Author Archives: yearoffunsarah

Jan 23 2013
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Games, Solitary Fun

Day 121: Ticket to Ride

Friends introduced me to this game as an app, Ticket to Ride. You are an old-timey railroad mogul, building train routes across America and Europe based on tickets you select throughout the game. Longer routes are worth more points and specific tracks are often coveted by multiple players, making for an interesting game of strategy.

Because the app is based on a board game (combined with the subject matter and characters), I assumed this game was actually an old game that someone made in to an app. I was wrong. The inventor, Alan Moon, debuted the game in 2004, yet it feels so authentically old fashioned, which is one of the things I like best about it.

The app is a little pricey–iPad is easier to use than iPhone–but it includes solo, online, pass-and-play, and, network, so you can easily play with a variety of opponents. The hubs and I play against each other all the time on separate iPads, and we’ve have four people on our couch, on four different iPads playing together (I know).

Tonight, I just played against the computer. But sometimes, it is so satisfying to beat the computer.

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Jan 22 2013
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Around the House/DIY, Online Fun, Rheumatoid Arthritis, Solitary Fun

Day 120: Intentionally Indoors

I have not left the house today. In fact, I have been home for the last 28 hours and intend to be home for another 11 before going anywhere. This morning I posted a photo to Facebook of my weather app telling me it was ZERO degrees outside. ZERO. In that moment, I decided, “I am not leaving the house today. And it is going to be super fun.”

While most of my day was spent on the computer with work emails, life emails, bill paying, editing a personal statement for a friend, etc. I also managed to go through all my mail, swiffer the floors, play with Elphie, look through old Pottery Barn catalogues, try on new clothes that came in the mail, eat home made tacos with the hubs and enjoy an hour of uninterrupted Kardashian Television. Many of these things could be fun in and of themselves, but, for today, it is the combination of indoor activities and deciding to stay home that is fun. I literally was outside for about 30 seconds to let Elphie go potty and yet I accomplished so much.

I also took a moment to enjoy intentionally staying in as opposed to being forced to stay in. I’ve endured many stretches of multiple days inside due to illness or pain without finding the fun in it. Today, even though I never left the house, I felt free, active and productive.

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Jan 21 2013
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Food/Drink Fun, Rheumatoid Arthritis

Day 119: Tahitian Vanilla

Now that I work on Mondays, I’m trying to decide if I should switch Guilty Pleasure Monday to Sunday. On one hand, I was busy and barely noticed the headache and tiredness creeping in after taking methotrexate. Also, now that I have weekends free, I don’t want to lose one of those open days. On the other hand, I need to maintain my focus at work and really I normally rest on Sundays (read watch football) anyway.

But I haven’t decided yet so, for now, I will continue the guilty pleasures on Mondays. Today it’s treating myself to these delicious Tahitian Vanilla Caramels from Trader Joes. They come in small packages, several dark chocolate balls with the vanilla caramels inside. Delicious. Perfect for a little pick me up at the end of a busy day.

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Jan 20 2013
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Around the House/DIY, Fun for Couples

Day 118: Closet Monster

After working what should be my final weekend, box office shift, I had an urge to purge. I’d been warning the hubs that we need to organize and clean our closets soon, and it happened today.

When I first moved in to his condo, the hubs had an Elfa closet from The Container Store installed so that we could both share the long narrow closet in the master bedroom. In order for all the shelves, bars and drawers to fit, we had to remove the bi-fold doors. “No worry,” we said. “Everything will look so nice because of the Elfa organization, we won’t need doors.” His side managed to stay that way (all he has are suits and dress shirts), but mine ended up looking a mess.

But after spending some quality time being honest about how much I wear a lot of items, it now looks much nicer. Not only did we fill up two garbage bags full of clothes to sell/donate, we also went through all of our drawers and our coat closet. Everything is organized and neat. I even dusted the shelves! And I feel so much better.

Sometimes happiness comes from an organized environment. I know, many times, I’ve sat down to do other work and just can’t when the space I’m in feels messy or cluttered. Taking the time to keep things nice just feels better!

Compare and contrast.

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This is my half of the closet. It might not look extremely different, but I promise there is less of everything. And the drawers look amazing.

Jan 19 2013
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Fun for Couples, Nightlife

Day 117: Double Feature

The plan for today was to take in a double feature, the 4:35pm showing of Silver Linings Playbook and then the 7:35pm showing of Argo. The hubs and I are on a quest to see the Oscar nominated movies. We made it to our favorite theater (Cinemark in Evanston-yeah we like our movie theaters like we like our Chillis, suburban) in time for Silver Linings Playbook.

I really liked this movie. It had the structure of a romantic comedy, yet the depth and sensitivity of a story about a young man’s struggle with mental illness. I found this combination fascinating and moving. The writer/director continued to turn the world over and over, often making the viewer, at least me, feel as unstable as the characters within it.

When we got out, it was getting close to 7pm. Instead of just sneaking in to the other theater for Argo like most people, we left to go buy tickets. And it was SOLD OUT. I can’t remember the last time I tried to go to a movie that had been out and it was sold out! The lesson, though, is that if we would have snuck in, we probably would have gotten caught. Eek.

Instead, we drove home, got Indian take out, and planned to watch another movie. Or maybe just DVR. But the intent for a double feature was there. And I’m sure it would have been really fun. Anyway, I’m glad we saw Silver Linings Playbook and got to eat Indian food.
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