Plain Jane

For some reason, the company I work for decided that they are shutting down for the week of July 2- July 6 ALL because SOME people were going to take a couple of days off before or after the July 4th holiday.

Not only are they taking some of MY vacation days, but also one of my floating holidays to make up for the days that we are closed. At first I was REALLY mad about this. I wanted to choose when I took my few days of freedom. But then I thought about how I had never taken a day off to do nothing before.

Now I am pleased that I have an entire week to do nothing.(I was going to spend it deep cleaning my house, but my husband did that for me last weekend.) So, what do I with my time?

I was thinking of a few things:

1) Sit in bed most of the day and watch all the Netflix they will send me.
2) Make a new purse. I don't have a pattern yet, but I have been wanting to try to make one.
3) Sew a skirt. My friends wedding is the next weekend and I thought it would be fun to have a cute skirt to wear.
4) Go to all the nearby shops that are really too girly/boring for my husband. (not that I will buy anything.)

What do you do when you have 5 days to do nothing?

Posted by ~Plain Jane~ at 6:59 PM | Permalink | Comments

Oh! Would I LOVE to go to Royal Ascot Ladies Day and to wear a grand hat!

Posted by ~Plain Jane~ at 1:45 PM | Permalink | Comments

Matt Lauer recently interviewed Prince William & Harry of the United Kingdom. One of the most telling questions that he asked the young men was something like, "If your last name wasn't Windsor and you were just a Smith or a Jones, what would you choose to do with your lives."

They struggled the most with this question over all the others they had been asked during the interview. Because, from birth, they understood their place and duty, I suppose they never thought seriously about it.

But ME!?!?! I have come up with a few ideas of the things that I would do if money was not an issue.

1. Archivist - I don't know the exact title, but I would love to work in the National archives, the British Museum, or any other large entity that obtains, keeps and secures history.

2. Farmer - Not on the large scale though. I would just like to have a farm that is somewhat self-sustainable. I want to grow food for my family, have animals, etc. I would also try to use as much solar and wind power as possible. I really like the idea of not relying on large companies for my resources. I am not a tree0hugger or anything. I just like being self-reliant and also the cost savings! (Wait... Wasn't I supposed to not be worried about money? Yeah... I'd still want to do it.)

3. Furniture Designer - When I was growing up I toyed with the idea of being an architect or interior designer. Those seem a bit daunting to me now, but I would LOVE to DESIGN furniture. I think my style is a bit of classical, with a touch of Arts & Crafts/Mission Style. I am not too fond of modern furniture, and I LOVE comfortable things around me.

4. Travel Guidebook Author - I TRULY believe that Rick Steves has the BEST job in the world. I would love to just travel and give my opinions on locations, restaurants, activities at each destination. Plus, I would have the opportunity to go to more obsure places. It wouldn't just be Paris, Rome, and London. (Not that those are bad!) I would also stick around a while... Experience the place... Get to know people...

So, tell me.... What are the things that you would do if money and obligations were not an issue?

Posted by ~Plain Jane~ at 10:10 AM | Permalink | Comments

1. Plopping myself on the bed after having folded baskets of laundry for an hour.

2. African Nectar Herbal Tea from Mighty Leaf Tea after my hectic morning of organizing people.

3. Fresh summer strawberries

Posted by ~Plain Jane~ at 11:42 AM | Permalink | Comments

Don Herbert, TVs 'Mr. Wizard, dies at 89.

You know.... I hadn't thought of Mr. Wizard in quite some time. But tonight (just moments ago, actually) when I heard that Mr. Wizard died, it really hit me. I LOVED this mans show, "Mr. Wizard's World".

What I didn't know about him was that he didn't hold any advanced degree in science. Yet, he influenced many children's interest in science. Including mine.

I STILL remember some if his experiments 20 YEARS later. I really wanted to be on his show when I was little. I watched it on Nickelodeon. What does that channel do now? Rugrats? Sponge Bob? Give me Mr. Wizard ANY day.

Posted by ~Plain Jane~ at 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments

1. I do not like country music

2. I am afraid of Mosquito Eaters


I cry when I see them.

3. I am NOT a chocoholic. I only like chocolate if it is with something i.e. strawberries, caramel or nuts etc. NEVER dark chocolate.

4. I spend too much time on the internet.

5. I wanted to be an archaeologist

6. Or an Architect when I was growing up

7. I didn't have allergies until I was 20.

8. I am addicted to the Food Network

9. I love campfires, but I hate smelling like one.

10. I can touch my nose with my tongue

11. I make friends with men easier than I do with women.

12. I have climbed half dome in Yosemite.

13. I have been to Canada, Mexico, England, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Germany, and Italy.

14. I have very strange and interesting dreams. (At least to me!)

15. I LOVE the Beatles. Not their psychedelic stuff. Just the really good lovie-dovie and fun stuff.

16. My favorite color is blue... of the Slate or Indigo variety.

17. I want to be more crafty than I am. I know that I have potential. I'm just lazy.

18. 80% of the year I am cold.

19. I really like rain. I just don't like being in it.

20. I LOVE thunderstorms even though they scare me at times.

21. I love naps in the sunshine.

22. What's my poison? LIMONATA!


23. I would like to be a vegetarian, but I LOVE meat.

24. I really do not like ham.

25. I am a lipgloss queen. I have about 25 sticks hidden in different places.

26. My favorite flavor of Lipgloss is Dr. Pepper by Bonnie Bell.

27. I'll always regret not studying abroad in college.

28. I am one of the people that find clowns creepy.

29. I really miss living in the boondocks.

30. I can't give blood because I faint. Yup! I'm a fainter!

31. I do not really like science fiction.

32. I am a realist, much to the dismay of my whimsical side.

33. I do not ever want breakfast in bed.

34. I used to be a night owl. Now I like to be in bed by 10:30 at the latest.

35. I have never owned/worn a elegant or fancy dress. (Other than for my wedding)

36. I have a very strong sense of smell.

37. I have worn glasses/contacts since I was 7 years old.

38. I watch too much HGTV.

39. I have never seen more than 10 minutes of American Idol or Dancing with the Stars.

40. I have met a few "celebrities". I'm not one to be in awe of any of them. The only one that I was nervous to talk to was Julie Andrews.

41. I like to be melancholy.

42. I am a cowgirl at heart.

43. I enjoy good quality tape.

44. I don't mind my feet.

45. I don't think the desert is beautiful. Give me green hills any day.

46. Georgia O'Keeffe is one of my favorite artists.


47. I don't think I ever want a new house. I want to own an old house and make it new again.

48. I don't like the smell of pine trees. I have to have a fake Christmas tree.

49. I go to Target much too much.

50. I used to really enjoy cooking. But now my husband cooks, so I have fallen out of the habit. I also have a rather tiny kitchen, so that doesn't help either.

51. I actually like my job.

52. I am not a highly emotional person. I think that irritates people at times.

53. I want to have kids, but I don't like babies that much. I think it has to do with the pooping and crying.

54. My favorite "Deep Thoughts" by Jack Handy is "The Crows were calling him, thought Caw." hehehehe! SO FUNNY!!!!

55. I played the flute and the Baritone when I was younger.

56. I took piano lessons 3 times in my life. It didn't stick. I can still only play at a VERY beginners level.

57. I have always wanted to learn to play the guitar and the cello.

58. I don't like being the center of attention.

59. I enjoy "alone time".

60. I have a dry sense of humor which my husband calls "German Humor".

61. I think my eyes are the prettiest part of me - physically.

62. I never had delivery pizza until I was 18 years old.

63. I had dogs, cats, birds, pigs, horses, cows and chickens while I was growing up.

64. I would be more "green" if it was less expensive. Although I think being good to the environment is great, I really have energy saving bulbs so my bill is lower.

65. I love hanging out with my husband. He is my favorite person in the whole world.

66. I have subscriptions to way to many magazines, but I keep thinking of ones that I would really like to get.

67. I love being barefoot.

68. I LOVE reading blogs. You should see my list in Google Reader. I get a little thrill every morning when I see "100+" in the new items for me to read.

69. I sunburn MUCH too easily these days.

70. I am not good at keeping up with old friends.

71. I like watching the wind sway the trees.

72. My Netflix queue is rather large... I think it is in the 200's by now.

73. I love to garden. But since I live in an apartment, I only have a pot of basil. Anyone for some BBC America "Ground Force"?

74. I have a love-hate relationship with the TV show LOST.


75. I have never been on a relaxing beach vacation. I always end up on a historical/site seeing type of vacation.

76. I just tried sushi for the first time... It isn't my favorite.

77. My favorite cookie is the Lemon Bar.

78. I sneeze a lot. My husband thinks I sound like a kitten when I sneeze.

79. I pretend I can crochet, but really I can only do a granny square. I can't read the directions to crochet correctly.

80. I don't mind doing dishes, I just don't like putting them away.

81. My husband has turned me into a Mac person.

82. I am an Anglophile.

83. I HATE clutter, but my house is full of it. There is my laziness again!

84. I love Jane Austen. I regularly visit Pemberley. Check it out!

85. I am a little addicted to Farm Hustle.

86. I look for pets on Craigslist everyday even though I have NO intention of getting another pet.

87. I have 5 email accounts.

88. My favorite historical character is Eleanor of Aquitaine. Really... Check her out! No.... Really

89. I like ABBA.

90. I LOVE LOVE LOVE homemade soup. I will eat some canned soup, but I can always taste a tin flavor. And I really dislike the chunks of chicken in canned soup.

91. I hate wallpaper.

92.I think white walls are beautiful in magazines, but I could never love a house that had stark white walls. I need color.

93. I have 3 sisters and 2 brothers. I am the 5th of the 6 children.

94. I like large families. I would have a large family if it was monitarily feesible.

95. I really like the Columbine flower.



96. I am not a breakfast person.

97. I like to have things to do. I feel guilty when I am not doing something productive.

98. I HATE my arms. Even when I was a size 6, I hated my arms.

99. It is really hard to come up with 100 things about me.

100. I started this list on 3/27/07.

Posted by ~Plain Jane~ at 11:43 AM | Permalink | Comments