"I'm Ethan Tremblay and I'm your husband's best friend."

 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. 

I've posted some baking escapades over on The Oven Wall. Truffles, chocolate shops and my hatred of eclairs. 

How 'bout some pictures?

Pretty much crazy about these glasses. Anthropologie. Eeee. 

I want this hair on my head RIGHT NOW. I found this blog called Fuck Yeah Hair 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. 

Lemon and mixed olive tapenade. 

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. 

You see the creme brûlée tarts? Far right? Booyah.

 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. 

I'm taking my camera out for documentation sake tomorrow regardless. 

Song of the day: Little Black Sandals by Sia

Monday, September 26, 2011

"The whole world's wrong and that's what's the matter." Thorton Wilder

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 vegemite to marmite. Big mistake. (Also: I have been introduced to the Australian 'Milo' and no other chocolatey, malty drink will ever do again. Thank you Tania.)

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. 

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. 

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. 

**These are the things that will begin to creep into my blog at more regular intervals. My apologies in advance.

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. 

Anyway, I'm feeling depressed because of the rain and that is why my thoughts are more disorganized than usual. 

L'Chaim.

Thursday, September 15, 2011

"Listen to the mustn'ts then listen close to me. Anything can happen, child, anything can be." Shel Silverstein

I 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.

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.

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 movement 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.

I'm feeling it's a Simple Daybook kind of day because my days are all over the place lately.
FOR TODAY
Outside my window… Rain. Blech. It's fall. But I bought in and had pumpkin spice latte yesterday. I'm a sucker.
I'm thinking...
I'm thankful…
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.
In the kitchen…Newly baked caraway rye artisan bread. Win!
I am wearing…new skinnies and a tank with wooden beads. It's a mix of weather appropriate wear.
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'!
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.
I am wondering…how I'm going to handle 'bakers hours'. 4 o'clock starts. Whoa.
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.
I am hoping…to spend tomorrow afternoon buried in some writing.
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.
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.
Around the house…a half finished baby blanket. Moozh's beer training book. The carnage left over from making bread.
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…..
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.

Friday, June 3, 2011

"Sing out loud, gonna get back Honey. Sing out loud, get away with me…"

Jesus is my best friend.

Last night at small group each of us prayed for a 'simple blessing' that we wanted to ask the Lord for. Some people asked for new clothes, some people asked for a nice bottle of wine (we're mostly all students so we have really simple pleasures). Me, I asked for a sunny day. It was the simplest, most rewarding gift I could think of. And guess what? Today. Was. Awwwwweesome. I was, with all of the other wheedling Bankybear-ites who have been so deprived from Vit D, out on the beach in my bathing suit. Sunglasses, the smell of sunscreen and the glistening condensation on the side of iced drinks peppered the lawn. One of my favourite things to do is to lay back in the grass and read. The wind was just cool enough and the sky was cloudless. On my run, I was brought to near tears because I was SO happy. In so many words, I loved today. And God is good.

We have such great friends. This week Matt and I had dinner with a couple different friends of ours. They each had us over for dinner and made a point of mentioning celebration that I got into my program. So sweet! I have fallen so in love with many of the friends that the Lord has brought into Matt and I's life. So many diverse people with so many different gifts and passions and going after many different things but each of them have been such a blessing to us.

I fly out to Cowtown a week from tomorrow. Whoooa! I feel like I've been anticipating this for months and now it is nearly upon me! We're getting everything sorted out with packing and tickets. I have my outfits for the weddings. Moozh and I are figuring out our emcee magic for my sister's wedding. Lots to do but I'm so excited to head out and have time with my families. My sister in law's lingerie shower is tomorrow so I will be sending her positive vibes.

I love tats! Check this one out. So beautiful and intricate. Found it on Pinterest.

Another great song. She has such a beautiful, simple voice.

Also check out The Golden Age by The Asteroids Galaxy. It's on a Heineken commercial right now which is how I found it but she's adorable and it gets stuck in my head every time.

I found this on Pinterest too. I love the quote. It just keeps spinning in my head.

Saying Images

I hope it is sunny where you are and that you have a slurpee in your hand. If you don't have the latter, rectify that.

P.S ~ Book of the Moment: Green Grass, Running Water by Thomas King.

P.P.S ~ I've decided that I'm going as Rooney Mara as Lisbeth Salander from Girl with the Dragon Tattoo for Halloween. Kick ass character. Bitchin' style. Rooney Mara had her lip, eyebrow, nose and nipple pierced for REAL for the role. Commitment.

W Magazine

Monday, March 21, 2011

"I wear my hair frizzy. I don't copy no style."

Oh bloggity blog. I am sorry you have taken such a back seat during this process. It is only my brain in on the verge of explosion. I promise I'll give you some tender lovin' care this weekend. Because of course, this weekend will be post-creative writing deadline and Moozh is away for the weekend. I will be consoling myself by distracting myself with bread, blogs and knitting.

I am rather conflicted about Vancouver right now. It has been distinctively ugly outside for the past month. It was nicer before Christmas. And all of the El Nina blah blah blah is leaving me cold. I always end up wearing the stupidest things on those days, usually involving silly shoes and no pants, and thus I am grumpy all day. But then yesterday, and here is my beef, it was freakin' resplendent outside! The sun was out and kickin' it. There were birds and small children playing. There was not a cloud in the sky. It was still a bit nippy, it still being March and all but there was something about the sun being out that made me feel (foolishly) hopeful. And all if the Bankybear-ites muttered 'Stupid foreigner". I am not feeling emotionally overwhelmed or morbidly depressed but I am sick of the rain. And everybody says, 'Well, duh.'

From here until when I get my creative writing portfolio away from myself and into the hands of who matters, I will be a little crazed. But once that happens, I am eager to get back to the things that do not stress me out. Summer term is going to be really great. I'm taking a class on Modern Jewish history which I'm stoked for.

Any suggestions for some great reading? I starting on the Handmaid's Tale by Atwood but I would love to have some more suggestions for some new reading to lead me into summer.

Tuesday, November 30, 2010

"Me, I want a hoooola-hooop!"

O....kay.

I am running to the theme from 'Chariots of Fire' right now. Friday is but a couple sleeps, being in public with bedhead and at least one more meltdown away. So close I could hit it in a burping contest. My teachers have done dangerous things like extending deadlines and making classes optional. A week from today I'll be squinting over somebody asking me who in my family usually washes the dishes. In RUSSIAN. The next day, I will be talking about which Classical Athenian tyrant said compassion is a weakness. And then finally, the very next day, when I forget that my socks don't go on the outside of my shoes and that I have to peel the orange first, I will write a research proposal and orchestrate secondary sources in an hour. Or at least I'm told I will. But by five o'clock this next Thursday, I will usher in a long awaited stint in which I never get out of my pajamas. I will sing "Christmas Don't be Late" in a style authentic to Alvin and the Chipmunks and surf The Phillip DeFranco Show until I fall asleep in a chair.

But UNTIL then! I've noticed I get really exaggerative when I get tired of something. But that's okay because that will make me a writer capable of capitalizing on my unemployment. Zing!

If you could work for anyone in your field, who would it be?

I would pretty much die if I ever met Margaret Atwood so she's probably a bad choice. I thought maybe Audrey Niffenegger but I think I'm liking her stuff less and less as I read it. I would have to say Anita Diamant because she has transformed the way I write. The Red Tent, favourite book ever. Day after Night probably second favourite book ever. (Did I mention I exaggerate?) Her books made me read through Genesis again and become morbidly obsessed with reading books concerning the Holocaust. She is die-worthy as well so I would have to get myself under control first but I would sit in awe of her Jewishness probably perpetually. Then I would tell her I didn't really like Good Harbour.

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

"How did we get here? I used to know you so well..."

Describe the plot of the next book you want to read, even if the book doesn't exist yet.

Oh books. No fun books for my brain right now. My only books are ones I don't really like. Such as "The World of Athens: Religion, Politics and Gender in Fifth Century Athens". Slain.

The second half of this question also makes me slightly terrified because it's....like, my job. If I could explain the bronchial network of plots in my mind, I would already be published. But there are books out there that aren't written yet that I would like to read, that I might even like to write.

Matt and I have decided that we are going to accomplish a "100 Books to Read Before you Die" list or some variant thereof. I've never read War and Peace. Matt is shocked (and slightly offended) that I've never read Meditations by Marcus Aurelius yet. Matt's never read "The Things They Carried". We haven't agreed on a list yet. I don't want to read through Esquire's "75 Books Ever Man Should Read" because it's slightly...partisan. Not that I have a problem with "dude books" but I feel the list was not representative. And I don't want to read Norman Mailer.

I almost gave into the "Girl with a Dragon Tattoo" to-do but I read the intro to the first book and I realize why it's so popular. It's a Dan Brown book. No disrespect, that man's made himself a comfy living but it's a similar kind of book. Action packed and accessible.

But there are a lot of books that seem to overlap these 'read it before you make a fool of yourself publicly' lists. But many of them not a lot of people have read. They are just those books that aren't lazy day, read them and fall asleep wearing your bathing suit books. My stage play teacher told me "Girl with a Dragon Tattoo" is such a book.

The books that make it on to lists like that are books that get into your brain. They get into your eyes and what you see. They get into your speak and how you talk.

I want to read either "Orlando" or "Mrs. Dalloway" by Virginia Woolf. After I watched "The Hours" I became inordinately obsessed with Virginia Woolf. I think she is powerful. In Orlando, a young man is metamorphosed into a woman and lives indefinitely through the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. In my year at Mt. Royal we studied just a small portion of Orlando. It's totally weird and but it's supposed to be Woolf's most accessible novel. Not that I'm concerned with accessibility (see above).

And there's a movie with Tilda Swinton!

P.S ~ Did you know I've never read "Life of Pi"?!

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