So, this is one of the items on my "new adventure" list that makes me feel really silly, but I'm gonna write about it anyway. The fact that it was WAY more fun than I expected has convinced me.
New Adventure #8 was...a manicure/pedicure. Honestly, it was incredibly relaxing and fun. I've never had either before. I paint my toes and my mom used to paint my nails every once in awhile pre-high school, but I've never had it professionally done. Never really considered it. But between my new adventure year and a convenient Groupon, it seemed worth a try.
I went to Robert's Salon and Spa in Belmont. It was after work, and I was one of the last few customers in the place. I'd read reviews that the atmosphere was too rushed, but my experience was the reverse. I was welcomed and offered a cup of (admittedly pretty bad) coffee, allowed to choose a polish color, and seated for a few minutes before Lauren came over to get me. I soaked my feet in a whirlpool tub for a few minutes while she set up. She removed my poor attempt at toe nail polish, trimmed and shaped my toenails, scrubbed my feet with a lovely gritty scrub, massaged my feet and calves a little bit with oil/moisturizer, buffed my nails, applied a base coat, 2 layers of polish and a top coat. That probably took 45 minutes and was incredibly pleasant and relaxing. Lauren and I chatted, but I didn't feel interrogated or chattered at at like I sometimes do when I get my hair cut, etc.
She had me put on these silly disposable flip-flops and lead me over to a table to let my toes dry and paint my fingernails. There was less ritual here, just cleaning, trimming and shaping my nails, and again a base coat, 2 polish, and a top coat. She used a really awesome gel-style polish that hardened under a UV light. It left the nails perfectly smooth and shiny, and an awesome sparkly purple color! I can't stop staring at them; I get distracted every time I notice my fingers.
The whole thing took about an hour and fifteen minutes, and I enjoyed every moment of it. I'm so glad I didn't decide it was too trivial for my adventure project. I was skeptical, but it was a wonderful experience.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
Thursday, March 14, 2013
New Adventure #7: Buying a Car
In general, I intend for my new adventures to involve activities I might not have tried otherwise, instead of things that would have happened anyway. This one was a little of both.
I totaled my last car on ice right after Christmas, and I had been looking for a new one (okay, okay, avoiding looking for a new one) since then. I find the process overwhelming. I'm not a "car person". I didn't really know what I wanted, or how to tell which cars were good or good for me. But driving Mom's huge, gas-guzzling Jeep finally got to me, so I resolved to make it a Learning Experience.
I bought my last car a year and a half ago with a LOT of help from my parents. They suggested models, went with me for the test drives, and did most of the negotiating. This time, I did it pretty much by myself. I asked for suggestions on which models to look at, but I narrowed the list, test drove, negotiated, and bought one by myself.
Introducing, my lovely 2009 Honda Fit Sport, Cupcake! That's right, Cupcake ^_^
It's a hatchback, which was one of my main search parameters. I often transport boxes, bikes, and furniture, and I was tired of fighting to cram things in, or balancing them precariously on the roof. Cupcake's rear seats fold flat without even removing the head rests! They're split 60/40, and I discovered the other day that I could fit (haha) a full-sized bike inside with the "60" portion folded down, and seat the bike's ride comfortably buckled into the "40" portion. Delightful!
I'm looking forward to many new adventures together with Cupcake
I totaled my last car on ice right after Christmas, and I had been looking for a new one (okay, okay, avoiding looking for a new one) since then. I find the process overwhelming. I'm not a "car person". I didn't really know what I wanted, or how to tell which cars were good or good for me. But driving Mom's huge, gas-guzzling Jeep finally got to me, so I resolved to make it a Learning Experience.
I bought my last car a year and a half ago with a LOT of help from my parents. They suggested models, went with me for the test drives, and did most of the negotiating. This time, I did it pretty much by myself. I asked for suggestions on which models to look at, but I narrowed the list, test drove, negotiated, and bought one by myself.
Introducing, my lovely 2009 Honda Fit Sport, Cupcake! That's right, Cupcake ^_^
It's a hatchback, which was one of my main search parameters. I often transport boxes, bikes, and furniture, and I was tired of fighting to cram things in, or balancing them precariously on the roof. Cupcake's rear seats fold flat without even removing the head rests! They're split 60/40, and I discovered the other day that I could fit (haha) a full-sized bike inside with the "60" portion folded down, and seat the bike's ride comfortably buckled into the "40" portion. Delightful!
I'm looking forward to many new adventures together with Cupcake
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
New Adventure #6: Campaign Event
Congressman Ed Markey came to my attention this
past election season when redistricting caused him to be running for the
House of Representatives for my district. I researched and liked what I read,
voted for him, and was pleased to see that he won easily. When I heard
he was running for John Kerry's Senate seat in the special election, I
resolved to dig deeper. I'd been thinking for awhile about getting more
involved in local politics. I wanted to hear Markey speak and see if he
was someone who's campaign I might want to get involved in. I went to
see him speak in Belmont.
The event was on a Sunday morning in a local Thai restaurant that had been emptied of tables and chairs. For the first half hour, about a hundred folks milled around drinking the provided coffee and tea, chatting, and being solicited to sign up as a campaign volunteer. I didn't know anyone, so I wandered around eavesdropping on others' conversations. Many were discussing current events, Markey's chances of winning, and their own political involvement. There were about 100 people then when Markey and his entourage arrived. After introductions from State Representative Will Brownsberger and Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, who amusingly kept referring to the much-older Markey as "the kid from Malden", Markey got up to speak.
The event was on a Sunday morning in a local Thai restaurant that had been emptied of tables and chairs. For the first half hour, about a hundred folks milled around drinking the provided coffee and tea, chatting, and being solicited to sign up as a campaign volunteer. I didn't know anyone, so I wandered around eavesdropping on others' conversations. Many were discussing current events, Markey's chances of winning, and their own political involvement. There were about 100 people then when Markey and his entourage arrived. After introductions from State Representative Will Brownsberger and Sheriff Peter Koutoujian, who amusingly kept referring to the much-older Markey as "the kid from Malden", Markey got up to speak.
He laid out his reasons for running for Senate. These were his top issues:
Items 4 and 5 are the reasons I'm excited about Ed Markey. This is a guy with an eye to the nation's future. We seem to have more than enough short-sighted politicians willing to sacrifice the long-term welfare of our country of our country for some political points today. Not Markey. He's focused on investing in science and technology, in clean energy and combating climate change. In short, he's working to create a country and a world that we and our children will actually want to live in. "The challenge for this generation is to ensure it has the wisdom to invest in the science and technology of the next generation, in clean energy technology, biotechnology, in telecom and cybertechnologies that gives us the lead," he said. I couldn't agree more.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
New Adventure #5: Moonlight Meadery
Alcohol always held a certain glamor for me. The pretty bottles, the tasty scents, and the grown-up allure. The only problem was, I couldn't stand the taste. So when I turned 21, I undertook a search for palatable alcohols. One of the varieties I've discovered that I like is mead.
Mead is believed to be the most ancient fermented drink, older than beer or wine. At simplest, it is a brewed solution of honey and water. Spices, fruits, and other flavorings are optional.
New Adventure #5 was a tour and tasting at the Moonlight Meadery in Londonderry, NH.
The tour was given with great enthusiasm by one of the brewers. There's not a huge amount to see, though some of the mechanisms like the bottle-filler are neat, but the process is interesting and the guide's excitement makes it worth it. The tasing was delicious. The Meadery sells about 30 varieties ranging from traditional (just honey), to those flavored with apples, blueberries, chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and even hot peppers! I tasted 6, my favorite being Summer Love (they all have cute names), a honey-orange mead with vanilla. I'll definitely try more in the future!
The tour and tasting combination is only $15 per person, and you leave with a Moonlight Meadery wine glass that gets you 10% discounts whenever you bring it back. A delightful outing.
Mead is believed to be the most ancient fermented drink, older than beer or wine. At simplest, it is a brewed solution of honey and water. Spices, fruits, and other flavorings are optional.
New Adventure #5 was a tour and tasting at the Moonlight Meadery in Londonderry, NH.
The tour was given with great enthusiasm by one of the brewers. There's not a huge amount to see, though some of the mechanisms like the bottle-filler are neat, but the process is interesting and the guide's excitement makes it worth it. The tasing was delicious. The Meadery sells about 30 varieties ranging from traditional (just honey), to those flavored with apples, blueberries, chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and even hot peppers! I tasted 6, my favorite being Summer Love (they all have cute names), a honey-orange mead with vanilla. I'll definitely try more in the future!
The tour and tasting combination is only $15 per person, and you leave with a Moonlight Meadery wine glass that gets you 10% discounts whenever you bring it back. A delightful outing.
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