New York Eve

That last post was terrible.  For some reason, I needed to have my 250th post on New Year's Day.  I was hungover and not feeling terribly "share-y" or reflective.  I didn't even feel the need to talk about how I spent NYE in Brooklyn and Manhattan!

My friend lives in Brooklyn in old, comfy, and roomy apartment   She shares the space with two other people; the roommate I met is middle-aged, of the crazy cat lady persuasion.  At 2 a.m., she came out of her room saying "don't worry you didn't wake me up, but I just want to see if I can get you guys anything."  She proceeded to hang out and talk to us for about 20 minutes, trying to make us food and telling us stories.  We were all just so tired and drunk, bed was the only thing on our minds.

To be fair, the crazy cat lady didn't come out at 2 a.m. saying "you damn kids making all that racket, how dare you!"

Before all that, we arrived in Brooklyn around 4 p.m. and had to come up with a plan.  My thoughts of spending NYE in any of the five boroughs has always been super crowded, really expensive, and not that fun.  Planning our night that afternoon seemed like it was going to fulfill what I was imagining.  Everyplace was sold out of tickets, or not letting people in until 11 p.m.  Not only were we looking for plans of our little group of 5, other people would be meeting us later.  Extra pressure!

We ended up with two options:  an 80s themed bar in Brooklyn, really close to the apartment, or meeting some different friends in Lower Manhattan who already had seats at the bar.

For many reasons, we ended up taking the G & C to Manhattan.

When we first walked into Ulysses, I had my doubts.  It was crowded and we ended up standing in a "hallway" type area which was only wide enough for one person, so when people tried to walk by, there was a lot of up-close-and-personal touching.  But, we had a great bartender, and in the first 15 minutes I had a beer and three shots.  After that, I really started having fun!

Everyone was really nice and friends paid for a lot of our drinks.  I couldn't believe it when we were already counting down the time!  After the clock switched to midnight, everyone sang along to Frank Sinatra's "New York New York".  Honestly, it was the best New Years I've had in awhile.

Let me say this:  I was wrong.  I do not know everything.  I am only 24 years old and not all of my preconceived notions are even close to being reality.  A good lesson to keep in mind for 2013.

I heart Chicago

The amount of stories I have to write about from this past week is staggering.  Unfortunately, in this age of "Omg, you have a blog and you wrote what you think about us? You're fired." Means I can write very little about my trip to Chicago.

Chicago is a great city.  This time, I actually got a chance to walk around and see the city, which is beautifully decorated for the holiday season.  There's a cupcake ATM, a lit up Trump Hotel, waterways through the city, and a clean, friendly feeling around the city.  I was able to visit my good friend Brittany again.  We've been friends since middle school, and being able to share memories and stories, old and new, over martinis is something I love.

The first stop we made after the hotel was the Blue Man Group show.  Way better and funnier than I thought it would be.  One of the girls in our group got pulled up onto stage which made it even more entertaining.

Next stop was dinner.  More on dinner below.

Next stop was the liquor store.  And boy, did we need it.

The rest of the trip was stressful and awkward, to say the least.  We worked out of our Chicago office when we weren't in training, and their connection is s....l........o..............w.  It was also cramped.  And loud, as there's no carpet or curtains or fabric of any kind absorbing noise.  However, the people that work there are awesome, so, some saving grace.

What I will say to the dinner awkwardness - imagine having dinner with 8 people, 4 of whom run the company and are oblivious to how utterly angry the other 4 people are at the table because of the way the first 4 treat the second 4.  Now, imagine the most important person being slightly intoxicated.  And asking hard and opened questions.  Whose answers cause arguments that attract attention from surrounding tables.

Now, imagine looking forward to that every single night of your trip.

If you can imagine that, you can understand why I now will stop talking about my long ass business trip to Chicago.

Thanksgiving and Weight Issues

I had a great trip home.  I took time to be thankful for my family, my job, and my life.  I have a wonderful boyfriend who really makes my life better everyday and great friends!  Nothing is perfect, it is what it is.  And all-in-all, life's good.  I'm not homeless, unemployed or utterly alone.  Winning!

The only thing that was wrong with going home:  not enough vegetables!!!

I, as many people in America, struggle with those extra pounds.  Lately, I've been making efforts to work out more regularly.  With two gym memberships, I am exercising at least 5 hours a week, usually 7-10.  However, I constantly overeat.  Food is just SO GOOD GUYS.

In an effort to be better this week - me and the bf just made a grocery list and I'm going to cook breakfast for all week today.  My menu this week:

Breakfast:  oatmeal casserole, greek yogurt and a banana
Lunch:  turkey sandwich, vegetable soup, carrots, and an apple
Dinner:  vegetable (kale, broccoli, cauliflower or salad) and a pre-portioned frozen meal

We've decided to try pre-packaged meals for dinner for portion control to see if that works for a few weeks.  I'm not super excited about the idea, but I'm willing to see what happens.  After Christmas, I want to buy a juicer and start a modified Paleo diet.  I really want to see what it's like not to eat processed foods for awhile.


For now, I want to share this great oatmeal casserole recipe I got from my parents.  It's super delicious and great for cutting up into bars for all week.  It's awesome cold or warm!

Baked Oatmeal:

3 cups oatmeal
1 cup packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup milk (or almond milk)
3-4 cups of applesauce (depending on how moist you like your oatmeal)
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
nuts and seasonal fruit, optional

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Mix all ingredients, put in a rectangular baking dish (11x7 ish).  Bake for 35 minutes.

Today, I'm going to make this with apples - I think next week I'm going to do bananas and strawberries!  I'm also going to get chia seeds at the grocery store today and add those for extra nutritional value.

What will you put in your baked oatmeal?

Mo' Monies, Mo' Problems

I have so many ideas.

Yesterday as I was walking to work, I thought about commuting and how we should get paid for it.  See, I’m supposed to be at work at 8:30.  Quite frankly, that’s a little bit early for me.  On most days, like today, I spend an extra 10 minutes in bed, an extra 5 minutes in the warm shower, another extra 5 minutes critiquing my dress and changing, and then as I’m rushing to pour the coffee and pack my lunch the clock reads 8:25 and I have to look for my phone.  Which is nowhere to be found.  Because it is already in my bag.

That 20 extra minutes of nothingness eats up the 20 minutes I saved to walk to work.  So as I’m walking, I’m getting paid.  

And shouldn’t I be getting paid?  I mean, I’m either walking or cycling to work.  That’s GREAT for the environment and cuts down on traffic and parking for other city residents/employees.  Wait, shouldn’t everyone be getting paid to commute? I mean, we wouldn’t be using that time up if we didn’t have to get to our job…

Incentives.  We learned about them in B-school.  How are the ways one commutes to work?  Car, train, subway, bus, walk, cycle, sleepwalk…  So, we have driving in vehicles, walking/cycling, or taking public transit.  I’m sure there are other ways, but for simplicities sake, let’s just stick with these three.  

Driving

Let’s say people who drive get paid for gas and a small per mile rate for wear-and-tear and insurance.  HOLD IT.  You say that people would be willing to drive farther for work then, tearing up the environment and causing traffic jams and doing the total opposite of what the program is supposed to achieve?!?!

Just wait until you hear the rest of the idea!

Public Transit

Workers that take public transit get compensated for the fares plus extra money for taking a slightly more “green” route to work.  I didn’t think about how much compensation, but enough to make the car people jealous.  Maybe like $10 a week?

Walkers/Bikers

These people get the most money.  After all, besides crop dusting, they are causing the least amount of harm to the environment and also cutting down on traffic and tied-up parking.  I believe these people should get compensated (by a block = mile) at the same rate they would if they were driving.  Without the cost of driving, they make out the best.

And hence the people who are doing the least harm, both societal and environmental get paid for it.

Oh yes, there are many problems with this plan.  Whose gonna pay for it?  Why are we getting paid to commute?  WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE, I HAVE TO DRIVE AND IT’S NOT FAIR, DAMMIT.

It’s a theoretical plan.  Over time, the people that “have to drive” would either move closer or get a new job.  Local hires would be more prevalent, making the tax cuts some companies get for building in certain neighborhoods actually work for the community.  It’s not perfect, but does utopia exist?

On my imaginary private island it does!

[While I “get paid” to commute, I don’t take a lunch, so it makes up for it.  Not a slacker or dishonest worker, promise.]

Pork n Beer

When I bring people home to Central PA, they generally don't get to visit the "real" Central PA.  Fortunately, this weekend I went to visit part of my "extended-family".  We're not actually related, but we might as well be.

After driving for about 30 minutes, passing through to a different county, passing a few buggies, and driving on a dirt road, we get to our destination.  It was a birthday party for one of the girls!  We drank a little and I was going to leave, but then Matt asked me to play washers.  I love washers.

Imagine being in an old butcher house, throwing washers and drinking and laughing.  Then Matt says "you've never seen a rooster get drunk? Really?! They LOVE beer.  You can pour about two down it's throat at a time.  And pigs, they ABSOLUTELY love beer!"

And it just so happens, there were roosters and pigs in the barn.

And there was also beer in the barn.

And the piggies LOVE beer.

And they do get drunk!!  The roosters were watching and squawking while the dog was trying to get in on the action.  A few minutes later, we left the pigs staggering in the barn and went out to the bonfire which was keeping us warm in the glow of the super-moon.

And these are a few of my favorite nights with some of my favorite people.  I love Philly, but sometimes home is just where you need to be.

I mean, come on, where can you see pigs drinking beer in Philly?!?!  Oh right, the corner bar.....

One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

I'm sitting in a king size bed on the Governor's Club level of a hotel overlooking a protest taking place at the Capital building in Madison, Wisconsin, watching television and doing research.

I. feel. grown. up.

My research includes and article about beer, some Wikipedia, and the new episode of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" in which Charlie and Dennis discover "enriched" beer.  I have to give a beer presentation tomorrow so I'm setting up my (sober) brain to be completely prepared.  Both with jokes and facts.

I've also been preparing by talking with lots of random people.  Today, one my first solo plane ride, I sat next two a nice old couple who were randomly from my hometown!  They told me where they lived and told me to stop by next time I'm in town.  Retired entrepreneurs (they used to own more than 1,700 air pumps, most of which are now free to use), they now run a food kitchen for people in need.

I also met an old hippie dude who is a snow bird.  He lives half in Tampa, FL, and the other half in Wisconsin with his kids.  He told me about Blueberry Field south of St. Pete which is where people go to do some recreational stuff.  For $5, you're safe to do whatever.  They provide some different settings, including a giant bird cage that you can sit about 20 people in along with huge rope swings.

Since he is also retired, he is doing a bunch of stuff.  Including writing adult Dr. Seuss books.  He recited two of them to me and they are hilarious.  All the rhyming was clever, and it was a little dirty and definitely causes lolz.  I'm trying to find him on FB but its tough going.

Okay, back to beer research.  And watching protests from my window.  You know, all just part of being a grown up!