Things That Are Tacky and/or Trashy pt.1

Animal print:

When used sparingly, it can be fun. On some people. However on most people, and/or when used more often than one uses the tredmill that you got and swore you would use but it is such a pain to drag out from under the bed and unfold and by the time you do there's only five minutes before you have to go to work and then it just sits there for a week and a half awkwardly in the way but you can't put it away until you use it and then you will have gotten it out for nothing and yet all that happens is it gathers paraphernalia that people are too lazy to put away but want to remember like unmatched orphan socks and dirty coffee cups when the sink is too far away and that sweater you spilled the coffee on and needed a place to lay it out so the spray n' wash has time to really soak in, then the animal print is clearly a mistake. Look at your closet. If there is enough animal print in there that you could wear an outfit entirely made out of animal print, then you have too much. If you can wear an animal print ensamble and still have pieces left over, you are probably a hooker. If any of it is in unnatural colours, you probably had a very rough childhood.

Also see: Faux Fur

Exceptions: Drag Queens (They have enough flair to pull off pretty much anything.)

All this happened, more or less.

I am having such an itching to buy books. I haven't been to a used bookstore in ages. It was that urge that engouraged me to update my Goodreads booklist. Which of course reminded me of the list of authors to acquire I have. Naturally I ended up with ten different tabs open, cross referencing and comparing prices versus shipping charges.

Naturally I then chickened out because money is money. So I am left with an empty feeling and a burning desire to read about Prague and the Dalai Lama. Every time I turn around there is another entry for my list. There's not enough time in the day to buy all the books I need -- much less enough time for actually reading them.

Of course dwelling on those lists brought me to whistfully read my other lists. Things to grow, books I already own, air filtering plants, movies to see, projects in the queue... The faux-excel in Google Docs has resulted in a ridiculous number of lists for me.

Among my current projects is building a bookcase, building plant stands, and finding a haircut. Even though I know that I will probably start growing my hair out again immediately I still want a change. I've wanted it awhile, but I still haven't found a style I like. It's a hard decision, especially considering I haven't had a haircut since 1999.

I wish I had more activity to report, aside from an antsy feeling that I should be doing something. I miss my cats. Next year I will have an adorable Jewish couple for landlords. I want to pierce my ears again. I might have a job. It's another retail slave job, but it is something. Oh, and I want goats and chickens when I have a real home. Fresh eggs and cheese. At least, in theory if I find out how to deal with farm animals.

Douglas Adams Is in my Brain

I'm back in the college town after a sojourn in the tourist trap, and life is dull. Nice, but dull.

Paul: "I've been playing Metal Gear for almost two days."

Me: "It has been two days. 42 hours is two days."

Paul: "What? No, two days is 48."

Me: "No it's.. it is 48. What's 42? Why did I think 42?"

Paul: "I don't kn--"

Me: "Oh wait, 42 is the answer to the Universe. Nevermind."

Paul: *stares quizzically*

Days consist of clawing my way toward employment, evenings I hang out with Paul. As he plays Metal Gear Online, I surf the internet. Or we read. It's like we're already a stodgy geriatric couple. A technologically adept geriatric couple.

Yassas Palm Sunday!

Happy Palm Sunday! Happy Catholic Easter!
I feel like I have been living very biblically lately. Lentils and spinach on a bagel for lunch. Peanut butter tofu, figs, and diet sugar-free root beer for dinner. Oy with the poodles already. I need to eat something that was once mobile of its own accord.
In other news, I have two-plus weeks of hell all lined up. Two large papers, two (maybe three) big presentations, and a ridiculous amount of research. Plus at least three other finals. Am I complaining? Heck yes I am complaining! This stinks.
But there isn't too much left. I just have to buckle down and endure. Job did alright in the end, didn't he? I honestly don't know. I'll probably find out. Funnily enough, one of my thesis topics is actually regarding the Bible. Alas. I soldier on.

Lenten Food Extravaganza

So right now I am sitting at the computer, trying to think of things to say about Tver in Russian, eating a giant pile of spinach and lentils. They are pretty good, but I am intensely craving something savory. The no-meat diet leaves me snacking like crazy for lack of satisfying proteins. It would be fine if only I had more vegan resources.
In other news, I was recently up until 5 am making very detailed versions of planters that I want to build. All to scale and such. I just need a toolkit. And wood. And a job so I can buy tools and wood. And room to put the planter.

Dr. Strangediversion

or How I learned to stop worrying and love L-- is that a steak??
Lent began on the first of March. So far I have done pretty well, albeit a little unbalancedly. I started out abstaining from meat and dairy, with exceptions for 2% milk (bc I need to drink more milk) and healthy fish fillets (to encourage healthy habits and avoid living off discount chili). For spring break though, I was at home, where they were doing no-meat only with no fish allowances. So I swapped, which was a nice change.
It always gets easier the longer that one is on Lent. Eventually when Lent is over, it takes a while to get used to eating meat again. The best thing about Lent though, is that it makes cooking more active. Finding recipies, preparing meals. It's no longer a matter of just microwaving a hot dog or eating a block of cheese like one normally would when dinner comes around.
So far my mom and I made veggie lasagna from scratch, baked chili relleno, and a bunch of salads. I have been eating pineapple on everything as a condiment. Fish becomes more versatile and food feels more interesting.
And yet, today my mom and I lustily watched a man eat a hamburger a few tables away at a local pizza place.

Life in a Bento Box

So, Japan. A possible new adventure for the gentleman and I. Gentleman, mind you. Just the one. Though there are many places I would rather go, namely eastern Europe, I am coming around to the idea of Asia. After talking to people about it who have known me for awhile we've generally come to the same conclusion; Japan doesn't represent something fabled and new to me. I grew up around and among Asians of varied heritage. Asia is not a vast, unexplored frontier. Asia is a place like most others (in that every place is different) that happens to like things very small. That has a lot of irking potential since I am very attached to furniture and space.
However, the worst part? Not the bathrooms. I can [maybe] adjust if I end up with a strange bathroom. Those are usually somewhat western at this point. The thing I fear most is the kitchen. No oven? Small, almost camp-style cooktop? Little counter space? Tiny fridge?? How do I use that?
I hope to be able to use Ikea to solve a lot of my problems. Alton Brown (May he live forever) has always been a fan of multi0taskers. I should light a candle at my Good Eats altar and ask for guidance...