Views from the BDO: Safety Cone

Wow - haven't had a "views from" in over a year and now twice in two weeks!

I actually first noticed this bizarre sight back in November or December. Can't believe I didn't think to blog it then. As I gaze out the front window of the BDO, I am eye-level with this safety cone, which sits like a hat atop the utility pole. I am a bit curious to learn how it got there, but I suppose I never will.

From this vantage point I think I was among the first to notice it, but I've since seen people walking along the sidewalk pointing up to it, stopping and staring. It's actually not as impressive from this view; it's somehow more humorous when you spot it from the street. But I can't post that photo here, because that would not be a view from the BDO (although.. perhaps from the front porch annex office...).

It’s nice to be thanked.

It really does make a difference. I don’t EXPECT to be thanked when someone is paying me to do a job. Nothing really says “thank you” like cold, hard cash, but I’ve got to say it really puts me in an agreeable frame of mind when an email opens up with a line like, “Thanks so much for your dedication on this one.”

So note to clients: I can be bought with words; I am susceptible to manipulation. The line above was followed by about three or four paragraphs worth of edits/direction/correction. But I took it all in with a chipper smile, because the conversation opened with a nod to the effort I was putting forth (at 3.30 on the Friday before a holiday weekend). I guess this circles back to the whole “hostess sets the tone of the party” concept. Only in this case, I was a guest.

Coffee and Ketchup

So today was free iced coffee day at Dunkin' Donuts. My local Dunkin' is currently closed for renovations (booo, hisssss) and the nearest shop is at least 15 minutes away by car. With the price of gas where it is... well I'm word girl not math girl so I didn't bother with the calculation, I hopped in my little girl truck and drove on over!!! 'Cause free Dunkin' is FREE DUNKIN' baby!

On the way home I heard the most FASCINATING story on All Things Considered that I just HAVE to share, because it's tomato-related and it's been a while since I've blogged about tomatoes. (Not that there hasn't been plenty to discuss: our hydroponics are doing well; our Early Girl seedlings are probably just about ready to go into the ground; and my mom sent Will a really cool collection of heirloom plants as a gift and they just arrived this week - totally ready to go in the ground!)

This is the story: Heinz on Quest for Sweeter Tomatoes

Views from the BDO: It Snot Fair!

Further to my post this past Sunday.

This is sad. It's only Wednesday and trash day isn't until Friday. I wish I owned stock in Scott tissues.

Changed my mind. BOOO Spring!

Pollen, pollen, pollen! Yuk. Maybe THAT’s why I forget Spring every year. Maybe I block out the painful memory of the absolute and total MISERY that is allergies! Of course… if I’d just avoid sitting under budding trees, rolling around in the new grass, cutting the flowers and bringing them into my home, etc. that might help.

I swear it seems worse every year. I didn’t always have allergies. Or maybe I did and I just never noticed, because I was inside those buildings with windows that don’t open. So perhaps I've had allergies all along, but just was never outside enough to notice. Wow! Could be. So I love Spring, but there is no Spring without pollen, which is like kryptonite to me. And I love the BDO because of its windows that open, but if the windows didn’t open I wouldn’t suffer from allergies. Oh, the dichotomies of my life!

Spring Thing

You’d think by now it would have become passé. Here I am, almost 39 years on this planet, and every Spring it’s like I’ve never been here before.

This morning I did some laundry and went to hang it out on the line. The grass was still wet with dew, so I took my shoes off and walked across the lawn barefoot. Have you ever done this? You should. I know a lot of moms frown on it (fear of bugs, bees, and/or pet poo between the toes – which are all valid concerns) but it’s SOOO worth the risk. There is nothing like soft, new spring grass, cool and damp under your feet as the sun is just starting to warm up everything else. Probably not for everyone though… my tree-hugger-ness is showing. I swear I started to hear music from the Hair soundtrack and trippy psychedelic colors swirled before my eyes (I am on antihistamines though, so … perhaps…).

There’s other stuff too: I forget how colorful tulips and daffodils are; I forget how absolutely perfect the temperature is for sleeping and working in the BDO Annex Office 2 (back deck); I forget that the temperature changes a LOT from day-to-day or during any given day and begin dressing from the wardrobe-of-wishful-thinking (thus ending up entirely ill-prepared to watch Matthew's baseball game.)

It really is perplexing that I forget until it’s upon me. “Oh yeah, Spring is here. Look at that.” It’s nice though. A happy surprise each year. Yay Spring!