I Heart Peanut Butter

Blog years are the measure of time between your “I am sorry for not posting much lately, promise to post more soon” posts.

~Utne Reader

My new favorite blog…. I need to start baking more…

Vegan Cookies YUM

So was the idea for lifting the moratorium on Off-Shore Drilling was a GOOD idea? Accidents like this, with 5,000 barrels a day of crude oil is leaking into the Gulf of Mexico are not 100% preventable, as the err of the being human does not allow for 100% Quality. So now we are opening up the eastern seaboard and a small additional portion of the Gulf.

I am not going to be the closed minded liberal and argue the Cape Wind Project as being just as bad. If I need to pick my battles, I will back the a reinstatement of the moratorium on Off-Shore Drilling well before I will fight against the Cape Wind Farm (although The Cape, Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket will have prime turbine views….sigh)

NIMBY is the phrase of the day…

How do I feel about Nuclear Power??? Still back and forth on that one. On a side note it seems the new Walmart here in Worcester is using wind power for their parking lot lights. Still not a fan of Walmart but I have to say the use of alternative power even if for outdoor lights is admirable.

Some places that I am pretty keen on :

4 Bedroom House, lots of built-ins

I am not a huge Cape fan but for the price.. This PLACE is not too bad.. It is 3 bedrooms and has hardwood floors …

This Colonial would need a lot of paint in the inside but with Hardwood floors and being a brick home it has a good starting point. But GOOD LORD that kitchen.. Thank god places like IKEA exist.

Maybe this CONDO could have a closet like this.

I never thought I would be happy to see a Monday. Today I am, new week and maybe better decisions on my part.

I have decided most men are not better to spend my time with than my friends. It was a weekend that was a bit more awkward and weird than I am use to. But the only really good part was Saturday morning bike ride and coffee with Kelly, then Providence with Beth yesterday and last night at the Pecha Kucha Vol 5 event held at the Razzo Center @ Clark followed by a beer with friends. See again my “Good Times” were with my friends, not with stranger men.

Maybe I need to be a bit more selective or at least follow my initial instincts that tell me to run the other way.  I really need to write a book, a tell all no secrets book. I am sure it would sell well.

Happy it is a new week

I have this link on my sidebar, but for those of you who are not familiar. The Worcester Blogs link will bring you to the feed of all the Worcester Bloggers pages. There is a great amount of wonderful writers, community watch dogs, event announcements and life blogs.

Worcester Massachusetts Blogs

Had a conversation the other evening with a gentlemen who has lived in Worcester his whole life. He knows the gritty details that I do not know of the city. The conversation came to gentrification.

I am not sure it is a bad thing, if only because the median household income in Worcester is a pitiful 18k a year. Individuals making this amount of money are not homeowners, they live in a floor in a triple decker. Homeownership produces pride and involvement in the community. So is it bad to have multiple loft or condo conversions that will bring in the 20-30 somethings into a neighborhood that  could use people who are proud of being there.

I know from first hand experience as I owned in the lovely Main South Neighborhood, but that never stopped us from going to the local bar down on Cambridge Street for an Obama Rally, we were involved with the Main South CDC. I felt like I lived there, I felt like I was part of the community. Did I want to see more business in the neighborhood-yes. Did I want the mill on Grand Street to be converted for open loft spaces, coffee shops and retail/office space- Yes.. But I also thought it would have been great to offer dining and retail space to local business people. A really good Cambodian or Thai Restaurant or Soul Food eatery. Keeping the neighborhood alive and growing.

I was asked where I expected all the poor folks to go? Well I think Worcester needs to do a better job on attracting business to Worcester, companies should want to be here. The cost of operating in Worcester versus the Metro West/Boston area is a huge savings. There are what, 13 colleges in this city. There is no shortage of people willing to work, and if a person can make a decent wage close to home, even better.

I was looking on the Gothamist where they linked to an article about the gentrification of The Lower East Side in NYC back in 1984 and here. The story of the Lower East Side/East Village reminds me of the Kelly Sq/Canal District scenario.

I watched Providence change within the time I was younger to current days. I remember when the biggest issues that there was not enough housing in Down-city Providence, now they are auctioning off The Waterplace Condos.I remember when you did not walk or drive on the West End and then it became the Armory District and I moved there.

I remember when Five-Points in Denver was the hood and now it is filled with high end lofts, condos and boutiques.

I get it, but the greed in this country, the constant need for better does make the poor-poorer and the rich-richer. But in the same time in order to draw people to a city, to get the folks of Worcester out of the mentality that Worcester (other than the West Side) will always be the slums. To get everyone on board to better the city, it can change. I personally as a resident of Worcester for 3 years  still feels that Worcester has great potential.

Currently I live downtown, I love living downtown, I love the pigeons outside my window, I love the Common across the way, I love the sound of sirens and people. I am a city gal, just wish there was a little more for me downtown so I wouldn’t ever have to move my car. I have tried out all the small shops and bought groceries at Compare Foods (not a bad selection I might add) but a coffee shop in one of the store fronts of building would be amazing. Does no one realize that there is roughly 400 apartments on my block and more around the corner. You have young professionals, grad students, MCP students, small families. There is a market!!!!

I guess the take-away is that gentrification as a concept is not bad, but it is getting people moving into those neighborhoods and becoming PART of neighborhood instead of never exploring and reaching out. Really get to know your neighbors, they may surprise you.  But honestly with housing prices already high in the established neighborhoods, where are those who are lower-middle class and middle class suppose to get their start? You buy in neighborhoods that are cheaper, and hope to improve them. I understand the implications of doing this, I understand that rents could rise their landlords could sell the property.  In Worcester you are not getting yuppies buying up this space, you are just getting young professionals and empty nester’s. Many of us personally can not afford to live in Boston, so priced into a Worcester housing market. You want to encourage homeownership, the more dollars in Property taxes the more resources that our public schools can have, in turn helping disadvantaged youths have a chance to be able to have an education and give back to their community.

Just a thought:

Just looking at a brewery in NY and all their beers are a simple 5.5% ABV area. I want to thank Dogfish Head for really experimenting and allowing for some amazing beers. Although the general public who sits at a Brew Pub may be wanting something “drinkable” I just want something “memorable”.  Take a risk you fine brewmasters at small breweries.

I haven’t’ had a chance to write, the weekend was a combination of disappointment, realization, admiration, friends,cocktails,vegan goodies, kiddie birthday parties, not much sleep and a lot of chatting.

Friday night did not turn out as planned I headed to Brighton only to head back home that night, but I am glad everything that needed to be said was said, and now I have nothing else to say. I guess when you want something that will never be you can not be too disappointed when nothing transpires from it. Another lesson learned. But it is the first time in my life that I have spent so much time with another person that did not or never would feel the same way. But I am proud for putting myself out there, finally doing something I have never done.

But I was lucky to meet up with my friend Walt and Dustin at Bukowski’s in Boston for a beer and then I headed back to Worcester.

But Saturday changed it all… I started the day with a workout and lounging until about 1, I knew it was going to be a late night so I took the pleasure in a tad bit of relaxing. Headed over to the Worcester VegFest, great exhibits, speakers, food and people. I believe that Drew mentioned around 3ish that over 1,000 people have came through the doors. It seemed to be a huge success and job well done everyone.

Ran some errands and then over to The Greyhound Pub for the Mad Men- Themed Party. Can I say it was one of the best nights of 2010. Although it seems that by wearing a red wig, lipstick and being dressed like a sex-starved housewife seemed to get me some unwanted attention. Everyone went all out, was a great mix of Mad Men-60′s attire and Rugby players in the pub that night. Everyone got a kick out of us all dressed up, drinking Manhattans, puffing on Candy Cigarette

The pic of me was pre-party, some of the ones from the party not so flattering. I meet some new people, shared funny stories while all squeezed into the booths together.  Nights like this make me appreciate Worcester and the amazing, brilliant and creative friends I have made.

Sunday was my nieces B-Day party, she made out like a bandit and the kids all had fun, but my time in a house full of people and children is always a limited one. I went to seek refuge in my quiet apartment upon leaving.

Again it was a weekend that baffled me. But seems some new doors have opened.

Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle, and the life of the candle will not be shortened. Happiness never decreases by being shared. -Buddha

Happy Thursday !!!

I was thinking I wanted to take a quick bike ride after work but not sure I have time today. Plus I did like a million squats yesterday when I worked out and I am not sure I can bike up any hills due to the pain.. I love that pain.

So starting to feel better and hoping that the rain this weekend will get the rest of the pollen out of the air so I can breath again. Back to my workouts and riding again. I hate getting sick as it makes me hate any food I put in my body as I am not working any of it off. I have came way too far to have any major detours right now.

Looking forward to the weekend:

Finally going to see The Runaways tomorrow night. Saturday is Vegfest and the Mad Men Party (that is gonna be fun), Sunday down to Connecticut for my nieces birthday and some family time.

I am sure I will have some great pics to share.

“I’ll go out there and make my mistakes. I’ll fall down, get hurt, cry, laugh, love, and get back up. I’ll stand on the highest mountaintop and go into the deepest caverns. I’ll roam across the world, visit the moon and swim in outer space. I’ll let my imagination run wild and let my spirit soar. Why? Because when my life flashes before my eyes in those final moments, I want to have something worthwhile to watch, with plenty of love and laughter, good times and bad. I don’t want to regret a thing and I plan not to. Remember, it’s not usually the things you do that you regret, it’s the things you don’t do and leave unsaid. Laugh out loud. Cry in the rain. Love with all your heart and soul. Get hurt. Tell the truth. Go crazy. But never forget that you only get one shot. One shot at this day, one shot at this minute. One shot at this age. One shot at life. So make sure your life is one you will enjoy watching in your final moments.”

~	Anna Floyd

a new Jamis, only 2k…. SO PRETTY

How do I do this, I keep running my credit cards back UP, every time I get them almost all the way paid off, I give myself some sort of OKAY to just start using them again. BAD

A public affirmation that I CRYSTAL A, spend more money than I make. I would love to fully blame it on the fact that I could really use a higher paying job right now. That is only part of the problem, but if I did not have these cards to pay off I would have a bit more m0ney in my pocket.

First thing: I CAN NOT eat out as much as I do.

Second thing: I can not drink 8$ beers and 15$ Scotch.

Third thing: Even if I am losing weight I need to go through the TONS of clothes I currently own and see what fits instead of buying more and more. $75.00 jeans add up when you are buying a new size every couple months

I must get a better grasp on my spending, this is why DATING and being SINGLE is expensive, when you are in a comfy relationship you can hang out at home, cook endless dinners and play video games. Instead I am getting my nails done every 10 days or so, my hair cuts on a more regular bases. etc…

The spending NEEDS to stop, I will not move out of state until my debt is paid down. Ideally I would love to get my credit cards and car paid off in the next two years.  The total is about 17k owed between the two forms of debt. It could be done..

Any advice is always welcome….