The Other 8

I turned on the tv this morning, and before I could change the channel from Good Morning America to The Today Show (sorry GMA), I heard something interesting...

A man (Robert Pagliarini) wrote a book about how we spend our free time, called "The Other 8 Hours".

Basically, as there are 24 hours in a day and we spend 8 sleeping and 8 working, we have 8 hours to do with whatever we choose. (Not really, but ok.)

He says in the book "What you've done with your time after 5:00 pm last week, last month, and last year has determined where you are today. How you use the other 8 hours today, tomorrow, and next year will determine your future...".

So, use your "other 8" (-ish) hours wisely!

You can read the entier article here: http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Books/read-excerpt-hours-robert-pagliarini/story?id=10168971&page=1

Rocky Mountain Hi!

Got back late last night from a great trip to Denver.

I arrived Wednesday night (St. Patrick's Day!), hungry for fish & chips and a cider beer. The first Irish pub we tried had a line outside the door, so we went to a cute little gastropub called Argyll, in the Cherry Creek neighborhood, instead. (http://argyllpub.com/) It was crowded, but not too crowded, and we couldn't understand why.

Until now.

It's Scottish.

(Close enough.)

Thursday was GORGEOUS - warm and sunny.

My friend Tom took me to South Pearl Street (www.oldsouthpearlstreet.com), where we sat outside and had a delicious lunch at Gaia Bistro.

Then, since I can never just walk past a bookstore, we stopped in Murder by the Book, which specializes in mysteries. And, since I can never leave a bookstore empty handed, I bought a book called "Jane and the Unpleasantness at Scargrave Manor" It's a "Jane Austen Mystery", written by Stephanie Barron (a local Denver woman!) and is the first in a series, written in Jane Austen's style, with Jane Austen as the detective. How can it not be awesome?!?

After a cappuccino on the deck at Stella's Coffee House, we drove to Boulder and test rode (?) Electras at University Bicycles (http://ubikes.com/),

How cool is this bike?

It's the Electra Deluxe 3i in Candy Red.

I love it!

had a quick beer at The Mountain Sun Pub & Brewery (www.mountainsunpub.com), then stopped by my friend Elise's to meet her puppy, Ziggy.

So cute...

Friday was... NOT gorgeous. It was cold & snowy - the perfect day to go to The Tattered Cover bookstore (yes, another bookstore) in LoDo (www.tatteredcover.com/)...

A cozy corner

of the Tattered Cover

in LoDo.

then meet my friend Ted at my favorite Denver bar (it's an "Iowa bar"): The Sports Column (www.denversportscolumn.com), to watch part of the NCAA tournament.

After the game, Tom dropped me off at another branch of The Tattered Cover (I know...), then the Cherry Creek Shopping Center, where I discovered Martin & Osa (www.martinandosa.com). So many cute things!

Then it was back to Tom's for leftover Chinese take-out, basketball, and watching it snow.

Saturday was better - still cold, but sunny. Tom couldn't resist 9 inches of fresh snow at A-Basin, so Elise picked me up and we went shopping.

Three pairs of shoes and a pink Kipling laptop bag later, we were in the Highlands neighborhood (www.highlands-square.com), watching the end of the KU game at Three Dogs Tavern. After that humiliating loss, we met Tom, and Elise's husband Brian, at La Loma Mexican Restaurant (www.lalomarestaurant.com). Great margaritas! (The food is good too...)

Sunday was my last day in Denver. Elise picked me up and we met Tom and Brian on South Gaylord Street (www.southgaylordstreet.com) for brunch (and the build your own bloody mary bar!) at The Tavern Wash Park.

Then it was time for me to go home, thinking this really should be an annual event.

At least.

Late Night Service

I met up with a former colleague last night for dinner and drinks (and then more drinks).

To get home, I had to take two different trains. So I got off the first train, which was on the local track, and walked across the platform to catch another train, which is express.

But then I heard a noise...

I turned around, and saw a man, waving his hand at the express track, and shaking his head 'no'. Then he walked over, and pointed at the sign hanging above the tracks.

I realized that he was deaf, and was trying to tell me that during late night service, the express train runs on the local track (and it was really late...).

I smiled at him and said 'thanks' and he smiled at me, turned and walked up the stairs to leave.

He didn't have to tell me the train was running on the local track - I would've figured it out when the train arrived at the stop.

But he did.

Whip It (Good!)

I watched the movie Whip It tonight. It was good (if predictable).

I don't want to try roller derby (!), but could really relate to the main character - an unhappy girl, looking for her "calling" and a better life.

Maybe I should try roller derby... You never know!

Responsibility Without Power...

the fate of the secretary through the ages. (Ariel Dorfman)

This is me today.


My boss wrote an email - on paper - for me to type and send. (Adding "secretary" to my resume!)

I Have a Feeling We're Not in Kansas Anymore

But I wish I was.

I had a wonderful time visiting my friends in Kansas this past weekend.

I spent all day Friday with Winnie, doing our favorite things...

BLT and wings at The Peanut on 76th Street, where we spent so many nights listening to Ed play guitar and sing.

Then, coffee at Latte Land on "The Plaza",

followed by shopping, at Anthropologie and JCrew.

Later, we met Winnie's family at The Thai Place for dinner, and I discovered a new favorite - Pineapple Fried Rice. (SO good!)

The best part of the night, though was hanging out at "our" Borders, going through knitting, sewing and decorating magazines and books. It's one of the things that I miss the most about Kansas City.

Saturday was exhausting...

It started with coffee on the Plaza, followed by the KU/MU game at "the OP", where I saw so many old friends. It's also where I met Angie's baby boy, Finn, for the first time!

After the game was dinner at JP Wine Bar in Leawood. (The sweet potato gnocchi was awesome!)

Then, a beer (or two...) at Barley's Brewhaus, then finally... to Angie's, where I woke up Angie, Joe, and the dog in the middle of the night (and felt AWFUL about it.)

Sunday was, understandably, a very relaxing day. The majority was spent on the sofa, trying to decide who was cuter - the baby or the dog (an impossible choice as they're both ridiculously cute).

See?

Then, Monday morning, I clicked my heels and now I'm "home".

It's Called "Compensation" for a Reason

Apparently, I somehow misunderstood the phrase "you're not getting anything", and there is now a chance that I will be getting a raise after all. A chance. The official word is - they can't tell me anything official.

But, for the last few days, I've been thinking about how different my life could be if I left this job, and New York...

I could have a house, with a yard, and invite friends over for parties.

I could have my own washer and dryer.

And I could have a pretty room to work on projects.

So, this Friday, I'll have to decide if the compensation... compensates.