Monday afternoon miscellany
Years ago I bought a copy of this book for two dollars at a church bazaar:
Partly I bought it because it was being sold at a church rummage sale, and that's never not funny. But I also bought it because it was published in 1971, which means it is quaint and has fantastic pictures and very old-fashioned drink recipes. Yesterday it resurfaced while my mom and I were going through my belongings and talking about a plan of attack for downsizing my life in order to fit into an NYC apartment in a couple years, and now I'm having fantasies of throwing ridiculous, old-fashioned cocktail parties* and serving nothing but drinks from that book. Also, I own crystal whiskey glasses (and matching pitcher) so I feel I should finally put them to good use.
Anyway, there's a section in the book that talks about stocking your home bar, including the number of bottles of liquor you should have in order to accommodate the tastes of most guests. After listing about 20 different bottles of liquor, including four kinds of whiskey, the author tells us that our total cost should be about $100. Oh, 1971. How much simpler** life was then.
I can't tell you how much more pleasant my work day has been since I made the decision to leave and put a deadline on it. It's amazing what having a concrete plan can do for your outlook, it really is.*** The hardest part now is not getting ahead of myself. As much as I would love to pack up and hit the road tomorrow, that is not going to happen. But still. Knowing it will happen and within a couple years makes it much easier to deal with the day-to-day nonsense.
I'm feeling lighter than I have in ages, which is how I know this is the right decision for me.
___________________________________
* I also have a cookbook put together by the staff of the library where I currently work, populated by some of the grossest, most Southern recipes I've ever seen, and I'm not above throwing 'let's mock the southerners via artery-clogging hors d'oeuvres' parties, either.
** And less expensive!
*** I don't think I even realized how very unhappy I've been the last couple years. That's sad.
Partly I bought it because it was being sold at a church rummage sale, and that's never not funny. But I also bought it because it was published in 1971, which means it is quaint and has fantastic pictures and very old-fashioned drink recipes. Yesterday it resurfaced while my mom and I were going through my belongings and talking about a plan of attack for downsizing my life in order to fit into an NYC apartment in a couple years, and now I'm having fantasies of throwing ridiculous, old-fashioned cocktail parties* and serving nothing but drinks from that book. Also, I own crystal whiskey glasses (and matching pitcher) so I feel I should finally put them to good use.
Anyway, there's a section in the book that talks about stocking your home bar, including the number of bottles of liquor you should have in order to accommodate the tastes of most guests. After listing about 20 different bottles of liquor, including four kinds of whiskey, the author tells us that our total cost should be about $100. Oh, 1971. How much simpler** life was then.
I can't tell you how much more pleasant my work day has been since I made the decision to leave and put a deadline on it. It's amazing what having a concrete plan can do for your outlook, it really is.*** The hardest part now is not getting ahead of myself. As much as I would love to pack up and hit the road tomorrow, that is not going to happen. But still. Knowing it will happen and within a couple years makes it much easier to deal with the day-to-day nonsense.
I'm feeling lighter than I have in ages, which is how I know this is the right decision for me.
___________________________________
* I also have a cookbook put together by the staff of the library where I currently work, populated by some of the grossest, most Southern recipes I've ever seen, and I'm not above throwing 'let's mock the southerners via artery-clogging hors d'oeuvres' parties, either.
** And less expensive!
*** I don't think I even realized how very unhappy I've been the last couple years. That's sad.