. I should have known it was too good to be true. But being a "property virgin" I was delusional and hopeful. Let's just say what I see thus far doesn't match my vision yet. Which is a problem as I volunteered to host Christmas dinner this year. Eep!
This is an experience if nothing else.
On the plus side, my boyfriend has been great in all of this. Even the parts where I lose my mind. Patience of a saint I tell you.
Now you are mostly caught up. Future posts will most likely be shorter, but I make no promises.
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