Well, I’ll go back as far as two weeks ago.

After I posted about the impending (now completed) move, I got lazy, so I never wished Adam and Lil a very public happy birthday!  See last year’s birthday post for a great video.

So now we no longer live across the hall from the smoke monster.  But here are a few fun facts about our second-to-last weekend in our apartment. I walked in on Friday afternoon and told a very sleepy Miriam, "We can’t get out of here fast enough."  "I know," she responded, except she didn’t know what I had just found out: I walked into the building and through a circle of people talking.  One guy asked me if I noticed anything suspicious in the parking lot the night before because his car was stolen!  From our parking lot!  Scary.  Later that night, we heard a huge thud from our furnace closet.  Miriam looked in there and found a rock on top of the furnace.  I was almost asleep a bit later when I was awoken by more sounds coming from in there.  I looked the next day and found more rock.  I’m guessing it’s the stone walls in there crumbling from the dripping water we complained about for over a year.  Have fun with that, folks!  Anyway, we moved this past Sunday.  Our movers were great, we found places in the house for all our stuff (except for our couch, which wouldn’t make it down the stairs to the basement, so now it’s in the garage), and we’re settling back in to the Marwood Compound. 

Another fun fact: Cars suck.  Seriously.  I’ve had a problem with my car (a Honda Civic, in case you’re wondering) since July or August; I brought the car in to the dealer (hoping whatever it was would be covered by my Honda Care coverage plan) only to be told that there’s nothing wrong with it.  Sure there is.  It jumps when idle.  It’s totally noticeable (but not to them, apparently).  And the first time I brought it in, it was making a grinding sound that you could hear coming a mile away.  However, they didn’t hear it.  Instead, they asked me a series of questions, including, "Now, when other people are in the car with you, do they hear the noise?"  No, sir, it’s just the voices in my head talking.  And growling in my engine.  Anyway, I brought the car in again recently because I’m planning a trip, and it’s still jumping.  Instead of diagnosing it, they do a bunch of maintenance work that was supposed to be done at 30,000 miles (I have over 70,000 miles on my car), charge me $500, and say "that should fix it!"  It didn’t.  And on Sunday, I went to get gas in my car, but I couldn’t because the gas cover wouldn’t pop open!  That they can fix; they’ve ordered the part and it’s covered by my plan.  Thank goodness; the guy told me they’ll have to take the seat out in order to fix it!  I’m guessing that would be expensive otherwise.  Anyway, I hate cars.

In other news, I eat a lot.  OK, that’s not news, but I had mentioned before that I was going to write more about my meals to try to make myself more accountable for all the food I stuff down my gullet.  Clearly, I haven’t done that (I don’t have that kind of time, really).  But you may see stuff here and there.  For example, I took these photos the other night after plating my food so beautifully:

The bottom layer is whole wheat couscous covered with a vegetable stir fry and topped with Quorn naked cutlet.  I highly recommend Quorn products, by the way.  They’re the best vegetarian products I’ve had. 

And we’ve had a couple of pizza nights:

Those look good, don’t they?  Two different pizzas, almost the same ingredients (one has spinach, one doesn’t).  Otherwise, they both are on a whole wheat crust and topped with sauce, cheese, sautéed broccoli, peppers, and zucchini, and sliced tomatoes. 

I made this creation tonight with my leftover couscous:                                                                                                                                           

It’s a couscous salad: leftover couscous topped with chopped cucumbers, red and orange peppers, tomatoes, spinach, and cilantro (fresh basil would’ve been great, too, but I only had fresh cilantro), feta cheese (I didn’t like the kind we have too much), a little olive oil, fresh lemon juice, salt and pepper.  Very tasty!  And there’s another batch for lunch tomorrow.

 All mixed up!  And with the best accessory: a glass of wine.  Why not?  It’s almost the end of the week.

I’ve left out a lot, obviously, and I’d write more, but my computer is being super slow, which I’m taking as a sign that I should go to bed.  But those are the best of the good eats anyway.  Except for the carrots.  My mom asked if I’ve been eating a lot of carrots lately (I have, actually!) because apparently my skin is turning orange.  I don’t see it.  Do you?

Well, that’s definitely my spacey grin!