Greetings fine friends and fellow naval men.
I’m sorry it’s been a while since my last update. I’ve been in bed with the prosecution. And we didn’t just lie there, if that’s what you’re thinking. But no, to form a sentence without quoting Arrested Development… what HAVE I been doing? Well not much, I guess. There were a few things I wanted to blog about, but I just didn’t, you know how it is. I can’t believe I have this much homework to do two weeks before I graduate. Sheesh. I can’t believe I’m GRADUATING in two weeks. I don’t know what to do with my life. I have no plan. I want something I can feel passionate about and love doing even when it gets boring, but I don’t have it yet. I don’t know where and how to find it. I need guidance. I need the Hand of God, to show me the way – but not to a nunnery, please. I cannot make these decisions by myself.
So what was I going to blog about? Besides graduating at the tender age of 18-going-on-19 with absolutely no idea what to do with the rest of my life?
First, I went Swimming While Hairy last week. I remember thinking whilst doing it, “I will make of this a blog post, and I will title it Swimming While Hairy.” But now the enthusiasm has leaked from the idea, leaving a somewhat-deflated water balloon. The jist was, I went down to that water marshy nature area on the far side of the IMA last Monday and wandered around getting really hot. Sticky and sweaty, I wanted to go swimming, but I was all hairy, under the arms and on the legs. I also had no swimsuit. But nonetheless… I went, got one of the IMA’s renter suits with, thankfully, the 50’s-style skirty things (who knows, maybe they are from the 50s) and swum laps. But first, I lost my towel and key that they give you, and while I was looking for them I slammed my finger into the bathroom door, so my finger was painful and bleeding, I was hairy, I had lost IMA property, I could not get into my locker, and I was hot and sticky. I did get another key and go swimming anyway though. I went into the slow lane, and I felt really out of shape – my stamina was OK, but I just wish I could have gone faster. Anyway, I don’t THINK I got any funny looks, but my eyes were pretty red – bloodshot from swimming with contacts, as well. I need goggles. At the end of this epic adventure, wandering around hairy in the locker room, I met no less than three people I knew. Eek.
Anyhoo, all the entertainment value of that tale has been sucked out in the intervening couple of weeks, leaving an empty shell of facts. I’m sorry. What else was there?
Relay for Life. This Saturday, I participated in Relay for Life, a charity event supporting the American Cancer Society. I was on the team captained by the girl I took skiing lessons with. I stupidly, S-T-U-P-I-D-L-Y, promised brownies to everyone who donated through me, by the way. I know they’re all friends of my parents and don’t care, but I feel really stupid having promised brownies and not given them out. So on Saturday, I got to Husky Stadium at 2 – I think it was the first time I’ve been inside. The “sacred ground” of the football field was covered in tents and a stage and stuff. And I was there without leaving until 8 the next morning. Through it all – and it was freezing in the middle of the night – someone from each team had to be walking around the track. There was a talent show, complete with a fat Asian guy who sung badly. But here’s the thing – I don’t think he was joking. It was weird. The announcer actually asked him about William Hung, and the guy was just like, “Oh I’m better than him.” I think he was joking partially, but not much. And then everyone loved him and wanted to be his friend. Here I am thinking the key to popularity is this and that, and all the time it was being completely uninhibited and dorky and making a fool of yourself in front of a large audience. I can do that. But maybe not the uninhibited part. Although, at 3.30 AM, after endless rounds of the disgusting sounding energy drink Rock Star Pong (ewww), there was a Middle School Dance, featuring all the old favorites –Backstreet Boys (whom I think I once really liked), NSYNC, Britney, that one song that went “Say it ain’t so, I will not go, Turn the lights off, Carry me Home,” Savage Garden – it was crazy. And I did dance to the oldies. They even did a snowball, where all the girls went to one side and the guys to another and you had to cross over and pick a partner. I can get nostalgic for anything, even the 90s.
Other things at Relay… they had speed dating, which I should have done given I need a boyfriend, but I chickened out. They had Nike shoes with built-in iPod players and workout counters, which I tried out, they were very comfortable – most comfortable sneakers I’ve ever worn. I want them. They also had two comedy improv groups, two bands, and a Luminaria ceremony at 10. They turned off the lights in the stadium and a bagpiper led everyone around the track, which had been lined with paper bags with lights in them decorated by people and personalized with the names of cancer victims and survivors. The survivors wore purple T-shirts, and some of them were students. It was weird because I assumed they would all be middle aged. But there were a few young ones there. It was quite moving. On a different note, we – Readers and I – should go see some comedy, like Jet City Improv! It would be something to do at night, and improv is often more fun and less awkward than stand-up?
So at 8 the next morning, I had gotten absolutely no sleep. And I was very tired and a bit cranky. But I had to go home to make my mom dinner for Mother’s Day. Unfortunately, all the recipes were from one cookbook that I’d never used before, and nothing was that great. It wasn’t bad – they looked and tasted fine – but they weren’t delicious or that flavorful. I know you’re supposed to add to the recipes, but if you have to do that, what’s the point in buying the cookbook – or, at least, sitting in Barnes and Noble illegally copying from the cookbook onto your laptop? Geeeeeez.
Speaking of sitting in Barnes and Noble, I was the other day, studying, and this old man is CONTINUALLY bothering me, talking about mysticism. (He saw that I was studying Hebrew, and somehow divined that I would be interested in weird people who see creepy patterns everywhere). He samples all the world’s religions, and kept saying that this book or movie would “change my life,” just like Natalie says to Zack in Garden State, a movie I dislike. He would go back to his laptop than after five minutes or so when I’d started to concentrate fully again he’d look up with no warning and just START TALKING again. Gah! But finally, he left. I just nodded politely because I didn’t really want to tell an old man to shut up.
Today, I gave a practice presentation for Friday. It went ok I guess, but the other practicers were sciencey people – oceanography, neuroscience, and biology – so I felt totally inferior. I am actually really interested in neuroscience, psychology and all that stuff. I love reading about questions like: “are teenagers brains really different” and stuff about how men and women behave differently and why do we love to gossip and all of those things. Maybe I should take some psychology classes. Anyhoo, the neuroscience guy was DISHY. No other word for it. He was a dish. I wanted to eat him. Oh, I hate and love hormones. But I was drooling as he talked about inserting needles into rats. Plus, he was intelligent, nice, and kept talking about how his mother was in town for mother’s day and he had to spend time with her. I wish there was a little card you could give people saying “Excuse me, we will likely never see each other again, and there is no cause for us to interact beyond small talk at this educational event. Nonetheless, I find you very attractive and would like to speak further. Here is my number.” I supposed if I was a different kind of person, I could find some way of doing that, but good GRIEF. OH! I just had an idea… I can facebook stalk him. Woot. Will do.
Also, I lost my cellphone, but you know about that. And tonight I went to someone’s 21st birthday party at Flowers bar on the Ave, and did not drink. Because I have no fake id. I have a feeling possibly Charlotte could hook me up with one of those?
Over and out.
Thursday, May 17, 2007
Saturday, May 05, 2007
More reviews
by Emma, the Girl Who is Done With Her Thesis.
Piatti's - UVillage
Because Piatti's in in UVillage, clean-cut, and somewhat devoid of any real neighborhood-pasta-place-type personality - despite the cozy decor - you might think the pricey Italian food it serves isn't worth the trouble. If the "cozy and classic" do-it-yourselfers over at Apartment Therapy ever designed an upscale Italian restaurant, I imagine it would look something like Piatti. Although I was there several weeks ago with my parents and don’t remember the exact color scheme, I do remember that it while the ceiling soared and the space was large, it felt warm, with enormous buckets of flowers reaching toward the ceiling. Although the gnocchi on the menu came with meat, I wanted gnocchi, so I asked for some with the tomato-cream sauce. They were light and compulsively eatable, as gnocchi should be. The mixed salad was also excellent, and the bread was just ok - but as I'd recently had braces put in, it was soft, and I was grateful for that. Our waiter was a mite too chatty and mixed a couple things up, but that's a miserly complaint. Recommended.
Noah's Bagels - QFC, UVillage
Noah's offers a selection of paninis, but I always feel that ordering one would be a waste at one of the few good bagel places in Seattle. I am not a bagel conossieur, nor can I spell connosiuer, but Noah's are flavorful, chewy on the inside, and not too big. If nothing else, they're much better than your average supermarket "bagel." So instead of being adventurous and trying the more expensive paninis ($6-$8), I stick with a toasted bagel, cream cheese, tomato and red onion. There are many varieties of bagels and schmears to choose from. All the bagels are delicious, especially the somewhat non traditional cracked-peppercorn and potato. I found the sundried tomato schmear too sweet, and prefer the more classic oniony and garlicky options. Also, Noah's Bagels is pareve and glatt kosher, which means I can take my grandmother there.
Barnes and Noble Cafe - UVillage
I have mixed feelings about this place. I wrote much of my thesis here, amidst other studying students. But my dad gave me a gift card, which he'd gotten from someone else, so I ate much of my food and drink for free. The drinks are standard Starbucks fare - in fact, the cafe serves Starbucks coffee and frappuccinos. The food is definitely mediocre. The asiago pretzel is yummy; the spinach-and-feta-stuffed pretzel is a failed experiment; and the expensive sandwiches are small and nothing to write home about.
Pallino's Pastaria - UVillage
The two entrees I've had here have been disappointing. I had a sandwich that was limp and lacking in flavor and made a mockery of what the Italian sandwich is supposed to taste like. I also had mac-and-cheese, which was just fine, I suppose, although nowhere near as good as Beecher's fabulous mac-and-cheese (available at Pasta + Co stores and at Beecher's Handmade Cheese in Pike Place Market).
Michou - Pike Place Market
Really delicious Italian salads, sandwiches and other antipasto-type dishes, so many that nearly everyone who orders stares in front of the glass case for several minutes, annoying the servers as they contemplate their options. No space for eating in.
Le Painier - Pike Place Market
This "very French bakery" is a good choice for baguettes, brioches, amazing almondines (almond croissants) and other French-type breads. They also do some of Seattle's best coffee, the store smells good and there's a nice, crowded feel.
Piatti's - UVillage
Because Piatti's in in UVillage, clean-cut, and somewhat devoid of any real neighborhood-pasta-place-type personality - despite the cozy decor - you might think the pricey Italian food it serves isn't worth the trouble. If the "cozy and classic" do-it-yourselfers over at Apartment Therapy ever designed an upscale Italian restaurant, I imagine it would look something like Piatti. Although I was there several weeks ago with my parents and don’t remember the exact color scheme, I do remember that it while the ceiling soared and the space was large, it felt warm, with enormous buckets of flowers reaching toward the ceiling. Although the gnocchi on the menu came with meat, I wanted gnocchi, so I asked for some with the tomato-cream sauce. They were light and compulsively eatable, as gnocchi should be. The mixed salad was also excellent, and the bread was just ok - but as I'd recently had braces put in, it was soft, and I was grateful for that. Our waiter was a mite too chatty and mixed a couple things up, but that's a miserly complaint. Recommended.
Noah's Bagels - QFC, UVillage
Noah's offers a selection of paninis, but I always feel that ordering one would be a waste at one of the few good bagel places in Seattle. I am not a bagel conossieur, nor can I spell connosiuer, but Noah's are flavorful, chewy on the inside, and not too big. If nothing else, they're much better than your average supermarket "bagel." So instead of being adventurous and trying the more expensive paninis ($6-$8), I stick with a toasted bagel, cream cheese, tomato and red onion. There are many varieties of bagels and schmears to choose from. All the bagels are delicious, especially the somewhat non traditional cracked-peppercorn and potato. I found the sundried tomato schmear too sweet, and prefer the more classic oniony and garlicky options. Also, Noah's Bagels is pareve and glatt kosher, which means I can take my grandmother there.
Barnes and Noble Cafe - UVillage
I have mixed feelings about this place. I wrote much of my thesis here, amidst other studying students. But my dad gave me a gift card, which he'd gotten from someone else, so I ate much of my food and drink for free. The drinks are standard Starbucks fare - in fact, the cafe serves Starbucks coffee and frappuccinos. The food is definitely mediocre. The asiago pretzel is yummy; the spinach-and-feta-stuffed pretzel is a failed experiment; and the expensive sandwiches are small and nothing to write home about.
Pallino's Pastaria - UVillage
The two entrees I've had here have been disappointing. I had a sandwich that was limp and lacking in flavor and made a mockery of what the Italian sandwich is supposed to taste like. I also had mac-and-cheese, which was just fine, I suppose, although nowhere near as good as Beecher's fabulous mac-and-cheese (available at Pasta + Co stores and at Beecher's Handmade Cheese in Pike Place Market).
Michou - Pike Place Market
Really delicious Italian salads, sandwiches and other antipasto-type dishes, so many that nearly everyone who orders stares in front of the glass case for several minutes, annoying the servers as they contemplate their options. No space for eating in.
Le Painier - Pike Place Market
This "very French bakery" is a good choice for baguettes, brioches, amazing almondines (almond croissants) and other French-type breads. They also do some of Seattle's best coffee, the store smells good and there's a nice, crowded feel.
Saturday, April 28, 2007
Emma's Reviews
A new section of this humble blog featuring my opinion on Seattle eating establishments and providing a way to hone my Seattle Metropolitan-nurtured review writing skillz and procrastinate writing the thesis which is now due in less than ONE WEEK.
Pasta + Co., University Village (and other Seattle locations)
The quality of baked goods in most Seattle coffee shops is abominable. Pastries are supposed to make you forget their prosaic yeasty beginnings through great flavor and light fluffiness. The heinous muffins and so-called “scones” distributed by Issaquah-based Mostly Muffins to what seems like every coffee establishment in the region are heavy and chewy, making it a chore rather than a pleasure to ingest the 20,000 or so calories each of them no doubt contains.
At Pasta + Co., I was only lucky enough to taste one tiny taster sample of the sweet, nutty and subtle white chocolate brownie, but it was enough to convince me that this place is something different. The chocolate cupcakes topped with huge swirls of chocolate frosting nestled among the other sweets in the glass-fronted case ensure I will soon be making a return trip.
But Pasta + Co isn’t even primarily known for its desserts but for its, well, pasta, along with other Italian and Mediterranean entrees. I had the “house pasta,” a lemony blend of elbow noodles and breadcrumbs tossed with a light cream dressing, which was yummy but smacked suspiciously of mayonnaise, a taste I try to avoid at all costs. I also ordered one-half pint of rapini, a broccoli-like vegetable salad, as a side dish, encouraged by the reasonable price ($4.10) of the pint of pasta – only to find while handing over my debit card that the very small container cost over five dollars. And although I enjoy strong flavors, it was much too bitter for me to handle. No worries, though – I walked back into the store and the friendly staff were cheerfully willing to exchange it (pointing out that they did, in fact, offer tasters). I got a grain salad instead, which was adequate, made with fresh vegetables and dressing.
One of the best parts of Pasta + Co. is the little treats they have on hand for customers. This is the first time I had actually bought something at the store, but I had been in at least twice before for a complimentary chunk of Beecher’s absolutely delicious flagship cheese on flatbread. On this occasion they also offered excellent eggplant caponata with ciabatta bread, the aforementioned brownies, and – tucked to the side of a counter – more ciabatta with a wide array of oils and vinegars for testing. I tried the orange and avocado oil, which was, despite the name, not sickening but lovely.
Pasta + Co offers to-go salads and entrees, a variety of pastas that you can warm up at home, desserts, original cookbooks, and pre-packaged sauces, cheeses and spreads. It is expensive, and it’s not the place most people can afford to buy a nightly dinner, but the food – rapini excepted – is tasty, the staff are helpful, and the samples are plentiful – making me feel I hadn’t wasted my money.
UPDATE: I returned to Pasta + Co today for a delicious pint of hazlenut tortellini with feta cheese, artichokes and chives, the best entree I've had there yet.
Grade: A.
Pasta + Co., University Village (and other Seattle locations)
The quality of baked goods in most Seattle coffee shops is abominable. Pastries are supposed to make you forget their prosaic yeasty beginnings through great flavor and light fluffiness. The heinous muffins and so-called “scones” distributed by Issaquah-based Mostly Muffins to what seems like every coffee establishment in the region are heavy and chewy, making it a chore rather than a pleasure to ingest the 20,000 or so calories each of them no doubt contains.
At Pasta + Co., I was only lucky enough to taste one tiny taster sample of the sweet, nutty and subtle white chocolate brownie, but it was enough to convince me that this place is something different. The chocolate cupcakes topped with huge swirls of chocolate frosting nestled among the other sweets in the glass-fronted case ensure I will soon be making a return trip.
But Pasta + Co isn’t even primarily known for its desserts but for its, well, pasta, along with other Italian and Mediterranean entrees. I had the “house pasta,” a lemony blend of elbow noodles and breadcrumbs tossed with a light cream dressing, which was yummy but smacked suspiciously of mayonnaise, a taste I try to avoid at all costs. I also ordered one-half pint of rapini, a broccoli-like vegetable salad, as a side dish, encouraged by the reasonable price ($4.10) of the pint of pasta – only to find while handing over my debit card that the very small container cost over five dollars. And although I enjoy strong flavors, it was much too bitter for me to handle. No worries, though – I walked back into the store and the friendly staff were cheerfully willing to exchange it (pointing out that they did, in fact, offer tasters). I got a grain salad instead, which was adequate, made with fresh vegetables and dressing.
One of the best parts of Pasta + Co. is the little treats they have on hand for customers. This is the first time I had actually bought something at the store, but I had been in at least twice before for a complimentary chunk of Beecher’s absolutely delicious flagship cheese on flatbread. On this occasion they also offered excellent eggplant caponata with ciabatta bread, the aforementioned brownies, and – tucked to the side of a counter – more ciabatta with a wide array of oils and vinegars for testing. I tried the orange and avocado oil, which was, despite the name, not sickening but lovely.
Pasta + Co offers to-go salads and entrees, a variety of pastas that you can warm up at home, desserts, original cookbooks, and pre-packaged sauces, cheeses and spreads. It is expensive, and it’s not the place most people can afford to buy a nightly dinner, but the food – rapini excepted – is tasty, the staff are helpful, and the samples are plentiful – making me feel I hadn’t wasted my money.
UPDATE: I returned to Pasta + Co today for a delicious pint of hazlenut tortellini with feta cheese, artichokes and chives, the best entree I've had there yet.
Grade: A.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Songs I'm Enjoying
Beyond the Sea - Bobby Darin
You Know My Name - Chris Cornell (James Bond theme)
Sexx Laws - Beck
Kiss the Girl - Ashley Tisdale (what can I say?)
Flathead - the Fratellis
Other side of hte World - KT Tunstall
Only Hope - Mandy Moore (...)
Passionate Kisses - Mary Carpenter
Grace Kelly - Mika (strangely addictive)
Fidelity - Regina Spektor
I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow - Soggy Bottom Boys (heh. original of me)
STray Cat Strut - Stray Cats
Enjoyable but hardly the best writing music *bangs head against wall*
You Know My Name - Chris Cornell (James Bond theme)
Sexx Laws - Beck
Kiss the Girl - Ashley Tisdale (what can I say?)
Flathead - the Fratellis
Other side of hte World - KT Tunstall
Only Hope - Mandy Moore (...)
Passionate Kisses - Mary Carpenter
Grace Kelly - Mika (strangely addictive)
Fidelity - Regina Spektor
I Am A Man Of Constant Sorrow - Soggy Bottom Boys (heh. original of me)
STray Cat Strut - Stray Cats
Enjoyable but hardly the best writing music *bangs head against wall*
Monday, April 16, 2007
Mock Trial with J. Reinhold
(Mock Trial...) Mock Trial with J Reinhold (Mock Trial...) Mock Trial with J Reinhold (Mock Triiiiiiiiiiiial...)
Michael: I do not want to turn this mock trial into some kind of...
GOB: You were gonna say mockery, weren't you??
Michael: I was in trouble, like, 3 words into that.
<3
Internet hearts look more like asses to me. Behinds. Bottoms. Derriers. Funny how "bottom" sounds better in a British accent but "ass" sounds better in an American one. But anyway, I had my mock trial on Saturday. I got up at 5.45 to get to the courthouse on time. It was the actual King County Courthouse near Pioneer Square in downtown Seattle, complete with security guards, X-ray machines and a real judge to officiate the trial. I thought it was very generous of the judge, who is at his courtroom Monday-Friday anyway, to officiate a mock trial at 8 am on Saturday morning. He was VERY judicial - gray hair, kindly but stern, slim, distinguished looking. He looked like John Edwards except older and wiser.
Anyway, when I got there, it was the first time I had ever been into an American courtroom (I observed one day of a British murder trial at the Old Bailey, from the public gallery as a tourist). Most of the other jurors there were old people, who were very cute, but I was alarmed as I thought I would be with students. Turns out they were in the wrong room and all of the jurors for my case were young, but I was sitting next to the old ones long enough to hear some choice snippets of conversation; for example:
*sound of high heels clipping down the corridor*
Kindly Old Lady #1: Now that's a lady.
*pause*
KOL #2: ...Or a transvestite.
The Seattle University law students were professionally dressed and seemed pretty nervous, especially the guy who did the opening statement for the defense. His hands were shaking. I tried to smile at him encouragingly. I kept on thinking how much rehearsal and performance goes into the law. It reminded me of being in a play. And most of the lawyers-in-training were in their mid twenties. They aren't too much old er than me, just in professional school, and their nervousness and lack of assuredness reminded me more of myself than of TV lawyers. Everything seemed to remind me of what I'd seen on screen - the exhibits, the "ladies and gentlemen of the jury," "We hope that you will return a verdict of guilty," "objection!" etc., etc., and I had to keep reminding myself that however stylized the law appeared, this wasn't a performance but a trial, and in a year or two the students would all be actual lawyers, saying these things for a living. It was weird.
It was a murder case, and we returned a verdict of guilty of first degree murder. The state team didn't badger witnesses like the defense did, and they had a more coherent argument. Our deliberations were videoed for the benefit of the students which was a little weird.
5.00 ... have to go study. More on juicy details of mock trial later.
Michael: I do not want to turn this mock trial into some kind of...
GOB: You were gonna say mockery, weren't you??
Michael: I was in trouble, like, 3 words into that.
<3
Internet hearts look more like asses to me. Behinds. Bottoms. Derriers. Funny how "bottom" sounds better in a British accent but "ass" sounds better in an American one. But anyway, I had my mock trial on Saturday. I got up at 5.45 to get to the courthouse on time. It was the actual King County Courthouse near Pioneer Square in downtown Seattle, complete with security guards, X-ray machines and a real judge to officiate the trial. I thought it was very generous of the judge, who is at his courtroom Monday-Friday anyway, to officiate a mock trial at 8 am on Saturday morning. He was VERY judicial - gray hair, kindly but stern, slim, distinguished looking. He looked like John Edwards except older and wiser.
Anyway, when I got there, it was the first time I had ever been into an American courtroom (I observed one day of a British murder trial at the Old Bailey, from the public gallery as a tourist). Most of the other jurors there were old people, who were very cute, but I was alarmed as I thought I would be with students. Turns out they were in the wrong room and all of the jurors for my case were young, but I was sitting next to the old ones long enough to hear some choice snippets of conversation; for example:
*sound of high heels clipping down the corridor*
Kindly Old Lady #1: Now that's a lady.
*pause*
KOL #2: ...Or a transvestite.
The Seattle University law students were professionally dressed and seemed pretty nervous, especially the guy who did the opening statement for the defense. His hands were shaking. I tried to smile at him encouragingly. I kept on thinking how much rehearsal and performance goes into the law. It reminded me of being in a play. And most of the lawyers-in-training were in their mid twenties. They aren't too much old er than me, just in professional school, and their nervousness and lack of assuredness reminded me more of myself than of TV lawyers. Everything seemed to remind me of what I'd seen on screen - the exhibits, the "ladies and gentlemen of the jury," "We hope that you will return a verdict of guilty," "objection!" etc., etc., and I had to keep reminding myself that however stylized the law appeared, this wasn't a performance but a trial, and in a year or two the students would all be actual lawyers, saying these things for a living. It was weird.
It was a murder case, and we returned a verdict of guilty of first degree murder. The state team didn't badger witnesses like the defense did, and they had a more coherent argument. Our deliberations were videoed for the benefit of the students which was a little weird.
5.00 ... have to go study. More on juicy details of mock trial later.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
Me, Myself and I
Here I sit, blogging (it's amazing what boredom can drive a person to) at Nordheim Court. I'm not entirely sure where I am in relation to the ground. You don't have to go up any stairs to get to the apartment's outdoor entrance, but when you stand outside the door, you're one story above the ground - because the lot is on a hill, I suppose? Then there is ground outside my bedroom window, and I mean RIGHT outside, at eye level rather than below – an artful tangle of weeds and dandelions left to grow semi-wild between our building and the next. But I specifically am sitting on a bunk bed at a ridiculous height. It’s not high enough to do anything underneath it but store things (although you could make a great nest, but it would be impossible to sit up). And it’s too high to get to comfortably. Instead, you have to jump and land on your butt, setting off the creakings and springings. Just now I was trying to type this into Blogger, but the Ethernet cable didn’t quite reach, so off I jump, reconnect, launch myself onto the bed again, try to sit back, but the cable’s too short for comfort (I should have sprung for 14 feet). So I disconnect it from the computer and after a few minutes it falls down off the bed. After I finish this I’ll have to restart the creakings and springings again to reconnect the cable and publish the entry. It sounds like some kind of masturbatory orgy going on in here, but I’m just getting in and out of bed. When you begin to live with people you don’t know, appearances matter. It’s difficult to be natural. Walking down the corridor, you hold your muscles a bit tight, because slouching would seem too studiedly “natural.” Getting a glass of water in front of your roommate feels like a performance. Of course, it’s different if you know the person, or if you all move in at the same time – so you’re on the same footing – but this situation is a bit awkward for me, although I doubt it is for them. You worry: does staying in my room with the door closed (which I did) seem reclusive? Does watching The Office with roommate and her boyfriend (which I did) seem intrusive? What about starting a conversation during the ad break? Why can’t I remember the name of boyfriend, or of the tall elegant black girl in the room opposite (Teyga? Teisha? Damnit! We share a bathroom!) I should treat this place like home – I pay as much rent as the others. But I’m here temporarily – so I should act like a guest.
The place itself is clean and devoid of odd smells and stains, which is all I wanted after last quarter. Sure, there are dirty dishes stacked in the sink, but the mess is controlled, contained. My own room is like a slightly-bigger version of a dorm room: completely characterless, but not depressing (well, it’s depressing now because there are no decorations, but it won’t be). I was worried that the complex would be full of preppy rich kids, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Of the three roommates I’ve met two, one for a minute at the door, the tall nameless one, and one a couple times, who is premed and volunteers at Children’s. Plus boyfriend, who is fat and friendly. There’s something about body fat on a college student – it says “I don’t judge people on personal appearance,” which translates to “I am not a shallow snob.” Rather like dorky T-shirts, bad haircuts and awkwardness. Stereotypical, yes, but comforting nonetheless – even the most friendly tanned-and-muscled people strike fear into my heart. Not to meet necessarily, but to live with. It would just be too much work to live with them, if you care what they think of you.
The other day, I looked up my mom on Google, then sent her a request for castles, small fortresses and other historical mock-ups via her website, including various other specifications, through some Re/Max email program. I got a reply with the subject line “Your Castle Needs”:
Dear Emma,
I know of a charming little fortress very close to the ocean far from marauding nerds. The laundry facilities are adequate they were designed for the downstairs' staff, of course, but I am sure you would be impressed by the space. The outdoor plumbing is of the very finest quality although it does get a little chilly in November and December.
When are you going to be in the Tacoma area, perhaps we can organize a meeting, I would love to meet you and show you this and other castles that might be of interest. Perhaps I could show you a couple that are fully staffed and then you wouldn't have to worry so much abut the laundry facilities.
Cheers,
Realtor of the Royals.
I had actually said “marauding hordes,” not “nerds,” but same thing I suppose.
What else? This weekend, I am going to a stand-up comedy show to benefit Ghana on Friday night, courtesy of the Jackson School Student Association (Jackson School = international studies). It’s at – wait for it – the ECT. I paid five dollars for a ticket today that is a blue stub saying “TICKET” on it. If they want to be professional they might as well take some lessons from EDS. They had a ticket stand outside the HUB, which is an interesting idea. Anyway, it will be weird sitting in the audience of the ECT and not rushing around backstage. I think I’m going to organize a ritual thesis-burning on May 4, the Due Date (FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK OMG MANDATORY HEART PALPITATIONS). Also on that date, who wants to go out for smoothies and something incredibly indulgent and worry-free? I do!!! I’ve been daydreaming about turning It in as I write… oh good god I can’t wait. The last month of school is going to be so easy. One month of writing 5 pages a day, one month of ease. I just hope I’m not up all night the night before after working on it for a year because that would just be depressing.
Then on Saturday I have my mock trial. My mom’s all like “You should go out with them afterwards and talk about the case! Law students! Meet some!” I’m all like “Who are you, my grandmother?” (Actually, I didn’t say that – I didn’t think of the resemblance until now). But really, I can’t imagine anything more awkward than a bunch of overly-studious UW pre-laws with nothing in common going anywhere that allows the under-21s. (Of course, I might be wrong). I don’t have a nice enough shirt to wear, I didn’t bring many clothes up. Maybe I could borrow one from Reader??
I found tons of internships to apply for next year, several paid. I hope I get at least one of them. I hope I get one really good one, the juicy plum on a mediocre tree. Atlantic Monthly, Smithsonian Magazine, American Experience…all good, excellent in fact. (The first two are actually in DC… Greg?) Tiny Unpaid Depressing Place In The Middle Of Nowhere… not so much.
Well, I’ve worn myself out writing about myself. There’s only so much of that one can do. I could write about something besides myself, but really, the desire’s not there. Oh, I’ll make a great journalist all right. (But the perfect little-read blogger).
The place itself is clean and devoid of odd smells and stains, which is all I wanted after last quarter. Sure, there are dirty dishes stacked in the sink, but the mess is controlled, contained. My own room is like a slightly-bigger version of a dorm room: completely characterless, but not depressing (well, it’s depressing now because there are no decorations, but it won’t be). I was worried that the complex would be full of preppy rich kids, but that doesn’t seem to be the case. Of the three roommates I’ve met two, one for a minute at the door, the tall nameless one, and one a couple times, who is premed and volunteers at Children’s. Plus boyfriend, who is fat and friendly. There’s something about body fat on a college student – it says “I don’t judge people on personal appearance,” which translates to “I am not a shallow snob.” Rather like dorky T-shirts, bad haircuts and awkwardness. Stereotypical, yes, but comforting nonetheless – even the most friendly tanned-and-muscled people strike fear into my heart. Not to meet necessarily, but to live with. It would just be too much work to live with them, if you care what they think of you.
The other day, I looked up my mom on Google, then sent her a request for castles, small fortresses and other historical mock-ups via her website, including various other specifications, through some Re/Max email program. I got a reply with the subject line “Your Castle Needs”:
Dear Emma,
I know of a charming little fortress very close to the ocean far from marauding nerds. The laundry facilities are adequate they were designed for the downstairs' staff, of course, but I am sure you would be impressed by the space. The outdoor plumbing is of the very finest quality although it does get a little chilly in November and December.
When are you going to be in the Tacoma area, perhaps we can organize a meeting, I would love to meet you and show you this and other castles that might be of interest. Perhaps I could show you a couple that are fully staffed and then you wouldn't have to worry so much abut the laundry facilities.
Cheers,
Realtor of the Royals.
I had actually said “marauding hordes,” not “nerds,” but same thing I suppose.
What else? This weekend, I am going to a stand-up comedy show to benefit Ghana on Friday night, courtesy of the Jackson School Student Association (Jackson School = international studies). It’s at – wait for it – the ECT. I paid five dollars for a ticket today that is a blue stub saying “TICKET” on it. If they want to be professional they might as well take some lessons from EDS. They had a ticket stand outside the HUB, which is an interesting idea. Anyway, it will be weird sitting in the audience of the ECT and not rushing around backstage. I think I’m going to organize a ritual thesis-burning on May 4, the Due Date (FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK OMG MANDATORY HEART PALPITATIONS). Also on that date, who wants to go out for smoothies and something incredibly indulgent and worry-free? I do!!! I’ve been daydreaming about turning It in as I write… oh good god I can’t wait. The last month of school is going to be so easy. One month of writing 5 pages a day, one month of ease. I just hope I’m not up all night the night before after working on it for a year because that would just be depressing.
Then on Saturday I have my mock trial. My mom’s all like “You should go out with them afterwards and talk about the case! Law students! Meet some!” I’m all like “Who are you, my grandmother?” (Actually, I didn’t say that – I didn’t think of the resemblance until now). But really, I can’t imagine anything more awkward than a bunch of overly-studious UW pre-laws with nothing in common going anywhere that allows the under-21s. (Of course, I might be wrong). I don’t have a nice enough shirt to wear, I didn’t bring many clothes up. Maybe I could borrow one from Reader??
I found tons of internships to apply for next year, several paid. I hope I get at least one of them. I hope I get one really good one, the juicy plum on a mediocre tree. Atlantic Monthly, Smithsonian Magazine, American Experience…all good, excellent in fact. (The first two are actually in DC… Greg?) Tiny Unpaid Depressing Place In The Middle Of Nowhere… not so much.
Well, I’ve worn myself out writing about myself. There’s only so much of that one can do. I could write about something besides myself, but really, the desire’s not there. Oh, I’ll make a great journalist all right. (But the perfect little-read blogger).
Sunday, March 11, 2007
Skiing beastliness (to borrow the phrase)
I haven't blogged about skiing for a while, but I had my last lesson today so I'll tell about that. Last week was probably the low point of all 5 lessons. I hadn't been up for 2 weeks, and the substitute teacher we had didn't really push us - kept us on wedge christies rather than parallel. We were going down Holiday, which is super easy, and the left side of Gallery, which is a bit harder for like 4 turns, then the same as Holiday. My last run down Holiday felt really shaky and weird. Every time the terrain got even a bit steeper, I had difficulty. Although I've acquired the skills needed to ski perfectly fine, mentally I was being a wimp. After the lesson, the other girl in my class decided to go down the right side of Gallery, which is a blue square, but I chickened out. Looking at the top of a run when you only know wedge turns is tricky. You start out perpendicular to the slope , needing to push hard on your outside ski and basically ski against the mountain to propel yourself - everything about wedge turns is designed for caution, defensive skiing, slowing yourself down, traversing for long periods before making a turn against the slope with little momentum - in short, everything that makes a nervous-minded person (me) already nervous. So I went down the left side of Gallery, freezing before every new turn. This week I swore to myself that I would go down a blue square run today.
Thankfully, this story has a happy - one might say triumphant - ending, because today was the high point of the lessons. Now, I can parallel ski, like they do in the Olympics. I may not LOOK like they do in the Olympics - all swizz woosh fzz body swaying in perfect timing, "dynamic" parallel turns as they're called - but I can do "edging." Which means that you dig your inside edges into the snow to turn yourself around as you're facing downslope - boring stuff, but it made all the difference for me! Suddenly, the world made sense and skiing was laid out before me as a dazzling array of opportunities, except it wasn't like being stoned (or what I imagine that's like, anyway)- more like... confidence. Here's a hill which you ski DOWN. You don't traverse it and lose all momentum and courage - what good is that for a nervous beginner? You just go DOWN it!
My Holiday revelation was soon to be tested. We needed harder terrain, but Gallery was closed (I forgot to mention it was raining heavily- the Pineapple Express you know). So our teacher took us to Central Express, the high speed 4-person lift. It was a completely different kind of chairlift, for one thing - very fast, a safety bar, music playing, rests for your skis, etc. Much more comfortable. By this time, the rain had almost completely stopped.
When we got to the top we were at the top of the "mountain," and there was a sign with all the runs laid out with directions: lots of black diamonds and one blue square, Alpine. Of course, we went down Alpine. At first, I felt my usual jitters acting up. But I told myself: don't worry about turning, just point your skis and ski DOWN. And I did! The first third was quite steep. The second and third thirds felt much steeper than anything I'd done before - not because they were that much worse than the top of Gallery, but because they went on for so long. There was no time or gentle enough surfact to stop and start turns, so I just did that weird rocking parallel motion and went, went, went. My teacher was shouting things ("stand tall Emma!" but I thought she was saying "fall Emma!" and was confused), but I knew instinctively that if I stopped, I wouldn't start again. So as I passed her I yelled, "I'm not stopping!" And just skied to the bottom. Once there, I was exceedingly proud of myself looking up at what I'd done, and took some phone pictures. It's not as though the terrain was any more challenging than any standard intermediate cruiser, as they're called, and it's not as if I'm a good skier by any stretch of the imagination. But for the first time I felt that I WAS skiing, rather than just making turns, and that was awesome. Unfotrunately, my classmate had some bad luck with her skis, they both fell off at different times, and she fell down several times, so I was waiting at the bottom for a while. But no way could I have stayed and helped - I would have been useless.
After that, we went back down Holiday, and even through the terrain park, where I skied up to a jump, didn't get enough momentum, tried to turn away, and fell on my ass... Nonetheless, although I'm still nervous and sloppy, I know that next time I go skiing I'll have at least something to build on - which is a start!
Thankfully, this story has a happy - one might say triumphant - ending, because today was the high point of the lessons. Now, I can parallel ski, like they do in the Olympics. I may not LOOK like they do in the Olympics - all swizz woosh fzz body swaying in perfect timing, "dynamic" parallel turns as they're called - but I can do "edging." Which means that you dig your inside edges into the snow to turn yourself around as you're facing downslope - boring stuff, but it made all the difference for me! Suddenly, the world made sense and skiing was laid out before me as a dazzling array of opportunities, except it wasn't like being stoned (or what I imagine that's like, anyway)- more like... confidence. Here's a hill which you ski DOWN. You don't traverse it and lose all momentum and courage - what good is that for a nervous beginner? You just go DOWN it!
My Holiday revelation was soon to be tested. We needed harder terrain, but Gallery was closed (I forgot to mention it was raining heavily- the Pineapple Express you know). So our teacher took us to Central Express, the high speed 4-person lift. It was a completely different kind of chairlift, for one thing - very fast, a safety bar, music playing, rests for your skis, etc. Much more comfortable. By this time, the rain had almost completely stopped.
When we got to the top we were at the top of the "mountain," and there was a sign with all the runs laid out with directions: lots of black diamonds and one blue square, Alpine. Of course, we went down Alpine. At first, I felt my usual jitters acting up. But I told myself: don't worry about turning, just point your skis and ski DOWN. And I did! The first third was quite steep. The second and third thirds felt much steeper than anything I'd done before - not because they were that much worse than the top of Gallery, but because they went on for so long. There was no time or gentle enough surfact to stop and start turns, so I just did that weird rocking parallel motion and went, went, went. My teacher was shouting things ("stand tall Emma!" but I thought she was saying "fall Emma!" and was confused), but I knew instinctively that if I stopped, I wouldn't start again. So as I passed her I yelled, "I'm not stopping!" And just skied to the bottom. Once there, I was exceedingly proud of myself looking up at what I'd done, and took some phone pictures. It's not as though the terrain was any more challenging than any standard intermediate cruiser, as they're called, and it's not as if I'm a good skier by any stretch of the imagination. But for the first time I felt that I WAS skiing, rather than just making turns, and that was awesome. Unfotrunately, my classmate had some bad luck with her skis, they both fell off at different times, and she fell down several times, so I was waiting at the bottom for a while. But no way could I have stayed and helped - I would have been useless.
After that, we went back down Holiday, and even through the terrain park, where I skied up to a jump, didn't get enough momentum, tried to turn away, and fell on my ass... Nonetheless, although I'm still nervous and sloppy, I know that next time I go skiing I'll have at least something to build on - which is a start!
Saturday, March 10, 2007
Alia Shawkat's twin?
Instead of writing my paper, I was searching for random shit on Flickr. First, I looked at pics of other people skiing at Snoqualmie, and Ioved this one, which encapsulates the Snoqualmie beginner's experience (but note it's the snowboarders that are down):
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunnydotdot/100738944/
Many searches and a couple sentences of my paper later, I arrived at Alia Shawkat (Maeby), who I've always thought looks a bit like me. The search produced a few candid pictures of her at a Weezer concert, plus this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/knichols/100499333/
Excuse me? Is that ME? Because it looks exactly like me about two years ago, when I had better hair. It looks a hell of a lot more like me than it does Maeby, at any rate, and I used to wear my hair exactly like that - all poufy - back when it was... better.
Creepy.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sunnydotdot/100738944/
Many searches and a couple sentences of my paper later, I arrived at Alia Shawkat (Maeby), who I've always thought looks a bit like me. The search produced a few candid pictures of her at a Weezer concert, plus this:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/knichols/100499333/
Excuse me? Is that ME? Because it looks exactly like me about two years ago, when I had better hair. It looks a hell of a lot more like me than it does Maeby, at any rate, and I used to wear my hair exactly like that - all poufy - back when it was... better.
Creepy.
Tuesday, March 06, 2007
Friday, March 02, 2007
AM I A PR BEAST OR AM I JUST AWESOME?
I was devastated - truly devastated - at the lack of comments answering the question I posed at the end of my last missive. I can only assume that my asking this question was interpreted to be some sort of rhetorical device, a method of closing the entry on a positive note - perhaps even an attempt to inject some self-loving humor into what was a relatively straightfoward piece. Let me assure you - you plural - BOTH OF YOU - that that was not the case. (I hate the way "that that" looks on the page). It was instead a heartfelt search for approbation from a young woman with little self-esteem but a big talent for writing press releases. So imagine, then, that I am asking you this question as though for the first time. And please leave comments. And when reading them, I will - if I can - try to forget that (if indeed they are there at all) they resulted from a humiliating plea on my part, and think instead that they are outpourings of love from a world that loves me, and my self-esteem, and my press releases. I think I just moved myself to tears. One moment please... ok, I'm back now. I have run out of steam for this blog entry at the present time. I am going to go now. I will leave you with the thought that you should watch Thank You For Smoking, because it is quite an amusing movie.
Tuesday, February 27, 2007
Lost on a Safari
I've lost web access on my laptop. I can still get email through apple mail, but Safari isn't working. So I haven't been able to blog for some time. However, this is what is going on in my seafaring life:
1. The Play: was surprisingly fun. Small cast, heavy drama, boring part - yes, yes, yes. But Risa rose to the occasion, as did Lindsey, and everyone was really a lot of fun to hang out with over the duration. The only things that detracted were (1) I still felt my rapproachment with Krogstad was stilted; we didn't rehearse it much, and I wasn't sure how to make it better, given my character is stiff and I wasn't supposed to hug him or anything, and (2) Anthony blaring the tarantella on Sunday night about a minute after I said "GO NOW! The tarantella!" So embarrassing, the audience noticed, and it was really a mistake worthy of a high school production. All in all, I think the actual production was OK. It was a tough play to choose and everyone involved did a good job, especially Lindsey and Pax who had incredibly difficult roles involving lots of stamina. But the experience was a laugh and definitely worth doing. OH! And I got us into the Seattle Times, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, AND the Seattle Weekly and probably the Stranger! Am I a public relations beast or am I just awesome? Suggestions in the comments please.
I have to go now. More later on this topic and others.
1. The Play: was surprisingly fun. Small cast, heavy drama, boring part - yes, yes, yes. But Risa rose to the occasion, as did Lindsey, and everyone was really a lot of fun to hang out with over the duration. The only things that detracted were (1) I still felt my rapproachment with Krogstad was stilted; we didn't rehearse it much, and I wasn't sure how to make it better, given my character is stiff and I wasn't supposed to hug him or anything, and (2) Anthony blaring the tarantella on Sunday night about a minute after I said "GO NOW! The tarantella!" So embarrassing, the audience noticed, and it was really a mistake worthy of a high school production. All in all, I think the actual production was OK. It was a tough play to choose and everyone involved did a good job, especially Lindsey and Pax who had incredibly difficult roles involving lots of stamina. But the experience was a laugh and definitely worth doing. OH! And I got us into the Seattle Times, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, AND the Seattle Weekly and probably the Stranger! Am I a public relations beast or am I just awesome? Suggestions in the comments please.
I have to go now. More later on this topic and others.
Thursday, February 01, 2007
Things
Things That Make Me Happy:
-I don't have anything else I HAVE to do tonight, although I there's plenty of things I should do
-Rewatching the Scrubs musical is AWESOME - that music is totally crack
-The OFfice is at 8.30
-SKIING!!!! And then potluck! on sunday! Sunday will be awesome
-I'm going home tomorrow: the agenda: delicious food and lying on the couch watching movies with my parents
Things that make me squicky:
-My mom is having an important medical test tomorrow (MRA - not I, A)
-I have a feeling what I turned into my adviser today didn't make much sense
-I'm scared that things aren't coming together for the play - and who's doing the poster?
-I have sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much laundry to do. I'm taking most of it home, if I can possibly drag it onto the bus. I'll do it myself, I just want to do it at home.
-Where should I live next quarter?
Things That Make Me Go "That's Kinda Weird":
-My mom the other day: "What's 'American Idol'?" Now, it doesn't match up to the truly surreal stuff that comes out of Liz's mother, but it's fairly obtuse, given she's been relatively alive over the past five years (though admittedly buried in work).
-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out July 21st - one week after Movie No. 5 and attending festivities. Given it sounds like the book is recently finished, does that mean we are rushing into another overlong and unprofessionally-edited Order of the Phoenix? And won't the advertising and premiere blitz for the movie somewhat overshadow what could be a huge promotional campaign for the last book? I'll await it eagerly, but still - Odd, I say. Odd. (Also, what's with the lack of cutesy games and diary entries accompaning Mzz. Rowling's latest pronouncement?)
Aaaaaaaaaaand...........
things that make me go FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK:
-Arthur A. Levine Books' Website: "Yes! We have decided to have a year-round internship proram." Arthur A. Levine Assistant Editor to me in an email: "Currently, we don't have any internship positions available." I'm still going to send them my cover letter and resume just in case but why get me HUGELY excited by a posting on the website itself only to contradict it in an email? poooooooooh I say, pooooooooh! Poo! Poo! Poo!
...Excuse me.
-I don't have anything else I HAVE to do tonight, although I there's plenty of things I should do
-Rewatching the Scrubs musical is AWESOME - that music is totally crack
-The OFfice is at 8.30
-SKIING!!!! And then potluck! on sunday! Sunday will be awesome
-I'm going home tomorrow: the agenda: delicious food and lying on the couch watching movies with my parents
Things that make me squicky:
-My mom is having an important medical test tomorrow (MRA - not I, A)
-I have a feeling what I turned into my adviser today didn't make much sense
-I'm scared that things aren't coming together for the play - and who's doing the poster?
-I have sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much laundry to do. I'm taking most of it home, if I can possibly drag it onto the bus. I'll do it myself, I just want to do it at home.
-Where should I live next quarter?
Things That Make Me Go "That's Kinda Weird":
-My mom the other day: "What's 'American Idol'?" Now, it doesn't match up to the truly surreal stuff that comes out of Liz's mother, but it's fairly obtuse, given she's been relatively alive over the past five years (though admittedly buried in work).
-Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows comes out July 21st - one week after Movie No. 5 and attending festivities. Given it sounds like the book is recently finished, does that mean we are rushing into another overlong and unprofessionally-edited Order of the Phoenix? And won't the advertising and premiere blitz for the movie somewhat overshadow what could be a huge promotional campaign for the last book? I'll await it eagerly, but still - Odd, I say. Odd. (Also, what's with the lack of cutesy games and diary entries accompaning Mzz. Rowling's latest pronouncement?)
Aaaaaaaaaaand...........
things that make me go FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCK:
-Arthur A. Levine Books' Website: "Yes! We have decided to have a year-round internship proram." Arthur A. Levine Assistant Editor to me in an email: "Currently, we don't have any internship positions available." I'm still going to send them my cover letter and resume just in case but why get me HUGELY excited by a posting on the website itself only to contradict it in an email? poooooooooh I say, pooooooooh! Poo! Poo! Poo!
...Excuse me.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Terror on the Slopes
The high seas are nothing compared to life on the treacherous slopes of Snoqualmie Summit. I know - I'm a maritime lawyer, and I've done both. -obligatory preliminary comment by my alter ego
Yesterday, I was preempted from watching my beloved figure skating by a rehearsal and a line-memorizing 'party' at Nathan's eclectically-decorated house, which was fine as I watched the skating on youtube later. I don't think I've got a handle on Mrs. Linde. It's frustrating. As you may have divined from Chareth, I did indeed have my first skiing lesson today. But it wasn't terror-filled or treacherous. I got up at 5 this morning - because I set my alarm wrong - made my way to Seattle University, and met the people I will be carpooling for the next six weeks (five, actually - I'll have to miss the week of the Play). There's Sandy, who drove today, a responsible-yet-daredevil Asian (Chinese) girl, Bernadette, a less-responsible and certainly less-daredevil Asian (Filipino) girl, and Brian, a white snowboarder, the strong-and-silent type. (He answers the phone with "heh-ehh." Not like the laugh, but a kind of grunt). (By the way, "Asian" means "Asian-American" here; they didn't have accents or anything, but I figure fully 50 percent of my readership might be interested).
Sandy is very capable, but gives me faint whiffs of my mother. "Make sure you guys go to the bathroom before we leave," she instructed. "Girl, you need to go home and study," was her response to Bernadette's rusty Italian. She's certainly not shy of professing judgment. Nonetheless, she is friendly, and is providing me with transportation.
I hadn't skied since I was ten, when I took lessons at Summit West. In my mind, Pacific Crest and the other lifts I used to use had been reduced by my memory to gentle beginner-level slopes. These Husky Winter Sports lessons are at Summit Central, but I got a glimpse of West as we drove past it on our way out, and they did not look gentle, they looked long and steep.
We stayed on the easiest green-circle run today (green circle = beginner, blue square = intermediate, black diamond = advanced, double black diamond = obvious), and parts of it felt quite steep to me. I did well, if I say so myself, which I believe I just did. But as I looked up at "Parachute," the ominously-named black diamond run, I marvelled at the way my ten-year-old self had actually traversed down those very same slopes. (I remember saying to my mom, "We went from West to Central in a trail among the trees and then went down Parachute! PARACHUTE!" "That's nice, love," she replied, or something equally nonplussed). I will not be doing any parachuting soon. My stomach clenches at the thought.
I had chosen the "I have skied a few times and know how to get off a chair lift" level on the online form, but Bernadette, who had also skied before (2 years ago), chose the "I am an absolute beginner" one, and I decided to stick with a familiar face. Better to be safe than sorry, after all. We started out on the rope-tow and did one run on the chairlift. It turned out that Bernadette was having difficulty turning and fell into me twice, the second time knocking one of my skis off. That was scary. Falling on your ass in skis on an incline is an awkward position. Afterwards I glanced over my shoulder nervously, trying to keep my distance.
The lesson ended at one, and Bernadette decided she was uncomfortable skiing without the instructor. I decided to go it alone, because I'd paid $40 for my lift ticket, and I was not about to get shortchanged. The scariest part of it all, for me, is the chairlift. Riding up in the chairlift alone was freaky. Never mind the little kids in their mini-skis who swing blithely on the chairs that are suspended, guard-rail-less, in the middle of the air, from a hook onto a little cord, far above the packed snow. 18-year-old quasi-adult or not, I do not like heights, and I am not fond of chair lifts. I mean, you are sitting in a completely non-enclosed chair - like a dining room chair to the untrained eye - in the middle of the air! And every 20 seconds it stops and just HANGS there, nothing pushing you forwards, because someone is having difficulty getting on! My strategy was to close my eyes, pretend the gentle rocking motion was that of a waterbed, and try not to let thoughts of death, or "Why the hell did I CHOOSE to do this?!?" enter my head. After the chair lift, everything seems a little easier. So I was quite proud that I managed to get myself down. I know 50 percent of my readership likes how tos, so here are the tricks to wedge turns: (1) look in the direction you're turning. Do not look down, (2) start the wedge before the turn, (3) lean hard on the outside leg and let the inside leg come along for the ride, and (4) try to get in a rhythm of turns, letting your body do the work, rather than over-thinking it.
Well, it was a successful day. If I made a complete fool of myself in front of a bunch of fearless 10-year-olds (ah, to be 10 - although I personally was NEVER fearless), so be it. Although I don't think I did - they were pretty self-absorbed, and I don't think they were watching anyone else.
PEE ESS. Alissa Czisny, not Kimmie Meissner, should be the new US national figure skating champion.
Yesterday, I was preempted from watching my beloved figure skating by a rehearsal and a line-memorizing 'party' at Nathan's eclectically-decorated house, which was fine as I watched the skating on youtube later. I don't think I've got a handle on Mrs. Linde. It's frustrating. As you may have divined from Chareth, I did indeed have my first skiing lesson today. But it wasn't terror-filled or treacherous. I got up at 5 this morning - because I set my alarm wrong - made my way to Seattle University, and met the people I will be carpooling for the next six weeks (five, actually - I'll have to miss the week of the Play). There's Sandy, who drove today, a responsible-yet-daredevil Asian (Chinese) girl, Bernadette, a less-responsible and certainly less-daredevil Asian (Filipino) girl, and Brian, a white snowboarder, the strong-and-silent type. (He answers the phone with "heh-ehh." Not like the laugh, but a kind of grunt). (By the way, "Asian" means "Asian-American" here; they didn't have accents or anything, but I figure fully 50 percent of my readership might be interested).
Sandy is very capable, but gives me faint whiffs of my mother. "Make sure you guys go to the bathroom before we leave," she instructed. "Girl, you need to go home and study," was her response to Bernadette's rusty Italian. She's certainly not shy of professing judgment. Nonetheless, she is friendly, and is providing me with transportation.
I hadn't skied since I was ten, when I took lessons at Summit West. In my mind, Pacific Crest and the other lifts I used to use had been reduced by my memory to gentle beginner-level slopes. These Husky Winter Sports lessons are at Summit Central, but I got a glimpse of West as we drove past it on our way out, and they did not look gentle, they looked long and steep.
We stayed on the easiest green-circle run today (green circle = beginner, blue square = intermediate, black diamond = advanced, double black diamond = obvious), and parts of it felt quite steep to me. I did well, if I say so myself, which I believe I just did. But as I looked up at "Parachute," the ominously-named black diamond run, I marvelled at the way my ten-year-old self had actually traversed down those very same slopes. (I remember saying to my mom, "We went from West to Central in a trail among the trees and then went down Parachute! PARACHUTE!" "That's nice, love," she replied, or something equally nonplussed). I will not be doing any parachuting soon. My stomach clenches at the thought.
I had chosen the "I have skied a few times and know how to get off a chair lift" level on the online form, but Bernadette, who had also skied before (2 years ago), chose the "I am an absolute beginner" one, and I decided to stick with a familiar face. Better to be safe than sorry, after all. We started out on the rope-tow and did one run on the chairlift. It turned out that Bernadette was having difficulty turning and fell into me twice, the second time knocking one of my skis off. That was scary. Falling on your ass in skis on an incline is an awkward position. Afterwards I glanced over my shoulder nervously, trying to keep my distance.
The lesson ended at one, and Bernadette decided she was uncomfortable skiing without the instructor. I decided to go it alone, because I'd paid $40 for my lift ticket, and I was not about to get shortchanged. The scariest part of it all, for me, is the chairlift. Riding up in the chairlift alone was freaky. Never mind the little kids in their mini-skis who swing blithely on the chairs that are suspended, guard-rail-less, in the middle of the air, from a hook onto a little cord, far above the packed snow. 18-year-old quasi-adult or not, I do not like heights, and I am not fond of chair lifts. I mean, you are sitting in a completely non-enclosed chair - like a dining room chair to the untrained eye - in the middle of the air! And every 20 seconds it stops and just HANGS there, nothing pushing you forwards, because someone is having difficulty getting on! My strategy was to close my eyes, pretend the gentle rocking motion was that of a waterbed, and try not to let thoughts of death, or "Why the hell did I CHOOSE to do this?!?" enter my head. After the chair lift, everything seems a little easier. So I was quite proud that I managed to get myself down. I know 50 percent of my readership likes how tos, so here are the tricks to wedge turns: (1) look in the direction you're turning. Do not look down, (2) start the wedge before the turn, (3) lean hard on the outside leg and let the inside leg come along for the ride, and (4) try to get in a rhythm of turns, letting your body do the work, rather than over-thinking it.
Well, it was a successful day. If I made a complete fool of myself in front of a bunch of fearless 10-year-olds (ah, to be 10 - although I personally was NEVER fearless), so be it. Although I don't think I did - they were pretty self-absorbed, and I don't think they were watching anyone else.
PEE ESS. Alissa Czisny, not Kimmie Meissner, should be the new US national figure skating champion.
Monday, January 22, 2007
You can all relax and stop sending me sympathy notes and chicken soup. My advisor (ser?) and I have found each other. We took a brief moment this morning to... reconnect. He is still nice, and was impressed with my lit review, which was gratifying, because the honors committee wasn't. My brain tells me that I should trust a cabal of three wizened and wise scholars over a first-year professor who didn't answer his email for over a month. But my gut tells me to relax and enjoy the ride. My gut is also very hungry...
Actually, my gut isn't hungry at all. Before work today, on the fifth day - I might add - of my self-started Eat Healthy! challenge, I had a small veggie Quiznos sandwich for lunch while waiting for the bus downtown. Finding myself with 17 minutes to kill, I took a stroll through Pike Place Market, and bought doughnuts. Doughnuts! On an Eat Healthy! di... er... challenge! And after lunch!
I have decided to start a Bridget Jones-style food and exercise diary, though. Here is today's. Feel free to skip it.
Breakfast: Trader Joe's high fiber all bran cereal, milk, a banana. I realize how impressive this sounds (well, doesn't it? Doesn't it?) but it was an accident, alas; we were out of sugary stuff.
Lunch: Small Quiznos veggie sandwich, Baked Lay's, Lemonade
Degenerate Extravagance: 4 (rather small) Pike Place donuts
Dinner: Have not yet had, do to noticeable presence of donuts in stomach.
Alcohol units: none
Exercise: none
Cigarettes: none
My! Aren't I doing well?
I'm struggling right now with whether to watch Heroes or 24 tonight. My mother always tells me that all problems can be solved if you evaluate the pros and cons and make the best determination for yourself and your future. So that is what I shall do.
HEROES:
It has Greg Grunberg, my lovable actor pal*
It has an impressive ratio of "meaningful dialogue" versus "things getting blown up and shot at" and "antiterrorist agents making eyes at each other as they ask subordinates to set up parameters."
Although I don't remember the plot from before the break, or why one must save the cheerleader to save the world, I do remember that it was interesting
President Wayne Palmer from 24 is annoying and wimpy. His sister isn't annoying enough to be interesting. Whereas President David Palmer from season 1 was awesome, and his wife Sherry was a full Lady Macbeth-style horror, which was entertaining.
24:
The last episode ended with Los Angeles - SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - being blown up by a nuclear bomb, which is quite the set-up.
Kiefer Sutherland is a total hott tea, and admittedly slightly more attractive than my Hollywood buddy** Mr. Grunberg. From a little background reading on Greg (TV star not Capitol Hill mole), it seems that his major claim to fame is being the best friend of the creator of a show called LOST. Which brings me to my final point...
Heroes is a TINY BIT like lost. In the "sneaky" placement of clues, and web of weird, broody people. Better, of course, but still... 24 is nothing like lost and everything like an hour of Kiefer and friends blowing shit up.
Hrm. It's a toughie. But don't worry, I'll let you know what I decide.
*random guy who shares my name
**possibly incestuous crush
OK. Now I shall cease this post to do some homework (ha, ha). Just as Jews open the door for the prophet Elijah each Passover in the hope that one year he might come in and collect his reserved glass of wine, so shall ye continue to check this blog, believing that in time I shall post something interesting.
Actually, my gut isn't hungry at all. Before work today, on the fifth day - I might add - of my self-started Eat Healthy! challenge, I had a small veggie Quiznos sandwich for lunch while waiting for the bus downtown. Finding myself with 17 minutes to kill, I took a stroll through Pike Place Market, and bought doughnuts. Doughnuts! On an Eat Healthy! di... er... challenge! And after lunch!
I have decided to start a Bridget Jones-style food and exercise diary, though. Here is today's. Feel free to skip it.
Breakfast: Trader Joe's high fiber all bran cereal, milk, a banana. I realize how impressive this sounds (well, doesn't it? Doesn't it?) but it was an accident, alas; we were out of sugary stuff.
Lunch: Small Quiznos veggie sandwich, Baked Lay's, Lemonade
Degenerate Extravagance: 4 (rather small) Pike Place donuts
Dinner: Have not yet had, do to noticeable presence of donuts in stomach.
Alcohol units: none
Exercise: none
Cigarettes: none
My! Aren't I doing well?
I'm struggling right now with whether to watch Heroes or 24 tonight. My mother always tells me that all problems can be solved if you evaluate the pros and cons and make the best determination for yourself and your future. So that is what I shall do.
HEROES:
It has Greg Grunberg, my lovable actor pal*
It has an impressive ratio of "meaningful dialogue" versus "things getting blown up and shot at" and "antiterrorist agents making eyes at each other as they ask subordinates to set up parameters."
Although I don't remember the plot from before the break, or why one must save the cheerleader to save the world, I do remember that it was interesting
President Wayne Palmer from 24 is annoying and wimpy. His sister isn't annoying enough to be interesting. Whereas President David Palmer from season 1 was awesome, and his wife Sherry was a full Lady Macbeth-style horror, which was entertaining.
24:
The last episode ended with Los Angeles - SPOILER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - being blown up by a nuclear bomb, which is quite the set-up.
Kiefer Sutherland is a total hott tea, and admittedly slightly more attractive than my Hollywood buddy** Mr. Grunberg. From a little background reading on Greg (TV star not Capitol Hill mole), it seems that his major claim to fame is being the best friend of the creator of a show called LOST. Which brings me to my final point...
Heroes is a TINY BIT like lost. In the "sneaky" placement of clues, and web of weird, broody people. Better, of course, but still... 24 is nothing like lost and everything like an hour of Kiefer and friends blowing shit up.
Hrm. It's a toughie. But don't worry, I'll let you know what I decide.
*random guy who shares my name
**possibly incestuous crush
OK. Now I shall cease this post to do some homework (ha, ha). Just as Jews open the door for the prophet Elijah each Passover in the hope that one year he might come in and collect his reserved glass of wine, so shall ye continue to check this blog, believing that in time I shall post something interesting.
Sunday, January 21, 2007
Rather sexist
"If Americans want to vote for a female candidate for the presidency, Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York sought to oblige them this weekend" -International Herald Tribune.
Gosh. Just in case anyone wants to vote for a female candidate, odd as that inclination would be.
Gosh. Just in case anyone wants to vote for a female candidate, odd as that inclination would be.
Saturday, January 20, 2007
my aunt cursella is coming to sit on the roof
I have such strange dreams at "that time of the month." (Maritime lawyers sometimes exhibit female characteristics. It's no cause for concern). During that first night of the curse, my sleep is almost feverish. In fact I suspect my temperature might rise during that time. My mind can't settle on one thought. My dreams are restless and outlandish. Instead of sinking into deep, relaxing slumber and having one dream about something reasonably coherent, it's like falling into a whirlwind of pent-up nervous energy. I can't remember what I dreamed about this time. I forgot almost as soon as I woke up.
Last night, though, I had my yearly "I'm on stage and have forgotten my lines" dream. It's weird, because during the day the play is the last thing I'm worried about, and stage fright hasn't set in yet, but apparently my subconscious has other ideas. I kept on getting on stage with only a vague idea what the scene was supposed to be about, and improvising terribly. It was embarassing. I also think bagels were involved.
So Hillary and Obama are running! An exciting time on the Hill, I presume?
Last night, though, I had my yearly "I'm on stage and have forgotten my lines" dream. It's weird, because during the day the play is the last thing I'm worried about, and stage fright hasn't set in yet, but apparently my subconscious has other ideas. I kept on getting on stage with only a vague idea what the scene was supposed to be about, and improvising terribly. It was embarassing. I also think bagels were involved.
So Hillary and Obama are running! An exciting time on the Hill, I presume?
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Tacoma
is bathed in snow. I stayed in Seattle on Sunday, but at work on Monday, my mom came and picked me up from Tukwila. Some more snow, I thought, wouldn't be such a big deal - we de-iced the driveway, and the express buses always run, even if they're late. But we can't see the ground at all here. The trees have that mystical quality where they're frosted with white, making the green parts prettier. I feel like given we can't get to the mountain, the mountain came to me. Actually, we can't get anywhere - I got my mom to try to take me to the bus stop, but she lost traction and we slid down the steep driveway. Thankfully the emergency brake kicked in before we tumbled down the stairs into the backyard.
I wish I had stayed in Seattle, although one of my classes is cancelled, because there's a test review in Hebrew, the test is tomorrow, and I'm behind. But I've never known Tacoma to get more snow than the rest of the Sound, and I haven't seen my home like this since 1996. It's so beautiful, I love it so much! It should have come over break - Christmas, even - but late is better than never, I'd say.
Oh, I was also going to get my hair cut today. Oops. Guess it'll stay a disaster until whenever the cut is rescheduled to. Risa can breathe a sigh of relief.
I wish I had stayed in Seattle, although one of my classes is cancelled, because there's a test review in Hebrew, the test is tomorrow, and I'm behind. But I've never known Tacoma to get more snow than the rest of the Sound, and I haven't seen my home like this since 1996. It's so beautiful, I love it so much! It should have come over break - Christmas, even - but late is better than never, I'd say.
Oh, I was also going to get my hair cut today. Oops. Guess it'll stay a disaster until whenever the cut is rescheduled to. Risa can breathe a sigh of relief.
Saturday, January 13, 2007
Blades of Glory
Trailer here. This movie has figure skating, GOB Bluth on skates, Amy Poehler (Blamey) on skates as his partner, Sasha Cohen as herself, and Will Ferrell and Jon Heder as the sport's first male team. Unfortunately, it may suck monkey balls, but I'll be seeing it anyway!
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
complaints
When I left home this morning (after being sick for three days), my neighborhood was a winter wonderland of what looked like an inch of snow at least. Now I'm in Seattle and there is NO SNOW. This makes me MAD. And there's something dusty about my room here that makes me sneeze and I don't want to get sick again, dammit!
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Scary
I just got an email from Mark Emmert, el presidente, about a guy shot dead in the neighborhood north of 45th. Which is apparently violence ridden. Which I am moving to in approximately 3 weeks. Should I tell my parents about this or not? Hmm.
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