Tips for travel to Iraq

Things to bring: flashlight - power is spotty when it is there, even in the nice places; lock - there are various lockers and they are not that secure, but better than nothing; flipflops - or somesort of shower shoe; towel, pillow, sheets, etc.; rugged shoes; khaki pants - otherwise you just won't fit in - trust me i didn't; sunglasses - really good ones; power converters/adaptors (several); sunscreen - regular and travel size; around the neck travel pouch for the essential documents (passport, etc) that you must have at the ready at all times; patience and a sense of humor - the key to all good travel.

Things not to bring: blowdryer - it will most likely take care of that pesky electricity problem you had for a few minutes; heels; nice clothes - things just smell weird when they get home; luggage on wheels - go for a large backpack - but not too large, you will carry it a lot.

A few things I have been reading

A few things I have read lately:

http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2008/03/17/luck-is-no-accident-10-ways-to-get-more-out-of-work-and-life/

http://simple-green-frugal-co-op.blogspot.com/2009/11/setting-goals.html

I may even try the site: 43 things

http://dallisonlee.com/blog/2009/11/05/from-cluttered-to-organized/

Homemade

There is something so lovely about homemade things - big and small. Recently I have been doing more homemade food basics.

I made jam - 2 different types of strawberry - one with boil pectin and one with no-boil pectin. They both turned out fabulously. I dried bell peppers, we got more than we could eat from our CSA share. Then I dried some red peppers and jalopenos too (also from CSA). Last week I made pumpkin muffins and froze them to take to work.

Tomorrow I am planning on canning tomatoes (for the first time ever). And starting some vanilla extract (also a first).

I am genuinely surprised by how easy food prep actually is. Plus so far, the pay off is well worth the effort.

I have also been surprised by how little food is necessary to actually bother with preserving. The peppers are a perfect example. I only had 6 bell peppers, but I knew that was more than we would eat before they would go bad, so I washed and cut them and put them on a cookie sheet in the oven with the light on to warm it up a little. One week later, I have a jar (very small) of dried bell peppers perfect for soups, etc.

Craisy Daisy Craiglist Find

I mentioned in an earlier post that I really wanted the Corelle Craisy Daisy Dishes to replace my plain white dishes that are chipped and cracked. I have kept my eye on Craigslist as the best option for getting a big lot of it locally. So I was thrilled when I found a huge 90 piece lot - including a gravy boat! for only $35! The catch - I must drive all the way to Baltimore to get it.

So Audrey and I are waiting to hear back from the sellers (I want to make sure they are home) and then we are off to pick it up. Happy Birthday to me!

Knitting Update

Since I joined the Dish Rag Tag earlier today, I thought it would be appropriate to update my lately lax knitting ways. I usually have a dishrag in some state of progress on at least two sets of needles, because I find that we use them so often, they are extremely portable, and I like pretty washcloths. I finished a cherry one for cherry season (my favorite food) last month.

And then I turned to *cashmere*. Ryan and I bought enough chunky cashmere to make a hat and scarf set for me 1 1/2 years ago at a fancy NY yarn shop during an anniversary trip. I was looking to make a black hat/scarf with cream skull and cross bones elegantly placed on the edges in cream. Cashmere makes it classy, pirates make it sassy.

However, I never really found the desire to make a scarf - it is just such a boring project, so instead I made a lacey cowl out of black. Unfortunately, the lace pattern did not show through like I was hoping and since it is cashmere, I decided to rip it out and now I am make a very boring (TV watching) black cashmere shell with 2 cream stripes at the bottom.

And that my friends is my current knitting.

Dish Rag Tag

I have watched green with envy for the last two years as other knitters have done the Dish Rag Tag.

This year, I am going to do it! I am going to set a reminder for myself Saturday morning and sign up first thing - wish me luck!

Push-Up Fever

My cube mate at work - Mdolole - is quickly becoming one of my favorite people. I mentioned to him that I was trying to do a few push-ups. He said casually that he does 25 push-ups before he gets in the shower. No matter when he showers, even if it is 2 times that day - he does 25 push-ups first.

Well, that number - 25 got stuck in my head. So now I am trying mightily to get to 25 push-ups. Right now, I am at 5 real ones or 15 knee ones.

Anyone care to join me?