Wednesday, September 26, 2012

The Perils of OnDemand

I've never had cable before.  Well, that's not quite true.  In Seattle I had the $12 cable that allowed me to get the networks since I apparently lived in a TV black hole.  But I've never had real cable.

Let me tell you: OnDemand is dangerous.  I can't stop watching it!  I discovered that they have whole TV series on there.  I have been spending an embarrassing amount of time on my couch watching way too many episodes and hours of various shows.  And that's in addition to all of the new and returning fall shows!

Once I figure out how to use my DVR, I'm afraid I'll never leave my house again.

Soon, my foot will be recovered, and I won't have that excuse for my lazy, TV-watching self anymore. Geez.

Speaking of my foot, it's so much better.  I'm wearing real shoes now!  It's still broken, but the doctor showed me the new x-rays, and I could see how it's healing.  I have to continue being very careful, of course, but I love that I don't have the boot anymore.  Yahoo!

Monday, September 17, 2012

A Few Random Thoughts

1) This morning is my foot x-ray!  I really hope the x-ray is good.  I expect it to be, because my foot feels tons better.  This stupid foot is keeping me from doing stuff (like exploring and volunteering at an animal shelter), which is really annoying when moving to a new place.

2) Newburyport must be the origination spot of skunks.  You may recall that when I first moved here a dog got skunked, which let to second-hand skunking for me.  Well, since then I have smelled at least a skunk a week.  Either in my car, driving by a skunked out area, or from my home window, where someone in the neighborhood got skunked.  I have never smelled so many skunks in my life!

3) There is a grocery store here called the Market Basket.  Their receipts print on both sides!  I went grocery shopping one evening, and when the check-out woman printed the receipt, it seemed really short.  When I got home and looked at it, I realized that it was short because it was printed on both sides!  I'm surprised no Seattle grocery stores have done this yet.  Go Newburyport!

4) I have cable for the first time, and have discovered that On Demand is extremely dangerous.  I was supposed to do a lot of cleaning and organizing this weekend, but unfortunately, discovered that you can watch whole TV series On Demand.  This could be bad.

5) My home renovations are supposed to be done on Tuesday!  And I think it might actually happen!  I am so excited!  Can you tell?!

Friday, September 14, 2012

Desserts, Desserts, and More Desserts

Newburyport is a dessert mecca!  Bakeries, candy shops, ice cream, gelato -- it's crazy and wonderful!  Ice cream is particularly prevalent.

Last night a friend and coworker who has lived her all her life took me and two other newbies at work to Hodgie's.  It was amazing.  I got M&M ice cream with hot fudge.  First of all, since the M&Ms were sitting in the ice cream since they made it, they were nice and soft.  You know how if you get ice cream with M&M topping, with each bite you sort of eat the ice cream first, and then chomp on the M&Ms?  Well, in this ice cream, since the M&Ms were soft, you could eat them together.  Yum.  Second of all, the bowls they use are not typical ice cream bowls.  They are more like picnic bowls with rims and everything.  There was so much hot fudge that it pooled around the sides.  Needless to say, it was amazing.  Those of you who visit, expect a dessert tour of the area.

I would also like to recommend Winfrey's Fudge and Chocolates.  Their dark chocolate-covered pretzels, dark chocolate vanilla caramels, and dark chocolate truffles are to die for.  My Mom particular loves their milk chocolate turtles, which you can get with pecans, cashews, or any number of kinds of nuts.

So...many...desserts.

Friday, September 7, 2012

A High School Rite of Passage, Only 21 Years Late

Tonight I am going to a high school football game.  Specifically the Newburyport High School football game.

I went to a private high school that didn't have a football team.  Our primary boys' sports were soccer and lacrosse.  And I never felt the need to go to a football game in the public school district in which I lived.

In fact, my high school didn't even have cheerleaders.  Actually, we were quite horrible to visiting cheerleaders at basketball games.

Anyway, tonight I go to a high school football game!  I can't wait to see what it's like.  I've watched "Friday Night Lights," but I'm not in Texas.

I hope I don't crash and burn in the bleachers because of my stupid boot.  Which, by the way, I start transitioning out of beginning on Monday!  Yahoo!

Tuesday, September 4, 2012

This is Where My Taxes Go

See the Newburyport High School.




May I stress that this is the Newburyport Public High School.

Holy cow!

Small Town Life: Example 8

There is a restaurant a half block from the library called Taffy's.  I've been eating there a lot because it's the least distance for me to walk in my boot.

I had paid in cash for a number of visits because I had cash on me.  However, one visit I didn't have cash so I paid by credit card.  Except that I didn't pay, because they don't take credit cards!  It turns out there are a number of places in town that don't take credit cards.

So, in an embarrassed panic, I told the waitress that I would run across the street to get cash.  Folks, she didn't blink.  She just told me to go ahead.  She didn't ask for collateral or anything!  She just assumed I'd be back.

Did she just think that she knew who I was (because I had been there a lot)?  Or did she just trust people in town?  I don't know, but I was mightily impressed.

Wow.