Let's Do the Numbers (2/24-3/2)

Here is what last week looked like, according to the numbers:

*I drank two fancy-schmanzy coffee drinks from Starbucks.  Purchased using a Christmas gift card, so they were free to me. 

*We baked three loaves of bread, six whole wheat biscuits, one batch of Cocoa Crunch Granola, one batch of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies, and one chocolate cake.  I promise we didn’t eat all of that ourselves.  We took the cake to a party (where Mr. W. ate 2.5 slices).    

*We attended a total of six fitness classes (three for me and three for Mr. W.).  He also went for an eight-mile run.   

 

*I took the train to work two times. It’s an improvement over last week, but three times would be ideal (At three+ times per week, it’s financially worthwhile to have the monthly parking pass that I purchase). Sidebar: I made an earnest attempt to take the train three times last week. Read here for the full story.

*I spent 90 minutes waiting in line, outside of the Department of Motor Vehicles.  Mr. W. and I have been married for more than five months and I still haven't finalized my name change with the DMV.  I attribute the delay to three factors: busy work/travel schedules, my own procrastination, and an intense dread of the DMV.  Case in point: On Saturday, I arrived at 11:30 AM, which was a full 90 minutes before the DMV closes. It seemed like it should have been enough time, especially since the DMV is obligated to process the paperwork of anyone who arrives before closing time.   But there’s a sneaky loophole: this DMV only allowed a dozen or so customers inside the building at any given time.  This tactic was bogus, because there were seats inside for many more (maybe 50? 100?). With the exception of those dozen lucky souls, everyone else was forced to wait outside. Then, anyone who wasn’t inside at 1:00 was turned away. After shivering and standing in line for 90 minutes, I was one of those who never made it in the door. I had paid $3.00 in municipal parking and had wasted 90 minutes. And worse of all, I’m still not officially “Mrs. J. W.”  I've learned my lesson: next Saturday, I'll be waiting in line when the DMV opens at 8:00.

You know who dislikes the DMV even more than I do?  Dane Cook.  Watch this sketch, but not at work, or when your grandmother is listening.   

*Attended one dinner party, where we played a boisterous round of the board game Apples to Apples.  I won nine of those green adjective cards.  That's seven more than Mr. W (not that I'm counting).  The other players seemed to like my suggestion that "whipped cream" is "timeless."   Isn't it?


Hope your week is off to a good start.

Let's do the numbers (2/17-2/23)

When driving home from work, I sometimes tune in to "Marketplace" on NPR.  I know what you're thinking: admitting you listen to NPR is kind of like admitting that you actually floss your teeth daily or change your motor oil every 3,000 miles.  Neither of which I do, much to the chagrin of both my dentist and my mechanic  (C'mon...you don't do those things either, do you?)

But, I do occassionally listen to "Marketplace."  One of my favorite parts is when Kai Ryssdal opens the segment by saying, "Let's do the numbers."  So, let's do the numbers, shall we?


Last week (2/17-2/23), Mr. W and I:   

• Took the train to work zero times. I really need to improve this, since I pay for a monthly parking pass at the train station (this goal really only applies to me, since it would be nearly impossible for Mr. W to take public transit to work).

• Ate once at a restaurant, on Presidents' Day. $29 including tax and tip.   

• Hosted one dinner party.  Big success!
• Sidebar: Does it count as a dinner party if you only host four people, and they're all your husband's immediate family members?  Probably not.  In any case, we had Mr. W.'s family over for dinner on Saturday evening.  This shouldn't make me nervous, because we only live a mile away and have a very close relationship with them.  In fact, we see them on a weekly basis.  But usually, we go to their house.  Whenever we invite people to our apartment, even if it's just a small crowd, I feel intense pressure that everything must be absolutely perfect.  Despite my nervousness, it went off quite well.

• Baked two loaves of bread, 18 scones, 36ish English muffins, one batch of cornbread, five dozen homemade Cheez-its, and one chocolate cake.  (Some other time, I'll explain why we bake so much). 

• Then, in order to burn off the calories, attended a total of nine fitness classes (four for me, five for Mr. W.).  We both buy unlimited monthly passes to our respective fitness classes, so we like to attend as many classes as we can.

• Did seven loads of laundry since we had so much sweaty workout gear.

 

• Completed five --yes, five! -- craft projects.  Here's a picture of my favorite project: a handmade sign for some friends who recently welcomed a baby girl into their family.  I sort of wish we knew more folks with kids so I could keep making these signs!   

All in all, I'd say it was a pretty productive week!