tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18517823040853338202024-02-19T17:57:24.367-08:00Above all else, guard your heart...Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-23729425574887675472012-03-18T17:42:00.000-07:002012-03-18T17:42:12.781-07:00Singing in the Rain<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: left;">So I told you I was taking a walk. </div> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMWvgcNo0cjaphupQ4s1s9hdPjNCRoUmMgXb7lRi1xINusidJfXstLX9Tx0VWlwnjLkt3zDxvfvXEzmeCfIsGVQn9uQNVD_BDJZIiFkV9M58QqfGtpWcxFVRcNBYI_1tJrsxxBGfewZBK/s1600/DSC_0201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLMWvgcNo0cjaphupQ4s1s9hdPjNCRoUmMgXb7lRi1xINusidJfXstLX9Tx0VWlwnjLkt3zDxvfvXEzmeCfIsGVQn9uQNVD_BDJZIiFkV9M58QqfGtpWcxFVRcNBYI_1tJrsxxBGfewZBK/s400/DSC_0201.jpg" width="400" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I was having a hard time studying. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtT1OO-LDI3azcRCgOY33GeZOsnVVCZS3mRATUg8CEDO8a0wmI8irHS3V3Yv6xNS-m_bcaX3c_3GSYnKteCd8zX2vJpCcMdTczsWeKP0k3ekDBg3igF-Yxg1MIIPpEScXOs_X8G9xfP4SC/s1600/DSC_0200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtT1OO-LDI3azcRCgOY33GeZOsnVVCZS3mRATUg8CEDO8a0wmI8irHS3V3Yv6xNS-m_bcaX3c_3GSYnKteCd8zX2vJpCcMdTczsWeKP0k3ekDBg3igF-Yxg1MIIPpEScXOs_X8G9xfP4SC/s400/DSC_0200.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>So easily distractible. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNXYFe8hL0XrChDw_RRE-pav_v5sFfG1nak223j9ezw2D7snbVOVUuPH7EOYgpq-HXKaLPy80gy9WCKIS5j9Qt_pHywzuwZuQDuRe7YnXJ60v8fedArhIy_gAVN__-5HB8ZOXJ7F1ruMb/s1600/DSC_0233.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdNXYFe8hL0XrChDw_RRE-pav_v5sFfG1nak223j9ezw2D7snbVOVUuPH7EOYgpq-HXKaLPy80gy9WCKIS5j9Qt_pHywzuwZuQDuRe7YnXJ60v8fedArhIy_gAVN__-5HB8ZOXJ7F1ruMb/s400/DSC_0233.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> The flowers are out.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZ4oJazkxUH-6amNGLUOXqfWIV70AFTBm3IWh_uVT1YndDSmmJxpHkt5p_7HRg8LyhyTpAQZF-jQFn0yesHb1S3aF1AJagnbiZEZ0RVCSniqJOSrtBygi90iAGvX7QQkDZYI6efaj_eej/s1600/DSC_0234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIZ4oJazkxUH-6amNGLUOXqfWIV70AFTBm3IWh_uVT1YndDSmmJxpHkt5p_7HRg8LyhyTpAQZF-jQFn0yesHb1S3aF1AJagnbiZEZ0RVCSniqJOSrtBygi90iAGvX7QQkDZYI6efaj_eej/s400/DSC_0234.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> These, of course, aren't bedded flowers. They are bouquets for sale at the corner market.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vhoHrl2tNOLplwLT5oS2gCJFpScL5S1AyAxmT3_Nf378KQvMCVVFbuy30r98MDcrZ1o_GdV8LZasBj2e7Nfj_NT6bxZDN4a95QbBxCTCe2fGejPTsJawSXoVDTxeQiazwYZUNTmpaf5Q/s1600/DSC_0235.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8vhoHrl2tNOLplwLT5oS2gCJFpScL5S1AyAxmT3_Nf378KQvMCVVFbuy30r98MDcrZ1o_GdV8LZasBj2e7Nfj_NT6bxZDN4a95QbBxCTCe2fGejPTsJawSXoVDTxeQiazwYZUNTmpaf5Q/s640/DSC_0235.jpg" width="427" /></a></div> So preee-tay.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJcY5rVs3Dm2INBIaW5_Mv8n8AEh8lF-N1rpl1fRCy3S0jWAYomsk4Z3NX9m60Zr04LLydC2i7edP3phxm3SmsLzwGcgaNZ5MM_Tx5v1vWb5rirRxqB2pBn5T60yWv91389cJjv7XU2Q1/s1600/DSC_0236.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJcY5rVs3Dm2INBIaW5_Mv8n8AEh8lF-N1rpl1fRCy3S0jWAYomsk4Z3NX9m60Zr04LLydC2i7edP3phxm3SmsLzwGcgaNZ5MM_Tx5v1vWb5rirRxqB2pBn5T60yWv91389cJjv7XU2Q1/s400/DSC_0236.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZsI6aOWopOMd5vMvU4t29jz5dmPIMz-VWTdF7RBBPhXKC4WsfCKUE1k6qZdZ0EXVVgb-mOMJl69iYu3shuGY1jCTF3BuLgmz2AqG-UHP0kOa2nEcrnNZvAEqynpVP5c090NziApSiQEA/s1600/DSC_0237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGZsI6aOWopOMd5vMvU4t29jz5dmPIMz-VWTdF7RBBPhXKC4WsfCKUE1k6qZdZ0EXVVgb-mOMJl69iYu3shuGY1jCTF3BuLgmz2AqG-UHP0kOa2nEcrnNZvAEqynpVP5c090NziApSiQEA/s400/DSC_0237.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>Succulents!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipevtXLL19RUruIUrnaAnM13HncXgcqjZMGsjmR7SzrKY8Q2Q43iJ17QZoUOicjwL7DekMS5uTqv8AKhHdG_98j3CV0pUIKI3aPVcxQBpDpVbskpJJvtaHaDeZnrsgAmbBFOSuIZh2sJs5/s1600/DSC_0238.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipevtXLL19RUruIUrnaAnM13HncXgcqjZMGsjmR7SzrKY8Q2Q43iJ17QZoUOicjwL7DekMS5uTqv8AKhHdG_98j3CV0pUIKI3aPVcxQBpDpVbskpJJvtaHaDeZnrsgAmbBFOSuIZh2sJs5/s400/DSC_0238.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>Nimby Burger. Kits Beach staple. Summer Only.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbioBUGQkY-LvEoO9ppLsJzajal_pQtDFj4XMbUWB06XT60ggUe8e9S5jwjjDu74_U00FJPF0gzUmW1iE8fOCdXGepViJRzFwMR292SkNUad5P_yB-QVfmKzQrCM6itwrtd_sjDXlGfhC/s1600/DSC_0239.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzbioBUGQkY-LvEoO9ppLsJzajal_pQtDFj4XMbUWB06XT60ggUe8e9S5jwjjDu74_U00FJPF0gzUmW1iE8fOCdXGepViJRzFwMR292SkNUad5P_yB-QVfmKzQrCM6itwrtd_sjDXlGfhC/s400/DSC_0239.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Look at my feet!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCW_Rf8ClhEQlje0dgMfpvKrzie41Ez63ttj1fFmYwrJQ3qECfq-PT9LjnqiTFtbL0Munelal7z3CQe_ZZKGvnAwSeQbZcbf0WbFT_fwjIi07f93b4-Su7HCIoN1u4xxyVhE4gQ_5D7mU6/s1600/DSC_0240.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCW_Rf8ClhEQlje0dgMfpvKrzie41Ez63ttj1fFmYwrJQ3qECfq-PT9LjnqiTFtbL0Munelal7z3CQe_ZZKGvnAwSeQbZcbf0WbFT_fwjIi07f93b4-Su7HCIoN1u4xxyVhE4gQ_5D7mU6/s400/DSC_0240.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>The beginning of the Sea Wall.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTE4ydOD-MN5DUkkH-vmtm_NvZiIKVfHmTwSm4cNr3trmsL8Cfb_eTfqjyKPN7gXlLhWy2Eu46hGdkx4lwis55Ds_mQfkTggrH0s1arKd8msstdWvT-56Fz5iQY5igT-nYQx7noHi4RKM/s1600/DSC_0243.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaTE4ydOD-MN5DUkkH-vmtm_NvZiIKVfHmTwSm4cNr3trmsL8Cfb_eTfqjyKPN7gXlLhWy2Eu46hGdkx4lwis55Ds_mQfkTggrH0s1arKd8msstdWvT-56Fz5iQY5igT-nYQx7noHi4RKM/s400/DSC_0243.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>Cherry blossoms!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6zkk1pnORnyyUD8Qzho1bsNJXhYocyTrxyhjmFV5dK1JIGKeQxqYoMpU2zgIMpzKdDeiT9w6Pjxk4vNF_tP4c6b1CwdNK1djuVYzCXwWjUJcSZCpp7vwE5WYVQeDU7MeT3j1vFIza764/s1600/DSC_0246.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM6zkk1pnORnyyUD8Qzho1bsNJXhYocyTrxyhjmFV5dK1JIGKeQxqYoMpU2zgIMpzKdDeiT9w6Pjxk4vNF_tP4c6b1CwdNK1djuVYzCXwWjUJcSZCpp7vwE5WYVQeDU7MeT3j1vFIza764/s400/DSC_0246.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Lichens!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyprr4tPynPY7ECHkqIBXtpWox_aQM_SmQUqw4gXYCG4ayALRdvM2-CL9aGqCvEAxpWvfgQVknJeiibJ-JDr8DiIJWA0PKzr3blr_1ugdRo9HQm0zOY0mdx6XzcxPnhD4DidxQ1jlz_w-f/s1600/DSC_0248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyprr4tPynPY7ECHkqIBXtpWox_aQM_SmQUqw4gXYCG4ayALRdvM2-CL9aGqCvEAxpWvfgQVknJeiibJ-JDr8DiIJWA0PKzr3blr_1ugdRo9HQm0zOY0mdx6XzcxPnhD4DidxQ1jlz_w-f/s400/DSC_0248.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>That's so sweet.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBc0SOrZD0cyV7k4QLMtF07n7Qb2UqkpmxHvPNTS3gu3kk6E2NT9UvSI-rKWjrn9a1AQsmTc-30sB6pMg3cf7Hv6bS2GNfaaMurHipiekEcCZlk0t4bPK1TrdxMdaFOoJojn3JeoblAE5L/s1600/DSC_0249.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBc0SOrZD0cyV7k4QLMtF07n7Qb2UqkpmxHvPNTS3gu3kk6E2NT9UvSI-rKWjrn9a1AQsmTc-30sB6pMg3cf7Hv6bS2GNfaaMurHipiekEcCZlk0t4bPK1TrdxMdaFOoJojn3JeoblAE5L/s400/DSC_0249.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1j1gmtZORbYzfsrXZX6yBC-O2YgXuBUrFDeV_VdtJbBgUYjOuFkmHEqUQKvnzr37yb8bVzXDB0p5-7cyo-6ENzihEDh3HpcjRIx6n2g_pn9esKXXL2TKLhhXTKGL8KAi_hb3Ltuhd_cv/s1600/DSC_0250.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr1j1gmtZORbYzfsrXZX6yBC-O2YgXuBUrFDeV_VdtJbBgUYjOuFkmHEqUQKvnzr37yb8bVzXDB0p5-7cyo-6ENzihEDh3HpcjRIx6n2g_pn9esKXXL2TKLhhXTKGL8KAi_hb3Ltuhd_cv/s400/DSC_0250.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>Community Gardens were built along the old railway tracks. This is my walk every morning.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpV5ErfyGqVJbIYeL2_uTZ7OMNgFxSs7krVomN2oRXU5wfWRfOYSDT5iwenP-H7qgDy9VQSxZbKlF-jLjcKW7dGGFFb0y13qtI3ZhlYftY4JYOAUTC4hL5D1ch8HkAarQ6ou_8J06N75h/s1600/DSC_0252.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitpV5ErfyGqVJbIYeL2_uTZ7OMNgFxSs7krVomN2oRXU5wfWRfOYSDT5iwenP-H7qgDy9VQSxZbKlF-jLjcKW7dGGFFb0y13qtI3ZhlYftY4JYOAUTC4hL5D1ch8HkAarQ6ou_8J06N75h/s400/DSC_0252.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4ezqRM1geu2If8MOvL78LAhWQYXGMcv5Mr-i3jSbPZQcsN_PdcMEki_uyXQTF5b_jS76wvu1yMmnmXnDXMgEerxMPu3dFBLOSB42YgvrqHHGrYbXFCuhuokaK5e_cdIljPAw0UI7z3Xq/s1600/DSC_0255.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG4ezqRM1geu2If8MOvL78LAhWQYXGMcv5Mr-i3jSbPZQcsN_PdcMEki_uyXQTF5b_jS76wvu1yMmnmXnDXMgEerxMPu3dFBLOSB42YgvrqHHGrYbXFCuhuokaK5e_cdIljPAw0UI7z3Xq/s400/DSC_0255.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>Marina-side paraphernalia.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0ngoiN-uaiEgOawXSNaOTB2C7bT9jnD0PWMGI9dkLAdbYfVsC3KHjThe_Rbl8x6yIP_o1mTRvm30D9SRjpfYn6ezAICZxh9mXomL8fXPNUH6xu-q0WwVq49HnSO14C5AOFzfumxzk-7z/s1600/DSC_0260.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO0ngoiN-uaiEgOawXSNaOTB2C7bT9jnD0PWMGI9dkLAdbYfVsC3KHjThe_Rbl8x6yIP_o1mTRvm30D9SRjpfYn6ezAICZxh9mXomL8fXPNUH6xu-q0WwVq49HnSO14C5AOFzfumxzk-7z/s400/DSC_0260.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>The greenery is slowly climbing up. In a few weeks, that whole balustrade will be covered.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPATVECS0xoQMuxsAvCsqhW-VKrYqoaWgOgG9Uehk1mrCL-mla_l1h_wM9D1nM-cmfW6eJzcL0aGqQY71_68LiLS4fARGg7h5MW05t9Tc-d9znXqH5lq4UrpvpT9jM_Ae_S9ywFvrvP3Xh/s1600/DSC_0270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPATVECS0xoQMuxsAvCsqhW-VKrYqoaWgOgG9Uehk1mrCL-mla_l1h_wM9D1nM-cmfW6eJzcL0aGqQY71_68LiLS4fARGg7h5MW05t9Tc-d9znXqH5lq4UrpvpT9jM_Ae_S9ywFvrvP3Xh/s400/DSC_0270.jpg" width="267" /></a></div>They sell kids there.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRX6S7pgUGPCag0UUb6SBpWpK9NHDLJrC1h6vz6aP3LFMLehwjcjZohyI6DpLUpFg7sJRrsdxdzwBgRlUhxCWzqkRmuGRiIAfQOerJAbzXbUXXg5ze_X05fCUK141mhl3QTRSIiC1Mpdb/s1600/DSC_0273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuRX6S7pgUGPCag0UUb6SBpWpK9NHDLJrC1h6vz6aP3LFMLehwjcjZohyI6DpLUpFg7sJRrsdxdzwBgRlUhxCWzqkRmuGRiIAfQOerJAbzXbUXXg5ze_X05fCUK141mhl3QTRSIiC1Mpdb/s400/DSC_0273.jpg" width="267" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Bankybear and her spring finest. </div>Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-62444394731260035262012-03-13T00:13:00.001-07:002012-03-13T00:14:07.588-07:00"I'm Ethan Tremblay and I'm your husband's best friend."<p> I never worked this hard in university. I never HAD TO. But baking school man, has given me an anxiety disorder. Kidding! I already had one. </p><p>I've posted some baking escapades over on <a href="http://theovenwall.blogspot.com/" target="_self" title="">The Oven Wall</a>. Truffles, chocolate shops and my hatred of eclairs. </p><p>How 'bout some pictures?</p><p>Pretty much crazy about <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/product/home-tabletop-glassware/23382765.jsp" target="_self" title="">these glasses</a>. Anthropologie. Eeee. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/60288964@N04/6978401371" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7065/6978401371_5e5e2b3df1.jpg" id="blogsy-1331622824970.5554" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="208" height="312"></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; ">I want this hair on my head RIGHT NOW. I found this blog called <a href="http://fuckyeah-hair.tumblr.com/" target="_self" title="">Fuck Yeah Hair</a> and I spend a really shameful amount of time on it. I sometimes even wish my hair was a pastel. Even though I know I don't want that. But there's a lot I do want on here. Too bad hair's not like makeup. If it was, I would totally be bald right now. Because I could have my hair back tomorrow. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/60288964@N04/6832405658" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7065/6832405658_658456c1e8.jpg" id="blogsy-1331622825061.2007" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="312" height="208"></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><br><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><br><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; "><a href="http://www.bcliquorstores.com/recipe/food/mixed-olive-and-lemon-tapenade" target="_self" title="">Lemon and mixed olive tapenade</a>. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/60288964@N04/6978401245" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7064/6978401245_512b3e0bdf.jpg" id="blogsy-1331622825089.355" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="195" height="195"></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; ">My father-in-law bought me this cookbook for Christmas because he obviously loves me and wants me to be happy. This cookbook, y'all, seriously is so good. The pictures alone. I feel good about my skills by just reading it. It's like transferrence. So thank you Bourke Street. Australians are good for society. They do these creme brûlée tarts that are vanilla custard tarts with the caramelized sugar crust on top. Genius. Or they do bread with roasted potatoes in it. Their brainstorming sessions must be a ton of fun. Givin' the green light on awesomeness. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/60288964@N04/6978400289" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7193/6978400289_2fc5eb6dc3.jpg" id="blogsy-1331622825073.6" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="312" height="312"></a></div><div class="separator" style="text-align: left;clear: both; ">You see the creme brûlée tarts? Far right? Booyah.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/60288964@N04/6978400889" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7206/6978400889_42f51bacd3.jpg" id="blogsy-1331622825003.4878" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="312" height="208"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/60288964@N04/6832272772" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title=""><img src="http://farm8.static.flickr.com/7046/6832272772_30b2dd20ae.jpg" id="blogsy-1331622825064.6404" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="312" height="208"></a></div><p> Having a couple days off from school has been great for my perspective. I was able to read today, drink some coffee that wasn't cold, go for a walk on the beach, workout in the daylight. I have been downright spoiled. Bankybear has it's spring finest on right now. All the trees are budding, flowers are sprouting up from the ground. And our lives are all drizzle so it's definitely spring in the Pacific Northwest. This is the point in the year that I cuddle my SAD lamp like a lap dog. "The summer makes up for it." I keep hearing this so it must be true. </p><p>I'm taking my camera out for documentation sake tomorrow regardless. </p><p>Song of the day: Little Black Sandals by Sia</p></p></p></p></p></p></p>Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-54809094104093722232012-03-05T18:20:00.000-08:002012-03-05T18:20:14.996-08:00Crunch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I am feeling quite sheepish and rather…swollen as I sit here. I had one of those "How did…what just HAPPENED to me?!" Last night, we had small group and it was amazing as per usual but it was SO late. Sunday nights are usually about a four hour night for me, which I cope with in my typical way on Monday: bad mood, copious profanity and solitude. Have to admit, all of those things were hugely exaggerated today. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Last night, as I was setting up everything that I was going to need in the morning outside the bedroom, I set some stuff down on one of our dining chairs and then rotated in an easily achievable occipital movement. I obviously did so a little bit faster and more drastic than was necessary because the left side of my nose met swiftly and disagreeably with the door frame of our bathroom. And it made the sound of splintering wood. Mega gross. I spent about thirty seconds waiting for my nose to start bleeding (which it didn't) and trying to figure out whether my nose was broken. I have no idea how much force is necessary to break a nose. I really hoped that being a doofus couldn't supply said necessary force. I hit my nose hard enough to break the skin on the outside, so I have a nice, bloodied divot on the bridge of my nose. Of course, at this point I'm crying just because I hit myself in the face and my eyes are making me pay for such aggression in their near vicinity. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Matt is trying to understand WHAT JUST HAPPENED and I almost wouldn't tell him out of sheer embarrassment. I iced it for about twenty minutes before going to sleep. I woke up and the 'bullseye area' on my face is so swollen. It hurts to chew, laugh, frown and certainly do anything related to my nose's intended function. I don't have a black eye. Yet. But of course I also don't know what kind of force is necessary to get a black eye either. Any time I've achieved one in the past it has been due to being RETARDED. Being hit in the face with a rolling rack, hitting my face on the side of the bathtub trying to wash my hair, etc. It's a hard knock life, you know, being clumsy. I get points for effort though. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This has been inspirational. It has also supplied me with bursts of unmitigated laughter in situations like riding the bus, sitting in lecture, and sleeping. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img.anongallery.org/img/6/7/i-must-go-my-people-need-me-jump.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://img.anongallery.org/img/6/7/i-must-go-my-people-need-me-jump.gif" /></a></div>How did he do that!?<br />
This and Bulleit Bourbon are my official sponsors* during this week leading up to midterms. Coping mechanisms are a situational necessity. Baby Duck champagne was a running contender for sponsorship but eventually lost out due to the fact that half of it is bubbles. Bubbles don't help.<br />
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Found another girl with serious game. Her voice is just delicious. Lianne La Havas. There are times that I hear stuff like Adele's first album. A little bit of Joss Stone. Little bit of Amy Winehouse. And she's cheeky which is a always a bonus. On her FB profile she says that she's nothing like Corrine Bailey Rae or Andreya Triana "but we have similar hair". And amazing hair it is. I have sincerely prayed that the Lord would give me her hair in another life. (*It's easy to get her, Andreya Triana and Corrine Bailey Rae confused. They are all British, biracial and have smokin' voices. Their styles are so different though. I heard a version of <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tnmrIK1paSs" target="_blank">Que Sera by Corrine Bailey Rae at Glastonbury</a>-an 8 minute version mind you- and was mesmerized nearly the whole time. I may have been mesmerized by her jumpsuit at one point. Not gonna lie.)<br />
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Her song "<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BY03o9c95Vg" target="_blank">Lost and Found" </a>is so heartbreaking. It's simply just how someone can so easily break into your brokenness and fuel it. Her voice is so beautiful you almost miss the meaning of the song but then you listen and then you feel sad. But you're still groovin'.<br />
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I am repeating with The Civil Wars what I did with Adele's album last year. I wake up singing it. My dreams include it. I encounter random trigger words that remind me of one of their songs. Try it out.<br />
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*Bulleit Bourbon is not actually an official sponsor. Come on now. That would be awesome though.Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-19585437439348738842012-02-29T19:52:00.000-08:002012-02-29T19:52:19.150-08:00"I wish you'd hold me when I turn my back…"I hung out with a friend today and found myself reflecting on marriage as I see them go on around me. I have seen people extremely important to me enter into phenomenal relationships. The relationships have absolutely been flawed, just as the people in them are, but there is so spiritual about finding a person who enters into a relationship with you and becomes better than either of you are on your own.<br />
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I feel blessed that I have a husband that I LOVE to be around. I love him, he inspires me, his is the embodiment of Christ's love to me. He makes me laugh. He fights for me and with me. I am proud OF him and proud to be his.<br />
*BTW I think he would be straight up mortified if he read this. A giant bloggy, internet love letter to him.<br />
Well Babe, deal with it. I love you. So there. ;)<br />
With my friend this afternoon, I realized how comfortable I am to wander through a time where we don't really know where we're going WITH HIM. I don't really want to share him just yet. Turbulence and uncertainty become bearable when you know that at through the midst of it and at the end of it, they'll still be there.<br />
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And then you find a song that says the essence of what you are saying in a way that sounds SO much better. I don't know how I didn't know about them before but they are beyond phenomenal. Lacey turned me onto this song and I think so far it is my favourite even though "Falling" and "Barton Hollow" are W.I.C.K.E.D.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><object width="320" height="266" class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="http://1.gvt0.com/vi/WfzRlcnq_c0/0.jpg"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/WfzRlcnq_c0&fs=1&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><embed width="320" height="266" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/WfzRlcnq_c0&fs=1&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash"></embed></object></div><br />
I love the stanza that starts, "Your hands can heal, your hands can bruise" and ends with "I don't have a choice but I still choose you". I love songs that hint at the complexity of marriage. When you enter the vulnerability of marriage, that person can hurt you far more than anyone else in you life but they can also bring unparalleled healing. When you enter in the commitment sombrely, you commit to them even when things aren't simple. It's not a matter of choosing to stay everyday, but each day you make the commitment to honour them, to choose them.<br />
I also love in the video that they are in different rooms in the same house, singing the same song. Kinda like marriage. And MAN do they make beautiful music.<br />
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This may continue. This opposite schedule thing never feels natural. But I will at least try to supply you with new music each time.<br />
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P.S ~ Wicked <a href="http://youtu.be/UFoewV4HQPA" target="_blank">cover of Poison and Wine</a> with a three part harmony. Wow.<br />
P.P.S ~ Profanity continues to be a huge issue. I've realized it makes up a large part of my sense of humour. So I'm not funny anymore. Unfortunately.<br />
P.P.P.S ~ I made a wedding cake yesterday. What? Yeah, I did. It had styrofoam underneath. What a buzz kill, cuz you totally wanted to eat it.Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-34680302527044845042012-02-24T18:39:00.000-08:002012-02-24T18:39:31.345-08:00"They're our objects of affection. That can mesmerize the soul."This is what I was doing while I was 'studying' last night. Bourbon in hand (because my other coping mechanism is conveniently absent), I found this.<br />
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And then I could not stop laughing. Oh Jesus. So funny. Seriously doubt the Mother Mary was a helicopter mom. She was probably just…sane.<br />
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So I talked to my bench partner at school about me giving up profanity for Lent. She was sweet enough to commit to do it with me. I told her that she didn't have to because profanity in our environment is almost self-sabotage. But maybe it's a good thing for us to do it together, the whole "unevenly yoked" thing. I just bastardized that verse. Sorry God. Bri: 0. God: also 0. No one is winning.<br />
Anyway, I have asked her to swat me whenever I swear. And to my surprise (and appreciation!) she has obliged. I've only been hit twice. She even told me that I should get an elastic for around my wrist for when she's not there for me. Love Lex. Long time. We're gonna beat this <strike>bitch</strike> situation together.<br />
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Definitely went running in sleeting rain today. Felt so good coming back from it but my hands were frozen. When your hands are constantly clenched as if you are holding an imaginary sandwich because you simply CANNOT move them. And then you get feeling back. And then you get the shakes. All of this while you're trying to turn the knobs on your bathtub on. I'm beginning to sound like a bit of a masochist, aren't I?<br />
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Fotos:<br />
Moozh showed me this back. The coveting that commenced was INSANE.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://willleathergoods.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Small_US_Army_Tote_1-450x450.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://willleathergoods.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Small_US_Army_Tote_1-450x450.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">W<a href="http://willleathergoods.com/shop/bags/small-us-army-tote/">ill Leather Goods. </a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Found this picture. Jean Luc Picard is the MAN.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amnesty.org.uk/image_library/23/26/24046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://www.amnesty.org.uk/image_library/23/26/24046.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.amnesty.org.uk/content.asp?CategoryID=10633">Amnesty International</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Nature is amazing. Poland's "Crooked Forest". All bent at the trunk 90 degrees. All facing North.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news.discovery.com/earth/2011/06/28/crooked-forest-825.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="268" src="http://news.discovery.com/earth/2011/06/28/crooked-forest-825.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://news.discovery.com/earth/polands-crooked-forest-mystery-110628.html">Discovery Channel</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>My sister and I were just talking about this song. Oh my freakin' goooooosh. Mutemath is the new obsession of my heart. I would totally marry Mutemath if I weren't already married to Chai Eggnog…and Sleeping In, which are content to be sister wives.<br />
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I quoted Space Jam today. For reals. It came out of my mouth and I KNEW it was Friday.<br />
Love somebody today.Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-68094607080148436922012-02-22T19:12:00.000-08:002012-02-22T19:12:15.215-08:00Who are you again?It has been a very very long time since I have been here. *Every time I start a post like that it makes me think of when I used to start my diary off like that as a kid. Like somehow my diary's feelings were hurt that I hadn't written in it. The dangers of anthropomorphization.<br />
I have been spending more time with my new friend, The Oven Wall. It's a little more cathartic to process my schooling over there right now. Lots of pictures too.<br />
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Today is the first day of Lent! I have written about my love of Easter three times on this blog. My first year married I gave up negativity, which was difficult as I am a comfortably cynical and pessimistic person. I was also in a Creative Writing program and thus was in constant criticism of myself and my creative worth. Our second year, Moozh and I gave up alcohol, primarily because we came home from Christmas and went on a bender pretty much until my birthday. We lost a lot of weight last year. This year, we were poised to do the same thing and Moozh still might but I have been very compelled towards something different. I have been specifically mindful of my mouth lately. Be it profanity, criticism, untruth about myself or others, passivity, I have decided to surrender my mouth this Lent season. I have seriously dedicated my profanity. I am smarter than I sound for sure, and I also use profanity to be very lazy in the way that I communicate. But I love words so what's up with that?!<br />
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What I love about Lent is it is two fold. Part of it is fasting, a giving up of things that we feel have a hold on us. That's why so many people do alcohol, sweets, cigarettes, etc. But it is also a season of repentance, 're-thinking' in our lives and what we are committed to. It is seriously looking at yourself in the face and saying, "I am better than that" and then "this has got to change". It is a season where we enter into a markedly different dialogue with Christ than we probably do at any other time during the year. We move closer towards the Easter weekend, constantly aware of the sacrifice that we know he made for us. It mimics how Christ moved through the time leading up to his crucifixion. He knew what his sacrifice was going to be. He knew what was on the line and yet he still did it.<br />
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I love this vid that my best friend showed me. "And when he rose we all cheered cuz that meant the cheque cleared."<br />
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I love Easter for the hope. It is a season of new life, of healing, of being made new. Moozh and I are in a season of hope, where we are moving through changes and making a next step in our lives. Maybe it's a dog? Maybe it's a new noise machine for our bedroom.<br />
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I love Lent and the Easter season for the communion. So many meals with friends and family. Last Easter, we hosted Easter brunch and Moozh made THE spread. The man just does breakfast right. I do have to talk about the food because right now I am constantly surrounded by it. Instead of hot cross buns (WHO AM I KIDDING instead of hot cross buns -AS WELL AS hot cross buns!) I plan on making rum babas this Easter. Spiced buns soaked in a rum syrup. I ate six all by myself when we made them in class. It may or may not have been in one day. A lot of people don't like hot cross buns. Be it the dried fruit, or the spices, or the weird piping crud on top. I truly believe that, like bread pudding or fruitcake or rice pudding, most people have just only had really crappy versions. That most likely come from Safeway. (I am going to get sued for slander. Worth it.) Sometimes, they sincerely do not like it, textures being what they are. But I find it a really fun challenge to be passionate about a dish and try to introduce someone to a version of it done really well. If they still don't like it, you still get to have some for yourself. Worth it.<br />
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Moozh and I always have our engagement anniversary during Lent as well. The fact that Matt proposed to me on Palm Sunday sent it over the top for me. I already knew it was coming, I was so excited. And then it happened and could not have picked it better myself. A flawless day, cloudless sky, the bells from the churches were ringing for Palm Sunday and we were on our bridge. The only part that wasn't perfect. I was wearing a turban. So now all of the pictures are me with a turban. Worth it. Got myself a pretty phenom man.<br />
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I also had a cool encounter at church this past weekend. I was approached by this woman that I knew of, she's involved in community building at the church, but had never actually met. She just came up to me after the service and said, "I don't know why but I feel like I should be talking to you about spoken word." My journey with writing in the past month and a half has been tense because I so badly wish I had more to give to it but school is taking up so much of my time and core space that writing has had to take a back seat. I've just been wanting an opportunity where I could step into it and still keep a foot in it. My love of writing is based on that. It's always kept me sane. And so to have just a little nudge from the Lord where he says, "I gots this." I know that he will put things in my path. He has things "exceeding abundantly beyond than I could hope or imagine" after all.<br />
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May this week be one of hilarity. We're doing chocolate truffles tomorrow. Ermmmmmm. Chocolate is my nemesis.Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-40641167825002559122012-01-20T16:37:00.000-08:002012-01-20T16:37:28.297-08:00I'm an odd soul...Eff this city.<br />
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Seriously. At 530 this morning, I was obscuring any exposed flesh on my face with all manner of woollen things. *And may I preface this by saying that it's not really that cold here. Yesterday it was -13 here with the wind chill. In my feeble whining my sister slapped me up the acclimatized back of my head when it was -39 where she is. Jesus takes a snow day when it's that cold.*<br />
But this morning, when I'm disgruntled and tired in the wee hours at the end of my week, when I'm stressed about my first test, when I do not want a repeat of the frozen finger misery of the day before but I'm impressed that I got my shit together and was walking out the door by 615, I was basing my preparation for the day on the information that I had available to me. Namely, the assumption that yesterdays winter weather would be todays winter weather. But you know what they say about people that assume things. THEY BECOME HARSH AND RESENTFUL HUMAN BEINGS. I walk out of school, with all of my woollens -my ABSORBENT woollens may I remind -all of my school laundry, my heavy ass textbook and my baked goods into SLEET. Sleet is a four letter word in my world (even though it's a five letter word). I let the expletives fly the whole fifteen minute walk home, wherein my boots came untied (frantic pom pom action) and became completely drenched, my toque fell over my eyes and due to my heavy-laden-ness, I couldn't even fix it. I came home, swore at my boots, put on some sweatpants and made myself some tea. Now I feel better. Good grief Bankybear.<br />
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And now it's Friday. On the weekend I tend to eat three square meals a day and get enough rest. This is why we have a weekend. At school right now, we eat wonderful meals prepared by the culinary students and that is easily the best (and sometimes only) meal I eat all day. I don't' eat in the morning and then when I get home, I'm tired enough that sometimes I manage myself a smoothie but then that's it for the rest of the day. Sometimes I don't even manage that. It kind of sounds like my life is harsh but to be honest, my walk home today was the first moment in the past three weeks that I haven't thought "My life is bliss". Life is wonderful right now. When I make it home, I am TIRED. But my mind is still active. (That makes me sound like I'm decrepit or something. I'm 22. I sure hope my mind is still active.) All I need is a good forty five minutes where I sit in our comfy chair and don't move. I get to blog and hunt down recipes. My mind doesn't stop when it comes to school related things pretty much until I fall into bed.<br />
<br />
I've been posting quite a bit on <a href="http://theovenwall.blogspot.com/">The Oven Wall</a> which has been fun. I've posted a lot of Moozh's stuff too which always looks so pretty. He made a puff pastry yesterday that looked so tasty! I've learned croissants (which I'm determined to try out again this weekend) and we just started our cookie unit after breads, quick breads, and viennoiserie which is breads like brioche and hot cross buns. I'm trying to make a list of things that I want to try out once I get to advanced kitchen. We'll have an opportunity to do a little bit more and have a bit more fun. Red wine bread, banana bread with sourdough are among them. If anyone could issue a challenge, I would love the inspiration.<br />
<br />
I hope to get some good picture of croissants over the weekend. In the meantime, this is what I'm going to deal with:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6733423553_3006824717_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7022/6733423553_3006824717_b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> And you can't see the bag of danishes that has migrated westward or the loaf of carrot cake that is still on the counter. This is all from this week!Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-14049182865346825042012-01-12T19:39:00.000-08:002012-01-12T19:42:32.635-08:00His Old Man and the SeaAs promise, y'all. Moozh's tat in progress, two sessions in. Some of the blackwork remains to be done and then from there the rest is water-colour with filigree and some negative space. Look at the tension in the fisherman! And the marlin! And the bubbles!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgND_4OX3jKsOQLaQhlKLqz566ifuxguPxlkZcY8j1SsOG-zVWhtAaY2jvQpSkXJX1px4Ocr_N0PuvaIvQ3HGCBpGA-FQx2-dgdwWeDSEBycVqGHHwr9pjbfkcu6bahvP5omCTRvBGIY2-T/s1600/402967_307820352594381_306357049407378_879310_1440761696_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgND_4OX3jKsOQLaQhlKLqz566ifuxguPxlkZcY8j1SsOG-zVWhtAaY2jvQpSkXJX1px4Ocr_N0PuvaIvQ3HGCBpGA-FQx2-dgdwWeDSEBycVqGHHwr9pjbfkcu6bahvP5omCTRvBGIY2-T/s400/402967_307820352594381_306357049407378_879310_1440761696_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
I can't wait for it to be finished! I loved Moozh's initial thought for the tattoo and then with Zara's artistic touch, it exploded.<br />
Again, check out <a href="http://flythecage.com/Fly_the_Cage/Home.html">Zara's site</a> to see more and if you like what you see, 'like' Fly the Cage Tattoos on Facebook.Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-29083836908318398382012-01-11T19:58:00.000-08:002012-01-11T19:58:59.772-08:00It's 2011 -wait 2012…..yeah 2012.Hey Y'all.<br />
<br />
I think I did maybe head to Cowtown for the holidays (which flashed by like a peep show) with the intention of blogging sometime along the way. And then I snapped out of the daydream where I am that person who takes time out of a busy day to blog. I do not have the mental organization to have those skills. I get too caught up in the moment. *I shouldn't phrase that like it's a bad thing. But immortalization of said moments is rarely initiated by me.<br />
<br />
The holidays got dressed and left rather indecently. Moozh and I landed the day before New Year's Eve and that evening I sat in my chair and sighed, "I can't wait for Christmaaaaa…..how did this happen." The whole season was a blur. It feels like Starbucks came out with their red mugs what seemed like way too early and the next thing I knew, I turned around and I was hung over on New Year's Day. Our midsections, bank account and general belongings inventory are all showing the signs of a holiday season. But instead of pupils right now, I have the blasted Apple rainbow wheel. "Thinking, thinking, thinking…oh yeah you did do all that. You drank too much. But you really enjoyed your time. Save changes?"<br />
<br />
It really was fun though. Cowtown was shockingly milder than Bankybear the whole time we were there. Which made me stoooooooked that I packed my huge wool jacket when I ended up wearing my leather jacket everywhere. It was a good cure for homesickness though. Making the trip home, I was able to make it to my younger sister's musical theatre performance and take my other sister out for dinner. I was able to just chill on the couch with my bro and listen to him tell me about what he's interested in. Eat gruyere and drink beautiful red wine with my dad. Gab with my mom over pedicures and makeup. Went out for ChaiNogs with my sister-in-law and laughed and cried in the middle of a Starbucks until nearly four hours disappeared. Bake with my Mama. Moozh and I cooked for everyone. He made stew and I made bread and we were able to kind of express what we're wanting to do with our lives that way.<br />
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On either end of our trip to Cowtown, we spent time in Victoria, getting our tattoos started and, in my case, nearly finished. My aunt truly is one of the most talented people I've ever met and I am truly blessed have her ink permanently on me. When Rik and Zara (my aunt and uncle) moved to Victoria last summer after their year of travelling and a year living up island, Zara opened up her own tattoo shop. She has a loyal following of clients from the shop that she worked at in Winnipeg for years and then built a further international client base the year they were travelling. If you have any desire to have some ink, especially if you want something original, check out Zara's site, <a href="http://flythecage.com/Fly_the_Cage/Home.html">Fly the Cage Tattoo</a>. My tattoo really just has some minor outlining and then some water-colour bubbles in the background and then I'm set for life. Moozh's sleeve is still in progress but it gets exponentially more amazing with each session.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">ISN'T IT BEAUTIFUL!!!!???</td></tr>
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The craziness didn't stop once we got home from Christmas. After New Year's Eve, where I thoroughly embarrassed myself (story for another time), we had New Year's Day to recover and then we both started our programs January 2nd! We're a week and a half into<br />
Moozh has been learned the obsessive and compulsive tenets to Fine French cuisine (The entire first week is just knife skills) and I have learned over a dozen different bread recipes and the science behind flour, gluten formation and composing an original recipe. I come home from school with on average about four loaves of bread. We start croissants on Friday!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My latest</td></tr>
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To track our progress in school, I've started up another blog called <a href="http://theovenwall.blogspot.com/">The Oven Wall</a>. The name derives from the origins of bread, where the Egyptians would bake their flatbread on the hearth of the oven but also on the walls of the oven, like naan is traditionally made today. We have pictures of our spoils and some run down of each of our days. We'll be taking pictures as we experiment at home as well. We've recruited everyone we know as a recipient of our learning curve, regardless of their knowledge or not. My Chef is amazing. Aside from being flamboyantly Italian and hilariously crass, even at 630 in the morning, he teaches the food science and biology behind food. And this coming Tuesday, he leaves for Italy to represent Canada in an International Gelato and Ice Cream competition. I am truly blessed, and entertained, by his tutelage. Moozh's chef is just a bad ass French dude. He doesn't say much and he pretty much represents the last of the French Old Guard, as far as cooking goes. Our school is very fun. It's very small and so you get to know everyone pretty quickly. Our instructor from our wine class that we took in October still remembers us!<br />
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In contrast to my time at the Yoob, I have so much excess mental creativity at the end of the day, I find blogging so incredibly cathartic. At the Yoob, I was always mentally exhausted by the time I got home. Through this process, I will hack out some semblance of a balance for myself. My return to creative writing will probably be a slow one but I have prepared myself for that wait. In the meantime, there's some pretty tasty food to be had. We make stollen in week 3, which makes up for my intention to make it during the holidays. We make chocolate and cakes. I'm especially excited for ice cream, given who I am learning under. I'm off to study laminated dough because 'laminated dough is challenge.' Viamo!Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-31352456363435455792011-12-15T21:00:00.001-08:002011-12-15T21:00:35.533-08:00Vic InkMy left shoulder feels very crinkly right now. I am two hours out of the tatt chair, having received a tattoo that has been in the works for hat feels like forever. In a fortuitous layover between home and family for Christmas, Moozh and I both got inked by my fortuitously talented aunt in Victoria. . It has gone through many manifestations over the course of three and a half years. Colors, shape, placement, etc. but there is a rather...sensitive area right around my spine and the color is only half done but it is MAJESTIC.It's an octopus that cruises along just below the crest if my shoulder. Sculpted in tones of maroon, browns and creams with a future balance of aqua and turquoise bubbles and watercolor background. Once it doesn't look like a sunburn with tentacles ( tomorrow) I will post pics. Because it is beautiful (did I say that already?). Watching The Fades, The Trip and Life is Too Short, I mellowed out and cringed through outline and color, put to SHAME by my husband the prior day who had twelve hours of line- and black work done on his Old Man and the Sea tatt. Which I will also post.At the moment I am sitting in the Victoria Airport, contemplating what I am going to get Zara to do next. It's a pure shame it has taken me this long to get inked by her. But to be honest, she's in demand. So shame it may be, it's still reality. If you're looking, check it: <a href="http://flythecage.com/Fly_the_Cage/Home.html" target="_self" title="Fly the cage tattoo">Fly the Cage</a>. Vancouver island is not the far away. Also, The Fades. Watch it. SO good. Six eps and you will watch the scene of the last and cry yourself to sleep that you have to wait for season two. Or pray or season two. Be it the adrenaline or sheer vanity, I'm feeling good right now. Sure changed my tune from yesterday hey?BTW: have not had a great experience in the Vic airport having our plane come in on time. More time to blog!Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-72437862750930854112011-12-12T22:33:00.001-08:002011-12-12T22:33:41.702-08:00This the season to procrastinateWhen I really wish NaBloPoMo would sweep in save the day, you know, revive my flagging creativity, grab my tongue with a fascinating prompt, I scroll through every prompt within the past twelve months and can't seem to user enough for a brief vapid post about the state of my world.I hate not being able to write. This is probably why so many writers start the day with gin for breakfast because it loosens them up enough to escape their own mind, and by mind I mean the thing that governs paying bills on time, contemplating meals, and cleaning the house. This being the part of the brain that the creative side, the "flamboyant", the "free spirit", the "lush" has such a hard time playing with. What's kind of funny is I have been this way my entire life. I have always been the kind to need to 'escape' the minutiae in which I live in order to really feel peaceful and, therefore, creative. I remember in elementary school, upon getting home I would rush to my bedroom, toting my attention-starved sister who wanted to play, only to slam the door in her face. Of course here i know i'm not really talking about anti-social behavior but rather introversion but they can feel like one and the same sometimes. When my brain feels full, I do not play well with others. And my head, and my heart feel very full and heavy lately. But guess what? I still have shallow, surface level enjoyment still left to share with you. The opening sequence to The Girl with The Dragon Tattoo was just released with the kick ass cover of <a href="http://www.slashfilm.com/watch-video-immigrant-song-peek-the-girl-dragon-tattoo-opening-sequence/" target="_blank" title="Immigrant song">Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song"</a> from the trailer. Trent Reznor is a genius. And Karen O has THE pipes.Same day I found out about this, H&M released their photos of their <a href="http://m.hm.com/ca/mobilev2/home/dragontattoo__mobileDragonTattoo.nhtml" target="_blank" title="Dragon tattoo">Girl with the Drain Tattoo winter collection</a>. Makes me wish i was that badass.We head home in a couple of days, back to the home that holds so much nsecurity and yet so much homey feelings. I miss my sisters. I miss my parents. I miss my bro. I miss moozh's family. I miss having a place where I feel like i can just disappear for a few weeks, come home feeling refreshed. The next few weeks are going to be beautiful and stressful. I want to make myself write as much as I can because I always feel better after but sometimes it's really hard to get myself there. Mele keliki maka BriBrihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-1837046867967880242011-12-03T12:04:00.000-08:002011-12-03T12:04:02.036-08:00Holidaze<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Oh Christmouse. This is what I'm excited for. At least, this is what Pinterest is telling me I'm excited for. </div><div><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5259838488_795de87ed4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5009/5259838488_795de87ed4.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eggnog cupcakes off of <a href="http://annies-eats.net/2010/12/17/eggnog-cupcakes-2/">Annie's Eats</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3443/3951146686_6bc64abb7c_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3443/3951146686_6bc64abb7c_z.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mulled Wine via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/theloftclapham/">Flickr</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5269200191_170a9ed6ef_b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5007/5269200191_170a9ed6ef_b.jpg" width="228" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eggnog via <a href="http://www.cookingforseven.com/2010/12/homemade-eggnog-winner/">Cooking for Seven</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://holidays.pgoamedia.com/thumb.php?w=540&f=store/photos/1320857723_jalj0qnw5zaz4uocjjsly2lb26cjp4c4d.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://holidays.pgoamedia.com/thumb.php?w=540&f=store/photos/1320857723_jalj0qnw5zaz4uocjjsly2lb26cjp4c4d.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stollen via <a href="http://holidays.pgoamedia.com/posts/96.html">Home for the Holidays</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5173/5472210547_29cb5a002b_z.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5173/5472210547_29cb5a002b_z.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemon Curd (we're doin' it again!) via<br />
<a href="http://www.thepastryaffair.com/blog/2011/2/23/meyer-lemon-curd.html">The Pastry Affair</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.manifestvegan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/autumn-rice-pudding-vegan-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.manifestvegan.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/autumn-rice-pudding-vegan-1.jpg" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christmas Rice Pudding via <a href="http://www.manifestvegan.com/2010/09/autumn-rice-pudding/">Manifest Vegan</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ldqwdrcysm1qaz6rno1_500.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192" src="http://28.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_ldqwdrcysm1qaz6rno1_500.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow and sun! via LesaPea Musings</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNC67HjB8DM9E3Daaxc3b_YrZO2PquU9hf0g6oDjPHaqrK4XUSBp_vZT8BAGq7txLKTSDoLAei8YodHKei1eJitWMPJASH8fFmzJSGAI9ZXY_WDow5FeT6rffDk6Gctg14Hk_0q7NB8Q/s640/SAM_2454.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGNC67HjB8DM9E3Daaxc3b_YrZO2PquU9hf0g6oDjPHaqrK4XUSBp_vZT8BAGq7txLKTSDoLAei8YodHKei1eJitWMPJASH8fFmzJSGAI9ZXY_WDow5FeT6rffDk6Gctg14Hk_0q7NB8Q/s400/SAM_2454.JPG" width="202" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Decorations via <a href="http://bringrestoration.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2010-12-12T18%3A18%3A00-05%3A00&max-results=500">Restoration House</a><br />
(BTW I think my mother-in-law would<br />
LOVE this blog!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6220/6403405765_e2a5fd78d6_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6220/6403405765_e2a5fd78d6_o.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candles! via <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mellow_stuff/6403405765/">Mellow Stuff</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://anthologymag.com/blog3/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/anthology-mag-blog-projects-shimtokk-packaging-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://anthologymag.com/blog3/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/anthology-mag-blog-projects-shimtokk-packaging-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cute (and easy) wrapping via <a href="http://anthologymag.com/blog3/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/anthology-mag-blog-projects-shimtokk-packaging-3.jpg">Anthology Mag</a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://images.anthropologie.com/is/image/Anthropologie/23145337_030_b?$product410x615$" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://images.anthropologie.com/is/image/Anthropologie/23145337_030_b?$product410x615$" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">But I also LOVE this. Cute burlap/twine<br />
ribbon via <a href="http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?id=23145337&catId=HOME-GIFTWRAP&pushId=HOME-GIFTWRAP&popId=HOME&navCount=6&color=030&isProduct=true&fromCategoryPage=true&isSubcategory=true&subCategoryId=HOME-GIFTWRAP-PAPER&templateType=hybrid">Anthropologie</a></td></tr>
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</div>Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-35202747099471661702011-11-19T22:07:00.001-08:002011-11-19T22:07:41.183-08:00Just like the Japanese...<p> </p><p>Okay is this guy not a total magroot!?!?</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://flickr.com/photos/60288964@N04/6367306647" target="_blank" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" title="Shiba Inu pup"><img src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6043/6367306647_9e9a77ceb0.jpg" id="blogsy-1321769188233.35" class="aligncenter" alt="" width="337" height="500"></a></div><p>One of our regulars at work has an adorbz li'l guy like this. Then tonight walking through Gastown with Mama and Dad D, we came across another. Her name was Honey and she had the most perfect, plushy coat. Her owner was telling us that 'Shibas can be quite standoffish, just like the Japanese'. We all laughed and then glanced over our shoulders. Honey was just tiny, maybe a foot and a half tall at four months. Others i've seen, i'm assuming full grown, have been about two and a half feet at the shoulder. I don't know how old this li'l guy is but I want one just like him. According to Wikipedia, Shibas do 'best in an environment without other small lets or children but appropriate socialization can make all the difference'. I hope so because the cuteness is killing me. </p>Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-10973332384524575362011-11-19T21:03:00.001-08:002011-11-19T21:03:47.244-08:00Those who hide too well away...<p>Ok so.</p><p>Recently, my beloved in-laws (and when I say 'beloved' I truly mean 'beyond myself with excitement upon their arrival'), we're out on the west coast for a few days prior to a trip they were taking. We headed out to whistler and basically had a totally bitchin' time. Came back into Van and got to take them around. The weather was flawless, we got to take them around our city and see the, after a long, hectic emotional Fall. We got great pictures which i wanted to post here. Of course by 'recently' I mean THREE WEEKS AGO! What is my problem!? I know I have been avoiding this lovely, comfortable beanbag chair of Internet known as blogdom because I am stressed and so once I have managed to escape the constancy of living in my brain under these circumstances, the last thing I want to do is spew, for your sake as much as mine. Life is in general upheaval lately. Everything from the practicality of working vs school (even when it is only for a time) to the emotional slog of sifting through inter-relational 'issues' has made my psyche (and the consequent outpouring of it) inhospitable and my generosity nearly non-existent. My desire is to pull a NaBloPoMo as I did last year to exercise my own internal accountability for my blog. Because I like it here. And I always feel better once I leave. (Except for the Pinterest post. I was just as pent up after I wrote it as I was before.) I am being emotionally lazy right now because I feel emotionally wasted. That's as self-pitying as I'm going to get on my blog :)</p><p>*On a side note I am blogging through a different interface right now which mainly means that I will no longer be able to blame my insufferable grammar and spelling on OS Lion. Using a new interface required I learn how to use it properly and I wasn't interested in that for a few weeks. </p><p>I want to summarize some baking successes I have had lately. This is a list for posterity when I'm feeling inept. <br></p><ul><br> <li>I made a pumpkin loaf pimped out with hazelnuts and dried blueberries. </li><br> <li>Red velvet cupcakes with fudge frosting for Halloween that totally claimed me as red velvet fan. I am, however, not enough of a fan that I feel I need to convert every dessert known into red velvet. I may make red velvet crepes for Moozh on Valentine's.</li><br> <li>I made brown sugar pavlova for small group last weekend that was glorious and actually made me want to run for the camera when I glanced into the bowl after hearing my hand mixer shriek at hi speed for three and a half minutes. But I didn't let it deflate (even for the sake of posterity).</li><br></ul><p>My project leading into December is to create a hydration starter. I am at the tail end of Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain wherein one of his many anecdotes recounts a brilliant baker he worked with on many an occasion had a giant heaving tub of sourdough starter he affectionately called "the bitch". I intend to call her the same. The only thing that makes me hesitant to start a starter is that is IS quite time consuming and requires a fair share of attention, something I do not have plenty of right now. But, as the Wild Yeast blog has convinced me, a good 100% hydration starter is a magical thing to have. And it won't take long to get a hefty return on your investment.</p><p>Come Christmas-time, I want to make stollen, reconfigure a cool take on mincemeat, made Mama Dempsey's coffee cake Christmas bread, and make peppermint pots de creme. Here we go.</p><p>I'm doing the countdown dance. Five weeks and I'm sporting my whites. Five weeks! Work just hired a new baker who graduated from PICA's pastry program in June. He has been such a great wealth of information leading into school for me. And I am even more pumped for the faculty now that I have first hand accolades from someone who has come through their leadership. </p><p>Until then, i'm going to enjoy and be present through what will likely be our last Van christmas. Ooh I totally forgot about Glogg. Making it!!!!<br>Next entry will be stimulating, I promise :)<br></p>Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-9243839990638288892011-10-23T10:54:00.000-07:002011-10-23T10:54:05.789-07:00Radical Grace<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;">"The word “sinner” really signifies not moral inferiors as much as people who do not know</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;"><em>who</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;">they are and</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;"><em>whose</em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;">they are, people who have no connection to their inherent dignity and importance."</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; line-height: 26px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Friar Richard, Center for Action and Contemplation</span></span>Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-43307497992666111192011-10-20T23:52:00.000-07:002011-10-20T23:55:55.651-07:00'You can only stalk your friends on Facebook for so long but Pinterest goes on forever."Aw hey y'all.<br />
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So this post has been bubbling beneath the surface for the past week. And don't be hatin' but I'm taking on Pinterest in this one. Now I am fully aware the the awe and fulfillment I initially felt from Pinterest was maybe a little idealistic (I did just use the word 'fulfillment') and I do still find it endlessly entertaining and disturbingly addictive. It is a repository for the creative, the inspiring and definitely worthy of exclaim. But just like the rest of the interest, it is also a repository for the vain, the self-involved and the insecure. For those of you unfamiliar with Pinterest, it is a public 'pinboard' where you can pin photos and links from all over the internet onto 'boards' that you create under a profile. "Pinners" as addicts of the site are known, can repin from the site onto their boards and follow other 'pinners' and with categories like 'travel', 'humour' and 'photography' it makes for an instantaneous (if maybe unproductive) hobby. I was introduced to the site by my lovely friend BJ (who I will forever be indebted to -Pinterest has introduced me to some amazing sites, blogs, and general aesthetics).<br />
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One category, however, on the site is 'fitness'. And the fitness boards leave me…in a bit of a state when I leave the site. There is much that is affirming. There are posts and boards that advocate for exercise, strength, and health. But there is one pin in particular that I see and it makes me borderline apoplectic. It reads 'Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels'. Peeps, this pin is EVERYWHERE. And it may seem innocuous to some of you but to me it lights a fire on a very hefty and sensitive issue. From someone coming from a background of eating disorders and from someone who still very much struggles with the mental and emotional repercussions of a struggle like that, I read something like that and I feel that people not only have their priorities so fucked up but also that our culture has harboured an environment where this is something to be viewed as integrity. Some of these fitness boards link to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pro-ana">pro-ana-mia</a> websites and very much discuss that mindset with advocacy. This is what I take issue with. That is a SICKNESS. The mindset that propagates an opinion that 'food is the enemy', 'if you eat you have failed', ET CETERA, suffer from a distorted view of their bodies, what true health looks like but also what true VALUE looks like. The whole 'nothing tastes as good as skinny feels' totally removes the 'real life' from the body living it. It's fakery.<br />
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I have been everything from 130 lbs, where I was bitching about a body that worked like a charm, to 90 lbs where I starved myself, shook constantly, ran until I passed out, and generally never enjoyed my life. Let me tell you, ANYTHING tastes better than skinny feels. SmartWater tastes better. What I am saying is nothing that hasn't been said before but the (predominantly) women that are pursuing this 'dream' of who they should be, who 'everyone else is wishing them to be', as whom they could 'be their best them' are chasing after a sad, shrivelled conception of what makes them valuable, what makes them desirable as company for the public at large. When you aren't eating, NOBODY WANTS TO BE AROUND YOU. All you do is weigh your barf and complain about how cold you are. Your blood sugar is low and so you are ornery all the time (and that takes <u>years</u> to fix). YOu want a great body? Get a life. Soon you will love your big thighs because you can run faster than you could last week. You will love your broad shoulders because they power you up a ROCK FACE. Take a dance class; You'll laugh. This is not me dogging eating healthy, trying to watch your weight. We have two converse obsessions occurring right now: obesity and the obsession with thin. Know yourself and take care of yourself.<br />
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This has been in no way articulate or well thought out but I broke today. Pinterest totally ruined my break at work. But then it showed a picture of a little boy playing with cows and that seemed playful enough that I forgot.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/219339444321350097_fTDMDUBR_c.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/219339444321350097_fTDMDUBR_c.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/357410101/">Pinterest</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-76952299553657343292011-10-13T22:23:00.000-07:002011-10-13T22:23:22.790-07:00Turkey Day!!It's been too long yet again. Let's post some pics up in here.<br />
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Moozh outdid himself once again and with the creative genius of our foodie friend Alan, T-Day became a thing of beauty. We will be eating it for easily another three weeks and it will eventually feel like less of a thing of beauty but for today's purposes, we are going to look at the beauty.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_JMgzPNtSJOVMactz8HMDW45MLU0aHTxOoJ4WlP_C9xmfTCj86_N0g7We0olCS4dFSEYk5nkktGm4jZ9n9G39_iZRu6KUGkE1tKIbE43Sf0GySvqN4QyXP81XptJ2n3F7JSpqoX_gUzK/s1600/glassware.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-_JMgzPNtSJOVMactz8HMDW45MLU0aHTxOoJ4WlP_C9xmfTCj86_N0g7We0olCS4dFSEYk5nkktGm4jZ9n9G39_iZRu6KUGkE1tKIbE43Sf0GySvqN4QyXP81XptJ2n3F7JSpqoX_gUzK/s400/glassware.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glassware is key. We used our tasting glasses from wine and beer class. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7ruEAH4FIY48p2LJktmjHyTqVuZiO28k92_8e09enIqVgJVyv_302o0X4iwtPEYZkR5lPKBzsFveBBcpX0hyvR9NlFmKfyGQRXB708OCYNgi3V-RkxxuUvM_lrMvo88d0lpap4Dl9qvj/s1600/Bread3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL7ruEAH4FIY48p2LJktmjHyTqVuZiO28k92_8e09enIqVgJVyv_302o0X4iwtPEYZkR5lPKBzsFveBBcpX0hyvR9NlFmKfyGQRXB708OCYNgi3V-RkxxuUvM_lrMvo88d0lpap4Dl9qvj/s400/Bread3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a truly absurd amount of cheese in use. I thought it worth documenting. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYZx9n0DmSOYhwVNv8oH8pfJzg-tQFS_WpePlpVKnc_Wot_VO27J1n5tS542AqPqTUzuG8TKW2kaDc2BO6t2mijGdkIld8BpSodot7vigIfBszO77Lup2NqX_tjfWoNNLBE1PsiDpdVFQ/s1600/appies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVYZx9n0DmSOYhwVNv8oH8pfJzg-tQFS_WpePlpVKnc_Wot_VO27J1n5tS542AqPqTUzuG8TKW2kaDc2BO6t2mijGdkIld8BpSodot7vigIfBszO77Lup2NqX_tjfWoNNLBE1PsiDpdVFQ/s400/appies.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our appies. Notice the cheese. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqw557b5WhthhOE36GrIunEFsx4K_bjoLCJj_iQwF-shRzXkPlemltpHTE2OHyQA94YwvekprRw8Ne8jb2ZALAWcIkdnJFLRJtKRud8lfae9wpOClciiiUrHRFxBCWxTgX99D7_CAujLv/s1600/duhmeat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbqw557b5WhthhOE36GrIunEFsx4K_bjoLCJj_iQwF-shRzXkPlemltpHTE2OHyQA94YwvekprRw8Ne8jb2ZALAWcIkdnJFLRJtKRud8lfae9wpOClciiiUrHRFxBCWxTgX99D7_CAujLv/s400/duhmeat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my 'boule', sliced like a pumpkin, before baking. Cranberry Rosemary Artisan bread. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTrEJGSmF4zEnq4fLgAfjCJd91ySn_dLV2be8xzE_k_iexfwM84ZLvLJ_nr0XVPQZpaP_gG91SZ2K8Hk-NJCOcV9yhH4BBCQ7-WQAso_1BvLyNTjQzrWRjea3VYzDZOPRKd4adyT-r5wQ/s1600/baked.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTrEJGSmF4zEnq4fLgAfjCJd91ySn_dLV2be8xzE_k_iexfwM84ZLvLJ_nr0XVPQZpaP_gG91SZ2K8Hk-NJCOcV9yhH4BBCQ7-WQAso_1BvLyNTjQzrWRjea3VYzDZOPRKd4adyT-r5wQ/s400/baked.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this is it after. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4zLWBMKfEWVNBfhXXJ0DT8ieJQrcWo17gS_tDnCi9FnWFqDHqu5KdTIwjZDwLwQHpY1syGoWtAm3hVHFgeKboHHTCnNGr5R7jhK3LsiSvjpBJSBRuSh9zC0adVpl2vedCkeHBKLXWiAa/s1600/brussies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf4zLWBMKfEWVNBfhXXJ0DT8ieJQrcWo17gS_tDnCi9FnWFqDHqu5KdTIwjZDwLwQHpY1syGoWtAm3hVHFgeKboHHTCnNGr5R7jhK3LsiSvjpBJSBRuSh9zC0adVpl2vedCkeHBKLXWiAa/s400/brussies.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roasted Brussies. That is bacon. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaCvrQYmSRtnFln5CQMUzG0jKRlZ4jZhDvpP09SPgMXLICUU6NphV6BsUnCmGtR6PE5dwrWfsJrirRPVZqRPzCINEagwddgvgASNdl9ap_ezwxrx6g6DSrHqFyvvm7VWWbXKEGuNg3YQP/s1600/dressing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPaCvrQYmSRtnFln5CQMUzG0jKRlZ4jZhDvpP09SPgMXLICUU6NphV6BsUnCmGtR6PE5dwrWfsJrirRPVZqRPzCINEagwddgvgASNdl9ap_ezwxrx6g6DSrHqFyvvm7VWWbXKEGuNg3YQP/s400/dressing.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dressing (by yours truly). Lots of dried fruit to combat the cheese. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJqyYpl-VxDa_I9A-UJvRqbBE_O3Of9KtDPtnXdR_De2tvoNdhhYrk_4M2XRnv-g6tfKyltXOQYC8rB4z33fcH9v5v5QR1Z9K6rV48gnr_fwV8s1WsiCnmUaqiRDmTxXK43L_jSpvGn88/s1600/pieandbeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhJqyYpl-VxDa_I9A-UJvRqbBE_O3Of9KtDPtnXdR_De2tvoNdhhYrk_4M2XRnv-g6tfKyltXOQYC8rB4z33fcH9v5v5QR1Z9K6rV48gnr_fwV8s1WsiCnmUaqiRDmTxXK43L_jSpvGn88/s400/pieandbeer.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beer and Pie. A winning combination. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQMFEa9BDnNe2ZF4qqjBj8xNe5rK76EpEid1Sd2B4GlPQZy04TmBgI2OI3knmHQVZZGOVStWYSv1OyQj7FmEKwkglV4SEQJJ7-WQ6BgOXy9ovLqu6I1gHLbYlK_CSMSTC-pXTsueZ3bXS/s1600/pig.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXQMFEa9BDnNe2ZF4qqjBj8xNe5rK76EpEid1Sd2B4GlPQZy04TmBgI2OI3knmHQVZZGOVStWYSv1OyQj7FmEKwkglV4SEQJJ7-WQ6BgOXy9ovLqu6I1gHLbYlK_CSMSTC-pXTsueZ3bXS/s400/pig.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the only picture we have of the pig, which is amazing to me. It truly was impressive.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcLOKA7F1j0U-22TopEMVkhtVLxK7zl6lETnah2TAFDFz8QgvSNT65aeGlOvpoOkMKCcyIRJ3ncy60q2TzfUCPW80sjqoR0yh44IaxUZtwmRVf9C25oB6NKSdKm6HWj2yRQAp1029f53B/s1600/teamwork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixcLOKA7F1j0U-22TopEMVkhtVLxK7zl6lETnah2TAFDFz8QgvSNT65aeGlOvpoOkMKCcyIRJ3ncy60q2TzfUCPW80sjqoR0yh44IaxUZtwmRVf9C25oB6NKSdKm6HWj2yRQAp1029f53B/s400/teamwork.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duh boys, kickin' it in the kooknaya (kitchen). Red T-shirt was the uniform of choice.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrchY_5OCc5Mqm-HImw7xXZjGo0LF0wp1YK1q4cPXYbMUyOg5S2tkoY-HfvuShiR0jmqLUNXabvMIY9olbhxQVWmlSzWPIbMry8eNMn9mrhzsmOi06Kn1bEw_14xxuXIfpHi1FmkRaxtYF/s1600/winecharm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrchY_5OCc5Mqm-HImw7xXZjGo0LF0wp1YK1q4cPXYbMUyOg5S2tkoY-HfvuShiR0jmqLUNXabvMIY9olbhxQVWmlSzWPIbMry8eNMn9mrhzsmOi06Kn1bEw_14xxuXIfpHi1FmkRaxtYF/s400/winecharm.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The evening ended happily and after an excessively loud round of Cranium at 1130pm. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<div>It seriously was a day of so much fun and such great people. My only disappointment is that we didn't get any swinging pictures of our great guests. So much laughter and great stories. Our party was probably 50/50 Yanks to Canucks. They shared with us the Black Friday- Green Bean and Dirt Pudding American version of Thanksgiving. It made us so excited we're going to do it all again at the end of November. But then we'll let some others do the cooking too. You can't have a monopoly on good taste.<br />
<br />
Hope you all had a beautiful and tasty Thanksgiving dinner. I realized in the midst of it all I don't really know what Canadian Thanksgiving is all about. I wouldn't be surprised if it had something to do with wanting to do it because the Americans do it but needing to do it a month earlier. I did hear a story somewhere that it had something to do with the King being sick and when he recovered they decided to celebrate the harvest. In Canada it's always about a monarch. Half of us don't even vote properly.<br />
But a day where you are supposed to (even if it is only subconsciously) made to think about what you are thankful for. It made me thankful for my husband, who loves me when I suck'; who 'holds me close at night and thanks God for me'; who goofs around on Saturday and dreams about our future with me. I am thankful for my parents, who are broken and real. I am thankful for my sisters, who are the most beautiful and creative women I have ever know. I am thankful for the awesome guys who love them and hold them close and thank God for them. I'm thankful for my bestie in Cowtown who leads such a beautiful life and always inspires me. I'm thankful for all of the incredible people and friends that God introduced us to in Bankybear. I am thankful for my in-laws because they make me laugh and love me even though I am flaky. And I am thankful for those who love them. I am thankful for carbs and for jersey knit sheets. I am thankful a body that constantly impresses me and feet that run like the wind. I am thankful for the freedom of speech and the chance to have all my needs met in one day. I am thankful that I know God and that my life is His. I am thankful that he has planned for me beyond what I can hope or imagine (Eph 3:20 NIV). There are many things unmentioned here which I am thankful for as well, and so much for because they are still there even when I forget them. Like running water. And Skype.<br />
<br />
Three cheers (and leg kicks) for chunky scarves and soup weather! In Bankybear the weather has been so Fall it had made me smile. What are you thankful for? </div>Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-58064999908934315482011-10-03T19:55:00.000-07:002011-10-03T19:55:29.157-07:00"Sometimes you ask yourself…should I have tattooed my forehead?"I don't know if any of you do this too but one of Moozh and I's favourite things to do is cuddle in bed at night and watch movie trailers. In most cases, it exonerates me from feeling like I have to see the movie because often the trailer is better than the movie. But sometimes I'm surprised. I just had one of those moments.<br />
<br />
I just watched the trailer for <a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/theotherfword/">The Other F-Word</a>. Immediately it made me think of my sister who just got married because her journey into parenthood is likely going to be turbulent and beautiful and she and her husband are going to be those parents on the playground that none of the other parents understand. My sister is an ass kicker and she and her husband have a unique and dynamic view of life. Which means they are also going to be those parents on the playground that all the other parents wish they were as cool as. As I watched the trailer, which I suggest that all of you do, I had a serious moment of realization. A realization that what the Lord has prepared for our lives will drastically surprise and change us. Life is meant to teach us and through the process of giving your life to various things (marriage, parenthood, career) you become better, you become more. Inherently parenthood teaches wisdom, grace, patience, selflessness because those are the things that are required when you are responsible for a small, dependant being. The movie profiles all of these punk rock icons, from Mark Hoppus of Blink-182, Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers and Tony Hawk, through their processing of their fatherhood; from "the ultimate anti-authoritarians become societies ultimate authorities".<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/theotherfword/images/poster.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://trailers.apple.com/trailers/independent/theotherfword/images/poster.jpg" width="277" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>I had coffee today with a lovely good friend who is due in December. She had moved through the various baby showers, through buying a stroller and putting a car seat in her car. But the part of our conversation that had me thinking all day long, was when she spoke of becoming pregnancy, of moving through pregnancy and thinking through the permanence of having a child, and how it drastically changes how you think about your own development. You don't think about your family of origin, about conflict, about your marriage in at all the same way anymore. You have to filter it through the lens of this person who is brand new and strange to the world. Even in marriage you can remain in certain levels of selfishness (though it is hard) but in parenthood you can't. The paradigm can't survive beneath that. Yes we all know people who are selfish and act for themselves. But I don't find I ever look to those people and validate their parenting, or think of them as parents at all. Parenthood seems to be a specially designed racetrack that manages to drastically change the way we think about our world, ourselves, our life. Because we have what feels like many friends right now that are expecting, I find myself musing often on how not ready I am for that commitment. I also think about little people running around my house one day with Moozh's mannerisms and looks of his fitted into the puzzle of their faces but I realize that there is a desire of preparation for that. The independence I struggle so hard to reconcile. My introspection. My sleep schedule. These are not things very accommodating to children. At the end of the day, Moozh can put himself to bed, he can feed himself and occupy himself while I put on makeup and surf pinterest.<br />
<br />
But what this movie helped me to see (and did it in such a breathtaking way) is that parenthood changes people in spite of themselves. It helps to wear away at your selfishness and your personal gain slowly and discreetly. Flea has this amazing quote in it. "My children gave me life, you know. They gave me a reason." Friggin' Flea! But what I also like about the film is that it displays that the parents in it didn't just blend and bleed into this banal, khaki parent figure. They still have passions, opinions, things that set them apart. Their children will grow up understanding that their parents' life goes beyond their children.<br />
<br />
I also find it infinitely quotable:<br />
"Maybe punk rock was never meant to grow up. But it did." <br />
"There's nothing in the punk rock ethos that prepares you for children."<br />
"Maybe the way we're going to change the world is by raising better kids."<br />
<br />
I think parenthood will also, as much as we may not want it to, help us to understand our parents even better. Undoubtedly, we will see and maybe even understand why they made certain decisions and why they thought certain things were right. Ultimately though, it will unify generations of people that have all made the same discoveries and thought the same things through the journey through becoming at times what you've despised. It's a good journey.Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-60296352700063615972011-10-02T20:33:00.000-07:002011-10-02T20:33:54.488-07:00As promised...Hmmmmm.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">The goal:</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnelDifqSDoMxSaJS-2N7xsK02SqOIpSb38WqZ9rlUQ8pfpq1YP9CTmCs2HC06yKZD12zG_AxT0PRTs9VyPQPsENNCJfE7Z3F_yYjCzkbfcfHUh6L_-vKNjAW5aydtYD7REAFsnLypOMX/s1600/1445066125_e861a101c4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnelDifqSDoMxSaJS-2N7xsK02SqOIpSb38WqZ9rlUQ8pfpq1YP9CTmCs2HC06yKZD12zG_AxT0PRTs9VyPQPsENNCJfE7Z3F_yYjCzkbfcfHUh6L_-vKNjAW5aydtYD7REAFsnLypOMX/s400/1445066125_e861a101c4.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">via Smitten Kitchen. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"> The result: </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8_PUaWQko9FTnSiIHLjO6rfrN399NKvs6cWLQQTuklL_CYGCYjCmejsM5YUx6L2paTnvWIKCtncZHyPMns-1eBv_48JdFp55AHHa2CEjX1WICeJMRx0Ox-ZTSzumpkceNAyi_qAwoOIR/s1600/Bagels.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ8_PUaWQko9FTnSiIHLjO6rfrN399NKvs6cWLQQTuklL_CYGCYjCmejsM5YUx6L2paTnvWIKCtncZHyPMns-1eBv_48JdFp55AHHa2CEjX1WICeJMRx0Ox-ZTSzumpkceNAyi_qAwoOIR/s400/Bagels.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">I would not put cream cheese on that. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">So the artisan bagels haven't kicked ass like the artisan bread has. They came out looking a little, dare I say, flat. And they were still doughy in the middle. I should have listened to myself the three times that I looked at the dough and said "That looks a little wet." Having wet dough and then boiling it in water doesn't foretell anything that contains the adjectives, "light", "airy" or "cooked" really. Unless you're cooking spaetzle I guess. I am determined the find a good bagel recipe. Man, it is an involved process to make bagels but I have a deep appreciation for freshly baked bagels and I am not hindered by these things that more resembled a toddler's teething ring. The above picture is Smitten Kitchen's bagel recipe and they look definitely worth a shot. </div><br />
I really want to continue with yeast breads. My friend Beej made an impressive looking challah from Smitten Kitchen. I don't' know why I had this ridiculous perception of challah that it was a ridiculous recipe and required almost a full day. Smitten's looks approachable enough. I'm going to give it a shot before Yom Kippur is over.<br />
<br />
Maybe not hilarious as the "Cookie Monster Cupcakes" but still a good exercise in humility. Ha!Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-57053594707103286232011-09-30T17:25:00.000-07:002011-09-30T17:25:01.974-07:00"My grandmother really did believe this rye loaf was better than cake…" Jeff Hertzberg<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">This artisan bread thing is starting to make me impressed with myself. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQ_wn6y1cVm35KsZj_TDAgFH0w0S_tyaA4raKfEVPsFyIVz9pmXo8_ftjoZt0C1KzbW25cK41b8hZzPdc9Wkg8jgOguYvtZF9pDULRAICefwEhmW_P2a19yqcLZVQyEwhscvBci_VRf_C/s1600/Bread1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQ_wn6y1cVm35KsZj_TDAgFH0w0S_tyaA4raKfEVPsFyIVz9pmXo8_ftjoZt0C1KzbW25cK41b8hZzPdc9Wkg8jgOguYvtZF9pDULRAICefwEhmW_P2a19yqcLZVQyEwhscvBci_VRf_C/s400/Bread1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTluJThG0_QX_vhx2RQqqPSQBoXOwn4B8dq6Otfo3STjlAPsyP4B2siBmzWURrrLESfIC8yBLVuHfXwyVt3vR_yaxnULtHbk_aZugTMTbxXi4gAlE2h_8k3UI40FuhDR_oJ-BQARlDzcEv/s1600/Bread2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTluJThG0_QX_vhx2RQqqPSQBoXOwn4B8dq6Otfo3STjlAPsyP4B2siBmzWURrrLESfIC8yBLVuHfXwyVt3vR_yaxnULtHbk_aZugTMTbxXi4gAlE2h_8k3UI40FuhDR_oJ-BQARlDzcEv/s400/Bread2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcOPV282Nu8XuSgnc-6t4_bkjDtKFU6MG7i2LqxO6-mwQgKXWM3H0winqJEc9pojCGLWabxPK1iPq3SwB0XlYb0SLZQJupfwGqJ09Z2MFkR6Y70NyVWWXduKqgGTLxfa5v1uyj4RnGcz9/s1600/Bread3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizcOPV282Nu8XuSgnc-6t4_bkjDtKFU6MG7i2LqxO6-mwQgKXWM3H0winqJEc9pojCGLWabxPK1iPq3SwB0XlYb0SLZQJupfwGqJ09Z2MFkR6Y70NyVWWXduKqgGTLxfa5v1uyj4RnGcz9/s400/Bread3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>Nothing is better than fresh bread. Nothing.Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-38563742692086336232011-09-26T16:10:00.000-07:002011-09-26T16:10:30.647-07:00"The whole world's wrong and that's what's the matter." Thorton Wilder<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">So much for an Indian Summer. A girl I work with (I got a job!) is from Australia and she arrived in April. She was commenting earlier this week about how bummed she's been about the weather "lately". I almost didn't have the heart to crush her dreams of a crisp but sunny Canadian fall. But then I did. And THEN I compared <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vegemite">vegemite</a> to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marmite">marmite</a>. Big mistake. (Also: I have been introduced to the Australian 'Milo' and no other chocolatey, malty drink will ever do again. Thank you Tania.)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My job is a'ight. I work at a bakery that many of you in Alberta and BC probably go into frequently and buy great bread. It's a good place though the dorky uniform is a bit of a blow to my pride. All good! My pride needs a knock now and then, especially when I start thinking I'm too good for a baseball cap. I think I may graduate soon to a baking position which would be awesome. Then you get to wear the baker's cap which looks like you draped a hot water bottle on your head. But no one (not even God remember?!) is awake to see you. The bakery has just started carrying pumpkin scones as part of the fall promotion and we were absconded by people that felt the emergence of pumpkin harkened the oncoming of fall. Which it does. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Today was an excessive form of precipitation. Saturday the North Shore was supposed to get 50 mm in a night! That is seri-yus. It is already at the point where people would be typically complaining about the fact that it's dark when they go to work and it's dark when they come home from work. Except they don't because you don't see the sun during those hours anyway. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I think now working at a bakery, I'm going to buy a gym membership. Yep. And I've given myself a "fifteen pound window" where I will simply eat and not ask questions. Beyond that, my body and I will have to talk but until then, Operation Eat Food is a go. Capital go. Yesterday I took a Food Safe course which was, aside from painfully boring, totally gross. Especially because it is eight hours of discussing how to prevent food borne illnesses that cause food poisoning. Like Norwalk Virus which is transmitted when someone doesn't wash their hands after going to the bathroom. Or Staphyllococus when people don't ways their hands after invading their nose. Capital yuck. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">**These are the things that will begin to creep into my blog at more regular intervals. My apologies in advance.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The one thing that I am MEGA excited for today is the Vancouver International Writer's Festival. Last year I only made it to one reading at which I totally crushed out on John Gould and bought his book and had him sign it while I blushed furiously. And this year John Vaillant and Chuck Palahniuk are going to be there! And Anthony Bourdain! Those will likely be sold out sooner than I can get my act together but those are the ones I'm most excited about. Peter Behrens and Miriam Toews are coming too but I could likely just hang around outside Creative WRiting stuff at the Yoob and see them by chance. Not that they are relegated to 'less exciting' status. But Chuck Palahniuk! If I see Anthony Bourdain, he will be my John Gould. Blushing for serious. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Anyway, I'm feeling depressed because of the rain and that is why my thoughts are more disorganized than usual. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">L'Chaim.</div><div><br />
</div>Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-45816786211447978082011-09-15T17:57:00.000-07:002011-09-15T17:57:20.181-07:00"Listen to the mustn'ts then listen close to me. Anything can happen, child, anything can be." Shel SilversteinI have to start telling myself that I can't drink coffee after dinner. Ever. Because when I do, I turn into Rosie O'Donnell. I'm loud, digressive. Oy. And I usually end up talking to people I am really rather fond of and then kicking myself later as I try to gag myself with a sock. Rereading that, I make it sound like I'm drunk. Maybe the universe is trying to tell me: DRINK WATER.<br />
<br />
It is fall. I think it's official and I only think it's official because it was foggy yesterday and has been raining all day. My weather compass is only so forgiving and the "spring" we had turned my weather-heart to stone. Or at least a semi-precious rock. But I got to wear my Fall clothes which made me happy. Layering is tough on the West Coast. Everything has to fit under a rain jacket which really doesn't breathe very well, so usually by midday you come back smelling like the inside of a rain boot.<br />
<br />
Started some training at a bread bakery today because I obviously eat through jobs like goldfish crackers. Management turnover at the cafe I was at before and not only me but everyone else is also out of a job. Luckily, I had a kick ass opportunity right around the corner (aka the next day). This job will mean some EARLY mornings, basically before God is up but it's all good. He'll have some fresh bread, baked by me, ready for him when he gets up. Today was the first time that I felt a pang of nostalgia for school. But I thought through it and what I thought I was missing out on. And I realized, though I wish I was taking my Conversational Russian class (that's the only class I missing!), the only thing I was missing was the physical <i>movement</i> of routine. I miss waking up, picking out my clothes, waking up on the bus ride to school, grabbing a coffee before class, having the anonymity time of the academy. Besides that, I realized I don't miss UBC at all.<br />
<br />
I'm feeling it's a Simple Daybook kind of day because my days are all over the place lately.<br />
FOR TODAY<br />
Outside my window… Rain. Blech. It's fall. But I bought in and had pumpkin spice latte yesterday. I'm a sucker.<br />
I'm thinking...<br />
I'm thankful…<br />
From the Learning Rooms…I am trying to relearn all of the Russian I forgot over the summer. All I remember how to say is "I eat pizza with my hands". Not good.<br />
In the kitchen…Newly baked caraway rye artisan bread. Win!<br />
I am wearing…new skinnies and a tank with wooden beads. It's a mix of weather appropriate wear.<br />
I am creating…Smitten Kitchen posted a recipe for peach butter (as opposed to apple butter) and I'm pretty stoked to give it a shot. The lemon-grapefruit is gone (Thank God! I was putting it on everything!) so I have an empty jam jar that needs fillin'!<br />
I am going…the Alibi Room tomorrow. It's a sweet pub/restaurant in Gastown and our friend Todd is having his birthday there tomorrow night.<br />
I am wondering…how I'm going to handle 'bakers hours'. 4 o'clock starts. Whoa.<br />
I am reading…Flannery O'Connor. Moozh bought me one of her anthologies for Christmouse and I haven't even cracked it yet. I love her interpretation of gothic.<br />
I am hoping…to spend tomorrow afternoon buried in some writing.<br />
I am looking forward to…dinner with friends from the Reeg on Saturday! Some old, some new. I have a majestic cake planned and Moozh will pull one of his epic meal times out of a hat. It's gonna be a gooder.<br />
I am hearing…Yukon Blonde. I have to give Florence and the Machine a break. Yukon Blonde is kind of a cross between Sloan and Fleet Foxes.<br />
Around the house…a half finished baby blanket. Moozh's beer training book. The carnage left over from making bread.<br />
One of my favourite things…Fall! The leaves are turning and that has to be one of my favourite things in the whole world. One of my Seven Favourite Things? Hmmmm…..<br />
A few plans for the rest of the week…Seeing good friends. Praying over what this fall looks like and this year. Counting down the days until The Adventures of Tin Tin: Secret of the Unicorn comes out. Ya know, big stuff.Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-51654520564023822312011-09-11T22:49:00.000-07:002011-09-11T22:49:09.121-07:00"Life's real, it's made up of little things -minutes, hours, naps, errands, routine. And it has to be enough." Barney's VersionDeep breath.<br />
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So recently I mentioned working through some hefty considerations and those considerations have given birth to some serious changes. Remember when I was a neurotic stress case about getting into my program at the Yoob? And then I did I said, "Victory"? I have spent the past four months feeling lost in the middle of it and feeling like I didn't bring my <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theseus#Minotaur">ball of string with me</a>. Moozh went through serious self-reflection and making a really hard decisions, all the while I spent that time convincing myself that I wanted to be in my program. I don't think I've ever really given it the depth here that I feel for it but writing for me is such an emotional conviction. It has been my rescue for as long as I can remember. When I was stressed out as a kid, as young as first grade, it was how I dealt with stress. I could either develop multiple personalities or I could write. *I've always chosen the latter, just in case you're wondering.* So I faced into so many emotional road blocks when it came to actually thinking through my program, which Moozh totally had to do too. I felt somehow that saying I didn't want to do my program meant I wasn't a writer and I didn't believe that, I did't have the strength to swallow that.<br />
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But as I prayed about it, and as Moozh and I worked through it, I realized that I never wanted to leave writing behind and<br />
Realizing that, while it seriously pains me to admit this, I"m not Virginia Woolf and I can't write ten hours a day, seven days a week. (Something makes me think Virginia Woolf couldn't either. Walking into a river with rocks in your pocket doesn't seem optimal.) I know that there are people out there that can write ad infinitum and I really admire them. But it's okay for me to not be that way, even though I say that through gritted teeth. I was in the program of my dreams and wondering why I couldn't get away from the feeling that it wasn't what I wanted. Made me feel guilty about all the people that supported me and prayed for me through the portfolio process and all of the incredible writers I know who didn't get in.<br />
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So this past Wednesday, when everyone else was catching a bus or grabbing a coffee, crunching through the leaves walking to class, I was sitting at home in my pyjamas, printing off resumes. I got from texts from awesome friends who remembered that I was supposed to be in their classes and I think all of my texts started off with "Oh yeah sooooooo…" <br />
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But none of this was made in a void. As we worked through what I wasn't going to do, we waded through what I WAS going to do. We thought about what made me excited to do as a JOB. I could get my degree in Creative Writing and wait tables once I'm done to facilitate me writing. OR I could get my education in something I like that facilitates my writing. When I live in my head too long, I get internal. I become morbidly introspective, self-critical, aloof. I know for myself that I need B-A-L-A-N-C-E. I need something that pulls me out of my imaginary world where I talk to people that aren't real into a world where I am reminded of my husband, my life, my friends, my responsibilities, my other passions. I don't' want to be the kind of mom that is so aloof that her kids know she's not a place they can bring anything important. That sucks. This process has been an exercise in courage. I tend to hedge my bets. "If this doesn't work, it's not going to be hard or embarrassing or shocking because I have all of THESE things in place." Life is not meant to be lived like that and we were never called to live a life seeking security.<br />
So we thought about the things that I do when I get home: look at food blogs, read cookbooks like novels, bake bread, make jam. I thought about when I have to get a summer job or a job that I can do during school, I never look for a job at magazine or a newspaper. Because it freakin' stresses me out! I got to bakeries and cafes. I want to make things that make people feel good. I volunteer on farms.<br />
So y'all, I'm going to bakery school. In January. Same place as Moozh. We gon' be Ma and Pa. I get to learn how to make wedding cakes! And chocolate! And profiteroles! And a whole bunch of stuff I can't even pronounce. I'm going to learn how to make the best bread you've ever had in your life. And I will find a way to share it with you over the 'inter web'. (I'll stuff it through my screen and it will pop out your USB drive.)<br />
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This all makes me want to wade into the ocean and watch the sun rise, ealize the autonomy of the world, how choices that I think are going to make me unhappy don't change the world, don't change the ticking and chugging of my life. It's like that Donald Miller quote, the beauty of the story means I matter. I can create, I can step out in courage, I can question, as the world was created for me to be in it.<br />
My Moozh has been my exhale in a serious way. This process is one of those examples I will use when someone asks me what is so amazing about marriage. It's someone who loves you, someone you love, someone to talk you off a ledge, someone to call you to better living. But more than that, it's someone that when you feel small in the face of eternity and in the face of the the world, you have someone who as my bestie would say "holds you in the warmth of the night and thanks God for you". Someone who looks at the same future you do, a future like a three-legged race, and says in the middle of the craziness and uncertainty, "Let's do this". And that moment, when you've totally fallen on your ass, they are there to help carry you through it (or drag your across the finish line and give you road rash on your back -the metaphor doesn't really work here but you get the gist). I had parents that showed me it is never too late to make a course correction and it has been a blessing to me. I want to be a model of the same. Course correction is hard and totally scary because it amalgamates emotions and ambitions and uncertainties and ties them into a huge monster you have to have the courage to cut down to size.<br />
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So if you see me walking around in the New Year in a white suit with my name on it, no I'm not doing probation. I'm in baking school! And if you don't see me at the Yoob, don't be mad that I don't have to stand in line for a upass every month. I have to buy a real pass :(<br />
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In so many words, next time you come to my house, you should bring a trophy with you or something because we're gonna kick the ass off of any hospitality you've ever had in your life. That's not really a joke.<br />
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Totally going to start a baking blog. Probs going to name it "You Can't Trust a Skinny Baker". Trust.<br />
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As of right now, I'm working at a little gluten-free, vegan bakery which is super cute and really chill. I'm not sure to what degree my program will deal with baking for those kind of alternative diets. Let me tell you, I am SHOCKED how much corn starch is in gluten-free baking. I want to see if I can find something at a bread bakery, where I can learn from different perspectives how people make bread. I'm gonna get so fat. Security in marriage, I'm tellin' ya.<br />
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Psalm 37:4<br />
"Abide in me and I will give you the desires of your heart." Beaut.<br />
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P.S ~ I have to figure out how to learn Russian from here on out ON MY OWN. Guess who is always going to sound foreign?<br />
P.P.S ~ Watched the movie "Morning Glory" which I didn't actually want to see initially because it didn't look interesting but Moozh has a crush on Rachel McAdams. She's super cute in the movie and actually redeemed it a little bit for me. But most of all the movie had a great soundtrack. Newton Faulkner, Corrine Bailey Rae and The Weepies. I freakin' LOVE THE WEEPIES. And this song kind of makes me 'weepy' (no seriously awesome right?!) but it's super relevant to my mind right now.<br />
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"Well I ask, doesn't anything stay the same.<br />
No, No, No<br />
Just same changes."<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/MwFo9hecDY4?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-56085477082546507022011-09-10T19:54:00.000-07:002011-09-10T19:54:22.573-07:00"I worshipped at the altar of romantic completion." Donald MillerThe magical clafaoutis fairy struck again the other night. We missed some friend's birthdays during the course of the summer so going to their house for dinner last night, I whipped up an impromptu birthday cake-clafoutis. No cherries this time but I had some beautifully firm nectarines that were begging to be thinly sliced and arranged in a way that was impressive in a baking dish. I added some rum to the batter as the JoC suggested as well as WAY too much vanilla extract. No bigs though because it was delicious. The clafoutis puffs up in the oven and the angular nectarines looked like mountains, with purply-red freckled peels poking up from the bronzed custard. It was a win. If you ever think to yourself, "I want to make an impressive dessert but I only know how to make a smoothie," clafoutis is for you. As for crepe batter, whizzing the batter in a blender produces a frothy, aerated batter that is beautiful and fluffy.<br />
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Went for a kick ass bike ride around the Sea Wall with mah fave Beej. "September is the New July" is a common sentiment in Bankybear right now because July was seriously bummed out and I've gotten a tan to rival the tan I received in the tropics. An "Indian Summer" we called it in the Beef Province. Warm long days that slither to a perfect evening, lounging in fuchsia and yellow along the horizon line. Thus, the beaches are BUMPIN' and all the kids that are back in school are feeling gipped. All of these things considered, the bike ride today was that which you write home about, which is what I'm trying to do here I guess. My legs kicked ass over every bridge and hefty hill that came my way and there was this majestic breeze that was just present enough to cool my sweaty bod while still maintaining the glory of a hot summer day. My bicey, who is presently unnamed, gave it a really good go but bummed out right after we trouped over the bridge headed home. It did so, about six blocks away from home so not bad and I had my pocket bike genius (Beej) with me so all was well. The Sea Wall is mega fun though. It's breathtakingly scenic and if you make time to do 'victory pictures' where you lift your bike over your head as Beej and I did, it definitely makes the 'Awesome Category'. Don't worry, I wore a helmet and I was really only going as fast as one of those <a href="http://ak1.ostkcdn.com/images/products/3/P11537904.jpg">Fisher Price motorized cars</a>. I used all the road signals I learned in Girl Guides and, in lieu of no bike bell, I screamed "on your left!" at regular intervals.<br />
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Life is fun right now, if life is only relaxed and in a fair routine. Moozh and I saw a sign that said, "Wine is proof that God wants us to be very happy" attributed to Benjamin Franklin. Apparently, this is erroneous but I don't care because it kicks ass. I also like the one from Virginia Woolf: "One cannot think well, love well, sleep well if one has not dined well." I am doing all the above with high achievement lately :)<br />
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My bronze-bodied culinarian is making me risotto right now and it smells so profound I am overwhelmed in this moment by the beauty of marriage. Hope y'all are eating and loving well. Mwah!Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1851782304085333820.post-90578071528080577902011-09-06T21:43:00.000-07:002011-09-06T21:43:45.672-07:00"The fabric of your flesh, as pure as a wedding dress…"I've been listening to "Howl" by Florence and the Machine for probably a half an hour. It's like when I listen to "One" by U2 and Mary J. Blige. I'm pulling a Mary J, ya know breakin' it down. Moozh always get a hefty laugh out of that because he doesn't understand the fierce bitch inside me, all locked up inside an awkward white girl. All good. At least Florence is white too. She's a ginger even! But the beats in her music matched with her howling (Ha! No pun…well yeah pun intended), practically rearranges my heartbeat. And makes me want to take my shoes off and dance on the lawn. And we have to share our lawn. Awkward.<br />
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Moozh and I took in the sunset last night playing chess and having wine and bread for dinner. Because we can. And because I grew up on the prairies and I always feel a little bit guilty when I don't take advantage of the waterfront, especially when the sun is OUT. It has been remarkably sunny lately, I will concede.<br />
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And because it sounds like a cool thing to do. There I said it. Sigh.<br />
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Made soup and popovers for dinner from the Moosewood cookbook lent to me by a lovely new friend. We swapped cookbooks after we had had too much wine. It's the female version of "I love you man."<br />
"Make this cake. Oh my gawd, it's so good. But it's so easy. Seriously, I'm not kidding."<br />
And so I did. No cake yet, but "Gypsy Soup". It just kinda sounds like I'd want to eat it. And popovers are always yummy. LIke puffy muffins. Puffy muffin biscuits. Puffinscuits…..new word.<br />
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I found this blog called "<a href="http://www.thedaybookblog.com/">The Daybook</a>" through Pinterest. She taught some of my first Photoshop photo processing. But she has this fun portion called "Awesome and Awkward" where you categorize what happened in your day. My days would be a tad one-sided methinks. IN THE AWESOME CATEGORY. Obviously.<br />
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Here goes:<br />
Awesome -<br />
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<ul><li>Handing out resumes like I was on a paper route. Let's get us a fine job!</li>
<li>I didn't get beaten at chess every round last night. I never won but I managed enough stalemates to stay above water. </li>
<li>We saw someone walking their dog on the beach and the dog was a dead ringer for <a href="http://images.wikia.com/liloandstich/images/3/39/17_lilo_und_stitch_500_375_The_Disney_Channel.jpg">Stitch</a> from Lilo and Stitch. It made me seriously want one. I think it's a <a href="http://www.pluspets.net/wp-content/uploads/2010/07/French-Bulldog2.jpg">French Bulldog</a>. "I got a dog! It's a collie…that was hit by a truck." Cutester. </li>
</ul><br />
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Awkward -<br />
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<ul><li>When it gets hot my hair gets all droopy and my bangs look like Nick Carter from The Backstreet Boys. You know, when the 90's where the 90's (said with a serious sad face). </li>
<li>Standing in my pyjamas in the sunlight pouring through our front windows, drinking my coffee and being thankful when a painter who's here because our building is being painted walks past my window and stares at me in my pjs. Awkward. </li>
<li>Giving people the 'death stare' when they stand in my way as I wait for the crosswalk. There is no way I could be in that much of a hurry. </li>
</ul><br />
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Happy September! Hope everyone had a nice Labor Day long weekend. I realized today…that it was yesterday. This is what happens when you're unemployed. You have absolutely no need to keep track of time. Unless you have to volunteer at a farm.<br />
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Question for today: What would your ideal meal be? Ritzy? Chill? Alone? With company?<br />
I know mine would be a loaf of crusty bread, a chunk of cheese, a bottle of wine and my Moozh. I could eat this meal on the side of a highway and would still be beyond content. Mmm-mmm.Brihttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11055401203691593522noreply@blogger.com2