Updates

Snip now lives alone and in peace. He/she changes shells once or twice a day. Joe and I aren't sure if that's healthy or not, but since there aren't other crabs to bother him/her we don't really worry too much.

I threw out the worms and composting bin. The knats were getting to be too much for me. I'm not really sure what I did wrong but I will continue to plan an outdoor compost for the day we have our own yard.

I have started the Couch to 5k program (www.coolrunning.com). My knees were KILLING me after the first day. Second day was run successfully (modified a bit) and I'm pleased to announce I could walk normally the next day! I have signed up to run a 5k charity race the first weekend of October, so I must follow through with this program.

I am currently reading (still) Wild Swans: Three Daughters of China. I am learning a lot. I wish I had read this before traveling to Beijing for the Olympics last summer. I may have had a better understanding of where the Chinese people are coming from. There has been so much turmoil in the last century of Chinese history. Good book - I would recommend it highly to anyone wanting a non-fluff read. (Thanks Mrs. Wallace for the "fluff" term. - My next book might have to be "fluff".)

My current knitting project is a tank top or camisole thing-y. Just cast on yesterday. Will let you know how it turns out.

Home Improvements

My in-laws came to town this past weekend and stayed with us in our shoebox. Joe drove them to Ikea to pick up furniture (shelves!) on Friday afternoon. It took them about 5 hours to get there and back. They now understand why we've decided to live in a shoebox in the District instead of a house in the suburbs.

There is no amount of money that could convince me that commuting for hours each day was a worthwhile way to spend my life. I am quite happy in small place in the District where my longest commute is about 45 minutes (and I complain about that).

My father-in-law did SO MUCH work this weekend! I am so grateful. Together, he and Joe hung a screen door, blinds (on all six windows), and set-up & attached a huge bookshelf/pantry/study area in our dining room. They worked all day Saturday and half the day on Sunday, not to mention the hours that it took just to pick up the materials!

My mother-in-law and I did our best to stay out of the way and to not annoy them with too many "suggestions" of ways to do things. I did this by going to the library to study for 5 hours.

After studying for hours, I came home to find beautiful blinds in all my windows, a screen door and the guys working hard on the shelves. We chose Fogo de Chao for dinner and made reservations for the earliest time they had available - 9:30pm.

The food was great! The atmosphere fun and we all ate a bit more than we should have, but weren't regretting it the next day. Sunday, the guys got an early start on finishing the shelves and I grilled chicken for lunch. We ate, the in-laws left and we were left with an improved but dusty and disheveled house.

We spent the afternoon cleaning up, tidying up and getting things put into their new places. Its not all finished yet, but should be in the next few days.

I love my shelves! They look fantastic. And I love the blinds! So much better than the roller thing-ys we had before. And I love screen door! The breeze is wonderful.

Thanks "Dad"!

Worms

The worms crawl in, the worms crawl out. The worms are dying on my living room floor.

Haha! That wasn't the next line you were expecting I'll bet.

I started a compost bin (vermicomposting actually) in my condo living room. It's kind of big and the condo is kind of small, but we keep making room for the important things.

My cousin started vermicomposting in her small New York City apartment, so I thought "You know, I could do that too!"

So I convinced Joe that it would be a good idea and that we could use the dirt for his mint plant (to make mojitos of course). After he heard that it would help the mint, he was all in. I guess I forgot to tell him the bin would go in the living room. Opps. He's ok with it now, but did object a bit when the worms were escaping the bin through the air holes.

I got a text message just after I left for work that said, "You're going to need to figure something out for the worms. They're crawling out of the bin." So I texted back inquiring about how many? I had ordered 1,000 worms and was going to flip if they were all over my rug! Two hours later, I received his reply "5 or 6". That's not too bad, right?

I checked for escapees when I got home from work and found about 10 to 15 on the floor and in between the sheets of aluminum I was using as a floor protector. I had checked a few different web sites for advice and quickly found a great solution: put the bin (with worms and air holes) inside another bin with an egg carton between them for air. That way the bigger bin collects any liquid (and worms) that might drip from the bin with food-stuffs.

Yay! Worm situation resolved. Back to singing - Long slim slimy ones, short fat juicy ones, itsy, bitsy, fuzzy-wuzzy worms!

Death Notice

It is my sad duty to announce the passing of our dear little Snap.

Snap passed peacefully (we hope) in the comfort of his/her red shell around Christmas. We truly enjoyed Snap's adventurous spirit while he/she was with us for six months. Snap's life was filled with hermit crab-type activities such as digging in sand, climbing on shells, scratching at the aquarium, and throwing the water sponge when I forgot to keep it wet.

Snap is survived by Snip, partners in life and love. Snap is missed dearly by Snip, Joe and Anne.

I pledge to return to the beach and come home with another friend or two or three (however many I can convince Joe to let me bring home).

German Chocolate Cake

It all started when my coworker asked for a German Chocolate Cake for her birthday treat.

See, we make or buy a treat (usually cake or brownies or something like that) for the birthday of the person whose birthday is after yours. Example: My birthday is in October, so I will make something for Edna whose birthday is in November.

So Mavis went on vacation and she was supposed to bring a treat for Cathy, but I volunteered to do it. Cathy wanted German Chocolate Cake, which I've never made but was willing to try. So I had it all planned that I would get the cake part made then got to my Salsa class (the dancing, not the kind you eat with chips), then make the icing when I got home.

But then it happened... I was rushing out of the house in the morning and forgot my keys. Yes, you read that correctly. I forgot my house keys. You see, I don't drive so I don't NEED keys to get on the Metro to get to work, or home. My husband is awake in the morning so I don't usually lock the house door behind me when I leave. So I forgot my keys.

While I was supposed to be making a cake, I was sitting in the public library reading Atonement (which is very good by the way). By the time my husband got home, I had just enough time to change my clothes, eat something and run out the door for the Salsa class!

I woke up earlier than normal this morning to go to the local market (Eastern Market http://www.easternmarketdc.com) and buy a German Chocolate Cake from the bakery (Fine Sweet Shop). I then carried it on the Metro to work, hoping the whole time that I didn't trip or get knocked over by the train bumping around.

The cake is safe in the kitchen fridge. No more volunteering for me. Das ende. (The End - in German)

Snip and Snap

We're not allowed to have pets in our building but I don't know just how strict that rule is. I am often home long before Joe and want something more to take care of than just my plants.

I have potted herbs on my window sills and although some folks talk to their plants, we (the basil, oregano, cilantro, mint, lemon balm and I) do not have much to chat about. They would probably say that I am abusive, alternately drowning them and depriving them of water. I would reply that they haven't given me much to work with. However, the previous cilantro contracted aphids and this new cilantro is doing a much better job at defending itself. So you see, the plants and I well, we just tolorate each other.

While Joe and I were at the beach (Rehoboth Beach, DE) I bought two hermit crabs! They are adorable and I love to watch them crawl around. I bought what I thought would be the better of the two types of cages offered at the gift shop on the Boardwalk, only to return home, do some research on land dwelling hermit crabs and find that the other cage (little plastic carrying box) may have been the better choice.

It seems that these hermies love the tropics and that I need to make them a little tropical home. They are also burrowers and need sand or some sort of stuffs to dig through. They like to climb so they need things to climb on top of. They need water to bathe and drink (I'm pretty sure they use the drinking water to bathe and visa versa). Yuck! I'm glad I have my shower!

I have heard that they continue to grow if well cared for and can live for 15 years or more! Amazing! I had no idea what I had gotten myself into when I said "Aww... Joe look at them, they're so cute! Can I bring one home?" Which then I decided the one needed a friend - everyone needs a friend, so two little hermies went in to the cage.

The one climbed right up to the top of the cage in a snap. His name: Snap. The other is a little timid and frightens easily. His name: Snip.

And that is the story of how Snip and Snap came to live in our Shoebox. Pets? Hmmm...

The First

Welcome to Living in a Shoebox! This is my first blog. My first entry will be short and not-so-sweet because it is the first and will just serve to get me up and running. So that's it. I'll have more later.