Taskmaster

I am somewhat addicted to this game called Township that I started playing through Fetch. I guess it’s similar to Farmville; I never played that. I don’t usually play games on my phone, but when I do, I get addicted. I am all in.

The game has a lot of tasks, and at times it feels repetitive and not that fun, but you keep playing for the payout, the hit, which comes eventually. Sow the wheat, harvest the wheat, bake bread, sell bread. Then there’s problems like: I need cheese to make a pizza, but I didn’t feed the cows, so I don’t have milk to make cheese. I don’t really know why I keep playing a game that is so similar to my domestic life (buy the food, make the food, eat the food, cereal but no milk, chicken but no breadcrumbs, doh). And it’s similar to my work life! I literally have an actual queue of tasks at work, and as my team and I knock some out, more appear. Tasks, tasks, tasks…

But Saturday’s real-life tasks were voluntary and fun. I learned how to reload a staple gun (thanks YouTube), then stapled more plastic lining to the planter. I brought all the onions and lettuce outside for two hours or so (the high was 60). They went outside again today (73). I secured the bird feeder with more string and cleaned and refilled the bird bath, this time adding some rocks to it to give them more places to perch. I fertilized the garlic with the remaining compost tea. It was a great day to be outside.

In between I was driving F back and forth to school, as she had softball practice plus two play performances (stage crew). I started another round of lettuce, working inside. And I took the basil sprig that rooted in water and transferred it to soil. Fingers crossed. And I started another sprig in water.

Someone picked up more of the Amish Paste seedlings. This is the fourth person total I think to take me up on them. And I still have plenty left for myself.

I should start another round of herbs too, I’m thinking.

I did a lot of bird observing using Merlin and the Birdbuddy. I heard a woodpecker but couldn’t catch him in time. Here’s a sample of birdsong from this morning. I meant to actually save a different recording, which was all of these plus a blue jay:

And here’s me trying to see what bird is in this hole. Maybe a sparrow.

Good times. I’m excited to see what birds show up this spring.

In an effort to get off the task treadmill and just do something wild, creative and destructive, I went to Goodwill today and bought some glass and ceramic pieces to turn into mosaic components. I have some pieces here already I can smash up too. I think I am going to make a mosaic flowerpot. Was it fun smashing the starfish plate with a hammer? You betcha!

So I’m going to need to acquire a terra cotta pot and then some tools, adhesive, etc.

I spent about $50 at Goodwill, which also included six items of clothing for N and F and an outdoor Halloween decoration.

This morning I had a cappuccino at new spot Cafe 1903, which resides in our former firehouse, with my friend T. We sat outside. The cappuccino was delicious and I can definitely see how this will be the place to be on summer weekends. It’s a prime people-watching spot, and dogs are allowed.

Meals this week — not the greatest:

Monday: quesadilla for me

Tuesday: eggs, sausage, home fries, toast

Wednesday: ground beef and egg noodles with gravy

Thursday: Osaka (sushi) for me and N

Friday: Fried chicken sandwiches

Saturday: Pulled pork from Sprouts with baked sweet potatoes and raw carrots

Sunday: Stella Pizza

I bought lunch all three in-office days. Boo. Couldn’t resist the Irish food on St. Patrick’s Day, though. The potato pancakes were really good.

Had a turkey and avocado sandwich for lunch today, with Coastal Star and May Queen lettuce thinnings. Yum, fresh and crisp.

One frugal note: I saved $20 with a 30% off coupon at CVS (makeup, moisturizer and ground coffee).

Just plunked down $350 so N can take a lifeguarding/CPR class at the Y. I’ll also need to sign F up for summer volleyball soon. Tom got her a used infielder mask at Play It Again Sports today, plus a new equipment bag, but the smaller sized one, so it wasn’t too much.

One regret — we didn’t take any of the stuff sitting on the front porch to Goodwill or Play It Again Sports. Totally forgot. Maybe next time.

Just now F shattered the glass in the back storm door with a wild pitch. Now that’s some destruction and shattered glass I could live without…