Day Three Hundred and Fifty-Five - Hippie

I'm not a huge fan of making from scatch things that can be easily obtained from a store or restaurant. Provided that the price is reasonable [my time is money too] and the taste is...tasty! Of course. And since the current granola bars that I've been eating since Junior Kindergarten have served me well I have never felt the need to look elsewhere for them. However, the cost would be much less if I made my own and perhaps there is some sort of hidden deliciousness so this afternoon I made my own granola bars. As you can see by the photo...things didn't exactly go as planned. That is - if my plan was to make the granola bars and have them actually cut and then placed into some sort of wrap and then taken with us on our daily travels...that plan will not come to fruition.


You see - the form that you currently see the granola "bars" in - that is the form they will remain. They have been quite resistant to bar form. So...hmmmm - while I'm not entirely sure what to do with them...my main thought is that I will use utensils to crumble it up and then mix it with yogurt. In fact, I quite often enjoy granola in this format. So, while I would say that these "granola bars" are easy enough to make...since I didn't actually succeed in making them - I don't really want to recommend this recipe to anyone. However, I will say that the oats and honey being roasted up in the oven - that was a sensational smell [and highly recommended].

Day Three Hundred and Fifty-Four - Tea For Two

It was just over a year ago that I decided to do this project, having been inspired by Jen [the originator], my own depression/mental issues and possibly a mid-life crisis. I sent around an original list of things that I wanted to do to some of my co-workers and friends to seek their input. Well...I never did get too much input. All of the things I have done over the past year have been either my own idea, the ideas of fellow thing-a-dayers and sometimes Joseph has a good one. Further - I don't think many of my real-life friends read the blog. However, friends/co-workers Kathryn and Sue gave me a gift certificate to the Royal York to use for a session of afternoon tea. Predictably I have sat on it for nearly a year. Today it had to happen - I had afternoon tea @ a posh hotel. Oh yes, and I have pictures [much to Joseph's delight]!


The above is the sweet things they bring over with the savoury little sandwiches. Although they appear tempting and delicious [and they are] - I couldn't manage to eat all of my share [again, to Joseph's delight]. The best thing was the just barely visible cupcake on the second level - it was kinda stuffed with a blueberry coulis and had the best icing ever [and was highly girlie] and was topped with a generous serving of shaved white chocolate. The swans [at the top] looked very impressive, but I didn't really like the taste...also eating them made me feel a bit sad as I care too much for inanimate objects. The scones were amazing and warm and served with really good butter and preserves.


The sandwiches! I was excited about this, even though two of them were not vegetarian. While the crab was very good, I don't like eating it [but I did...because I'm a flaming hypocrite]. The two vegetarian sandwiches were actually the best as they both featured a good quality blue cheese. One was egg and Roquefort and the other was a traditional cucumber sandwich with a blue cream cheese. I didn't know such a thing even existed, but I'm happy I do now.

Oh! And the tea! That part was really good too. All of the teas were loose teas with a fancy set-up used to drain them which was attached to your tea cup. Joseph got an amazingly dull Earl Grey, which our waitress said was a very masculine selection. I chose an ultimate girlie selection of Kyoto Cherry Rose. It was pink. And tasted like...Hello Kitty? Very tasty. So - cheers to Kathryn and Sue for their contribution to the cause! And a great belated happy birthday gift!

Interrupting Regularly Scheduled Programming

Hi, it's really me...as opposed to two weeks ago me which is what you have been getting in my sporadic and nutty updates over the past month. What can I say? Things broke down - but I ended up spending more time actually *doing* these ETs and obviously less time writing about them in a timely fashion. Also, last week I worked 45 hours over only three days so I've been sick-ish, exhausted and generally not a great person to be around.

However - I'm happy to say that this is my official last day of ETs [and also means that tomorrow is my birthday!]! Hooray - I made it! And while I will be doing the rest of my updates, unfortunately they will have to wait. In about 30 minutes I'm going to be off to Montreal for my birthday weekend extravaganza [yes, weekend starts on Thursday and ends with Barack Obama being the President!]. Because, you know what they say - there's no Canada like French Canada - it's the best Canada in the land! And I definitely want some of that action for my milestone birthday. Also, I've been told there will be lemurs. So - chances are updates will start on Tuesday, November 4th while pensively waiting for election results - so please come back, stay tuned...or read really old entries for evidence of how much of a split personality disorder I've developed over the year.

And please American readers - go vote! Of course everyone knows who I would vote for, but sadly I don't have a voice in this one - though you could consider it a birthday gift to me and vote the way I would? Any takers? Well, no matter who you favour - just make sure that you are heard - every vote counts and all that cheesy stuff! I'm sure this will come to an exciting conclusion...

Day Three Hundred and Fifty-Three - All Things Arianna

In truth I suppose that I am a bit of an aging liberal hippie douche. As much as I hate to admit it...though honestly I think it's because I'm not really one for labels. And some of my beliefs and methodologies are not very progressive at all. When it comes to the type of media I choose to pollute myself with I'm not @ all picky. This is mostly due to the fact that I read very quickly and therefore I can afford to waste my time reading a lot of rubbish [also, I don't have a real job - I highly recommend this]. For the most part though, my intake revolves around a steady stream of CBC Radio, CNN and the New York Times with a variety of other things peppered throughout, including all of my favourite talk shows. While I'm quite open minded in terms of what I read/watch I'm a bit ashamed that I don't really read a lot of blogs. Especially the fancy and uber-professional blogs. I'm not sure why other than the fact that bloggers don't even have to attempt to hide their affiliations and motivations. I like a bit of mystery I guess. On my Google taskbar thing [that I love] a story popped up from the Huffington Post and yes, despite my aging liberal hippie douche credentials I've never visited them so tonight I visited the Huffington Post. It was...curious and not @ all what I expected. The fonts are simplistic - the layout all jumbly...I dunno...it's certainly not the hip design that I expect from the elite liberal media.

Oh - the content? Yeah, it was fine I guess. I just feel like I'm not really learning anything, yknow? I mean, I learned that all sorts of hep people that I really dig write columns over @ ye old Huffington Post and there are lots of high-larious videos from The Daily Show and elsewhere...I generally don't find "true" liberals to be funny @ all, so that was a little surprising. But the thing is - I can't help but feel as though the Huffington Post [as well as right-wing blogs and etc.] are just preaching to the choir and therefore I'm not entirely sure of their purpose, other than as a gathering place for people to get together and be all King of the Hill [yup, uh-huh, yep, yo...take a drink]. And I guess people need to do that. Mostly I just do that by myself or while shouting @ various CNN personalities. But yeah, I just might re-fashion myself as a pundit [I find people in my demographic are sorely under-reprensented in today's media - yknow - us white, Canadian, 30-year-old, overeducated, underemployed elitist geeks]...so watch me eat my words once this blog is finished.

Day Three Hundred and Fifty-Two - Thunder Road

So...it had to happen sooner or later. And to be honest, I'm pretty proud that this ET is coming on day 352 and not earlier. That's right - it's all about vanity. Tonight as I was coming home from the museum I was listening to The Boss on my MP3 player and as inspirational and kick ass as I find his music the lyrics "so you're scared and you're thinking that maybe we ain't that young anymore" and then, perhaps more damaging "you ain't a beauty, but hey you're alright" drifted over my ears. And yeah, that combined with spending my time @ the museums surrounded by precious wee younglings who have their spunk and aren't all horrible and jaded...their lives stretched out before them...and yeah, something needed to be done. Something purely superficial. Tonight I used a series of anti-aging products.

I had actually bought the products last year before Xmas. Apparently when I'm buying health and beauty products my brain melts entirely and I buy completely the wrong things, no matter how much I read the packaging. Anyway, I thought it was a neat little set of Burt's Bees stuff - which I adore [in part because they feature bees and I love me some bees] and was going to give to my mum - but then I noticed it was all anti-aging stuff...and felt that my mum would be justifiably upset by the gift[my mum's skin still looks fantastic - she's a Mary Kay chick so it obviously works...I still want to know who is responsible for my terrible skin if not my parents]. Anyway, these treatments were mostly related to the eye area and a bit for the outer mouth/lip area. First there was an all-over face treatment that was all about evening primrose - smelled a bit too flowery for me and made me feel greasy, though I liked the waxiness of it. Then there was a serum with attar of rose for the eyes and mouth area - this was quite liquidy and smelled like an old ladies [note: old ladies - I'm on to you and your anti-aging scam]. Then there was an eye-specific treatment using royal jelly - I liked this very much and seemed to be the most bee-like of all the products.

And yeah, that's it for this subject matter. I promise - no more of this wistful/I wish I was younger bullcrap. I'm lucky to look as young as I do and I do still have much of my life ahead of me [and honestly - 90% of the women I look up to are crazy bitches who likely have super wrinkles - so, whatever].

Day Three Hundred and Fifty-One - Card Sharp

I was Googling index cards earlier today at work [ummm - don't ask - it really was for work] when I came across something called the Hipster PDA. The Hipster PDA is index cards attached by a bulldog clip and accompanied with a Space Pen and used in place of an electronic PDA. It's part of the whole "Getting Things Done" mindset - where you write everything down [like everything in your brain! write it down! right now!] and then you can work more freely. Apparently, this "device" has been around for years. I am not a hipster, so I had no clue. I often find myself adjacent to hipsters, but make no mistake - I'm not one of them. Anyway, on occasion I suppose that maybe hipsters have good ideas...although I think perhaps the Hipster PDA is called so ironically [is it? someone please tell me - I'm old and confused]. I think true hipsters have the newest of Blackberries or whatever is cooler than that - like an iPhone I guess. I felt this was calling my name so tonight I made a Hipster PDA. I think it might be the best device for me - the techophobe that I am.


So, yeah - thar she be. I did a bit of a twist on the traditional Hipster PDA, which is meant to be made with index cards [the Hipster PDA Nano is made with business cards] and used with a Space Pen. I don't have a Space Pen, so as you can see I have partnered my Hipster PDA with my carabiner pen [that also has my name on it] as that can niftily hook on to my mini bulldog clip. Also, obviously I didn't use index cards. In part because I couldn't find any and also because I think colour is more interesting and I enjoy the texture of writing on construction paper [durable, yet pulpy]. And yes, I custom tore all of the construction paper myself. I am looking into getting myself some custom upgrades, but until I have a printer to call my own, that will have to wait. Priority number one is finding a mini year-long calendar to affix to my nifty new gadget.

Day Three Hundred and Fifty - Thankful

A few months ago I compiled a list of 50 things that make me happy. Most of them were food and most of them were silly. In light of the recent holiday tonight I made a list of things I am thankful for. Again, this list is not really that deep for the most part. I was inspired because the other day I had a really bad one...and generally when something bad happens I think - wow, I didn't know things could get worse [obviously, they could be much, much worse - but I'm talking about little things]. It's kinda like...having things stripped away from you - it makes you appreciate all the things that make your life better and, quite simply, liveable. So, yes - here is my list - enjoy...but obviously it's lengthy and verbose so no one is expected or recommended to read it all. And yes, it's more a list of the things that if you took them away from me - things would be worse.

Things I'm Thankful For:

Joseph - for being such a good man and making me feel like there must be something so special about me and alternately making me feel woefully inadequate.

The Tampa Bay Rays - for demonstrating the triumph of exuberance over experience. Suck it Boston!

Laundry @ my door - I'm lazy and lack upper body strength. New machines, too.

A boss that defends me - I've been fortunate that most of my superior officers have been willing to go to bat for me. It's not that I'm perfect, but the alternatives are worse.

Hardwood flooring - carpet really grosses me out, but as renters we don't have a lot of choice. Also, I doubt Wii Fit would work as well on carpet.

Gas cooker - it's fast, even, poisonous, flammable - very exciting.

Migraine medication - my body is getting used to it and it works. No more days of pain.

MP3 player - without it I would simply be uninspired to leave the house in the morning.

Solitude - I like being left alone quite a bit. Most people who know me respect that. They also allow me to chat their faces off when the mood strikes [and it often does].

My cooking skills/love of - I feel bad for people who don't enjoy cooking - what hell their lives must be - food is so essential [and it never ends - you will always have to deal with it].

The frakking Price Chopper - surprised? Well, on Sunday I treated myself to shopping @ the new Sobeys in the Annex. It was hideously expensive. I couldn't bring myself to even buy everything I needed for Thanksgiving. The Price Chopper has 99 problems, but price ain't one.

Al - I like that the took the time to learn my name/story. I admire his work ethic. And he knows lots of stuff, but remains genuinely curious. He is the neighbourhood. Not quite Old Man Friend, but still nice.

Battlestar Galactica - I thought more of these things would be TV related. BSG is everything that TV should be. It makes you think, feel, pay attention...come back soon please.

The US Presidential election - The liveliness of it, really. Maybe just a credit to the normally dubious journalistic standards, but there is a new discussion each day. I can't wait to see how it finishes, but it's already changed the country, no?

The Canadian political scene - Darling, in it's own way. With its fuzzy blue sweaters, French speaking, meaningful [and lengthy] discussion of the arts - it's a bit of a different animal than our friends to the south. Shorter and to the point - I'm just thankful I can have my voice heard.

Amy Sedaris - she's simply a doll. Though I'd love to be her best friend, I'm just thankful for her existence.

David Letterman - one of my many TV dads. I love Conan and Jimmy too [and John and Stephen - see below] - but Dave is the original maverick - a true instigator. Subtly subversive, wonderfully wonky - Dave doesn't mind playing the fool. I hope he continues to give 'em hell for many years.

Daily Show/Colbert Report - If you took away this hour, I would be unspeakably sad. I'm not a fangirl, but both shows are great @ wht they do. I will say it again - The Colbert Report writers are consistently the most clever in the biz. And please, American friends - make their jobs even harder this year [as Jon begged in 2004].

Specialty TV channels - their existence means I rarey have to turn off the TV. So yay for the warm glow of TV! What did people do before syndication?

Holidays - I'm going on one in a little over two weeks. Can't wait. Can't afford it, don't deserve it, don't care. Haters to the left.

Internets - I still marvel over its creation. It's a-mazing. And I'm sure I couldn't live without it.

My bathroom - meaning, I'm glad that I have one to call my own and that I don't have to share it with anyone other than Joseph. I know this might sound really odd - but honestly, I appreciate my little bathroom. I can't imagine sharing it with strangers. This just strikes me as something I should really include in a list like this - lest I tempt fate and have my toilet explode tomorrow morning.

My job - yeah, it sucks to only work three days per week and as a result not really have any money. However, I'm getting by...and two days a week I could hypothetically spend the day in my jammie jams [I don't - but I could]. Also, this job has led me to make more important decisions about my career direction. Scary.

My appearance - I'm not saying this to be vain. However, for most of my life I have been extremely uncomfortable with how I look. Too fat, too skinny, too generally ugly, bummy-looking hair...there's always something. And really - there still is something. However, as I approach the big 3-0 and I get almost daily comments that I look like I'm still a hot young coed/undergrad...that's nice. Even if people are lying, I don't mind. Also, my skin is the best it's ever looked, my body is in okay shape, my hair is long and pretty...this all adds up to me being slightly less self-loathing than normal. It's a good thing.

The aging process - I guess this kinda goes against my vanity in the previous point...but I'm more talking about how you change mentally/intellectually as you age. I adore growing older and wiser. I even don't mind looking back and realizing what an idiot I was not just as a kid or teenager, but what an idiot I ws as a hot young coed undergrad. And beyond [I'm pretty sure I was a huger idiot last week in fact]. I like changing and continually learning and challenging myself. These days I'm working on questioning someone's judgement instead of their motive. It's difficult. As I get older, I'm learning to love planning, organizing, being responsible...it really makes the times when I frak up and throw off all of that maturity so much more delicious.

Day Three Hundred and Forty-Nine - You Can Call Me Al

So it seems that I can get quite a bit of mileage out of pumpkin this year. Last night we had our Thanksgiving dinner, which obviously did not involve turkey [I say obviously because I don't eat it and Joseph doesn't really like it], but did involve special dishes and time spent together [and together with the TV, obviously]. While I was preparing the meal, even though I had already been to two different grocery stores, I still found myself needing to "go to Al" - which is my way of saying that I needed to go to our local shop - the owner being Al. And there he was - he's always there. From 9am to 10pm everyday he's there. Alone. And apparently I'm a totally insensitive clod, but yesterday was the first day that I really noticed this.

So today I guess I decided to make myself feel better about the whole Al situation and I brought a piece of pie to Al. Yeah, I'm not quite sure how to categorize this ET at all - I couldn't really think of a snappy way to say it. It really is the first time that I've brought anything to a convenience store owner. Or really the first time that I've ever brought food to anyone who wasn't a friend, family member or co-worker. So...that's something? Anyway, I didn't stick around to watch him eat it since Joseph informs me it's creepy when I stare @ him while he eats my food creations...but he did seem to really appreciate it. And who wouldn't? Pie is delicious! As previously mentioned!

Day Three Hundred and Forty-Eight - The Great Pumpkin

So I had wanted to eat a pumpkin pie [okay, not the whole pie] for one of my ETs, but I got a little over eager on that front as I enjoyed my first slice of pumpkin pie about two weeks before le blog began. However, this being Thanksgiving weekend and all I sensed an opportunity to engage with pumpkin yet again. Today I baked a pumpkin pie. To be perfectly honest, the smell of it as I was preparing the filling and while it was cooking - that was almost better than the pie itself.

That is not to say that it was undelicious because it was. Delicious. I ate it while watching an informative program on Colossal Squid. I can't think of a more magical Thanksgiving than that. I don't really have anything else to say on this matter [I know - strangely unverbose of me - and yet...I am well over a week behind in posting, so perhaps it's for the best]. I don't have a photo, although the pie was indeed a thing of beauty. It's pumpkin-ness rising high and flecked with spicy spices...I was going to photograph it once we had removed a few of the slices so that one could view the inside...but I waited too long and the last three slices went moldy. A tragedy I know. However, I have all of the ingredients assembled and I think I am going to prepare another pie and possibly some pumpkin tarts in advance of my birthday. Yknow - to make people @ work like me and such.

Day Three Hundred and Forty-Seven - I Don't Know

I'm not sure I've mentioned my love for pho here before - but I do love me some pho. We used to go for it a lot more often when we were in school and/or generally more poverty-stricken. I guess we have kinda failed to notice the current economic crisis because we haven't gone back to a more routine pho consumption. But perhaps we should. So, pho is obviously nothing new - what is new is my developing taste for milkshakes. Joseph really enjoys them and I can see how, in theory, they are a good idea. In practice though, I find them too difficult to enjoy - too sweet, too icy, too thick, too filling - I've got a lot of problems with them obviously. But the pho place offers more than your standard McDo type milkshakes so tonight I drank an avocado milkshake. Yes, this was more like a meal than a drink - and perhaps not the best thing ever to combine with the carb-heavy pho.

No photo [due to me still trying to scrounge up the courage to actually take photos of food in restaurants without feeling like everyone is judging me for being a superdork], but it really looked like the slime they used on You Can't Do That On Television. Only thicker. It was really delicious though - lots of obvious avocado flavour, but also with lots of freshness and sweetness [but not too much of the latter]. Joseph was highly skeptical, but even he had to agree that this was a great drink. The only problem is that I also love the Vietnamese tea and coffee - so this results in a total of four drinks @ our table as well as two giant bowls of pho. That's a lot of liquid.