The week of stuff

Big stuff and little stuff happened this week.

Big stuff:

Scarlett moved to town! She and her boyfriend arrived with the u-haul on Tuesday, just in time for a seriously spectacular smoky sunset, courtesy the fires in LA and Utah and western Colorado. Her new apartment is wicked awesome and only a half block away from us.

We went on a hike on Saturday and reached the summit, though it was only 11,700 feet and not 14K+. I keep forgetting to upload the photos.

Little stuff:

We got amazing pears and peaches at the farmer's market, and I baked some peach cupcakes (adapted from this recipe). I frosted them with browned butter icing, which is super-tasty but also very, very rich. I gave half the cupcakes to Scarlett.

Our contribution to dinner with friends on Wednesday (game night!) was chocolate chip cookies, which means I baked twice in one week.

I gave blood yesterday and got my 1-gallon pin! I know I've donated more than that over the years but have officially given blood 8 times with this particular blood bank.

We watched Milk last night on DVD and it was fantastically good. It made me wonder: had it been released in October last year instead of December, would it have had any effect on the passage of prop H8 in California?

I finished a baby blanket for the person who teaches my classes at the gym, who is now 8 months along. I'll take some photos before I give it to her next week.

Saturday Potpourri 1: Old West Sausage Fest

The awesomest thing I saw this week was this afternoon as I walked back from the 7-11 (I bought tortilla chips so we could make nachos with homemade guac for lunch. It was really yummy). Anyhow, I was walking along and a flyer taped to a window caught my eye. It said "Old West Sausage Fest" on it and that just couldn't go without a closer look, so I looked closer.

Turns out it was a flyer advertising a weekend-long ballroom dance workshop for gay men. There was a discount for "follows." Is that not the awesomest thing ever, or what? I love our neighborhood.

Today we did a bunch of entirely necessary house and yard work. I did the chore I hate most, which is hanging up my clothes (Why do I hate this so much? I still have no idea. But I hate, loathe, and despise hanging clothes up in the closet). Dan did a really disgusting chore, which was cleaning underneath the oven. GAK. But I already feel better in the house, like I can sit and relax in some of the rooms without wanting to tear my hair out. I've got quite a few projects lined up, some Christmas related and some wedding related and some baby related (a coworker's baby shower is Monday, which I won't be able to attend, so I'd like to send the blanket I made along with another little knitted thing. Maybe a hat). It's been nice to have a few days in a row at home and in the office. My cats aren't sitting on my lap or feet every time I sit down now (they're just next to my lap and feet). The sun is shining and the air is crisp but not cold. We have some adventures planned for later today and tomorrow morning. Maybe someday I'll write about them.

Also, I toasted some pumpkin seeds with chili powder, garlic powder, and salt. They totally rock.