Last night I went to the Opera for the first time since my undergrad. It's sad that I can only afford to partake in hoity-toity culture when I'm a student; all other times I can't afford regular priced anythings. Maybe rush tickets if I rolled that way. Thankfully I have another year to take advantage of student rates.
I tend to get a little involved with things that I watch: movies, plays, rock shows, sporting events, video game playing, people doing stupid shit... I think watching hockey on tv as a youth made me think everything is worthy of commentary. So it's no surprise that I kept whispering to my friend through the first act of Tosca until I forced myself to shut up; I continued to pfft my way through the latter two acts. Scarpia was loathesome and at times I had to stop myself from yelling, "Leave her alone, you snake!" I just squirmed and looked at the people beside me with a "can you believe that guy?" look instead of commenting. Better for everyone.
Some of the wigs were terrible. Eileen told me the last opera had mullets. Ew. This one had long blahblah hair, flowing in waves down Cavaradossi's back. It's the reason I'm glad I didn't have access to opera glasses. Tosca's few dresses looked pretty amazing from far away, so that's what I'll cling to. The singing was absolutely fantastic and I got shivers a few times when they hit some of the notes. Unlike some people, I didn't cry, but it's only because I knew what was coming.
Can you imagine watching someone you love in front of a firing squad, thinking it was an act, then finding out they were dead? Then being chased for stabbing a sukebe chief of police to death for trying to sexually attack you in exchange for your loved one's life? Tosca had a lot on her mind, so it's no surprise she hurled herself over the castle wall. She was complex. Rome was finished for her.
Opera... that's some good shit.
Tonight I'm hoping to make it to the Cine for a movie and then maybe head over to Fuse for a bit. Like I said, I have to jam in as much culture as I can. And I haven't really been through the Huang Yong Ping exhibit; just a breeze-through after they took the insects and reptiles out of the House of Oracles exhibit (thanks a lot, retarded SPCA people who just heard there were animals in it and decided, unseen, it was evil, even though none of the insects or lizards ate each other, which was the basis for the complaint). And the BC Binning exhibit closes on Saturday, so I want to see it once more before the space is taken over by Emily Carr and the Group of Seven.
Hey, in June there's an all-night Fuse, from 6pm to 6am. Anyone in?
Friday, April 27, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
skittlebrau (sugar + beer = in the clear?)
It's been ages since I've written, I know.
For a few weeks my work friend had been saying she had to bring leftover Skittles to work because she won't let her kids eat them (the colouring makes them nuts or something), but she kept forgetting. Last week another friend, upon hearing about the Skittles thing, yelled out, "We should go for Skittlebrau next week!" Last night was my last late shift for a while, so we decided to go out this week after work. I sent reminder emails about the Skittles and last night she brought them.
After doing research, we made a plan to go for Skittlebrau and wound up at the cheap crepe place on Granville, the one beside the Orpheum. For those of you not obsessed with the Simpsons, Skittlebrau is Skittles in beer. The best beer, allegedly, is a bitter beer because the sugar from the Skittles cuts the bitterness. We chose our colours (Heidi chose a rainbow of flavours) and dropped them in. The Skittles make the beer foamy (the sugars converting to foam/gas with the yeast?) and cloudy with colour. Two of us had Stella; the other a honey brown. The Skella (Skittles + Stella) was really tasty with Skittles, but the honey brown looked disgusting (Heidi's rainbow) and she said it was terrible. I had orange and Chris had a citrus medly of orange, lemon and whatever red is meant to be. By the bottom two fingers it was pretty sweet, but surprisingly good. And you get the hardened candy at the bottom to chew at the end.
We found that 9 Skittles per glass is probably optimal; a pint will require more. We stuck with the original flavours, but any other Skittle would probably work. Though we all agreed the green ones might be disgusting. It's hard to tell if I was just tired or if all that sugar and beer hit me hard. There's a leftover package so we might go again in the coming weeks.
The only real disappointment was that the candy didn't float.
Currently watching :
Six Feet Under - The Complete Fifth Season
Release date: 28 March, 2006
For a few weeks my work friend had been saying she had to bring leftover Skittles to work because she won't let her kids eat them (the colouring makes them nuts or something), but she kept forgetting. Last week another friend, upon hearing about the Skittles thing, yelled out, "We should go for Skittlebrau next week!" Last night was my last late shift for a while, so we decided to go out this week after work. I sent reminder emails about the Skittles and last night she brought them.
After doing research, we made a plan to go for Skittlebrau and wound up at the cheap crepe place on Granville, the one beside the Orpheum. For those of you not obsessed with the Simpsons, Skittlebrau is Skittles in beer. The best beer, allegedly, is a bitter beer because the sugar from the Skittles cuts the bitterness. We chose our colours (Heidi chose a rainbow of flavours) and dropped them in. The Skittles make the beer foamy (the sugars converting to foam/gas with the yeast?) and cloudy with colour. Two of us had Stella; the other a honey brown. The Skella (Skittles + Stella) was really tasty with Skittles, but the honey brown looked disgusting (Heidi's rainbow) and she said it was terrible. I had orange and Chris had a citrus medly of orange, lemon and whatever red is meant to be. By the bottom two fingers it was pretty sweet, but surprisingly good. And you get the hardened candy at the bottom to chew at the end.
We found that 9 Skittles per glass is probably optimal; a pint will require more. We stuck with the original flavours, but any other Skittle would probably work. Though we all agreed the green ones might be disgusting. It's hard to tell if I was just tired or if all that sugar and beer hit me hard. There's a leftover package so we might go again in the coming weeks.
The only real disappointment was that the candy didn't float.
Currently watching :
Six Feet Under - The Complete Fifth Season
Release date: 28 March, 2006
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
art snob
I know it might be a jinx to say, but I love my practicum. The Vancouver Art Gallery library rocks.
Today I went to a volunteer party (I'm not a volunteer, but my supervisor told me to go, so I listened) and drank pomegranite juice and champagne (heavy on the champagne) for part of the afternoon and got a little tipsy for the rest of my workday. There I talked with a 70ish-year-old library volunteer about online gambling and she seemed so interested that she might look for lessons at the seniors' centre. She's awesome. She told me about a DIY project that required multiple trips to Rona (because Home Depot wouldn't cut wood they way she wanted it cut) and a trip to Dressew. And she plays tennis!
Actually, all the volunteers I've met have been fascinating. Makes me want to find time to volunteer there after I finish my required time.
One of the perks of doing a practicum at the VAG library is that I get tea for $1.19 instead of $1.36. Sweet deal. Also, it took everything in my power to not buy the peanut butter chocolate pie nor the peanut butter chocolate cake featured prominently in the cafe food case when I looked at them at 10am. I should have gone back to have it for lunch.
Instead, I had a hot dog with saurkraut at the street vendor outside HMV after buying a cd with the gift card my friends gave me for Christmas. (I also have an IKEA one that I'm dying to use, but haven't been to IKEA since forever.) Tomorrow we go to Cafe Artigiano for coffee and I'm considering how dangerous it would be to have a mocha there; the last one I had had two shots of espresso with a small plop of hot cocoa. Drunk one day, cranked up on too much caffeine another... What an impression I'll leave them with.
My supervisor suggested today that it probably wouldn't be too hard to get a job in New York at an art library or a costume-related library with my background. She is also pretty connected and figured a lot of New York museums/libraries are looking for random Canadians willing to move to New York. Seriously, it's tempting. Dream job: working in the library at the Costume Institute at the Met. Sigh. I used to think about moving to Chicago, but New York... That's a whole other thing. I can't remember why she told me to move to New York, but it wasn't something I suggested.
Short of being trapped in the catacombs, I can't imagine what could suck about working in the library.
Currently listening :
Peeping Tom
By Peeping Tom
Release date: 30 May, 2006
Today I went to a volunteer party (I'm not a volunteer, but my supervisor told me to go, so I listened) and drank pomegranite juice and champagne (heavy on the champagne) for part of the afternoon and got a little tipsy for the rest of my workday. There I talked with a 70ish-year-old library volunteer about online gambling and she seemed so interested that she might look for lessons at the seniors' centre. She's awesome. She told me about a DIY project that required multiple trips to Rona (because Home Depot wouldn't cut wood they way she wanted it cut) and a trip to Dressew. And she plays tennis!
Actually, all the volunteers I've met have been fascinating. Makes me want to find time to volunteer there after I finish my required time.
One of the perks of doing a practicum at the VAG library is that I get tea for $1.19 instead of $1.36. Sweet deal. Also, it took everything in my power to not buy the peanut butter chocolate pie nor the peanut butter chocolate cake featured prominently in the cafe food case when I looked at them at 10am. I should have gone back to have it for lunch.
Instead, I had a hot dog with saurkraut at the street vendor outside HMV after buying a cd with the gift card my friends gave me for Christmas. (I also have an IKEA one that I'm dying to use, but haven't been to IKEA since forever.) Tomorrow we go to Cafe Artigiano for coffee and I'm considering how dangerous it would be to have a mocha there; the last one I had had two shots of espresso with a small plop of hot cocoa. Drunk one day, cranked up on too much caffeine another... What an impression I'll leave them with.
My supervisor suggested today that it probably wouldn't be too hard to get a job in New York at an art library or a costume-related library with my background. She is also pretty connected and figured a lot of New York museums/libraries are looking for random Canadians willing to move to New York. Seriously, it's tempting. Dream job: working in the library at the Costume Institute at the Met. Sigh. I used to think about moving to Chicago, but New York... That's a whole other thing. I can't remember why she told me to move to New York, but it wasn't something I suggested.
Short of being trapped in the catacombs, I can't imagine what could suck about working in the library.
Currently listening :
Peeping Tom
By Peeping Tom
Release date: 30 May, 2006
Sunday, April 15, 2007
things of note
1) Today is sunny. This means it's a good day to ride my bike. In normal circumstances, I would seriously consider riding to work so I could ride during light hours without freezing my ass off (since the temperature can't reach equilibrium and fluctuates radically). Today, however, I might be going to East East Van right after work to look at a bike my friend is getting rid of (a Schwinn!) because she and her husband have to move. I thought having two bikes would help me get out biking more because friends without bikes could come over and we could go biking because, hey, I have two bikes.
2) Friday night I went to my friend Sam's shed party and it was one of the more interesting party themes as of late. The party was, literally, in the shed out back, fixed with blinking bike lights for ambiance. It was a fundraiser to help pay for said shed while she and others who rent it go away for the summer to work. They sold yummy, malty homebrew for a steal ($2 a bottle!) and had cookies. The highlight, for me anyway, was the band. Sam's boyfriend and some of their friends have a Michael Jackson tribute band and they played two (2) songs from their repertoire: "Billie Jean" and "Beat It." Now, the thing that impressed me was twofold: 1) there was no singing, which I'm often happy about, and 2) recorders figured prominently. The band consisted of: a Casio that played beats too fast so they stopped using it, a small drum kit played for "Beat It," a mouth organ that is surprisingly close to the sounds of the original songs, and a multitude of recorders (likely 3, though the band was short and there may have been more or less). Very fun. I rode my bike to and from (I fixed my front bike light so it doesn't swing around anymore) and decided I will enjoy riding at night most when the weather warms up a bit more.
3) Yesterday I managed to stop writing my paper. That isn't to say it was finished per se, but I was finished with it. Not the best paper I've ever written, but I slid it under the office door on campus and it is done. This means that I am unofficially done my semester (one of my group projects has yet to be handed in, for reasons I don't fully understand, but hopefully the person who's job it is to hand it in does the one thing she's supposed to do). A little anti-climatic, but I'm still pretty happy about it. Which is why...
4) Last night I went to a house-warming at Jason and Debbie's relatively new house and met their cats. It's been extensively renovated, but still has elements of the original house, possibly a late 1920s Craftsman. It's hard to tell from the outside, especially since additions have been made and the exterior is covered in that stuff that they put on new Craftsman-style houses (you've seen them around town... I know you know what I mean). The interior is the indicator, with insets in the original wooden floors and the sloping ceilings. The party was fun and I spoke with some engaging friends of theirs, but I was feeling a bit burnt out and couples kept coming and I didn't think I could socialise with couples last night. So I left when Rachel and Augie left, and went back to theirs for a mini dance party with Augie and a catch-up chat with Rachel. I had a lovely evening, all around. When Nathan called after 10pm at a Gateway-level drunk state I, for a minute, wish I'd stayed because I probably could have gotten stinking drunk and been chatty with anyone. But my evening worked out so much better.
5) Tomorrow I start my two-week practicum at the Vancouver Art Gallery library. I'm pretty excited about it. And I also found out my friend's friend (whom I've never met) volunteers there on Monday mornings, so I'll get to meet her. It will be a crazy couple of weeks because I work 9-5 at the VAG library and then I have to haul ass to work and work for another 4 hours three nights a week. Stupid? Yes. Necessary? Yes. In this week's Georgia Straight, you can read about one of the VAG's current exhibits that is causing some controversy. Time to utilise my membership.
6) I'm thinking of going for breakfast this morning before work. It's either pancakes at one of the diners around my 'hood or popping into Chinatown for solo dim sum (which sounds kind of sad, now that I think about it). I'd better get on with personal hygeine so I can get the rock out of here.
For those of you who have patiently waited for me to have more time... As of May I am free for any number of social engagements for at least two months, possibly four. Keep me in mind.
2) Friday night I went to my friend Sam's shed party and it was one of the more interesting party themes as of late. The party was, literally, in the shed out back, fixed with blinking bike lights for ambiance. It was a fundraiser to help pay for said shed while she and others who rent it go away for the summer to work. They sold yummy, malty homebrew for a steal ($2 a bottle!) and had cookies. The highlight, for me anyway, was the band. Sam's boyfriend and some of their friends have a Michael Jackson tribute band and they played two (2) songs from their repertoire: "Billie Jean" and "Beat It." Now, the thing that impressed me was twofold: 1) there was no singing, which I'm often happy about, and 2) recorders figured prominently. The band consisted of: a Casio that played beats too fast so they stopped using it, a small drum kit played for "Beat It," a mouth organ that is surprisingly close to the sounds of the original songs, and a multitude of recorders (likely 3, though the band was short and there may have been more or less). Very fun. I rode my bike to and from (I fixed my front bike light so it doesn't swing around anymore) and decided I will enjoy riding at night most when the weather warms up a bit more.
3) Yesterday I managed to stop writing my paper. That isn't to say it was finished per se, but I was finished with it. Not the best paper I've ever written, but I slid it under the office door on campus and it is done. This means that I am unofficially done my semester (one of my group projects has yet to be handed in, for reasons I don't fully understand, but hopefully the person who's job it is to hand it in does the one thing she's supposed to do). A little anti-climatic, but I'm still pretty happy about it. Which is why...
4) Last night I went to a house-warming at Jason and Debbie's relatively new house and met their cats. It's been extensively renovated, but still has elements of the original house, possibly a late 1920s Craftsman. It's hard to tell from the outside, especially since additions have been made and the exterior is covered in that stuff that they put on new Craftsman-style houses (you've seen them around town... I know you know what I mean). The interior is the indicator, with insets in the original wooden floors and the sloping ceilings. The party was fun and I spoke with some engaging friends of theirs, but I was feeling a bit burnt out and couples kept coming and I didn't think I could socialise with couples last night. So I left when Rachel and Augie left, and went back to theirs for a mini dance party with Augie and a catch-up chat with Rachel. I had a lovely evening, all around. When Nathan called after 10pm at a Gateway-level drunk state I, for a minute, wish I'd stayed because I probably could have gotten stinking drunk and been chatty with anyone. But my evening worked out so much better.
5) Tomorrow I start my two-week practicum at the Vancouver Art Gallery library. I'm pretty excited about it. And I also found out my friend's friend (whom I've never met) volunteers there on Monday mornings, so I'll get to meet her. It will be a crazy couple of weeks because I work 9-5 at the VAG library and then I have to haul ass to work and work for another 4 hours three nights a week. Stupid? Yes. Necessary? Yes. In this week's Georgia Straight, you can read about one of the VAG's current exhibits that is causing some controversy. Time to utilise my membership.
6) I'm thinking of going for breakfast this morning before work. It's either pancakes at one of the diners around my 'hood or popping into Chinatown for solo dim sum (which sounds kind of sad, now that I think about it). I'd better get on with personal hygeine so I can get the rock out of here.
For those of you who have patiently waited for me to have more time... As of May I am free for any number of social engagements for at least two months, possibly four. Keep me in mind.
Friday, April 13, 2007
faker
I called in sick today so I could write my paper. I know I said I wouldn't do this, but, frick, I want to get this thing done today, tomorrow at the latest.
When I called in, I talked to the curmudgeonly librarian who is waiting for retirement. I explained that my supervisor said I could take time off for schoolwork, but the librarian asked how I wanted him to mark me off. I had a dilemma: do I say "sick" so I get paid for today, or do I say "off" and make up the time later, which I would probably do either way. So I left it up to him. Tomorrow when I go in I'll see what he decided. I'll see if he wants me to get paid or not. This will then determine if he gets cheezies from me.
I hate this paper. It fucking sucks. Only 8 more pages to go. Guh.
The importance of getting this paper done lies in the fact that I have a party to go to tonight. My friend is having a shed party, which involves the selling of homebrew to pay for the shed she and surrounding neighbours have rented for the summer. They're all out of town for summer jobs, so they thought this was a good way to help pay for the thing. Ingenious, I think. Plus, a dance party could break out anytime and I should probably be there for that.
Last night after work I went for a drink with two of my girlfriends from work. They are the sweetest girls ever. We had a nice chat about all sorts of stuff and shared helpful information about bras. I think it's extremely helpful that all three of us are pretty good listeners with some varied life experiences behind us because all of us can help to put things into perspective for each other when needed. I feel so lucky to know them.
In fact, I've been pretty lucky in general with friends. The people I call friends I know have my back and I theirs, and there's something comforting knowing that people care about you even when you can't always see each other or talk. At times like now (when I hole up and only talk about essays that suck ass) it is my little beacon of light, knowing someone might be thinking of me and sending good thoughts my way.
Geez, this got smarmy all of a sudden. I'm going to write about Unicode now. Fuck.
When I called in, I talked to the curmudgeonly librarian who is waiting for retirement. I explained that my supervisor said I could take time off for schoolwork, but the librarian asked how I wanted him to mark me off. I had a dilemma: do I say "sick" so I get paid for today, or do I say "off" and make up the time later, which I would probably do either way. So I left it up to him. Tomorrow when I go in I'll see what he decided. I'll see if he wants me to get paid or not. This will then determine if he gets cheezies from me.
I hate this paper. It fucking sucks. Only 8 more pages to go. Guh.
The importance of getting this paper done lies in the fact that I have a party to go to tonight. My friend is having a shed party, which involves the selling of homebrew to pay for the shed she and surrounding neighbours have rented for the summer. They're all out of town for summer jobs, so they thought this was a good way to help pay for the thing. Ingenious, I think. Plus, a dance party could break out anytime and I should probably be there for that.
Last night after work I went for a drink with two of my girlfriends from work. They are the sweetest girls ever. We had a nice chat about all sorts of stuff and shared helpful information about bras. I think it's extremely helpful that all three of us are pretty good listeners with some varied life experiences behind us because all of us can help to put things into perspective for each other when needed. I feel so lucky to know them.
In fact, I've been pretty lucky in general with friends. The people I call friends I know have my back and I theirs, and there's something comforting knowing that people care about you even when you can't always see each other or talk. At times like now (when I hole up and only talk about essays that suck ass) it is my little beacon of light, knowing someone might be thinking of me and sending good thoughts my way.
Geez, this got smarmy all of a sudden. I'm going to write about Unicode now. Fuck.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
how to be a slacker
Geez, I feel so incredibly lazy. I'm at work right at this second and, because my supervisor overscheduled the floor this week while he's on vacation, I am working in his office. It was the only computer not already in use. I had no choice.
We all know he does his homework at work, but I've never been so brave to attempt the same at my open air computer station spot. Yet, because I'm holed up in an actual office with walls and a door, with the computer screen both turned away from the workroom and partially obscured by some sort of a stand, I can really do anything and no one will have any idea what I'm doing.
So far today I've done some work email, scheduled some shifts in another department, sent off a group assignment for school that is due tomorrow, checked my UBC email... Ya. That's about it. I've been here two hours. Who's a slacker? That'd be me.
Really, I'm feeling burnt out and don't really care so much today about anything. I almost called in sick so I could work on my last essay, but then realised I don't want to do that, either, so I might as well feel a little productive. In theory, I could be on a coffee break right now, but I feel the slightest amount of guilt about being unproductive today. It's really such a small amount of guilt that I can't tell if it's guilt or just too much sugar and caffeine.
Did I mention I've had pop? I had given it up for Lent and successfully got through to the Easter weekend without any major cravings, though did really want a Dr. Pepper a couple weeks ago. I always intend to sort of continue to give up stuff I give up for Lent, but I immediately went back on it. I've had varying amounts of pop since Sunday, but it has been daily. I wonder if it's better than those sugary coffee drinks from S-Bucks... Anyway, I had a cherry Coke this morning and now I feel weird. Maybe I should lay off the pop and just stick to the occasional slurpee-type drink.
Anyone interested in writing a 10-page essay on some of the challenges when cataloguing non-Roman character materials? Please?
Currently listening :
Writer's Block
By Peter Bjorn and John
Release date: 06 March, 2007
We all know he does his homework at work, but I've never been so brave to attempt the same at my open air computer station spot. Yet, because I'm holed up in an actual office with walls and a door, with the computer screen both turned away from the workroom and partially obscured by some sort of a stand, I can really do anything and no one will have any idea what I'm doing.
So far today I've done some work email, scheduled some shifts in another department, sent off a group assignment for school that is due tomorrow, checked my UBC email... Ya. That's about it. I've been here two hours. Who's a slacker? That'd be me.
Really, I'm feeling burnt out and don't really care so much today about anything. I almost called in sick so I could work on my last essay, but then realised I don't want to do that, either, so I might as well feel a little productive. In theory, I could be on a coffee break right now, but I feel the slightest amount of guilt about being unproductive today. It's really such a small amount of guilt that I can't tell if it's guilt or just too much sugar and caffeine.
Did I mention I've had pop? I had given it up for Lent and successfully got through to the Easter weekend without any major cravings, though did really want a Dr. Pepper a couple weeks ago. I always intend to sort of continue to give up stuff I give up for Lent, but I immediately went back on it. I've had varying amounts of pop since Sunday, but it has been daily. I wonder if it's better than those sugary coffee drinks from S-Bucks... Anyway, I had a cherry Coke this morning and now I feel weird. Maybe I should lay off the pop and just stick to the occasional slurpee-type drink.
Anyone interested in writing a 10-page essay on some of the challenges when cataloguing non-Roman character materials? Please?
Currently listening :
Writer's Block
By Peter Bjorn and John
Release date: 06 March, 2007
Monday, April 9, 2007
the end of 40 days
I am reluctant to write anything this morning. Still, it's 4:30am and I'm wide awake, so might as well do something. I should probably be making inroads into my assignments, but I can't think clear enough right now to make that happen. Sleep will not come and I resent it.
Yesterday I got back from visiting my parents for a few days. It was a good trip, but I'm glad I didn't stay the full weekend. There is a lot of stuff going on around there that I couldn't be around much more without getting more emotionally involved. I did see my dying uncle, which was good yet terrible; it's hard to see someone wasting away when so many of your memories of that person are of them as a vibrant, so alive person. It is also hard to listen to my dad talk about his brother to other people who ask. I never want to have to tell people that my siblings are going to die.
On Easter Sunday (was that just yesterday?) I went to church with my parents. Their priest is a youngish Filipino priest who loves singing. He did a solo after Communion, a Josh Groban song that he sang last year as well. He said he found a song he wanted to do, a Backstreet Boys song (I am not even close to kidding about that), but he couldn't find piano music in time so would plan it for next year. I was one of the youngest people there, so I'm not even sure how many people knew who he was talking about when he mentioned BB (though my mom did and it's not like she's really in the know about that sort of crap). I've become a C&E Catholic and, right now, I'm OK with that.
The weather was lovely at home. I went without a coat for the first time this year and almost wished I'd packed a skirt. It was 24'C when we arrived. The remaining orchards (a significant number have switched to vineyards to meet the winemakers' demand) had fruit blossoms popping open: apricots, cherries, peaches, plums. Seasons are much more pronounced there and it is one thing I always liked about living there. One of the only things, really.
While home I did do a bit of drinking. Saturday afternoon we went to the meat draw at my home branch Legion. It's nice to go to a bar and have people know you by name no matter how often you go there. We had beer and clamato, and none of us won anything. It's become a tradition. In the evening my siblings and I met up with our cousin and her husband to catch up and to get out of the house. We went to the Sage, the more popular bar in town, though it was with some reluctance. Weekends follow a pretty similar pattern to the ones I remember when I was of legal age and home for a summer: generally it involves crying girls, public barfing, and bar fights. I wanted to make sure I got out of there before anything happened because, when drunk enough, everyone who lives in that town is a potential brawler.
The night before I was supposed to leave town for the weekend I went out drinking with my co-workers because one of them is leaving for grad school. For some reason we started mixing beer and liquor (including suggestions from the server - big mistake), and this resulted in my inability to get home safely on my own (plus I just missed the bus). Thankfully my friend made sure I got home, but then was too drunk to get home as well so slept on my couch. I managed to get enough water in me, but he didn't and was in rough shape in the morning. I felt horrible forcing him out in the late morning so I could leave town, but we left two hours late as it was. Note to self: never drink that much again. I have pictures and video of boob closeups. That doesn't need to be documented.
Going to try to sleep.
Yesterday I got back from visiting my parents for a few days. It was a good trip, but I'm glad I didn't stay the full weekend. There is a lot of stuff going on around there that I couldn't be around much more without getting more emotionally involved. I did see my dying uncle, which was good yet terrible; it's hard to see someone wasting away when so many of your memories of that person are of them as a vibrant, so alive person. It is also hard to listen to my dad talk about his brother to other people who ask. I never want to have to tell people that my siblings are going to die.
On Easter Sunday (was that just yesterday?) I went to church with my parents. Their priest is a youngish Filipino priest who loves singing. He did a solo after Communion, a Josh Groban song that he sang last year as well. He said he found a song he wanted to do, a Backstreet Boys song (I am not even close to kidding about that), but he couldn't find piano music in time so would plan it for next year. I was one of the youngest people there, so I'm not even sure how many people knew who he was talking about when he mentioned BB (though my mom did and it's not like she's really in the know about that sort of crap). I've become a C&E Catholic and, right now, I'm OK with that.
The weather was lovely at home. I went without a coat for the first time this year and almost wished I'd packed a skirt. It was 24'C when we arrived. The remaining orchards (a significant number have switched to vineyards to meet the winemakers' demand) had fruit blossoms popping open: apricots, cherries, peaches, plums. Seasons are much more pronounced there and it is one thing I always liked about living there. One of the only things, really.
While home I did do a bit of drinking. Saturday afternoon we went to the meat draw at my home branch Legion. It's nice to go to a bar and have people know you by name no matter how often you go there. We had beer and clamato, and none of us won anything. It's become a tradition. In the evening my siblings and I met up with our cousin and her husband to catch up and to get out of the house. We went to the Sage, the more popular bar in town, though it was with some reluctance. Weekends follow a pretty similar pattern to the ones I remember when I was of legal age and home for a summer: generally it involves crying girls, public barfing, and bar fights. I wanted to make sure I got out of there before anything happened because, when drunk enough, everyone who lives in that town is a potential brawler.
The night before I was supposed to leave town for the weekend I went out drinking with my co-workers because one of them is leaving for grad school. For some reason we started mixing beer and liquor (including suggestions from the server - big mistake), and this resulted in my inability to get home safely on my own (plus I just missed the bus). Thankfully my friend made sure I got home, but then was too drunk to get home as well so slept on my couch. I managed to get enough water in me, but he didn't and was in rough shape in the morning. I felt horrible forcing him out in the late morning so I could leave town, but we left two hours late as it was. Note to self: never drink that much again. I have pictures and video of boob closeups. That doesn't need to be documented.
Going to try to sleep.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
mistaken identity
Today on the bus a guy got on and started walking towards the back where I was. I glanced up and did a double-take. He looked like an ex-friend I stopped talking to (because he was emotionally abusive and tried to make me feel guilty for getting into grad school when he didn't). It looked so much like him that I had to stare, trying to figure out if it was him as he came down the aisle. He smiled and I looked away. When I looked again he sat down across from me, but I realised it wasn't the ex-friend and that he had smiled at one of his buddies.
What a relief.
Had it been him I don't know what I would have done because I'm not interested in making up with him. During the time that we were friends I'd never been so unhappy or felt so bad around another person. There is nothing he could say that would make me change my mind about cutting him out of my life. And things starting improving almost instantly after the breakup of our friendship.
I mention this because it's the time of year when friendships seem to end. It troubles me. I don't have the energy to keep friendships intact and am concerned those wanting out will sense my weakness and eliminate me over the next couple of weeks. But then there's nothing I can do so I probably shouldn't worry about it.
Should be worrying about the presentation due tomorrow that I haven't started. That's probably a bigger worry right now.
What a relief.
Had it been him I don't know what I would have done because I'm not interested in making up with him. During the time that we were friends I'd never been so unhappy or felt so bad around another person. There is nothing he could say that would make me change my mind about cutting him out of my life. And things starting improving almost instantly after the breakup of our friendship.
I mention this because it's the time of year when friendships seem to end. It troubles me. I don't have the energy to keep friendships intact and am concerned those wanting out will sense my weakness and eliminate me over the next couple of weeks. But then there's nothing I can do so I probably shouldn't worry about it.
Should be worrying about the presentation due tomorrow that I haven't started. That's probably a bigger worry right now.
Tuesday, April 3, 2007
cupcakes are sweet
Sunday night I finally got around to remaking the black and tan cupcakes from my unbirthday party. This time I followed the instructions (more or less) and they turned out pretty yummy. Rather than send out a billion emails, you all are subjected to the recipe. Ahahahahaha! Again, I found this on this site, courtesy this fantastic blog. Cupcakes!
Black and Tan Cupcakes:
1 Cup chocolate stout (I used Longboat Double Chocolate Porter...mmm)
1 Cup unsalted butter (I think this is a lot, too, but they turn out moist, so....)
2/3 Cup unsweetened cocoa
2 Cups all purpose flour
2 Cups sugar
1.5 tsps baking soda
pinch of salt
2 eggs
2/3 Cup sour cream
Icing:
1/2 Cup softened butter
1 1/2 Cups confectioners sugar (the recipe calls for 2, but that's a lot)
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract (or more if you want)
1 Egg White
4 Tbls Harp Lager
To make the cake:
Preheat oven to 350'F.
Bring the stout and butter to a simmer over medium heat in a heavy large saucepan. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.
Whisk flour, baking soda, sugar and salt in a large bowl to blend. Using an electric mixer, blend eggs and sour cream in another large bowl. Add stout-chocolate mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Spoon into cupcake holders 2/3 full in muffin tin and bake for about 20 minutes (check with a toothpick). (This made 23 muffin tin-sized cupcakes, some with lower domes than others.)
For Icing:
Combine the butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla, egg white and two Tbls. of Lager in a bowl. Beat until fairly smooth. Add remaining Lager. (I found that my handbeater didn't combine this the way I wanted it to, so tried my food processor, which worked substantially better. The icing was smooth and didn't separate.)
Ice cupcakes when cool. Eat.
Despite starting to make these at 9:30pm on a Sunday night (really, the perfect time to bake), we were able to eat completely cooled and iced cupcakes well before midnight. Don't fear the little bit of stovetop cooking; my friend is a boy who doesn't really bake and he managed to do a good portion of the making with few problems. I would recommend eating them when they're fresh, but these taste pretty awesome if you decide to store them in your fridge.
You also wind up with two open bottles of yummy beer, so you have something to do while you're waiting for the things to bake/cool. That Longboat Double Chocolate Porter.... It's sooooo goooood.
Currently listening :
Sketches (For My Sweetheart the Drunk)
By Jeff Buckley
Release date: 26 May, 1998
Black and Tan Cupcakes:
1 Cup chocolate stout (I used Longboat Double Chocolate Porter...mmm)
1 Cup unsalted butter (I think this is a lot, too, but they turn out moist, so....)
2/3 Cup unsweetened cocoa
2 Cups all purpose flour
2 Cups sugar
1.5 tsps baking soda
pinch of salt
2 eggs
2/3 Cup sour cream
Icing:
1/2 Cup softened butter
1 1/2 Cups confectioners sugar (the recipe calls for 2, but that's a lot)
1 tsp. Vanilla Extract (or more if you want)
1 Egg White
4 Tbls Harp Lager
To make the cake:
Preheat oven to 350'F.
Bring the stout and butter to a simmer over medium heat in a heavy large saucepan. Add cocoa powder and whisk until mixture is smooth. Cool slightly.
Whisk flour, baking soda, sugar and salt in a large bowl to blend. Using an electric mixer, blend eggs and sour cream in another large bowl. Add stout-chocolate mixture and beat just to combine. Add flour mixture and beat briefly on slow speed. Using rubber spatula, fold batter until completely combined. Spoon into cupcake holders 2/3 full in muffin tin and bake for about 20 minutes (check with a toothpick). (This made 23 muffin tin-sized cupcakes, some with lower domes than others.)
For Icing:
Combine the butter, confectioners sugar, vanilla, egg white and two Tbls. of Lager in a bowl. Beat until fairly smooth. Add remaining Lager. (I found that my handbeater didn't combine this the way I wanted it to, so tried my food processor, which worked substantially better. The icing was smooth and didn't separate.)
Ice cupcakes when cool. Eat.
Despite starting to make these at 9:30pm on a Sunday night (really, the perfect time to bake), we were able to eat completely cooled and iced cupcakes well before midnight. Don't fear the little bit of stovetop cooking; my friend is a boy who doesn't really bake and he managed to do a good portion of the making with few problems. I would recommend eating them when they're fresh, but these taste pretty awesome if you decide to store them in your fridge.
You also wind up with two open bottles of yummy beer, so you have something to do while you're waiting for the things to bake/cool. That Longboat Double Chocolate Porter.... It's sooooo goooood.
Currently listening :
Sketches (For My Sweetheart the Drunk)
By Jeff Buckley
Release date: 26 May, 1998
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)