Melon Popsicle

little gaga

2010-12-12T19:23:00.000-08:00

Just a little sampling of how our little girl likes to talk - she's even more chatty than this, but seems to stop when a camera's around. I also thought that the second video is a pretty cute interaction between daddy and daughter.

the final countdown

2010-09-10T18:47:00.000-07:00

Starting Monday, this is my life anthem.

Apologies for the brief language. Also for the crazy fonts.

significant cookbooks, pt. 1

2010-07-26T21:26:00.000-07:00

Cooking is absolutely undoubtedly one of my favorite pastimes. And to be perfectly fair, I'd better broaden that to include most anything food-related. A conversation on a favorite food blog of mine, Serious Eats, had me trying desperately to remember what was the first cookbook I had bought with my own money. While I'm sure it will come to me eventually, all that reminiscing brought to mind a few influential cookbooks in my life. Here are three of them, with more sure to follow.

Walt Disney's Mickey Mouse Cook Book (revised and updated edition)

That bright pink cover instantly sends a wave of nostalgia through me. It was hanging around our home as long as I can remember, probably long before I arrived. The recipes in this book are rudimentary at best, and to be honest, I don't recall attempting that many of them. The ones I did try never seemed to turn out quite right; my impatient and slapdash nature was not conducive to making perfect curlicues out of carrot shavings.

But that didn't stop me from repeatedly poring over this book, learning all the variations on pancakes that the characters in Alice in Wonderland preferred (The Queen of Hearts likes hers with jelly, for example) and marveling at how Bambi and Thumper made such great-looking salads. This is also when I can first document my practice of reading cookbooks for fun, as each recipe had an anecdote to associate it with a Disney character, such as Winnie the Pooh enjoying custard or Sleeping Beauty dreaming about a spinning wheel-shaped donut. This book may not have gotten me cooking regularly, but it had me very badly wanting to cook, and to better understand it.

Nick Stellino's Glorious Italian Cooking
First things first, here: from this picture alone, it is clear that Nick Stellino owns you. He's wearing a cravat, for crying out loud. A cravat that matches his cherry red belt. And while it's not quite clear in the photo, he most assuredly has a handle bar mustache. That's quite a bit of awesome right there.

But more to the point, this cookbook is especially endeared to me as it is the first one my parents ever gave me. I'm pretty sure it was Christmas of either 1999 or 2000, when I was rather young still. I had never openly professed an interest in cooking, nor had I asked for a cookbook of any kind, but my parents were smart ones. When I became so enamored with a recipe printed in my sixth grade health book that I had to make it for my mom - it was a spinach frittata, for which I used far too much garlic - they took notice. And my dad was especially clever, as in the years to come, my annual Christmas cookbook gift was immediately followed by him selecting just which recipes I would make for him.

This book turned out to be quite a good one, to boot, and one that I still refer to today. Looking back, I'm surprised at how many of the recipes I attempted at a fairly young age, like apricot chicken, roasted pork loin, cantaloupe granita, and sauteed artichokes, which I believe was the first thing I ever made from the book. It was from Nick Stellino that I first encountered the recipe that I would eventually adapt and change to make my go-to pasta sauce, always available in a pinch. It was also from him that I added a shrimp and asparagus pasta to my arsenal, one that my mom still loves. I discovered new ingredients, like capers and shallots, and valuable techniques, like deglazing. Perhaps most importantly, Glorious Italian Cooking taught me not to be afraid of being flexible in the kitchen - don't have fresh herbs? Use dried! Chicken broth often works as a substitute for wine, or you could just leave it out all together. Its lack of pictures took the pressure off getting the food to look exactly right. I learned that though the results might not be the same, that didn't mean they wouldn't be good, which in turn made me more comfortable and intuitive in the kitchen.

How To Be A Domestic Goddess - Nigella Lawson

This was the first book of cookery I can recall making a request for, as I was infatuated with its author. Nigella's short-lived Nigella Bites television series completely enchanted me: the nonchalance about very gluttonous ingredients, the tight camera shots that I had not previously encountered on a cooking show, the end bit that always had her rummaging through her fridge at night to pull out an indulgent snack. Nigella made cooking and eating something glamorous and humorous.

The title of this book is a good example of that, and one of the reasons I wanted this book specifically. From it, I've discovered some real gems, like lemon syrup cake, pavlovas of all kinds, and my once infamous baklava muffins. I also embraced Nigella's attitude of looking at food more from the perspective of an eater - make your food as delicious as possible rather than as complicated as possible.

the heat, it's getting to me

2010-07-02T10:20:00.000-07:00

I was eating a shaved ice yesterday and for whatever reason Sam Wright performing "Hot Hot Hot" on "Sebastian's Caribbean Jamboree" VHS popped into my mind. Sadly, that video is not available on youtube, but this one was!

Also not available - a clip from a Law and Order episode in which Sam Wright guest-starred and performed a scene with Jerry Orbach. That's right, the voice of Sebastian and the voice of Lumiere together in one room.

However, I was able to find the original music video to "Hot Hot Hot", which served to remind me just how sleezy David Johansen aka Buster Pointdexter is, especially while throwing a lame and somewhat culturally offensive "fiesta" in a sequin jacket.

Also - is that Bill Murray mixing drinks? Or am I just falling victim to the same temptation that identified President Obama in "Whoomp...There It Is"?

lately

2010-06-26T09:40:00.000-07:00

Back in May, my grandfather passed away. He is truly one of the sweetest individuals, and I miss him.

Also in May, this little guy arrived with a FULL HEAD OF HAIR. Look at him! He's another adorable nephew, so kudos to my brother and his wife. No pressure on me to have a cute kid, of course.

Not too long ago spring term finished up, which - Halayloo! Now I can have somewhat of a break until fall arrives.

I happen to have put on roughly 15 pounds and am about six months or so along. My tummy feels stretched taut, and I can't believe that I'm actually supposed to get bigger. Sweet goodness.

Just yesterday I made a quiche with tuna, spinach, and parmesan, which made my mom very skeptical. She suggested I freeze a slice for her when she comes in July. In my defense, I was inspired to put tuna in a quiche from an Achievement Days activity from many moons ago, (or perhaps it was Mutual, but I don't think so,) when we brought some favorite family recipes. Sarah Homewood-by-way-of-Knowles brought in something she called "Tuna Pie" and I loved it.

2010-06-16T11:55:00.000-07:00

It's summer time!

also...

2010-05-03T20:40:00.000-07:00

An actual quote from my required reading for the evening:

"The intuitive brain is like an oversized retarded child playing with a bauble and mumbling incoherent phrases. [...] But within that moronic child lives the brilliant composer of dreams."

May I never write a textbook of any kind.

the time has come to

2010-05-03T19:23:00.000-07:00

Spring term. Two jobs. Crochet project. This is high gear kids.

a lesson in being bold

2010-04-12T14:45:00.000-07:00

"lotrllamaofdoom: Wow, this girl is really bad. She keeps laughing and making
the rest of the DC cast look bad."

Context for those of you reading this - This was a comment under a Youtube upload of a Divine Comedy sketch from last year. The "this girl" in question is me, my friends.

And to Lord of the Rings Llama of Doom - I have to say I agree with you.
I surely did keep laughing, and it brought down the energy and timing of the show. It's not fun for me watch, trust me.

And there was a time where this casual remark would have really gotten to me. I would have over-analyzed and fretted and concluded that Lord of the Doom Llama was 100% right, and that's the end-all be-all. Yup. Insecurity can be pretty crippling.

Sure I still have some, but I'm getting to the point where I'm far less harsh on myself. And one woman that helps me maintain that is Florence Foster Jenkins.

That saucy minx.

Flo J was an American soprano superstar, whose career culminated in a performance at Carnegie Hall only a month before she died. Only one thing - she was terrible. Like, astoundingly bad. Like, I'm not sure the T-Pain app on the iPhone would be of much help. Critically panned at every turn, Ms. Jenkins kept right on truckin', continuing to do what she loved. She is quoted as saying, "People may say I can't sing, but no one can ever say I didn't sing." Darn right.

And look where her tenacity and self-confidence got her - Carnegie Hall! Find me an operatic soprano today that doesn't have at least a mild aspiration to perform there.

So the lesson here: While we should be ever-watchful that we haven't become completely delusional, one can always benefit from a dose of "Forget you, critics. I'm doing what I love." It just so happens that I love to laugh

time to brag some

2010-04-07T14:26:00.000-07:00

This would be one of those times where Dustin would smirk at me making a remark about bragging and then I'd respond, "No, but seriously!" to which he would laugh outright. Thanks to him, I've become all too aware of how often I use the phrase "No, but seriously!" as a vain attempt to insert some sort of validity into what I say.

But seriously.
I've been really surprising myself lately. For example:

Surprise! I changed my blog layout. Not the most exciting thing, but hey, it's fun, right?

This is rather old, but my Reading and Constructing Narratives midterm? Try 100%, babe. And it's an essay test, not multiple choice. Feels good. I need that kind of momentum going into finals.

Now, Dustin and I have been earnestly trying to empty our freezer, so that it may be filled again once my parents arrive at the end of April. (Love you guys! And if you don't want to fill our freezer, that's fine!) This means two things: One, if you are hungry, please come over. I will happily seat an extra place for dinner. Two, I have become better than I ever expected at using strictly what I have in the home. Last night I used leftovers and scraps to create cheesy ham and potatoes, spinach souffle, and a green salad in lemon balsamic vinaigrette. What's more, it was all completely from scratch - no can o'condensed soup nonsense here. Go resourcefulness!

(And I'm serious about dinner. Send me a text and come on over.)

Finally, I am conquering bureaucracy, slowly but surely. Little old me - terrified of phone calls and such - has made appointments, persisted through hold music, and kept asking questions. It's just a matter of time before I get the Pell Grant money I was told I would get. And insurance? Psh. Under control.

Alright, enough bragging. They're really just a bunch of silly things, anyway. But why not celebrate the little victories, mon amies?

why i don't feel bad about buying a gripload of Easter candy

2010-04-03T11:16:00.001-07:00

For one, candy of any kind has been a long time gone from Michael family premises, which is rather impressive given that Dustin and I really are sweet-tooths (sweet-teeth?). But! More importantly, Easter is all about Christ overcoming the bitter chains of death and blessing us with the path to sweet Eternal Life. If there ever were a time to enjoy something sweet, I would think it would be now.

ye olde, but ye goode

2010-04-01T10:25:00.000-07:00

Why can I never tire of this prank?

Happy April Fool's Day, all, and how excited are we for Easter?

How many rhetorical questions can I ask in one post?

"panecotto fits the purpose"

2010-03-13T12:50:00.000-08:00

Oh, Clara, you charming soul. This Youtube series follows a nonagenarian as she creates simple, Depression Era recipes in her humble kitchen. But don't think it's all somberness and scrimping. The meals are frugal, to be sure, but Clara's quirky personality makes each video endearing and enjoyable. And like a good grandmother, she makes sure to mention that each recipe is nourishing and good for you.

let's dance our way to warm weather

2010-03-01T11:45:00.000-08:00

It's rather nice out today, frittering around fifty degrees or so, and there is something about temperate weather that gets me all energized. Or maybe it's Gotye's deliciously old school bass thumping its way into my capillaries.

Happy Valentine's Day

2010-02-14T11:56:00.000-08:00

I want to see these in person

2010-02-05T21:22:00.000-08:00

because they're fascinating to me. The Pajama Jean. Like, really? The blogosphere is dubbing them the potential new Snuggie, and I can see that. Really, though, I want the two products to get together and make a Pajama-Jean-Snuggie-coverall. Wouldn't that be something?

Oh. Wait. It's been done.

I got nothing.

2009-12-15T10:16:00.000-08:00

dearest santa,

2009-12-13T22:42:00.000-08:00

Thank you for the great gifts so far this year. I'm a particular fan of the husband, as he doesn't let me take out the trash and shines my shoes for work.

Far be it from me to be greedy, but could I possibly request two months (more if you feel like it) without getting sick? Please?

tis a gift to have awesome gift-giving-ness, part II

2009-12-07T17:19:00.000-08:00

Who doesn't want a Flowbee?!

This testimonial says it all, in a tone of voice that bespeaks a group therapy participant:

"Hi Guys,

Well, here I am. [...] I have used the Flowbee for years. Worn out one, started using the one I got for my dogs and now, it's about ready for the bone yard. People got a kick (they still do) when I told them how I got my great haircut. I just smile and say "whatever, it works". Dud! My sis-in-law laughed the loudest until she called one day and begged me to cut her hair for her. She ordered one and now cuts the whole family's hair. I am a Flight Attendant for American Airlines (39 yrs.) and I even have passengers ask where I got my hair cut. Needless to say, their mouths drop open when I tell them "I cut it myself" then of course, I tell them how. My Flowbee and vacuum cleaner. What a gas. I have seen the Flowbee at Wal-Mart on occasion. Are they sold anywhere but mail order? My first one cost 99.95. Ordered it off TV late one night. I can't say enough great things about it. Keep up the good work and don't stop making them, please. Meanwhile, I'm going to need one. Almost out of oil too. Appreciate a reply at your convince."

apparently this is my...future?

2009-12-02T22:21:00.000-08:00

Direct quote from tonight's fortune cookie: "I spent the time prepare the song, while the song is not being sung." [sic] [I promise]

Apart from the usual complaint that it's not even a fortune, this one is not even addressing the reader. And obvious typo-age aside, it's as though this fortune is the friend that asks you how you're doing then proceeds to ignore you as he/she unloads a great deal of rather depressing information you didn't indicate you wanted to hear. And no matter what you do to try to change to conversation or cheer them up, they're going to go on lamenting their sorrows. In a wistful voice. Can't you hear the wistfulness?

You can't even use the old "in bed" trick to save this one; it only makes the statement more nonsensical, and not in a funny way. I feel bad should someone get this while dining out with a large group of friends. Everyone goes around the table, sharing their fortunes and laughing and oohing and shouting "In bed!" in unison, and then it comes to you. And you read yours. Without having read it beforehand. And no one reacts at first - everything is silent Then the guy at the other end of the table, clearly lost in thought, goes, "Huh." And suddenly everyone is inexplicably sad, and it's your fault. And it doesn't matter that when you flip over the paper the other side teaches you the Chinese word for "noodle", 'cause no one cares now.

In a barely similar vein, I never have any intention of eating frog, but this article from Chichi Wang's column The Nasty Bits was riveting. The column centers around the use of offal and other unusual meats in Asian cooking, so it's fun to get at least a basic understanding of these less common foodstuffs. Dream!

in which a new job is had

2009-11-19T09:59:00.001-08:00

And so it is, tomorrow I shall begin work at what looks to be a really, really great job. What, you ask?

Warning: I have no idea what the music is, as I'm on campus and and can't hear it. Ah well. Gracias to burgervoice for the vid.

I wish I could tell you how much I already LOVE this job; the training has been exceptional. The sense of camaraderie within this company is downright unreal. I am perhaps ridiculously optimistic, and candidly admitted last night at the all-you-can-eat-ps it's free-Friends and Family party: "I'm drinking the In-N-Out kool-aid." I am, and it's made from front quarter chuck.

And speaking of kool-aid:

Peace and blessings, peace and blessings.

tis a gift to have awesome gift-giving-ness, part I

2009-11-05T12:12:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is nigh upon us, and shortly thereafter comes the Yuletide. In the spirit of shopping, I bring you a miniseries of gift suggestions, many of which may not have occurred to you. That's why I am here to help. First up:

Celebrity Scarves
This is perfect for anyone who's ever wondered aloud, "What does Rosie Perez wear when it's cold?" Now, not only can you know, you can make it! The amazing photos of celebs like Eartha Kitt and Darryl Hannah frolicking around with their obligatory neckwear is only superseded by the spread on Vanna White. Coinciding with her photo is this illuminating quote: "The interesting thing is, I'm right-handed, but I knit with my left hand." Interesting indeed, Vanna.
Who knew? And with copies going for a penny on Amazon, you can get one for all your friends!

one really great thing about snowy weather being upon us

2009-10-27T11:39:00.000-07:00

is that our apartment will no longer be roasting hot all the time! Dustin actually closed the windows and turned the heater on last night. It was downright bizarre. This also means that I can cook with reckless abandon and not worry about making our tiny home into a sauna. Watch out, slow-roasted meats. I'm comin' for ya.

shorty wanna thug

2009-10-18T16:48:00.000-07:00

And she got one.

Of note: He insisted on adding the Yankees cap before I took the picture. I merely wanted to document the injury; he felt the need to be gangsta. He also smiles big whenever someone mentions what a scar he's going to have. How can you not love this kid?

baby cage, anyone?

2009-10-15T09:26:00.000-07:00

Unfortunately, the article gives no indication as to when Hammacher Schlemmer came into existence, thus making these inventions marketable.

if I had $99,000

2009-10-08T13:33:00.000-07:00

If only.

if you've taken TMA 102 then you've seen this

2009-09-04T20:33:00.000-07:00

But did you weep as openly as I did during this scene?

What a wonderful film.

campus i love you, campus i do

2009-09-02T11:15:00.000-07:00

...10 am classes have sent me to yooooooouuu.

I'm not complaining about 10 am classes. I like them a lot, actually, since it means I get to groom in the morning. And I am all about the positive today. I may never escape Happy Valley, but that don't mean I can't be happy while I'm here.

Anecdote of the awesome, which if I've talked to you in person in the last 48 hours I've already shared and quoted ad nauseum:

Two clearly freshmen girls were wandering the JKB on the first day of class and I happened to overhear their distressed conversation, which was was as follows -

"Oh my GOSH! Where are the vending machines?Are there even vending machines in this building?! I don't know..."

"College is SO HARD!!!! Why can't I just major in cheerleading?"

"I know!"

"You would if you could, right?"

"Oh, definitely. Though I'd probably take a few aerobic dance classes or whatever."

"...yeah, I guess so..."

Thank you, ladies. Thank you. Because I now know I'm going to be okay, and you two are going to be okay, and indeed we all shall be just fine. So go on, get out there, and major in cheerleading.

would that I were a waitress anywhere else

2009-07-07T16:46:00.000-07:00

Manet: Waitress serving glasses of beer

This article proves that Provoans know not how to tip, because I have either done these things for patrons, or seen patrons exhibit the behavior that warrants a larger gratuity, (i.e."camping",) and rarely do they leave more than fifteen percent, let alone twenty. Ask any waiter here in Utah Valley, and they'll happily gripe to you about it.

And to be fair, I'm not the perfect server. I've been rude to tables, unintentionally or otherwise, and at those times I feel no reason to expect much, (though getting stiffed hurts, friends) but when I give stellar service, it hurts all the more when the tip comes back four dollars on a fifty five dollar check. Ouch.

I don't mean to just whine. Please read the article, and take those factors into consideration next time you're dining out. If a server made your dining experience exceptional, truly thank them; don't take it for granted. And please please please don't think that given the financial state of things you can save a few bucks on the gratuity. As the mantra of me and my co-workers goes: "If you can't afford the tip, you can't afford to eat out." There now. You're a better person. :)

do you remember the time when we fell in love?

2009-06-25T18:09:00.000-07:00

Aw, MJ. I miss ya. Say what can be said about him, he is forever the King of Pop for me. Who hasn't attempted the Thriller dance or the Moonwalk? And remember how unexpectedly fantastic "You Rock My World" was on that comeback album? Is any romantic comedy complete without "I Want You Back"?

Also, Michael Jackson will always be synonymous with Tomoser and me borrowing Taylor's Protege and cranking the Number Ones album, most especially "Black or White", with the windows rolled down. So yeah, I'll be dancing around to this practically perfect pop song for a bit.

it is summer, and bon appetit is smart

2009-06-23T16:52:00.000-07:00

The good ole food mag came up with "Around the World in Eighty Dogs", and my, there are some great ideas in there. Pair with some frozen grapes and my oh my, I'm in sweet summer bliss.

people,

2009-06-18T19:22:00.000-07:00

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?!?!?!

just call me kirk douglas

2009-06-16T10:16:00.001-07:00

I will be listening to this while I attempt to make these. Feel free to do the same.

Additionally, I'd like to celebrate the fact that yesterday I turned this

into this

Would that I had taken pictures, but my camera has no batteries. :( Just trust that this is an accurate representation of the event, except my end result included orange zest and black pepper. And I haven't died from it. Yet.

one really great thing about your toilet randomly overflowing and causing it to rain in your living room until 2 in the morning...

2009-06-10T11:42:00.000-07:00

...is that you probably now own a plunger.

Also, I've discovered that, much like Super Nanny, I cry when I watch pretty much any episode of Wife Swap.

Alright

2009-06-06T09:55:00.000-07:00

I need to get this thing in gear. Yessir. Yes'm. And when I sit at work for 5 hours pretty much in front of a computer, I don't have an excuse for not blogging, do I?

What I normally do while on the interveb:

1.) Peruse IKEA.com and covet pretty things like this sofa cushion

2.) Peruse pioneerwoman.com/cooking and thekitchn.com and
covet...everything

3.) Research things like Japanese country quilting (aka sashiko) and dream up wonderful projects

4.) Do the USA Today crossword, or play Bejeweled 2

5.) Waste time. But you knew that. Point is, I'm going to be better about this. I am. Right after I look at IKEA's new pie plates.

one really great thing about michael franti

2009-05-20T15:14:00.000-07:00

...like there's only one. This is the man who wants to "bring the gift of cool like ice cream trucks on sunny days," and have us "give thanks to all bass players wordwide." Agreed.

one really great thing about having messy roommates

2009-05-07T18:29:00.000-07:00

all the more excuse to go outside on beautiful days like this one!

2009-04-12T09:35:00.001-07:00

Happy Easter!

this is the house that jack built...

2009-02-09T17:21:00.000-08:00

...erm, Jay. Jay built it. Jay Shafer. They're called Tumbleweed Homes and they are these teeny tiny little houses that are extremely energy and cost-efficient. The smallest line of them can be transported by truck to pretty much anywhere and are legally recognized as an RV, so you can set up house in many a locale.

When I first saw them I was like - "That's insane. No one in their right minds would live like that." But now, I gotta admit it: Why not? Besides the whole They're Dang Cute factor, there is something to be said about living as efficiently and simply as possible. It'd be that much more difficult to be materialistic when you have no place for said materials. And, as your family grows, you can find a good permanent location and add on to the house, bit by bit. Idealistic? Sure. So practical it's impractical? Maybe. But I tell ya, I'm more than a little enamored with it right now.

for my father

2009-01-24T14:33:00.000-08:00

8 oz water mixed with some sugar - heat in microwave
2 herb tea bags - put in and let steep for a minute or two
1 tall glass filled to brim with ice - pour hot tea over ice.

Enjoy. Love you!

"and all your shirts and jeans and things and put them in the new washing machine"

2009-01-23T10:12:00.000-08:00

Kate Bush - Mrs. Bartolozzi

For the full version, click here.

one great thing about your washing machine breaking and your management company refusing to repair it

2009-01-13T16:56:00.000-08:00

is that you now have the ideal excuse to shower with your clothes on.

Whether you use Tide or body wash is entirely your call, too. For more great tips like these, stay tuned, stay tuned.

forget twilight and harry potter

2009-01-12T19:46:00.000-08:00

Try getting The Up Series from your local library. And if you succeed, let me come over and watch it with you. Please.

one great thing about all this cold weather

2009-01-05T14:46:00.000-08:00

is that your car becomes a handy fridge (oft times freezer!) when storage space may be tight. For more great tips like these, stay tuned, stay tuned.

really good spaghetti

2008-12-17T10:03:00.000-08:00

I miss Sister Tomoser. She is one of the very few people on the planet who would understand that title. But she's serving the Lord with a ferocity only she can deliver. :)

2008-09-11T16:22:00.000-07:00

I honestly forgot I had a blog. I'm sorry.

how do you move three goldfish to their new home?

2008-08-18T09:25:00.000-07:00

With patience. So much patience.

one kitchen accessory I shall never desire

2008-08-14T16:41:00.000-07:00

is the "Skookie", even if it makes cookies, fajitas, or even pizza! The Edge, however, is ever tempting me, which I know my father could never understand.

je ne regrette rien

2008-08-12T16:03:00.000-07:00

Is the US Postal Service staffed with mistaken nosy parkers? Or pre-cognitive and well-meaning individuals?

All I know is that today in the mail I received my second surprise issue of "Working Mother" magazine, addressed specifically for me.

I think a second issue indicates it's not as much a fluke as a great misunderstanding on some poor marketing director's part. I'm just glad I'm moving soon, so the next tenants can receive future issues and be touched that a working and assumingly single mother lived in their apartment at one time, striving to make a better life for her and her baby.

waterloo - I was defeated you won the war

2008-07-30T18:36:00.000-07:00

This is a tribute.

The Sunday before last a stellar young man by the name of Adam Arnesen made some very yum Filipino food in my kitchen and even let me eat some. This alone would be a good post. However, in the culinary frenzy, his necktie didn't quite survive and really (really) was lost. By the time he left we still couldn't find it, but not one minute after he'd walked out the door, lo and behold it was resting on my armchair. That's all. I spotted it from across the room and promptly alerted Steph, who was also in the room at the time.

Being occasionally obnoxious, I opted not to return the tie right away. So, the next day, Steph and I ventured to the Deseret Industries to secure five delicious new ties. And my, was the selection grand. Included in the mix is a yellow one printed with images of men's dress shirts and boxers. Another favorite of mine is one painted with butterflies and glitter paint.

These gems were then tied to Adam's porch railing with a note indicating that "these were all the ties I found in my couch," and would he kindly "select his and return the rest?" So yes, a little laugh, some odd men's clothing accessories, and my job there was done. Beautiful.

Fast forward a week or so to this morning when I am gracefully exiting my apartment as I always do and la dee da, there is a bright yellow gift bag just waiting for me on my doorknob. And in it? Why nothing other than two eclectic placemats. Made from those very ties. Placemats! The ingeniousness of it! I don't really think I need to say I was agape. Even more amazing is that, as I told my mother, they're "cute-ugly," an adjective I hope I never use to describe my children. In this bizarre sort of high-end homespun abstract kind of way, I really like them. Well done. Well done.

happy bird day

2008-07-16T10:40:00.001-07:00

There is very much a need to make some corrections to the post below, because that chipper bit of info would lead you to believe that my birthday carried on much the same way. Not so, dear friends.

Steph and I did make it to the health foods store, and I surely did get some honey sticks, as well as some probiotics, which proves somewhat ironic.

At any rate, around 10:30 in the a.m., we see that the new Indian place on University Avenue is now open (have you seen this? It's in the old Wingers building, so it's an Indian restaurant set in a 50's diner. I am dying to eat there.) We figure we'll drop off our food purchases at home and then return at 11 when it opens for some tasty birthday lunch.

Now, just a little FYI, my stomach had been feeling not so stellar for the better part of the weekend, but I figured it was just acting weird and needed some handy probiotics to restore balance. When we get back to our respective apartments, however, I am suddenly overcome with nausea and I promptly lose the Virgil's root beer I had been sipping on the way home. Pity.

From there, things went rapidly downhill. I continued to get sick at least twice an hour for the next 6 hours or so, becoming very dehydrated, sickly greenish pale, and quite incoherent. This was great what with family and friends calling to wish me a happy birthday, and me only being able to mutter "I'm pretty sick," and then continue with some feeble joke about throwing up on my 21st being very fitting.

At first, I tried to just lay low and let the illness run its course, so Steph (who is a SAINT, and the "saint" part must be said in a loud sing-song voice) procured Mean Girls and Waitress which she watched while I pretended to but mostly just held the fetal position when not coming to and from the bathroom. Soon it became pretty clear that this was no ordinary beast.

After getting a priesthood blessing from two very great young men in the ward, I went to urgent care, where I had to explain several times that no, there was no possibility of me being pregnant. It was also at urgent care that I got a shot of phenegren for my nausea and my first ever IV for my dehydration. Brent and Anna met us there and were with me when I started shaking violently because the IV made me so cold. Brent said he was so tempted to take a picture of me all passed out, pale, and ill with a needle in my arm to commemorate the day, and vanity aside, I'm pretty bummed he didn't. You'll just have to trust me when I say I looked awful.

They did some blood and urine tests and determined that it was most likely a bacterial infection somewhere in my digestive tract causing all the trouble. Pretty eww. I was sent home with prescriptions for more phenegren and some antibiotics. I later asked Steph if, strictly theoretically, I were to take both my antibiotics and my probiotics what would happen. She laughed a bit and then was like, "The anti's would win!"

Around noon yesterday I managed to get 5 straight hours of good good sleep, and from there I've been recovering nicely. I've just now kept liquids down for a full 24 hours, and I even ventured into solid food last night. Go health!

Thank you thank you thank you to all the sweet people who expressed concern or brought by gifts. You helped make my birthday a good one, if unconventionally so. I am recuperating so well now, and I have an added bonus from all this craziness - names for my new goldfish! Since there are three of them, I've decided to name them after the three meds I've been nursing for the last 48 hours. Their names are Cipro, after the antibiotic ciprofloxacin, Phen, after phenegren, and Prof, after ibuprofen. Pretty great, no? :)

party with the french

2008-07-14T08:09:00.000-07:00

Joyeux Fete Nationale! You know that's what all the folks in the land of France are saying today. And so it is I am 21. My grandma called at 7 am (7 am!) to tell me that I am a "real adult" now. Maybe real adults are up that early? I'm working on it...

At any rate, some grand updates -

- I now own a lovely basil plant which I have dubbed Gia.

- My family sent me a great new Threadless shirt for my birthday, which I am now wearing. Thanks, fam!

- Guru's is serving breakfast! Delicious yummy breakfast, like blueberry pancakes and biscuits and gravy!

- Thanks to my brother Kent, I've gone quite crazy about www.readthescriptures.com. I'm going to read the Book of Mormon in sixty days!

- I am, for the fourth time since arriving at BYU, a Gospel Doctrine teacher.

- I'm working on my first-ever quilt, and it's going well. My friends Valerie, Steph, and I have decided to bring our respective quilt/afghan/blanket projects to institute and look very domestic while in class.

- I went to Stadium of Fire with Kabe! After getting flustered while Blue Man Group was onstage, we then ascertained - along with a lot of other people, I'm sure - that Miley Cyrus was so lip-syncing. Go America!

- I think I've become addicted to honey sticks. They're the hippie's pixie sticks, and they're delightsome.

On that note, I am now going to the health foods store to acquire said sticks. Have an awesome Bastille Day!

what does this say about me?

2008-06-24T22:00:00.000-07:00

In my apartment currently are two crockpots of former boyfriends. One crockpot each. And to think I was once actually given a slow-cooker as a gift. By another former boyfriend.

"tom jones was great, ma'am, but victor fox was the best"

2008-04-08T23:07:00.000-07:00

Friends. Who does the Muzak for Smith's ? Here I am doing some late night baking supplies shoppin' only to discover that apparently our neighborhood grocery store is the place to be if you are alone and heartbroken and really want to wallow in it. You doubt me? Fine. But next time you happen to be grabbing break-the-fast ingredients at 11 pm Saturday night, pause and recognize that yes, that was "You've Lost that Lovin' Feelin'" followed by "Walkin' After Midnight" followed by "Total Eclipse of the Heart".

I was almost too overcome by pathos to even reach the freezer cases, but I must say I'm glad I did, for lo and behold what did I find? Ice cream. In individual servings. On sale. With names like "Chocolate Seduction" and "Peanut Butter Fudge Romance", as if to say "You may be alone, but frozen confections will still love you." Nice Smith's. Real nice. Go ahead and read this article and tell me it's not a conspiracy. While you're doing that I'm going to eat the ice cream that I bought.

blue man, you caught me standing alone

2008-03-25T14:13:00.000-07:00

I'm kind of embarrassed about that title, mostly because I know that Mary will giggle when she reads this and know that I had been planning that to be the title of this post for quite some time now. Hmmm.

But I'll confess, it is based in so much truth, for not long after the same Mary and I had finished a discussion on celebrity and fictional character crushes did we encounter the very individuals who were an amalgam of both. Not only that, but they managed to surpass any other nonsense crush held previously (for me, anyway.) This may be the nerdiest thing I'll ever admit on the interbox, but I got all twitterpated around some blue guy who refuses to speak. Try figuring that one out.

There was much more to our Vegas excursion, a great deal of it being -what else?- food, a lesser deal of it being the funny-ness, and just the perfect deal of it being growing closer, working out differences, and sharing some truly spiritual moments.

Deals. In Vegas. Heh.

I'm thinking I may resurrect my very dormant food blog just so I can yammer on and on about the stuff I ate and at least have a mild excuse.

SORRY!

2008-03-17T14:49:00.000-07:00

I received this dismayed, indignant, and awesome email from my mother the other day in response to my previous post:

"Sarah Elizabeth Kelley!

I just read your blog and was shocked that you do not know WHERE your father got his undergraduate degree!!! OKLAHOMA???????? Why, exactly, do you think we have raised our children to believe there is only ONE university (and it's not in Oklahoma!!) that is worth attending? Dad got an MBA at OCU taking night classes. He got a bachelor's in Economics at BYU!!! He got a second masters and a doctorate from Harvard. These things are important for family history. We can't have our grandchildren thinking it is ok to attend their first years of college in Oklahoma because "Grandpa did"!

By the way, I love and miss you. Break a leg tonight!

Love,

Mommy"

In my defense, I thought he merely finished his undergrad in Oklahoma while working at Hertz. We certainly don't have his BYU diploma framed on the wall at home, do we Mom? Hmm? Or maybe we do, now that I think about it...

Guess I should get ready for another email. :) I have the best family. I love you!

"You can't throw the baby out with the bathwater because then all you have is a wet, critically injured baby."

2008-03-12T14:36:00.000-07:00

As tribute to and by suggestion from my pal Sarah, I am going to provide a little Sarah Kelley FAQ. Now you'll have a handy source to answer all your inquiries.

How do you spell that?
That'd be "Sarah" with an "h" and "Kelley" with an "e-y", thankyouverymuch.

You're Asian, right?
Sorry, friends, nor am I Native American, Latina, Polynesian, or Middle Eastern. I am one white child, as it were, though my very dark hair, hooded eyes, and fair skin with an olive tincture may suggest otherwise. While I often wish that I had some way cool ethnicity to throw in the mix, I am very happy with my English-Irish-Swedish-German mutt-ness.

Have I seen you somewhere?
It's quite possible. If you attend BYU and have gone to a Divine Comedy show, it's even more possible that that's where you saw me. Side note: I feel WAY self-conscious when I get recognized from DC. It's always fun and exciting, but I sometimes feel obligated to be funny, which I can never deliver on. Usually I just shoot for polite and friendly, and hope they don't go away thinking I'm a complete loser.

And where did you live before that?
This is the follow-up to everyone's FAQ of "Where are you from?" because I have lived in many a location, and I often answer the first question with "Texas most recently." The answer to this question is Morgantown, West Virginia, then Waterville, Ohio, then a series of suburbs Boston (Hull, Bedford, and Townsend, to be specific) and I was born in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. There's a dandy reverse chronology for you, albeit brief.

Why'd you move so much? Military?
No military. We moved for various reasons, all associated with my dad's education and career. He finished his undergrad in OK (I pretty sure...) then went to grad school at Harvard. We rented several homes in suburbs of Boston that were cheaper than living in Boston. Then he received his first post-grad position at the University of Toledo, followed by getting a better position at West Virginia University, and then a better one at the University of Texas (the second UT, barharhar.) Some slightly interesting notes on all this moving - I only lived in Oklahoma for six weeks before moving to Massachusetts. For the first 3 years of my life, we moved every year; when we had been living in Ohio for about a year, I went up to my parents and said, "It's time to move, isn't it?" It was in my blood. Also, I moved my senior year of high school. Interesting.

Well, I think that's all I got. If anything else occurs to me I'll be sure to add it on. Now it's your turn, suckas.

bwahahahaha

2008-03-03T15:14:00.000-08:00

This blog is brutal, but very, very funny. I kind of wince while laughing as I read it, but it's healthy to come off of your reasonably priced, chicly understated, and oh-so Scandinavian high horse every once in a while. Thank you, Bryce. The whole thing is a gem, but #28, #8, #41, and
#63 I found particularly grand.

Also, I have now finished Cold Sassy Tree for the second time, as I was going to head up a book group for it but never really got it off the ground, sadly. Figuring that I had fifteen copies of the book, I decided I might as well take advantage of one. Wow. I had forgotten how wonderfully written and insightful it is; it can be recommended for the sheer volume of talk-handy quotes alone, all delivered with quaint Southern common sense. I'm putting it on the list of "books to purchase", and I think I'll look into procuring its sequel as well. That being said, keep them book suggestions coming, please. I do very much appreciate it. :)

"oh no, we loved the skunk tails"

2008-02-25T09:38:00.000-08:00

I finished reading Dishwasher, and may I say that it's a dang good read. Dishwasher Pete is such a fascinating individual, being so thorough, so checklist-oriented, and yet a self-proclaimed slacker, to which you are somewhat obliged to agree. He's an excellent writer, though, and I can see why his lowly zine gained a readership of about ten thousand. Whoa. I recommend it readily.

But now I am left wondering what I should read next. Sure I've got a bit of a "Should Read" list, but at the moment I'm more than open to suggestions. How about it, friends? Whatchoo like?

I try to be like Grace Kelly...

2008-02-09T16:07:00.001-08:00

...and a few others.

snippets

2008-01-24T21:49:00.000-08:00

of conversations from the wonderful patrons of Guru's.

"...selling to people who are stupid isn't about black or white, but the abundant gray area..."

"Well, really only poor people wear polos with their collars down."

(Said teasingly by a girl to a guy) "He probably hates you!"
(Guy is dead serious) "Wait, why?"
(Girl, now taken aback) "...I was just kidding."
(Guy still serious and now defensive) " I just don't understand why you would try to upset me like that."

"...but you have to be careful about naming your girl Charlie. If she's going to be cute, sure that's fine, but what if she's the weird kid in class with the frizzy hair and glasses?"

"I'll ask if there are nuts in the peanut sauce."

"I'm beginning to learn that the only difference between Mormons and other people is the temperature of their caffeine."

son of a gun

2008-01-21T12:52:00.000-08:00

So, I'll admit, I've been rather shamefaced about not following through on the Twelve Days of Abba; I guess it was a bigger undertaking than I had anticipated. At any rate, I felt like I had betrayed someone, something, or myself, and so posting lost its appeal for a while. I'm sorry. As a consolation prize, I have one last video to share with you, a melancholy send-off:

Maybe next year. Maybe.

Moving on, it is now dead of winter in the Provo, and I have had it confirmed yet again that I really do love the cold. And the snow!

I am also the only Kelley in Provo right now, as Brent and Anna are in Las Vegas, and Taylor is doing the most amazing family history project ever in California. I am quite jealous. But, to compensate, I decided to bust out the old cooking skillz this Sunday and make some classic roast chicken and vegetables fo' mah roomies. And let me share my new favorite cooking secret - A whole seasoned chicken baked for 5 hours at 250 degrees in a roasting pan is better than a rotisserie. I'm serious. Plus I got to cathartic-ly hack a dead bird to pieces. Beautiful.

gimme gimme gimme

2007-12-06T17:01:00.001-08:00

a post after midnight. Of yesterday. Meaning this post is late. Meaning you get a DOUBLE dose of the Abba love, which is enough to go out and share with others. You will want to once you've beheld the amount of sequins involved in the video "Ring Ring." Does anyone else find Bjorn and Benny's blank smiles as they leer at Agnetha and Frida more than a little eerie? No? Eh?

on the second day of abba

2007-12-04T15:44:00.000-08:00

your true love is giving you something peppy and uptempo, with no shortage of amazing sweaters, I might add. Also, please do not miss Princess - yes, princess - Frida's nigh unto frightening facial expressions in this one. They are fascinating and surreal and full of Christmas magic .

what is more festive

2007-12-03T16:45:00.000-08:00

than Abba? Nothing. And so I present, over the next little while, The 12 Days of Abba. 12 music gems from those Swedish sweethearts. Just trust me on this; you will most likely be thanking me and making this your newest holiday tradition. Let's get things started with a lesser-known favorite, fittingly set against a cheerful snowscape.

Amazing? Well stick around for the next eleven days, friend, and you won't be disappointed.

but if you look this good sedentary...

2007-11-15T23:45:00.000-08:00

Today at work I was taking the order of this quite adorable middle-aged couple, when the husband asked me if I was an athlete at BYU. Somewhat confused, I replied that I wasn't and looked at him rather quizzically. "You just look like an athlete," he responded.

Oh yeah. Athlete. You know it. Take that, physical activity!

what do you do when the band you were hoping to see in Salt Lake doesn't show up at the venue?

2007-10-30T00:55:00.000-07:00

You have a three-person dance party in the parking garage of the City Public Library, of course.

applying pressure

2007-10-22T15:54:00.000-07:00

My feet have been getting more attention lately. (Wait, was that the lamest entry-opener of all time? Was it? Let's repeat it, just to be safe.) My feet have been getting more attention lately. Yes, you are now slack-jawed with eyes rapidly glazing over. I'm sorry. When I started this entry I was so certain it was going to be interesting. Hmm. At any rate, it's true. Why's that? Well gather 'round, friends.

I've been learning to drive standard! Me! The gal that has that whole "driving anxiety" thing. (Okay, maybe it's not that severe. Did you know I have a secret desire to be a stunt driver? Yes, I'm aware it will never happen.) And who ever would have thought that there was so much footwork involved? Certainly not myself. It takes some force to get the clutch to agree with you. Before when I would drive, my shoulders and hands would get tense. Today while driving my knees and toes were added to the list. Isn't that a bizarre thing to think about? Tense knees? It was an exhausting process.

Also - and this is even more embarrassing than some knee tension - I inadvertently played some footsie over the weekend. I'm being honest. I was with a large group of friends late Saturday night at Applebee's (will you allow me to recommend the mango banana smoothie?) and we were all in rare form, I would say. I was seated across the table from a male friend, and the entire evening I had my foot tapping, pressing, and resting against what I had thought was the foot of the table. Oh how gravely I was mistaken. After an hour or so (was it really that long?) I glance down to see my foot quite definitely perched on Matt's. I look up in a panic, our eyes meet, and he nods. I know I must have said something unintelligent at this point, but my mind has mercifully removed it from my memory. All I can recall is me profusely apologizing immediately followed by Dana calling me a floozy. In jest. I think. Quite the evening, no?

giddy

2007-10-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

about the show tonight.

from bopping around to Cake.

about the gorgeous fall weather.

at the thought of playing Kelsie tonight.

because I'm going to see Chris Koza at Kilby soon. (Did you know he opened for Andrew Bird?)

from knowing that Matt's stag leaps will go public tonight.

that I get break from work.

about next Tuesday. = )

Guys, today, like so many other days before it, is a good day. Also, please read this article and note Steve Landry's priceless quote. I know I would feel concerned for my safety, too.

"specsy"

2007-10-05T15:35:00.000-07:00

I dare a guy to make it through Kal Ho Naa Ho and enjoy it; I believe it would be more taxing than the A&E Pride and Prejudice. I, however, adore this sappy, goofy, bells and whistles love story from my very core. And maybe I can do most of this dance. Maybe.

it's hearty!

2007-10-02T15:40:00.000-07:00

"It" being the chicken noodle soup that played the part of Soup of the Day at work today. And what does the advent of a SotD mean? That fall is upon us here in Happy Valley! Forget changing leaves and the fact that Smith's has pumpkins for sale - the only thing that's going to cause me to drag my sweaters out of storage is a large enough increase in soup sales to warrant selling an extra flavor every day, dangit.

So, what does fall mean? That I need a Halloween costume! I'm apparently a Halloween slacker in my family, because my two youngest sibs already have their costumes done and done. My 10 year old sister is going to be Hannah Montana (along with the rest of the female population of her age group, no doubt) and my 6 year old brother will be a very adorable Storm Trooper. What on earth could I possibly be? This will be keeping me awake at night, so if you have a suggestion or two, please share. (I'm looking at you, Fake George.)

words are flowing out like endless rain into a paper cup...

2007-09-29T00:37:00.000-07:00

...don't see Across the Universe. Really. I am coming out of blog dormancy just to tell the 3 people who read this, 2 of whom watched the film with me, but I am earnest all the same. You will be bored, bewildered, and ultimately unimpressed. Sigh.

greg kinnear was quite great in this one

2007-08-16T10:16:00.000-07:00

...though he wasn't in this specific scene.

Joe Fox: Sometimes I wonder...
Kathleen Kelly: What?
[they stop]
Joe Fox: If I hadn't been Fox Books and you hadn't been the Shop Around the Corner... and you and I had, just you know, met... Yeah. I would have asked for your phone number and I wouldn't have been able to wait 24 hours before calling and asking, "How about coffee, drinks, dinner, a movie, for as long as we both shall live?"
Kathleen Kelly: Joe.
Joe Fox: And you and I would have never been at war. And the only things we would've fought about would be what video to rent on Saturday night.
Kathleen Kelly: Well, who fights about that?
Joe Fox: Well, some people. Not us.
Kathleen Kelly: We would never.
Joe Fox: ...if only.

Are there seriously people out there that don't enjoy this movie? If so - sad. Ah, well.

the chips seriously are good...and other things

2007-08-09T22:00:00.000-07:00

So, it was one of those moments last night when you bump into someone you haven't spoken to in a while (two years?) - you perhaps happen to be nibbling on some quite delightsome Guru's chips - and this person you maybe had dated (if you can call it that...) and it hits you - he knows absolutely nothing about you.

Not to say I'm some incredibly changed person nowadays, because that's hardly the case. And also not to say that I never shared any of my life with him, though that's probably closer to the truth than the former. What it is to say is that it struck me as kind of weird that he is completely unaware of my leopard print shoes, my adoration of Billy Jonas, my secret crush on Logan Echolls, my very recent appreciation for the song "Wonderwall," my bike-riding habits, my cherry-printed plates. Most any conversation I would have with this guy would likely have to begin with exposition. It was such an odd sensation to think how people drift - oft times for good reasons, but drift all the same. Wasn't he someone at one point who I would share all of this with? Is my mind making that up? How is it that we make these connections with people, sometimes so rapidly, and then manage to delete them from our inbox? Huh.

2007-07-23T00:06:00.000-07:00

"Someone here is gonna guess my number
Someone whispers in your ear
Any tame girl could spoil her summer
Guess I'm gonna taste my tears

It's not you, it's not me
Every snowflake's like a different disease
You gotta slow down, analyze
You never seen nothin' like a poor man's eyes, no

You move on, you move on, you move on, you move on...

And I'll bet you think this is,
I'll be you think this,
I'll bet you think is about love..."

-"Magnetic Poetry," Not Applicable

Kind of a sad song, though it's not really even about anything at all, just like this post...= )

Angel De los Santos

2007-07-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

is the name of one of the players on the Orem Owlz baseball team. It was not myself, but rather Devin Barlow who noticed this. Rather cool name, no?

And yes, I went to a baseball game last night. Not only that, I was there at a booth for the Utah Flash - which, in case you weren't aware, is a new NBA D League team that will act as a farmer team for the Utah Jazz and starts up in November - passing out free tattoos and wrist bands. What are the odds, right? Let me tell you, kids - I had a BLAST! Granted, I don't know how much I actually helped Devin...ah well.

something about this video

2007-07-01T18:19:00.000-07:00

intrigues and unnerves me. Love the song.

I really very much do not like

2007-06-30T23:02:00.000-07:00

those who belittle others, whether to their faces or behind their backs. I think most especially when it's written off as a joke; that's when I find it beastly. It's something I'm going to consciously work on.

service can taste good, too

2007-06-29T10:26:00.000-07:00

I really want to participate in The Great American Bake Sale. Anybody with me?

Praise for my job...also - official names of my fish

2007-06-27T22:44:00.000-07:00

Guru's is just a really great place to work, friends. Besides the whole making bank as a server and getting a free meal each shift I work, the fact is that I can't seem to find an aspect I don't like.
I've yet to have a co-worker I don't get along with. I've yet to eat something that wasn't insanely good. As of right now I haven't even tired of the Muzak, though the fact that it's actually J's playlist might have something to do with that.
There's half of a salmon rice bowl and a curry quesadilla waiting in my fridge thanks to that restaurant, and I thank it and its employees whole-heartedly.

My fishies names are now Brando Limpit and Wanda. Wanda was my dad's suggestion, with which I readily agreed. Shortly thereafter the idea Mr. Limpit came, for similar reasons, but it didn't seem right not giving a fish a first name, especially this little guy. Whereas Wanda is gorgeous and graceful, Brando is scrawny and somewhat homely; he needed a name that would give him a little more confidence. I settled on Brando because the way his jaw juts out makes think of Marlon Brando.

Thanks for your patience while I anthropomorphized for a moment.

...awkward...

2007-06-18T11:07:00.000-07:00

I have amazing friends. And, incidentally, I am a member of the greatest bowling league I know. Thanks, ladies, very very much.

what kind of cat are you?

2007-06-14T09:24:00.001-07:00

Jamie and Bryant showed up at Guru's last night with this cd (!!!!) as a gift for me! It's an artist named Billy Jonas who plays...children's music (cough). I love it, though, and it's the kind of kiddie stuff that I'd be totally okay with having my own future chirrin listen to someday.

Now as to answering the question Billy poses to us all - what kind of cat am I? Certainly not this one, at any rate

What kind of cat are you? Hmmm?

the incredible mister limpit

2007-06-12T10:53:00.000-07:00

I've a growing obsession as of late.

I can't get enough fish. I'm injecting them into every aspect in my life possible; the other day I quite nearly bought a goldfish-shaped pitcher. Truth is, though, is that I've always loved fish, yet never managed to have one of my very own. I looked forward to visiting the doctor's office for the sole reason that the waiting room had a fish tank. I had crazy notions of one day turning the walls in my future house into one massive aquarium. I devoured a Dorling Kindersly about the coral reef and wrote short stories about sea cucumbers and giant blue clams. Now I feel as though years of suppression are finally erupting, and I've entered some odd euphoric frenzy, reaching out to anything remotely aquatic. After adopting Annabelle's cute goldfishies, it's been a downward spiral. Keychains, clothing, music, Google Desktop applications, and who knows what next? And I don't care. I'm fulfilling a childhood dream, dangit! And I fully encourage you to do the same; if that so happens to involve visiting the Living Planet, please invite me to come. In the meantime, I'm off to buy that pitcher, suckas.