Positively Tuesday-Simple Pleasures and Of Being a Nerd

      When I was a kid, then teen, and even into my early high school years, I was a full on nerd-in my head at least. I often, in desperation to not stand out, not look different, hid so many of the things that truly made me happy. Oh I wish I could shake that young girl up and let her go back and embrace all the quirky things she enjoyed, found pleasure in, and not be a trend follower. Off and on over my adult years I fell into this trap as well-hiding things  I liked to do, how I preferred to spend my time, publicly bought into the things I was supposed to like, in efforts to fit in. I did this with DH's family, who seemed oh so much posher, more important, than me and my family. His sisters were thin, pretty, and popular in their circles of friends, who all also were thin, pretty, and popular. The friends I  stayed close with were just my girls; we didn't  want, nor could afford, the latest fashions and scents of the moment. 

     When we were engaged, of course I bought into the  expectation of how things are done. I registered at Dayton's (which eventually became Macy's), but really I would have been happy to start my home with a hodge podge collection of  hand me downs and cast offs, while I took the time to figure out what my real adult  home personality should be. Fortunately, most of the items I registered for were practical, and if not entirely practical, are things I still enjoy and use like the way too expensive stoneware and crystal glasses. There's still though quite a few lurkers in cupboards, and I honestly can't tell what might have just been gifts selected by the giver or part of my registry, that are used seldom and perhaps I might not have used some things at all. 

     Being a garage sale, flee market, second hand acquirer was always part of my preferred way to shop and decorate, but now it is maintream-33 years ago it was nerdy. I am so inspired by bloggers who have turned their homes, closets, and lifestyles into reflections of them, heart and soul. I'm not saying they are nerds, but that they are not following the commercialized view of what their home, closets, and lifestyles should be. I'm a nerd though, obsessed with a variety of things that make me happy that might not appeal to the masses. I like comfy fabrics, and natural materials in my home and in my closet, and no one will ever convince me that stained oak is not the most beautiful  look for cupboards and furniture even if it is so 1980's. I don't have style, nor do I want style-I want to have things  that just make me comfortable, whether clothes or furnishings. I like to be surrounded by books, and movies, and old CD's and LP's. I watch  sci-fi like Dr. Who, and middle earth sagas in worlds of magic. I like a good cold beer in the bottle or ice cold from a tap. While I like to use my fun  martini and margarita glasses, they were acquired in period of time when I  followed a trend. I could have picked up mismatched ones in thrift stores and garage sales over the years, and had a good old fun time doing so. At 55, I'm embracing me-the messy, nerdy, unfashionable me. 

     With that boring self-reflection of my moving into and out of being influenced by what's popular, I'll share the simple pleasures of the last week. These are the things that help me to not just get to the next day towards  return to a more normal life, but makes the days enjoyable. 

Ralph Lauren, Evyan White, and Karl Lagerfield. I have
made these last and they smell the same. EW is still in box. It might not have been part of the prize.

1. Our walks have been a sloshy mess, but I am happy for my boots that keep my feet dry, and I don't need to  avoid certain routes as the snow melts and floods parts of walking paths.  I still may splurge on Wellies-I say that every year.
2. I made the perfect vegan peanut butter, oatmeal chocolate chip cookies on Saturday. Don't confuse vegan for healthy as these were decadent! I baked 12, but froze 30 more balls of dough for future enjoyment. Recap tomorrow!
3. The inspiration for my nerd memoir, jumping on the band wagon last night and adding a Dr Who themed post to celebrate the birthday of a new to me blogger. I read Doctor Who, and I wanted to join in. 
4. The best darn hamburger-and I didn't take  picture. Again, I'll recap tomorrow, but this one was made as a copy cat to a burger I love at a bar we are taking a pause from, and  similar to an burger from a bar no longer  in business. It was insanely good-and a bargain having had it at home. 
5. Having popcorn and  movie night at my daughters Saturday, with a full moon overhead. 
6. The three hour road trip with DH which included Dairy Queen! It is so expensive for what it is, but the sun and it being the last day of meteorological winter made it a must. 
7. The barking patrol in the neighborhood. Now, this could be an annoyance, I love dogs and seeing pup's friends again as an indication that it is warm enough for them to play outside. This of course sets off a barking chain reaction as when one starts, the others seem to follow. 
8. YouTube Nerd alert-I added two more blogs to my subscribe list, another couple young bloggers (With actual real jobs and YouTube for fun, or a side gig) that just are relaxing, and give me a peek into life of  a different generation in a different part of the country. One is  in Brooklyn and the other in Virginia, outside of DC.
9. I have a load of meetings today, and I actually did hair and make-up. It was a simple pleasure to move out of my messy mode and put some effort out there. 
10. Lastly, and this will make me seem really odd as  simple pleasure, but I gave myself a spritz of a perfume that I have had for more than 25 years. Remember above when I said I registered at Dayton's because I thought I was expected to? I also would pop in there periodically and look at sales racks-actually buying my son's Kindergarten school wardrobe very cheap there, and registered for a give away. I won a gift basket with oodles of expensive items form the cosmetic and perfume counters. Here is what I still have. I absolutely love Lagerfield Sun, Moon, and Stars, and have been making this last since I wear scents so seldom. I don't even know if it is still produced. Does perfume have an expiration date?

     I'll try to capture 10 each week, and not repeat from previous weeks. There of course is variations of themes. How are you doing each day? Are you finding things that make you happy even if they are different than what others might choose?

Tried to hold camera out of shot, but this is me 
wearing a bit of spit and polish.

* I looked it up and Lagerfield, sadly, no longer makes Sun, Moon, and Stars. It is a beautiful light fragrance. On Ebay, unopened bottles are listed for over $200, used over $100, and empty bottles for over $20. Mine is still very full-a little spritz goes a long way.

** Perhaps I am actually a geek, not a nerd, or maybe I'm just a dork. "According to OkCupid's Nerd, Geek, or Dork Test, these three terms are defined this way: A Nerd is someone who is passionate about learning/being smart/academia. A Geek is someone who is passionate about some particular area or subject, often an obscure or difficult one. Oct 28, 2011"