My chest feels like it's about to explode. No seriously, not joking, it really does. Does any one have those random moments of intense pain where they feel like they might die or some thing and in reality they probably just need to drink some water? That's me right now, except I can't drink any water because I can't move...at least I can type and if you are going to be stuck in pain any where for a period of time what better place than at your keyboard with your blog, face book and nba.com as your tabs when you get distracted, and some good tunes.
I probably feel this way because I ate nothing but muffins for dinner and then came home and drank some beers - but this is not entirely my fault. Amongst other things since I have last blogged, I've joined a cooking class. I really am an active person when I'm not experiencing intense chest pain. The class was ridiculously expensive but my parents agreed to pay for it seeing as I eat rather poorly (mostly from laziness rather than lack of skill but a beginner cooking class couldn't hurt right?) Even though I failed cooking twice in high school, and by fail I mean dropped out, I decided to give it another chance thinking I might meet some new people in Boston. But sure enough, just like high school there are no interesting people, no lack of awkward people, and just because I know one of my readers will appreciate this (you know who you are) - a real lack of hot girls (I have determined that the hot girl perception of cooking class is obviously false at this point, or maybe this was just my perception) - although this is not why I joined. I do want to learn some real skills, but instead tonight we were taught how to make muffins. I cannot see anything less important than muffins. Even learning how to make a Indonesian salad (does this exist?) would have been better but instead I had 9 muffins and some beers for dinner and now feel awful. But enough about this nonsense - lot's of stuff has been going on for me.
Two week ends ago I got to go on my first business trip. We went to Chicago and had a pretty good time. I might write about this later but it really is it's own story and might require some thinking about appropriateness. But I went to Vermont this last week end and got to see a few friends, play golf, play paint ball - which was fun but also scares the shit out of me, celebrate mother's day, and renew an old tennis rivalry with a close friend. Just a quick note there, we both played awful, but at least I broke my strings before we even started playing and I played with two broken strings as an excuse--> Best quote from the match from my friend: "yeah. I'm definitely having a meltdown - but you're gonna ride this one out with me until the end" --> which I did as I nervously lost all faith in my swing with two strings down. Just like I would have in my college tennis meltdown days (and I still didn't come to net).
Favourite current phrases:
"Off the record..." --and then you can insert anything you want, the possibilities are limitless. What a great expression!
"Schlitzed/schlitzing" --as in the lower quality beer known as schlitz, or as I like to say: the "schlitz." It sounds like some Yidish word but to me seems like a funny way to say hammered - as in "Let's get schlitzed tonight...or: "last night I was schlitzing so hard." Take it or leave it I think it's great
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Matzo: Not a grain to be found in JP
Already having missed the annual passover Seder this year as I was in Minnesota for the MAC alumni match, I felt some thing was lacking. I decided to buy some Matzo at Harvest Coop. a place with stuff for everyone and hippies. But guess what, they ran out of Matzah and said they would be getting some soon. Because I am trying to keep the tradition, didn't want to eat non-passover cereal, and didn't have any Matzah I skipped breakfast that day. I have been struggling ever since with out the patented staple of this holiday.
A brief interlude here: I did have Matzo pizza with pepperonis (cheese & meat + pork) and clam chowder (clams) during Passover earlier this year and while this may seem contradictory since, as you will see, I have gone to great lengths to get Matzo. I love many pork products and don't really see eye to eye with the oral tradition as opposed to here with the sacrifice of bread which is more the cultural tradition.
Anyways, where was I? Oh yeah, so I went to the Stop N Stop and they were all out too and told me that they didn't think this demographic existed here, it's more for Hispanics they tell me. This is a huge grocery store with just about everything! They tell me to check the Stop N Shop in Brooklyn. So I venture in to CVS not too far down the block, don't ask my what I was thinking, and I interupt a long line to ask the lady at the register, a young Latina women. She calls out over the inter-com and asks if they have any "Ma-s-o" (I even spelled it out and tried to describe it) as she calls it and then: "it's a brand of cracker." So now I am embarresed in front of this whole line of waiting people and of course they do not have "this" brand of cracker. After 3 days with no Matzo I go back to Harvest today and they still don't have any. "Funny you should ask the grocery person tells me, every one has been coming in here and there isn't any." Huh no wonder - there actually are Jews that exist in JP, or just a bunch of Hippie cracker eating mo fos. Also, usually when people want some thing at a grocery store and there are enough people asking for it, don't they get it right away??!! Any who,this lady tells me there will be more crackers in Friday and asks is there any other brand of cracker she could get me?
This type of thing never happened in Vermont where there are far fewer Jews. I really don't understand it. The annoying Stop N Shop lady was right, I should have prepared before the holliday - just never thought it would be a problem. Looks like I'm going to have to go to Brooklyn for a freaking piece of Matzo, or maybe I'll just get some crackers and forget about the whole thing.
A brief interlude here: I did have Matzo pizza with pepperonis (cheese & meat + pork) and clam chowder (clams) during Passover earlier this year and while this may seem contradictory since, as you will see, I have gone to great lengths to get Matzo. I love many pork products and don't really see eye to eye with the oral tradition as opposed to here with the sacrifice of bread which is more the cultural tradition.
Anyways, where was I? Oh yeah, so I went to the Stop N Stop and they were all out too and told me that they didn't think this demographic existed here, it's more for Hispanics they tell me. This is a huge grocery store with just about everything! They tell me to check the Stop N Shop in Brooklyn. So I venture in to CVS not too far down the block, don't ask my what I was thinking, and I interupt a long line to ask the lady at the register, a young Latina women. She calls out over the inter-com and asks if they have any "Ma-s-o" (I even spelled it out and tried to describe it) as she calls it and then: "it's a brand of cracker." So now I am embarresed in front of this whole line of waiting people and of course they do not have "this" brand of cracker. After 3 days with no Matzo I go back to Harvest today and they still don't have any. "Funny you should ask the grocery person tells me, every one has been coming in here and there isn't any." Huh no wonder - there actually are Jews that exist in JP, or just a bunch of Hippie cracker eating mo fos. Also, usually when people want some thing at a grocery store and there are enough people asking for it, don't they get it right away??!! Any who,this lady tells me there will be more crackers in Friday and asks is there any other brand of cracker she could get me?
This type of thing never happened in Vermont where there are far fewer Jews. I really don't understand it. The annoying Stop N Shop lady was right, I should have prepared before the holliday - just never thought it would be a problem. Looks like I'm going to have to go to Brooklyn for a freaking piece of Matzo, or maybe I'll just get some crackers and forget about the whole thing.
Tuesday, April 8, 2008
The Organics Movement
One thing I have learned a little bit about at my job is the organics movement. It is an interesting parallel that has happened there with everything in this country, and really in the world, with consolidation. Check out this video if you get a chance:
http://www.msu.edu/~howardp/OrganicIndustry.mov
I have conflicted feelings about the movement. On the one hand, I can definitely see the value to eating fewer chemicals, decreasing health risks for producers and consumers, and a better quality product in general I think. I also think the price is too expensive for me to actually afford to start buying all organic foods. So I chose eggs for now. On the other hand, I think people may be overly obsessed with organics (see the blog "stuff white people like") in a crazy way that doesn't always make sense. Just because some thing's organic doesn't make it better and doesn't mean that the person producing it was a farmer in overalls wearing a classic yellow hat. People just associate organics with small producers, economic empowerment, healthy food, and other ideas which are not necessarily true (unless you are one of the thousands of yuppy soccer moms now shopping at Whole Foods). So many supporters come off as self righteous too and make it seem like this is the most important ethical decision one can make. Some times I feel like I'm not radical enough for this job.
http://www.msu.edu/~howardp/OrganicIndustry.mov
I have conflicted feelings about the movement. On the one hand, I can definitely see the value to eating fewer chemicals, decreasing health risks for producers and consumers, and a better quality product in general I think. I also think the price is too expensive for me to actually afford to start buying all organic foods. So I chose eggs for now. On the other hand, I think people may be overly obsessed with organics (see the blog "stuff white people like") in a crazy way that doesn't always make sense. Just because some thing's organic doesn't make it better and doesn't mean that the person producing it was a farmer in overalls wearing a classic yellow hat. People just associate organics with small producers, economic empowerment, healthy food, and other ideas which are not necessarily true (unless you are one of the thousands of yuppy soccer moms now shopping at Whole Foods). So many supporters come off as self righteous too and make it seem like this is the most important ethical decision one can make. Some times I feel like I'm not radical enough for this job.
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
A plug for E.E.
Equal Exchange's recent trip to Chiapas. I know this is some what self-promoting advertising, but I feel like this will give you a better idea of where I work.
Sunday, March 30, 2008
Wings and Spaghetti
I've been learning a lot lately since moving to Boston and adjusting to full-time work and actually cooking more than Macaroni and Cheese. Two nights ago I learned that spaghetti, believe it or not, is actually flammable. Yeah, you probably already knew that, and I should have. I should probably say also that I haven't really upgraded that much from Mac & Cheese since that night I was making plain spaghetti and tomatoe sauce, come to think of it, that really is no upgrade so maybe I haven't really changed and I still suck at cooking. Anyways, I put half a box of spaghetti (which was way too much for just me) in, for no particular reason except laziness and lack of thinking, a tiny pot thinking I could just push it down after it got soft. Instead, a good amount of the spaghetti leaning over the edge cut on fire (I don't really pay attention when I'm waiting for things to boil). Needless to say burnt spaghetti is not a delicacy of any country that I know of. Just to further point out my ineptitude at cooking, I tried to steam challets the other night (don't ask how or why I got challets) and realized after 20 minutes of steaming that that didn't actually accomplish any thing.
On a completely different note, I went out the other night with my new friend who's a lesbian. We were going bowling (every thing's candle stick around here) and couldn't get a lane so we went to get drinks instead. She recognized some one and then two other girls came who knew the first girl. All the sudden it was just me a four lesbians and I was serving as wing man to my friend. It was very awkward also considering I just met this friend. How do I get myself in these situations? Maybe more importantly, why do I blog about these embarrassing things? I'm not sure if it makes me feel better to get it out or to know that at least I might be giving a few laughs to some friends.
On a completely different note, I went out the other night with my new friend who's a lesbian. We were going bowling (every thing's candle stick around here) and couldn't get a lane so we went to get drinks instead. She recognized some one and then two other girls came who knew the first girl. All the sudden it was just me a four lesbians and I was serving as wing man to my friend. It was very awkward also considering I just met this friend. How do I get myself in these situations? Maybe more importantly, why do I blog about these embarrassing things? I'm not sure if it makes me feel better to get it out or to know that at least I might be giving a few laughs to some friends.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Check Engine Light is on
This might not be interesting to any body but me but I feel like raving about my car for a minute. I am so pissed off at Wendy (I never should have named my Corolla either or any car for that matter- for people who do this - it is stupid), today this tomorrow that. Let me give you a short 1-2 year history of my luck (rather dismal luck) with my car which by the way is only 8 years old, which for the following summary, is remarkable.
-Two days ago I was driving and parking my car when I either ran over some glass or hit the curb going very slowly and my wheel just popped (lost all air) completely. I almost put the rescue donut on without professional help but couldn't get the tire off because of the rust. Triple A comes and taps it with a big log and the problem is fixed at a discount of $25 (the tow would have been terrible). On a side note, maybe I should start carrying one of those big logs around except it would get annoying when each of my passengers asks: "what's the big log for?"
-That wasn't actually so bad. What was, was driving home from Minnesota this past summer and having a deer run in to my car at 2 in the morning in Michigan after a 12 hour drive. I'm not sure but I think the deer was more destroyed than my $2000 damaged car whose door who would no longer close and whose shell was sprayed with deer blood and hair.
-Two windows smashed and two stereos systems jacked while at school
-Pebble or some small rock hitting my windshield while I was driving creating a small whole that I ignore for several weeks until the crack spreads across my entire wind shield and I am forced to pay for a pricey replacement.
-Sitting in a car line waiting to get tickets to skiing last winter in Minnesota and the car in front of me backs right in to me for no particular reason as I lay on the horn wondering what the hell he's thinking. Another big damage but luckily he took responsibility.
-Driving down 94 last year when my car hood decides it wants to suddenly shoot up, completely bend in to the frame of the car, and blind 99% of my vision while driving 70 on a highway. Not only was this terrifying but it also cost another $1000 in repairs.
-Every trip I've taken since school (New York, Boston, Pitt.) I've had some repair some minor (serpentine belt) and some major (new clutch - even though I only had 65,000k) and basically my dad, whose anger is renewed each time these things happen, thinks I am entirely to blame. I also have gotten two parking tickets and one towing since moving to Boston - this is probably mostly my fault except that they are crazy here about that stuff.
Now the lesson here is that I probably shouldn't be driving. But I disagree - I'm not a bad driver and I'm not causing accidents but at the same time, could all of this stuff really happen to one person in the period of less than two years? Besides some other things that I think I am forgetting and an equally scary array of things from the previous period of two years, having my "check engine light" go off today might be one of the last straws. I don't even care if the light is just screwed up (like my E-brake which for some reason is always on now).
-Two days ago I was driving and parking my car when I either ran over some glass or hit the curb going very slowly and my wheel just popped (lost all air) completely. I almost put the rescue donut on without professional help but couldn't get the tire off because of the rust. Triple A comes and taps it with a big log and the problem is fixed at a discount of $25 (the tow would have been terrible). On a side note, maybe I should start carrying one of those big logs around except it would get annoying when each of my passengers asks: "what's the big log for?"
-That wasn't actually so bad. What was, was driving home from Minnesota this past summer and having a deer run in to my car at 2 in the morning in Michigan after a 12 hour drive. I'm not sure but I think the deer was more destroyed than my $2000 damaged car whose door who would no longer close and whose shell was sprayed with deer blood and hair.
-Two windows smashed and two stereos systems jacked while at school
-Pebble or some small rock hitting my windshield while I was driving creating a small whole that I ignore for several weeks until the crack spreads across my entire wind shield and I am forced to pay for a pricey replacement.
-Sitting in a car line waiting to get tickets to skiing last winter in Minnesota and the car in front of me backs right in to me for no particular reason as I lay on the horn wondering what the hell he's thinking. Another big damage but luckily he took responsibility.
-Driving down 94 last year when my car hood decides it wants to suddenly shoot up, completely bend in to the frame of the car, and blind 99% of my vision while driving 70 on a highway. Not only was this terrifying but it also cost another $1000 in repairs.
-Every trip I've taken since school (New York, Boston, Pitt.) I've had some repair some minor (serpentine belt) and some major (new clutch - even though I only had 65,000k) and basically my dad, whose anger is renewed each time these things happen, thinks I am entirely to blame. I also have gotten two parking tickets and one towing since moving to Boston - this is probably mostly my fault except that they are crazy here about that stuff.
Now the lesson here is that I probably shouldn't be driving. But I disagree - I'm not a bad driver and I'm not causing accidents but at the same time, could all of this stuff really happen to one person in the period of less than two years? Besides some other things that I think I am forgetting and an equally scary array of things from the previous period of two years, having my "check engine light" go off today might be one of the last straws. I don't even care if the light is just screwed up (like my E-brake which for some reason is always on now).
Saturday, March 1, 2008
There are pills in my fish
I was watching the news tonight (some thing I do rarely now that I don't have a t.v.) and to my horror I discovered that there's been a recall of Gortons frozen fish. Apparently some one in Pennsylvania found pills of some sort in their fish. Coincidentally, I had 6 frozen Gorton fish earlier this week and actually became very ill that night with a sore throat, irregular heart beat, and excessive sweating. I haven't felt good all week and it all made sense...until I realized that the 1,000 recalled frozen fish cases weighed 4 ounces less than the ones I got and the UPC code of mine was one digit off: narrowly escaped a bullet and coincidental got sick or is there some thing fishy going on with GORTONS?!!! (sorry, I couldn't resist the pun)
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