Happy Completely Arbitrary New Years

I remember the first time I was allowed to stay up late and watch the ball drop on New Year's Eve. I can't recall how old I was but it was a very big deal to me at the time. I was so excited to stay up late and watch Dick Clark's New Year's Eve show and especially join in the countdown to the New Year while the ball dropped in New York. It was such a big to-do and finally I would be able to take part in it.

Well New Year's Eve rolled around, and I wasn't too impressed with Dick Clark's New Year's Eve show. I remember being okay with that because I really wanted to count down and see the ball drop.

I was extremely disappointed when the count down began and the ball started to lower. It didn't fall. It moved very slowly down the poll during the countdown. I expected to see the ball literally fall; maybe even shatter sending light sparks over the crowd. Surely this couldn't be it. I waited while the ball lowered thinking maybe there would be a light explosion once the ball reached the bottom of the poll. Of course there wasn't and off to bed I went disappointed thinking, "I stayed up for that?"

Unfortunately not a whole lot has changed.

Post Christmas Dune Walk

Today was a perfect December day. I was able to sleep in which was wonderful. After a shower and a light breakfast I headed out to Provincetown to take a hike in the dunes and on the beach. The temperature was decent and the wind wasn't unpleasant. I took a different walk that I've never taken before and it sure was beautiful. I had to deviate a few times from my path due to high tides.

I parked out near 6A and headed Southeast toward the tip of the Cape. Along the walk, I climbed to a high point in the dunes and looked out. The sky was relatively clear and from this spot I could pan my eyes around 180 degrees and see 4 lighthouses: Wood End Light, Race Point Light, Long Point Light, and Highland Light in Truro. Very cool. I've added text to a google map of the area below for reference.




Race Point Light was built in 1876 and is open year round. Other buildings are still standing on the site including the keeper's house. From Race Point Beach, the lighthouse is a 45 minute walk.

Long Point Light was originally built in 1826, however the tower was rebuilt in 1875. This lighthouse is accessible by boat shuttle or a strenuous hike.

Wood End Light is not open to the public, but the grounds are. This lighthouse was built in 1872 and features a fog signal horn that blasts every 30 seconds. A walk from Provincetown's West End leads to the lighthouse.

The Highland Light, also known as the Cape Cod Light, was originally established in 1797 and rebuilt in 1857. Also on the grounds of this lighthouse is a museum. Inside the museum, once a summer resort house, are various artifacts, including shipwreck mementos, firearms, whaling gear, furniture, and a pirate's chest.

I only walked to the Wood End Light before turning around and heading back. The total walk was about 5 miles and on the way back I ended up filling up my pockets with neat looking rocks. I couldn't help myself.

I am now currently exhausted.

Baking Craziness

Every once in a while I'll get a crazy baking idea. I'll see a recipe somewhere or read about a dish and decide I want to try to make it. The last time this happened ended in disaster. I attempted to make an authentic Venetian Plum Pie (well, as authentic as you can get in MA). I didn't have a particular reason other than it sounded really good. I've never tried Venetian Plum Pie but I thought it was worth a shot. I ended up almost starting a fire in the kitchen and it took 3 hours for the smoke to clear. And I broke my pie dish ending up with burnt to a crisp plums inside un-cooked pie dough. It was a defeating mess and for a few months, it looked like I had learned my lesson.

Tomorrow we have a work holiday party and I intend to use my co-workers as guinea pigs for my next crazy baking idea: Pear Gruyere Pie. {Note: My crazy baking ideas are not always pies.} Why Pear Gruyere Pie? Well I've recently fallen in love with the TV show, Pushing Daisies. They make this pie in the show and it looks delicious. I found a recipe online and I am very excited to see how it turns out.

I had never had Gruyere cheese before and almost had a heart attack in the store when picking some up - it is one pricey cheese. But, it's the holiday's right? And I am experimenting. So I bought the cheese. I do love cheese but there are some cheeses that I am not a fan of. (Currently I am loving Danish blue cheese in oil.) When I opened the gruyere cheese the smell stunned me a bit. It was not at all what I was expecting and I won't describe what the smell reminded me of until after I taste it; but it was not pleasant and very forceful.

It is currently baking in the oven and I am very curious to see how it will taste sprinkled on pear pie.

I left the office early yesterday due to the snow. I brought some work home so I was still fairly productive. On my way home I stopped to pick up some lunch to bring back to my apartment. I placed my order and sat nearby waiting for my food to be ready.

While I waited I overhead the following conversation among two guys that were working there.

Guy 1: What, you're drinkin already?
Guy 2 (from the back): Well, it's 12pm somewhere.
Guy 1: Dude, it's 12:30 here!


I chuckled at my seat.

Yahoo's got an odd featured story today: "6 sneaky ways to improve your man".

Yup. I kid you not.

Let's run down these 6 sneaky tricks, err tips.

1. Get Him Into The Sack Sooner - Hmmm. I wonder if a man wrote this "story".
   
2. Invite Him To Join You At The Gym - Yeah, subtle. He'll never figure this out.
   
3. Go Scent Shopping - I don't know where to begin with this one. First off: migraine. Secondly, this seems very similar to a dog marking his territory.
4. Keep A Picture Of Him On Your Desk - Yes, maybe if I look at a picture of the man long enough he will start to improve.
   
5. Dress Him Down - Are there really a lot of men who are not dressing themselves?
6. Help Him Change The Spare Tire - Is the motivation: this way, you can't object to his being dirty and greasy because you'll be just as dirty and greasy?
   

This is what yahoo considers to be a front-page featured news story. There are 460 comments and counting. And 50% of people found this article helpful. Yowzers, I didn't even have to go scent shopping to get a migraine.

Dear readers,

Something has happened and I feel the need to share my big news with you, since you are my friends after all. I don't expect this news to change our relationship and I will try my hardest not to let this life-altering thing change me in a negative way. It is positive.

So on with it already, right?

Well this morning, via email, I was notified that I have won the UK National Lottery not once, not twice, but three times! Can you believe it? I certainly can't. From darning my own socks one night to multi-millionaire the next morning? It is just so unbelievable. (And I won't be darning my own socks anymore. I'll hire someone to do that! Oh, wait, I could just buy new socks, I'll do that, then!)

I know people say money changes a person, but I will try my hardest to stick to my principles, beliefs, and democratic stance on government. But I anticipate I will need the help of my friends to keep me grounded at times.

Also, please don't be envious. This could happen to any one of you. I didn't even enter the UK National Lottery and I won three times! I'm not a citizen of the UK either. Dare I say the Lord works in mysterious ways. So keep your head up and check your email.

Well, I'm off to go wait closely by my mailbox for my checks to arrive.

:)

Oh, good night’s sleep. You have eluded me for too long.

Please come back and visit me soon.
I really really miss you.