Week in Review: Week 171
Monday
- So much rain. I came home from work, did a few minor tasks, then moved to the sofa early for two episodes of Handmaids’ Tale.
- I hired a Task Rabbiter to come Thursday and assemble my bookshelves. Which means that soon, this nonsense will be sorted out:
Tuesday
OOTD:
- I came across this charming video. It was almost like doing a meditation to spend 14 minutes watching it. My mother used to make that butter/sugar spread for me when I was little.
- I was invited to join my Bike to the Beach colleague to another event this Friday – in Queens, aka Out of the Office All Day, so that’s a treat!
- Drove to a nearby beach, thinking I’d sit on the beach and read for an hour until sunset…but the little bugs were so bad I had to sit in my car with the windows up, boo. Wasn’t much of a sunset, really, but at least I got myself out of the house for a bit.
Wednesday
- Went for my physical this morning and tried to speak with the doctor about some of the issues I’ve been having. This is a whole event unto itself. I have another appointment in four weeks to go over bloodwork results. This may need to be its own
rantpost. On a brighter note, I was feeling much better this week. - Tried the beach slash sunset thing again…still buggy…and even less of a show than the night before.
thursday
- Darling Chris from Task Rabbit came to assemble my bookcases. A fail on so many levels. He was fine, kept trying different things, but no matter what, as soon as one of the bookcases was assembled and we went to move it to its spot, it went down like dominos. It was crazy. After an hour we made the decision to quit for the day, and I would decide how I wanted to proceed (use extra hardware, perhaps…or find different bookcases altogether) and then I would reach out to him again. Obviously, I paid him for his time so now I was out $$ and STILL had no bookcases. PLUS, once one was assembled oh so carefully on the spot and we braced it up against the wall with the pieces of the other bookcase before it could fall apart, I could see that two were not going to fit, after all! When I first moved in and decided I wanted these two bookcases against the back wall of the alcove, there were boxes all along the side wall, so I had to measure wall-to-wall above the boxes. Turns out there’s a weird 2.5″ lip (like a weird molding) along the bottom of the wall, it comes up close to 10″… and those 2.5″ are preventing both bookcases from fitting in the space side by side and looking like a built-in library wall. So disappointed. Since then I’ve decided I do not want to spend the money to buy two new (and I mean “new to me,” like off CraigsList, not NEW) bookcases…and I go back and forth between thinking we’ll just use a bunch of metal L brackets to brace this thing together and I’ll put in the middle of the alcove wall and call it a day…OR not even bother with that extra expense and just push the boxes into the alcove and work out of them one at a time. That was a really long, boring, dumb story. But this is where we’re at:
Actually, I think if I shove enough stuff in that space to the left of it, it’ll hold together and I can go ahead and unpack boxes onto it. And when all the stuff is sold or rehomed, I can just take the whole thing apart (by blowing on it) and throwing it out. Which is a shame. But they’re quite large…and thinking ahead to my eventual next place which will most likely be considerably smaller than this, it’s just not practical to think they’re going with me. So. That’s what I’ll do.
friday
- This was a super nice day. We left for the event in Queens at 8:30am and didn’t get back til it was time to go home. In between, the event was like a mini block party/carnival, with food trucks and games, and they very nicely set us up with a table and little canopy overhead and they told everyone there to give us donations. I had a sausage hero for breakfast and spumoni italian ice for lunch, and mini pizzas as a parting gift. There was excellent people watching, like grown-ups, in nice clothes. Our teachers are all so young and dress to be active with the kids. So this was a nice change.
- I went to dinner that night with friends – it’s been so long since I kept skipping things to just go home and rest. It was nice to be out.
saturday
- Now that everything is leafed out, I get the prettiest shadows on the bathroom wall in the late morning. I’m usually at work and miss it. Ha, the picture looks sort of ridiculous. It’s prettier in person.
- Disappointed that this Gwynnie Bee top was so short. I liked the little ruffle placket down the front. And before you go “it’s not too short…”
Yes. It is.
- My girlfriend and I were saying Friday night at dinner how We Just Need to Start Moving…and I said, “I’ll walk 5 days this week if you’ll walk 5 days this week,” and it was on. So Saturday afternoon I headed to a nearby preserve for an easy 20-minute walk…and all of a sudden there were cactuses! Cacti! Just in a little opening in the woods. I thought this was the weirdest thing.
I think the path goes all the way to a beach, but this is far as I went.
- I’ve been making more time for reading. This is what I read this week:
Arranged, by Catherine McKenzie. An interesting premise, a good story, a fast read. Two Thumbs Up.
Then this one, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine. The first couple chapters I was just not feeling it, it felt stiff. But I’m so glad I continued on as it turned into a charming, sweet, funny, touching story. I cried and laughed out loud. Two Thumbs Up.
sunday
- Trying to do something with messy box mountain today…here’s the before…
I got sidetracked when I opened a box of old photographs (as I always do):
I’m a filing weirdo.
Funny story, this was maybe like…1996? I just bought that exact dress. Again.
My cousin and me with my usual “Muscle Man” pose. I think I’ve shared others like this with you. I have No Idea where I got that from. I would have been 8 here.
14. Sans hips. Sans a LOT.
Okay. Enough with the pictures. Back to work!
- After. A little better.
- Met She Who Shall Remain Nameless for a little stroll through town, looked in some galleries and shops, then went for a light dinner.
Betty: The Thief of Ideas
This looks interesting.
And now it is Sunday evening, almost time for bed. This week is a little hectic at work, it’s the last school week of the year so there are things going on. But I feel okay right now, so…that’s good.
OH. So sometimes I just want to write something. Maybe another blog post talked about something, or I saw something on the news…or something just happened…and I start writing about it in my head thinking maybe I’ll do a blog post…but I don’t have pictures for it, and it would be weird to match some of these topics with an outfit I’m wearing (like my dr rant). But…I don’t know. Like just this past week there was the dr. appointment, the issue about Nike UK’s plus size mannequins, and an article about “stainless clothes.” All these things sparked something in me and I just wanted to go blah blah blah but I don’t really know if anyone’s interested in spending their time reading my opinions about random things. And I have a LOT of opinions about random things! So. Thoughts? I don’t want people to stop coming by cuz you think it’s just gonna be another opinion post. I wouldn’t do it a LOT. Please. I just barely get my three a week done! But sometimes.
Okay, shutting up and going to bed. At 8:30pm.
Laurie Elliott
Well now I want to hear your opinion on the Dr visit, the plus size mannequins (I saw those too), and what is stainless clothes? Has to be stain free, not stainless as in the metal? I enjoy the way you describe things so tell me more 😉
bettyewp
Maybe it was stain-free, not stainless, ha. My brain!
Marceline S Miller
I want more opinions! What’s going on with Nike in the UK? I am totally an enquiring mind when,it comes to your posts…
Melissa
I definitely want to hear about your doctor rant! 🙂
bettyewp
I’ll get to it this week, for sure.
jodie filogomo
Crazy week really. So much going on and yet not as much to show for it as you wanted. The shelf thing was crazy. Smart to hire someone, but annoying when it doesn’t work out as planned (although isn’t that life, ugh)
I have to say I love that kimono you were wearing. Bright and colorful.
Did you see Not Dressed as Lamb’s post this weekend?? (https://www.notdressedaslamb.com/2019/06/14-plus-size-fashion-bloggers-you-should-know.html) I know you like to cover everything, and I’m not here to argue. But it’s nice to see your shape too at times. I know you think it’s bad, but I beg to disagree. (talking about the “too short” top).
And I totally get sidetracked with photos like that. That’s exactly what our weekend was like…purging and going through stuff. I even found this hilarious diet on a piece of newspaper from 1969…crazy stuff!!!
I’m glad you’re feeling a little better. It’d still be nice to figure out what’s going on!!
OXOX
Jodie
bettyewp
I’ve only skimmed Catherine’s plus size blogger post so far, I need to have a little time to get through it all. Most of them I’m aware of but I want to spend some time on the other blogs.
I’m not saying my shape is BAD. I just don’t like the way certain things look on me.
Wow, you’re really full steam ahead on the upcoming move, good for you! Have you seen any places yet that you’re interested in?
Sarah
Opinions? Good. Bettye’s hilariously expresses opinions? Better.
bettyewp
Ha ha, OKAY. But beware, I’m not feeling too hilarious about the doctor.
Laurie Elliott
Bette, I wasn’t serious about the stainless. It was just silverware was where my mind first went when I read stainless this morning. I must spend more time waking up before I make comments 🙂 Have a great week!
bettyewp
Oh, ha! It sounded like a word error I would make!
Iris
Oh, butter and sugar. We used to always have that on top of blackberry cobbler. Made my mouth water thinking about it.
Sorry about your shelves. Since you bought them on Craigslist perhaps there was hardware missing. At any rate, that’s really annoying, but your solution sounds like a good one.
I loved the sunset picture. Sorry about the bugs. And, I also love the kimono. Hope you have a good week.
Grace & Peace,Iris
http://www.IrisOriginalsRamblings.com
bettyewp
Thinking about butter and sugar sandwiches (here little girl, have some white sugar with your carbs!)…she also used to give me banana slices floating in a bowl of milk and topped with sugar. What was THAT? Ugh. At least put it in the blender and call it a smoothie!
Deborah Stinedurf
My friend, my entire blog is built upon my random opinions about random topics so….YES to your opinions! Man that whole shelf scenario is absurd. Who knew a couple of freakin’ bookshelves could be so problematic. My favorite is random cacti in the woods…seriously, how does that even happen?!
Debbie
http://www.fashionfairydust.com
bettyewp
I guess I *could* just do my blahblah in a regular outfit post. This week I think there will be a photo-less post on Friday as all this bloody rain keeps spoiling my shooting plans.
When I showed my girlfriend the cactus pictures she was like “oh yeah I’ve seen cactus around.” WHERE HAVE I BEEN?? I just don’t even understand how there’s cactus growing on Long Island! It’s MUTANT cactus.
Ruth Josey
LOL! I spent a lot of time grinning and chuckling through this post. The video was kind of inspiring, kind of relaxing. I didn’t watch all of it because I’m at work and I didn’t want to get too inspired or too relaxed. I’m sorry about your bookshelves. Sometimes spending less on something can end up costing you more. If you have the “NextDoor” app, keep an eye open for “free stuff” postings. If the length of the shirt really bothers you, I think that shirt would be beautiful (it already is but more so) with a really wide eyelet lace ruffle around the bottom of it. Horse wisdom meditation. I think you should go do it and write a post on it. I’d love to know more. And I loved the “Betty: Thief of Ideas” painting (but maybe not $3,200 worth). And the photo files. I tried that once. It worked really well but I didn’t take it far enough and I’m pretty sure I’m not going to now. If I send them to you, will you do them in your spare time? Haha! What a busy week!
Ruth
http://www.VogueFauxReal.com
bettyewp
I LOVE NextDoor Neighborhood! It’s how I found my apartment…and my new sofa…and someone to MOVE my new sofa…but I call it Nosey Neighborhood cuz there’s a lot of (at least by me) “did anyone see who moved into the new house on the corner of Main St?” or “what’s going on in the closed gas station?”
I’m afraid I’m going to miss Horse Meditation as I’m due to be in the city that night visiting with my niece in from California for a few days for work. She wins out over Horse Meditation (which is really saying something).
That box of photo filing is from so many years ago – well, back when we still had film cameras and printed pictures!
julia
I have two ideas for you. Do a newsletter once a week or whenever you fancy on your random things and then you can include your random photos (like plants and all the other pics I love that you take when you’re out and about) and people can subscribe to it to hear the ramblings. That does sound like some initial work to set up though so not sure if that’s what you want. Or you add it to your week in review b/c you thought of it that week so write about it. And I always enjoy your random photos even if they’re not in sync with the topic. Like the shrinking of box mountain had me riveted (said not sarcastically!)
bettyewp
ha ha ha box mountain riveting?? oh julia goolia, you need to get out more!