Popsicles

I'm having a homemade popsicle for dinner tonight, thanks to my parents mailing me their extra blender! You're looking at 2/3 of a frozen pear and a few blackberries, blended and frozen so I can survive the sudden hot weather!  Ben and I also experimented with Pink Lady apple popsicles and kiwi popsicles and I'm realizing that pretty much all fruit tastes good frozen.  I'm looking forward to August for the MacPhee family Hawaii trip, where I'll see if my Nana will let me get away with eating these before 10 am.  There's been a strict no-popsicles-before-10am which has previously been in everyone's best interest, but I can't wait to march some frozen pineapple and guava popsicles over to Nana and Papa's to test this possible loophole.

This past weekend, Ben and I had brunch (kind of) at the annual Scottish Games in Woodland.  I had fish and chips and Ben had a salmon burger and a Lagunitas Scotch Ale while we watched men in kilts participate in events such as hammer cage, the caber toss, and weight over the bar.  It was very exciting.  Also I had an ice cream cone.

Any popsicle suggestions?

Jobs I'd Be Really Good At, Part 1

I'm going to do a (at least) 2-part blog series focusing on jobs I kind of wish I had.  While I am currently pretty happy at my current job, it's pretty fun to observe other people's jobs and decide what I'd like and not like about them.

The story behind this post's topic begins with Netflix.  You'd think that between 1) my low standards for movies and tv and 2) Ben's easy-going attitude and ability to make all my dreams come true, we'd be able to agree on shows/movies to watch on Netflix.  This is not true.  We rarely want to watch the same thing on Netflix.  But about a month ago, we started watching Parking Wars.  I can't begin to describe how amazing this show is.  Basically, Parking Wars is a reality tv show that documents employees and citizens in situations involving towing, the impound lot, parking ticketing, and booting, mostly by the Philadelphia Parking Authority.  I was hooked after about two episodes, and I soon began to imagine how soon I could pack up my current life, move to Philadelphia, and begin employment (specifically ticketing) with the PPA.  Crazy, I know.  But here are the reasons I would be a great addition to the PPA.  If you know anyone involved with the PPA, feel free to forward this blog post as my CV.

1.  I am great at following the rules.  Generally, it makes me very uncomfortable when others do not follow the rules.

2.  I appreciate a good parking job.  As an avid parallel parker, I believe I would facilitate the parking privileges of the citizens of Philadelphia.

3.  I enjoy walking.  Unlike the Sacramento parking meter enforcers who drive around in a dorky cart, PPA ticketers walk their assigned blocks

4.  Generally, I don't care if people don't like me.  On Parking Wars, the PPA ticketers are frequently heckled.  If I'm following protocol, I don't think I could be easily bullied into revoking tickets.  And if anyone gets too mean, there's always a supervisor to call.

5.  I would be willing to switch to another department.  Particularly the impound lot.  I love paperwork.

6.  Enthusiasm?  I am extremely interested in learning the art and science of writing tickets and Philadelphia parking, in general.  Maybe someday.

And here's a highlight reel of Parking Wars episodes:

I wonder how good brunch is in Philadelphia.

I Spy (Plant Breeding edition)

Things currently on my desk (see if you can spot them all!)

Pollination bags
Samantha's lunch calendar
Hay sampling certification
Keys
Inspirational picture of an eagle
Gloves, because my hands get cold when I'm sitting at my desk
Empty container of sunscreen (hidden)
A bajillion clipboards
Genetics article
Pencils
Manual for operating a power tool
Cassette tapes that aren't mine
Old planting maps
Description of light bulbs that will eventually need replacing
Phone charger for a phone that's not mine
Notes, notes, and more notes

...And since it's Fun Friday, here's a picture of my nail art and the tools I used to complete the masterpiece.

Easter

This Easter weekend, Samantha and Erin came to visit.  In case you were wondering, the components of a successful sisters weekend are:

1. Snacks

After a strenuous morning of working out, Samantha demanded macaroni and cheese as soon as she and Erin arrived in Sacramento.  I failed a little bit in the snacks area because I ran out of Easter candy by the time Easter Sunday came around.

2. Movies

Hunger Games.  Yeah, we saw it again.  It's still really good.

3. Shopping

The Downtown Plaza Westfield Mall in Sacramento doesn't have a lot to offer, but after two shopping weekends in a row, my pink sparkly wallet (purchased during a sisters weekend) wasn't complaining.  Samantha did get some really cool pants for her paper doll though.

4. Nail painting

I had painted my nails gold on Thursday (Fun Friday came early last week because it didn't want to steal Good Friday's thunder), but Samantha and Erin took advantage of my gamut of nail polish.  I should really take a picture of my supply, but go ahead and picture an overflowing gallon Ziploc bag of nail polish.

5. Target

Target was closed on Easter, but we did take a trip to the parking lot.  Even though it didn't work out this weekend, it still deserves mentioning.  When I used to visit Samantha in Berkeley, we'd roam the aisles until we found something we needed, such as an ICEE.

6. Meal(s) sponsored by Dad

This Easter sisters weekend meal was brought to you by Dad, via Burgers and Brew.  We had salad, a bacon cheeseburger, a jalapeno bacon cheeseburger, lots of curly fries, and a BLT.  And a root beer and a regular beer.  And I ate everyone's pickles.
Also, not sponsored by Dad but still a great Easter brunch was had at Cafe Bernardo.  Fun fact: There are two Cafe Bernardos in Sacramento.  When Ben was meeting us on Sunday morning, we found this out the hard way.  We ate a ham and egg sandwich, yogurt with fruit, toast, breakfast burrito, and potatoes. We drank OJ, water, and a bloody mary.

7. Coffee

At Peet's!  Thanks Erin!

8. Swapping clothes

Because we can.  Samantha borrowed a shirt from me, and Erin left her jacket at my apartment.

9. Gossiping

Upon settling down for some bedtime Law and Order (how do we not have nightmares?  Instead we have wonderful dreams about one day getting jury duty), we decided we should gossip like normal sisters.  However, this turned into a discussion about why Erin should design UC Davis themed fake nails to sell at the Bookstore.

Spending weekends together since 1992

Emeryville

I spent last Saturday following the following itinerary:

1. Drive to Emeryville through the pouring rain.  Thanks, Charlotte, for teaching me how to drive in real rain.  I can only assume that the drivers from sunny California never learned how to drive in the rain based on the 1:1 ratio between cars with and without their headlights turned on.  Luckily no accidents though.

2.  Arrive in Emeryville and receive a Philz coffee delivered by Samantha.  Phil is going to need his own brunch blog post.  My relationship with coffee has never been better.

3.  Meet Jessica and Samantha at PF Changs for lunch.  Burn my mouth on a green bean.  Set myself up for disappointment when I think that the PFC Wonton Soup will supplement my craving for Davis Noodle City Wonton Noodle Soup.  Observe PFC staff not working very hard.  I also realized my knowledge of Law and Order: SVU is a negligible fraction of Samantha's or Jessica's.

4.  Hunger Games the movie, with popcorn and an ICEE.

5.  Buy some things, including a shirt for Ben from J.Crew that I wish had bought in my size because it looks really good on me too.

6.  Mirror, Mirror the movie.  With a Diet Coke.

7.  Dinner at Pasta Pomodoro.  The bread was delicious.  Drank 3 iced teas (upside to sitting at the bar) and ate ravioli.

8.  Drove home.  Uneventful.

9.  Watched Law and Order: SVU and ate dried mango until my stomach hurt.

It really was a great day.  Stay tuned for the sequel in Sacramento, happening this weekend with Erin, as well as the prequel from San Jose (featuring details of my introduction to Philz Coffee).