People were asking me all week what I was doing during my week off.
On Monday it was about 60 degrees in the shade. I scraped and painted the floor of our front porch. Our doorway is on the right (the one with the cute home plate mat — which was an engagement gift from Jennifer Myszkowski. We also got a cute new floor mat for our wedding from Alyson and Bill. It has monkeys on it. We are saving that one for when this one wears out. But, enough about the doormats). One of our tenants gave me the news that it was going to rain that night, so I only got to put one coat of paint on the floor. When the weather gets warmer again, we plan to do more painting on the porch.
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Along with our new computer we got a new printer/scanner combination thingy. So I’ve been scanning in photos. My most recent scan is this photo of Miles as a kitteh.
He was born in October 2002 in Springfield and spent his formative months in my apartment in Amherst. Here is what he looks like now.
Over the weekend, we did a Miles photo shoot for a Fat Cat Flickr Off. Miles did not win on account of his fat-concealing fur, but look at the competition. He’s really more big-boned than anything.
It was suggested by one wise man that I should probably try to be a little less cryptic in my blog regarding some changes happening in my life.
Since I got married I’ve been doing a lot of thinking about life and what I want to be doing whilst living it. I remember when I was in college, a friend read my palm and told me that my lifeline drew its path through many different vocations — that I’d have many different careers in my life.
That’s always stuck with me.
More and more over the summer, circumstances and events were telling me that it’s time to try something new. An opportunity came about through a good friend at a small, successful children’s book publisher. The prospect of being able to switch to a whole different environment — the company is in Amherst and I currently work in Springfield — and to be able to learn a whole new way of doing business was exciting to me. I enjoy challenges and I enjoy learning new things.
I am going to be working as an editor, keeping the production of books on the right path. I’ll also be helping the company move into doing more multimedia. I have a lot to learn about print media. I know a lot has changed since I was in college.
It’s always difficult to leave a job, but I didn’t know how hard it would be to leave a job where I love the work and the people so much.
Of course, MassLive.com is also where I met my husband and he will still be working in this office in his position with Advance Internet after I am gone. I’ll miss our lunches and carpooling. I’ll miss running errands and going to the grocery store. These have been mid-day rendezvous not afforded to most married couples.
well, rumor mill, whoever and wherever you are.
Yes, I’m leaving my current job as of this Friday and it’s with a very heavy heart. I’m moving onto a publishing job, also in the valley. I’m not moving or anything.
On Friday, Matthew and I went to check out a new lunch place in downtown Springfield. It’s in the spot where the Main Street Frigo Foods used to be. We had low expectations, considering the name of the place. Yes, it’s Dillweedz. We were pleasantly surprised by the sandwiches and pleased by the portions. Thumbs up. I really wish they’d change their name or explain its significance, though.
I enoyed the decor, from the shiny, dark hardwood floors to the brightly painted green walls. Floors not pictured.
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the tents go up
as i go down
down to the flats and into the sound
the closer i get to the city
the further i am from memory
in the green grass looking up
for the words of the angry sun
‘noone’ when he says ‘noone’
yeah he means ‘noone’
noone
noone will survive
ash wednesday alive
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Choosing Holyoke as a place to make our home has been a wonderful decision so far. And it’s a decision made even more wonderful when friends buy houses within walking distance. Jennifer and Scott celebrated their recent purchase with a housewarming yesterday — it included delicious pancakes and the music of The Primate Fiasco. Photos here.
I have yet to get a proper photo of Molly using her spider-like skills to get down from our balcony, but I did catch this photo of her waiting for me to leave so that when I was out of view she could shimmy down. Sure enough, as soon as I came back upstairs after grabbing this shot, she had traded places with me and was looking up at me from the yard. I didn’t catch that shot, because I was just too exasperated. In this photo she is likely spying on some birds.
Last night, our neighborhood watch group took a tour around the ward. Much of it seemed like a photo opportunity for the sheriff and chief of police, but it was also a good chance for us to finally mingle with some of our neighbors. I posted photos of the Ward 4 walk at MassLive.com.
P.S. Here’s a better link: Gallery view
This morning when we were taking out the garbage, we discovered a portion of our neighbor’s stone wall has crumbled to the ground. Out of respect for my neighbors, I didn’t take a photo, but it makes me worry about OUR stone wall. I had been worried about it in the past, but our handyman told us it would hold up fine. Now I’m not so sure, seeing as I always thought the neighbor’s wall was so much more secure than ours.
daily life, holyoke, home improvement, western mass | kristen November 2, 2008 | 
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