Ms. Cleaver Chronicles

photo via zizzybaloobah

All the Catholics and certain branches of Protestants out there know that yesterday was the first day of Lent.

For longtime readers, you know that dispite not being Catholic, Lent is a big deal for me. I like to take on a personal challenge and why not?  Last year, as some may remember, I gave up wearing jeans. 

I spent a lot of time trying to come up with something good, that would fit the circumstances. I considered giving up prepared foods, but considered that since I’m stage-managing a show the entirety of Lent it wouldn’t be terribly realistic. I cosidered taking the jeans thing a step farther and giving up pants and only wearing skirts and dresses and then I remember that I live in Maine and spring doesn’t get here until May.

I finally settled on giving up non-tangible forms of payment – that is I’m going cash-only for the next 47 days (because the 40 day thing is not true – count it out from Ash Wednesday to Easter Sunday). No debit cards, no credit cards – just nickels, dimes, and dollars.

Since I’m a stickler about my challenges the Rules (and Exceptions) are as follows:

Rules

1. I may only use tangible forms of payment. Cash, coins, silver ingots, gold doubloons. No credit, debit , check or paypal transactions. Paper gift certificates may be used if used in person.
2. I will photograph every purchase made and post them here once a week for thrilling reading.
3. As I am using cash only, I will have to make all purchases in person. To further this I will attempt to make my purchases as local as possible.

Exceptions 

1. My cell phone bill is currently set up as an automatic online payment and I won’t be changing that.
2. The rules apply to personal use only.  That is if I need to purchase something for work, as I occasionally do, it is exempt from the rules. Joint purchases with Mr. Cleaver are also exempt, provided he is present and doing the purchasing.
3. Medical costs are exempt if over $50.00.

I think it’s definitely doable, but if anyone has any thoughts or suggestions or thinks my exceptions are bull-honkey or something, feel free to comment and let me know!

Mr. Cleaver and I have a somewhat annual tradition of a mid-winter getaway: that time somewhere between late January and mid-February when we get stick of being stuck inside and need to get away from the house. Ironically, we have often gone to somewhere colder than we’re leaving, but its always been good for the soul nonetheless.

When we were dating it was a rainy day-trip to Boston. Two years ago we went to Lake Geneva, Wisc. where I had hands-down the best meal I’ve ever had in my life. This year we headed an hour north to Boothbay and stayed at the charming Kenniston Hill Inn. 

This year’s trip was a bit of a last minute decision, but we are both so glad we went. We spent two days at the inn, eating Valentine’s cake and drinking tea by the fire, both in the living room and our room at the inn.

We wandered around Boothbay and nearby Wiscasset, and while a number of places were closed for the season, we still found some great antiques stores to visit (including one where I got a new apron for my collection), some tasty places to eat and my new favorite fabric store in Maine. 

When it wasn’t too windy we took in the area’s outdoor area. In a park in central Boothbay someone had hung hundreds of fabric hearts from the trees.

We also attempted to visit the Coastal Maine Botanic Gardens, but the cold and lack of trails turned us back after about 20 minutes. We did see some small bits of green before we left.

All in all it was a fantastic time, which has bolstered our spirits in the continuing winter. 

p.s. there’s more photos of our trip on my flickr account (see the sidebar for a link).

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Mr. Cleaver and I are off to Boothbay Harbor for a few days, see you when we get back!

I started wearing glasses in the 4th grade. I don’t recall any big “I can see clearly now!” moment. It just was the way it was. Glasses seemed to suit my personality (nerd!) and I was fine with wearing them.

Then towards the end of my junior year of high school, when I still wanted to be an actor I decided I should get contacts so I didn’t have to worry about wearing my glasses and/or squinting a lot onstage- only to be asked to wear my glasses in the first show I did after getting contacts. Ah well. 

When I got those contacts I was honestly excited by the idea that I’d be wearing my contacts all the time, then one day I’d wear my glasses for one reason or another and someone would say “Hey! I didn’t know you wore glasses!” It would be proof that I’d moved on from being the dork with glasses or more likely that I just wanted to be surprising to someone in someway. 

Yesterday a co-worker asked about my glasses. I think I surprised her with my excitement about her question. She didn’t know that I’d been waiting eight years. Of course even after all this time, I still have a preference for purple frames.