So that this doesn't happen anymore:
(Purple cotton shirt I just splashed with 40% bleach. Now it's a pink-spotted purple shirt)
Wednesday, December 31, 2008
Resolutions Part 2
Wear my labcoat while in the lab. Actually wear it.
So that this doesn't happen anymore:
(Purple cotton shirt I just splashed with 40% bleach. Now it's a pink-spotted purple shirt)
So that this doesn't happen anymore:
(Purple cotton shirt I just splashed with 40% bleach. Now it's a pink-spotted purple shirt)
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Monday, December 29, 2008
Smaller house, bigger heart
So one of the best Christmas gifts I got this year was this book Little House on a Small Planet by Shay Saloman.
I have literally been carrying it around with me everywhere I go (to the mall to read in the lineup, while waiting for sushi to arrive to my table, at my in-laws place to read while others take their turn at Settlers of Catan). I identify strongly with the authors message, and I find the method of delivery very useful. Great color pictures, good stories, great real-life advice and fantastic floorplans. This ties into my post about building a hobbit hole somewhere, and has progressed past the point of just wistful thinking. I am committed to simplifying my way of life, and one of the ways to do that is to avoid building another large house that I will immediately begin filling with stuff. I realize we built the current house we live in to sell specifically to a bigger family (so it had to be bigger than we needed as a couple), but already I find myself wondering where we are going to put all of the furniture, plastic bins and tools in a new house. It’s my fault really, as I am the one with design ideas and furniture magazines and a need to fill every corner, but I am definitely conflicted about it.
I feel we were given a gift by our families, who helped us so much during the building process, and we better not blow it. The goal is to cash in on the sweat equity in a meaningful and valuable way, so that we can secure some financial solvency and ensure our wealth grows too. (Aside: I’m proud that for Jan 1st 2009, my husband and I have paid down all of our consumer debt, and now have only my student loan and the mortgage to contend with). My idea is to live below our means, which is particularly poignant given the recent housing crash and credit crunch. We took out a 40-year mortgage to finance the building of this house, and thinking of that makes me want to vomit. I am drawn to the idea of owning a house (even a small one) outright, because of the security of always having someplace to go, even if the shit hits the fan and we loose out jobs or get sick or can’t make payments anymore or whatever. My mom doesn’t own a house, and I am too independent to immediately fall back to living with my husband’s parents in their house. We can use a small cabin in the future as a getaway cottage, maybe build onto it as finances allow, or rent it to vacationers, but for right now I don’t see why we can’t live in it. It’s just us, and we get along fabulously. In fact, I am writing this blog post sitting at the table about ten feet from my husband because although the computer is usually kept on the desk in the office, it is too expensive to heat that room all the time (so it’s as cold as a witch’s tit in there) and being secluded in the office was too far away from where he is at the moment.
SOOOOO, the plan is to move back to Hometown (when I’m done my degree), either buy a piece of land or build on family-owned property about 20 km from town and build a one-room, super energy efficient/sustainable home for $10,000. And then live in it for a year. If we can build a three bedroom house, we can sure as f&ck build a 20 foot by 12 foot home (although I haven’t started pricing out the specifics so I might be 50% underbudget – especially if we are law-abiding citizens and follow zoning laws regarding septic tanks and minimum square footage -but I’m obviously excited enough about the plan I’m going to look into the budget feasibility further). Of course, even idealistic me realizes we will likely grow out of such a space, and since the plan was always to renovate or (less likely) built new in Hometown while prices are still reasonable, we would do that too. We need to rollover any profit from this first house into something that will appreciate over time, and although the current economic climate is not looking good, our Hometown has realty that has been consistently undervalued for years. So I think buying now is a good idea, even if we do owe the bank some money via a (horrible horrible) mortgage. But with a place to stay in the interim (that isn’t a rental nor our parents’ basement) then we can be picky about the house we take onto renovate (in particular, where it is in relation to elementary and middle schools). And then that will be the “forever” house, where we raise kids. And while some people would consider this entire plan as a waste of $10,000, I see it as a way to 1) get a cottage earlier than we had planned 2) have a back-up plan just in case 3) an awesome way to trial-run some interesting ideas on passive solar heating, berming, ICF construction, solar voltaic energy and other environmentally aware techniques for becoming a self-sustainable household.
So with all this swirling around in my head for the past week, we drove past this plywood shack on an old gas station platform on our way back home from the holiday stay in Hometown. And I asked my husband to pull over so we could go out and inspect, in 3D, the physical space enclosed by walls 12 feet x 24 feet. Others might think it’s nuts, but with just the two of us (and the occasional guest) I think it’s plenty of room (to wit: when I was in undergrad and living in a single room on campus, my husband-to-be spent three entire weeks living with me in that room. He had started a job at a bakery in my tiny town, in anticipation of my ending school year. Since his start date was three weeks before my term ending/our apartment becoming available, he discreetly moved in to my room. He had a sleep schedule of 7 pm- 4 am, while I was studying for my end-of-term exams and it was STILL one of the happiest times of my life.) In fact we decided while surveying the dimensions of the shack that we could comfortably shave off four feet from the longer side and still get a bathroom w/bathtub, a galley kitchen with tiny counter and a living room with a loveseat and a chair in there, plus a ladder going up to an exposed loft sleeping area. I took a few pictures of the mini-adventure at dusk, and the VIA passenger train that passed by just as we were finishing up our conversation:
Approximate size of a bath tub:
Via train:
So that has been keeping me busy lately. I was supposed to be working on the materials and methods section of a paper I’m writing, but it is obvious to me that my preference is house planning over molecular biology. And oddly, this fact is reassuring in an economy where “biochemist” may become a dispensable employment option. (...Or I'm justifying.)
Mmmmm, mercury
We drove home today after spending five days in Hometown. Had to check up on the cat, we left him at home alone with enough raw food for four days and a clean litter box. I started to worry by the last 20 km that I hadn’t, in fact, checked very carefully before locking up the house that he was free and not accidentally locked in a closet or in the unfinished basement. He was fine, and very happy to see us.
The drive from Hometown, usually a three hour drive at our snails pace, took over five and a half hours today due to a long & rural detour. A friend was attending a weeklong Buddhist meditation getaway (actually he was going to join his wife, who had been there all week). In is in the middle of rural northern Nova Scotia, so we meandered on country backroads in thick fog (snow sublimation – it was 6C today). After dropping him off, we took the road to the nearest town, and while trying to find our way to the highway, we drove past two interesting things: one was a roof-less plywood shack on what was once a gas station site but now just housed the random grey wood structure and a bunch of Red Cross bins. I’ll put up a separate post about that interesting detour. After we were done playing in the shack, we drove past a fisherman selling his live lobster in a store parking lot with his two teenage daughters. In the last few years lobster has been selling for between 7-8$ per cooked pound at the grocery store. Small lobsters are around a pound, and to make a big meal you need two. Eating lobster dinner was a luxury meal, usually associated in my (Acadian) family with a holiday like Christmas or Mothers Day. But lately, the lobsters in store are selling for an unheard of price – around $5 a cooked pound. This means lobster fisherman are getting around $3 a pound for their catch – maybe half of what they used to bring in. Fishing was (and still is) a large part of my maternal family’s way of life, and I have close relatives who tried to make a living by fishing lobster. My uncle eventually gave it up because he couldn’t support his family, and that was half a dozen years ago. All this to say that I can’t imagine how anyone is doing it these days, and why I was compelled to pull over to give this man some of my Christmas cash for live lobster ($5.50 a pound) even though my broader convictions on overfishing might suggest otherwise. Turns out he was Acadian too, and got a hoot out of my man-handling of the lobster (I guess women usually don’t dive into the rubber buckets pulling out squirming lobsters to compare size, etc. When he found out my background, he laughed an understanding laugh). I got a medium sized one (pound and a quarter) while Hubby got a bigger one (2 and a quarter pounds). They were placed in a plastic bag, we paid out $18, chucked them in the trunk, and headed home.
The cat, having been food-scarce for the last week, was obviously envious. No surprise:
After setting the table for a dinner for two (cider, assorted hard smoked cheeses, fresh buns), I turned around to see the cat tucked into the best seat in the house:
The lobster was excellent, really a treat. I’m probably past my monthly quota of seafood though (being a woman of child bearing age.) as I had sushi for lunch today and some sushi a few days ago as well. Which works out well since I’ve blown all my money on meals and beer anyway. This holiday season was very indulgent.
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
The Stunner
There once was a girl whose eyes
Were as brown as cow pattie pies
Her smile was as grey
As a cold, sunless day
And her perfume attracted the flies
The above limerick, submitted by my husband, was the clear winner in a two-person limerick contest we held on a particularly long car ride. He is a charmer, if you couldn't tell.
Monday, December 22, 2008
Resolutions Part 1
Wear more braids in my hair. They're purty.
Exhibit A; Penelope Cruz rocking a braid swept into an updo (even though this is an awkward paparazzi photo):
Cephalopod!
Man. I just read this xckd comic and it answered a question I was asking myself at 6:55 AM this morning:
Me: "Look! - husband - at the bulbous, inky dark clouds whipping around in the sky! It's like they were made by the great Octopus in the sky..."
Him: "Octopussy?"
Me: "Or, Godtopus. "
Me: "Or...Godtopussy!"
Eight seconds of silence.
"Hmm..what's the name for the biological group of animals in which Octopi are found?"
Think. Think.
Nothing from this morning-fried brain.
But xckd has my back! Man. Stupid Mondays.
Ten things I did the weekend before Christmas 2008
10. Baked an apple crisp & a huckleberry pie.
9. Watched the 4-hour BBC adaptation of Anna Karenina.
8. Started a new novel: Mother of Pearl by Melinda Haynes.
7. Did all my chores, and then did my husbands chores as I watched him sleep. He passed out after a physically exhausting six day work week. Poor guy.
6. Woke up at 7 am Sunday morning and was out the door at 8 am buying groceries for dinner with the in-laws. Glorious morning.
5. Lost a game of Settlers of Catan.
4. Lost a game of Yatzee.
3. Became a fan of The Decemberists.
2. Got ass-loads of sleep.
1. Ate fall-off-the-bone BBQ ribs & asparagus with my husband and his parents, then opened some early Christmas gifts before his father leaves for Vancouver.
Blessedly relaxing weekend spent eating and hanging out with family. An excellent way to usher in the new year.
Chicago ain't got nothing on us
Last night I dreamt of a storm surge that brought waves up to our back patio porch door. I remember thinking in the dream "that can't be good for the septic system". We live on a lake not the ocean, so storm surges aren't going to drown our backyard (thankfully) as last night would definitely have been a problem. But being the tallest, skinniest house on top of a hill, in front of a lake and behind an industrial park = not a goddamn tree in sight to stop the 110 km/hour gusts from shaking the whole house all.night.long. Slept poorly, worried about the house and the electricity bill (the wind ripped off our roof covering to the bathroom ventilation system yesterday. There is effectively a four inch hole in our roof now. How do you like them apples , Dave Sukuzi?") Hubby said he could feel the 72" picture window in the living room flex with the pressure of hurricane-strength winds pummeling it directly. My mental image of cold grey waves lapping our back door was replaced with the image of our front window blown out, drapes flapping wildly around Christmas present strewn about the front lawn.
So I guess my options were to stay home and wait for the power to go out (and then not be able to use the bathroom or cook a meal properly) or come to work. So here I am, having braved the wind tunnel in front of my 15-story research tower, slipping on ice-covered (salt-free) roads and sidewalks. Looked like this. And in fact, the whole downtown area has no power either, but my building runs on a generator. Us, and the hospital.
Blogging (and cough cough research) is too important to be left to Nova Scotia Power Inc.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Freon Battles
The humid summers around here are killer for our lab freezers- they get inundated with ice so quickly that halfway into the season we have to practically chip our way to our sample boxes.
Just like this, except without the diamond-incrusted ice pick and better hair.
Anyway, since our dutiful and conscientious post doc left, no one wants to touch the thing, especially not to defrost it. It's like the family secret no one mentions, we just keep muttering curse words under our breath as our fingers freeze shuffling through unlabelled boxes. I have become particularly impatient since my back corner space was being encroached on (again... it seems space wars are also being fought on a much smaller scale everyday here in my own lab), and was the impetus for finally pulling the plug.
I put up a sign on Friday to say everyone should move their stuff by Monday afternoon. It used the word "mofo" to refer to the freezer, and had a terrible clip-art hammer on it. It also ended with the word "Cheers!" but that didn't seem to promote the actual moving of stuff. So after shlepping everything upstairs to the spare -20C, I attacked the frost with zeal. Pent-up frustration was channeled productively, and after mopping the floor this morning, our freezer is humming away again. Now we need to tackle the re-introduction of stuff back into the feezer, but I'm already starting on a floorplan of sorts. Everyone gets their own space, defended as violently as deemed necessary.
I will win the war.
Just like this, except without the diamond-incrusted ice pick and better hair.
Anyway, since our dutiful and conscientious post doc left, no one wants to touch the thing, especially not to defrost it. It's like the family secret no one mentions, we just keep muttering curse words under our breath as our fingers freeze shuffling through unlabelled boxes. I have become particularly impatient since my back corner space was being encroached on (again... it seems space wars are also being fought on a much smaller scale everyday here in my own lab), and was the impetus for finally pulling the plug.
I put up a sign on Friday to say everyone should move their stuff by Monday afternoon. It used the word "mofo" to refer to the freezer, and had a terrible clip-art hammer on it. It also ended with the word "Cheers!" but that didn't seem to promote the actual moving of stuff. So after shlepping everything upstairs to the spare -20C, I attacked the frost with zeal. Pent-up frustration was channeled productively, and after mopping the floor this morning, our freezer is humming away again. Now we need to tackle the re-introduction of stuff back into the feezer, but I'm already starting on a floorplan of sorts. Everyone gets their own space, defended as violently as deemed necessary.
I will win the war.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Happyness in Stop-Action
I still can't believe CBC actually ran this brilliant program. It was cancelled after one season, but still.
Is it Friday yet?
Is it Friday yet?
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Thursday, December 4, 2008
Recession? What recession?
She did it, she caved.
Our prime minister just had his wish to prorogue Parlimant approved by the Governor General until the end of January, to avoid a confidence vote in which his minority government would have likely lost power. Two fucking months in a financial recession which our current goverment has handled poorly to date.
Excellent way to slow down the cogs of progress out of this economic mess. Lets just sit and wait until they get it right, shall we? Hopefully not too many people lose their jobs in the interim. Go ahead, take your time! You get three shots at preparing a budget around here (we're nice like that).
Gah!
(The discourse is interesting though. People are very divided. Good times.)
Our prime minister just had his wish to prorogue Parlimant approved by the Governor General until the end of January, to avoid a confidence vote in which his minority government would have likely lost power. Two fucking months in a financial recession which our current goverment has handled poorly to date.
Excellent way to slow down the cogs of progress out of this economic mess. Lets just sit and wait until they get it right, shall we? Hopefully not too many people lose their jobs in the interim. Go ahead, take your time! You get three shots at preparing a budget around here (we're nice like that).
Gah!
(The discourse is interesting though. People are very divided. Good times.)
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Cheap cheaper cheapest (I win)
I'm never going to rent a movie again if I can help it. In the town where I grew up, the library was an archaic place in an out-dated building (80s pastel everywhere). There was abundant natural light, sure, but it just highlighted the enormous amount of dust everywhere. We never went unless we had a school project on Cheetahs/Acadians/Clouds to do (pre-internet age, of course).
But not so here. The libraries (multiple - located all around the municipality) are used by lots of people (my coworkers with kids especially) AND they are an utter wealth of free, new DVDs! So excellent. I borrowed a bunch of Harry Potter DVDs, Volver, No Country For Old Men, as well Spanglish and Penelope. Penelope is the only one left to watch and I think it will be cute, based entirely on the adorable outfit Miss Ricci is wearing on the cover:
The bad news is that all the excessive parties I've been attending lately (many with booze and/or deliciously rich foods) + the lazy ass TV watching = tight clothing. Mucho tight. I haven't really decided whether I should address the issue directly or just let it slide under the pretense of "Holiday Cheer". I think the latter. At least until New Year, when I can get on the band wagon with everyone else, and goad myself into action. Or spend my Christmas money on new clothes. One or the other :)
But not so here. The libraries (multiple - located all around the municipality) are used by lots of people (my coworkers with kids especially) AND they are an utter wealth of free, new DVDs! So excellent. I borrowed a bunch of Harry Potter DVDs, Volver, No Country For Old Men, as well Spanglish and Penelope. Penelope is the only one left to watch and I think it will be cute, based entirely on the adorable outfit Miss Ricci is wearing on the cover:
The bad news is that all the excessive parties I've been attending lately (many with booze and/or deliciously rich foods) + the lazy ass TV watching = tight clothing. Mucho tight. I haven't really decided whether I should address the issue directly or just let it slide under the pretense of "Holiday Cheer". I think the latter. At least until New Year, when I can get on the band wagon with everyone else, and goad myself into action. Or spend my Christmas money on new clothes. One or the other :)
Tuesday, December 2, 2008
WTF
The queasiness I'm feeling today may have something to do with the hangover, but is also being prodded uncomfortably into action by thoughts of a little note I found on our front door on Sunday evening.
It was a business card from the excavator who supplied some dirt way back during the heyday of construction and it said "Please call me to arrange payment for two loads of fill ($180 each). Thanks".
a) I don't remember owing him money. I generally don't like owing people money, so I try to square up as soon as possible.
b) He was notoriously difficult to contact (we actually didn't hire him again later because of this fact), never answering his cell phone nor returning my messages. It is possible that the fact I did owe him money slipped through the cracks of house construction because I got frustrated with his approach so I said "Eff that, if he wants his money bad enough he will contact me". Because THAT does sound familiar.
c) Still, even if that's the case, why would he wait until now to ask for payment? Why not ages ago? The work was done roughly eight months ago. Who runs a business like that? Does he need Christmas money to buy gifts for his kids?
d) He has legally forfeited all rights to liens on the mortgage, which is kept back by the bank for just this purpose. In case of a dispute (a "he said, she said" argument regarding non-payment, much like the one I see arising from this very situation), my understanding is that the bank is arbiter. But what now? Mortgage is officially closed, all liens are held back for 60 days following the issue of an occupancy permit (again, ages ago). He asks for money he says we owe him, I say "WTF? we don't owe you any money" and then...he vandalizes our house? I pay out becuse I'm a push-over and can't find any paperwork either for or against his claims? If he ran his business properly, with invoices and prompt payment requests it might seem just a tad less sketchy.
I don't know. Grumble grumble.
(That was my stomach)
It was a business card from the excavator who supplied some dirt way back during the heyday of construction and it said "Please call me to arrange payment for two loads of fill ($180 each). Thanks".
a) I don't remember owing him money. I generally don't like owing people money, so I try to square up as soon as possible.
b) He was notoriously difficult to contact (we actually didn't hire him again later because of this fact), never answering his cell phone nor returning my messages. It is possible that the fact I did owe him money slipped through the cracks of house construction because I got frustrated with his approach so I said "Eff that, if he wants his money bad enough he will contact me". Because THAT does sound familiar.
c) Still, even if that's the case, why would he wait until now to ask for payment? Why not ages ago? The work was done roughly eight months ago. Who runs a business like that? Does he need Christmas money to buy gifts for his kids?
d) He has legally forfeited all rights to liens on the mortgage, which is kept back by the bank for just this purpose. In case of a dispute (a "he said, she said" argument regarding non-payment, much like the one I see arising from this very situation), my understanding is that the bank is arbiter. But what now? Mortgage is officially closed, all liens are held back for 60 days following the issue of an occupancy permit (again, ages ago). He asks for money he says we owe him, I say "WTF? we don't owe you any money" and then...he vandalizes our house? I pay out becuse I'm a push-over and can't find any paperwork either for or against his claims? If he ran his business properly, with invoices and prompt payment requests it might seem just a tad less sketchy.
I don't know. Grumble grumble.
(That was my stomach)
Monday, December 1, 2008
Tuesday, November 25, 2008
Nostalgia on Tape
The CD player is on the fritz upstairs, so I had to revert to a cassette tape to provide my entertainment while showering and preening this morning. I found one old one from undergrad (yup, the iPod had started its brilliant marketing campaign by this time but I was still lugging around a SONY portable tape player- gigantic, plastic and yellow), and it was called "Gym tape". The "gym tape" is usually the mecca of garbage pop music popular at the time (basing that on my girlfriends' "running" playlists or "workout"playlists at least). Anyway, I had high hopes for an amusing set of songs.
But nope, apparently I used to work out to such gems of artists like NIN, Soul Coughing, Propellerheads, and One Inch Punch. In fact, I am embarrassed to say (in more ways than one) the only mildly pop-like song on the entire cassette is....Beyonce's HipHopStar. So that dates the tape at least - her album came out in 2003. Coulda fooled me, I still listen to nearly everything on that tape every once and awhile.
Oohhhh, daft punk just came on.
But nope, apparently I used to work out to such gems of artists like NIN, Soul Coughing, Propellerheads, and One Inch Punch. In fact, I am embarrassed to say (in more ways than one) the only mildly pop-like song on the entire cassette is....Beyonce's HipHopStar. So that dates the tape at least - her album came out in 2003. Coulda fooled me, I still listen to nearly everything on that tape every once and awhile.
Oohhhh, daft punk just came on.
Monday, November 24, 2008
House 95% complete
So one year from the pouring of the foundation footings, we held our house-warming party. This blog has documented the progression from foundation to frame to insulation, drywall, paint and every bump in between. The house is the result of alot of love and work from our friends and family, and I think it shows through. It is a lovely place to come home to and I'm very proud of it :)
Dining room
Living room (with fireplace I just stained last week)
Stairwell and TV corner, with the berber carpet I love. We choose carpet because it was the less expensive option, but it brings a needed warmth to the area & I would choose it again given the option. I love sitting on the winders.
Accent chairs I re-upholstered myself (I spent $30 for the fabric but only $20 for both chairs. Ha.)
Entry, with pastel prints from Ghana.
Maybe my favorite room in the house: Office with reading corner
Family bathroom
Family bathroom
House-warming party carnage.
Dining room
Living room (with fireplace I just stained last week)
Stairwell and TV corner, with the berber carpet I love. We choose carpet because it was the less expensive option, but it brings a needed warmth to the area & I would choose it again given the option. I love sitting on the winders.
Accent chairs I re-upholstered myself (I spent $30 for the fabric but only $20 for both chairs. Ha.)
Entry, with pastel prints from Ghana.
Maybe my favorite room in the house: Office with reading corner
Family bathroom
Family bathroom
House-warming party carnage.
Thursday, November 20, 2008
NS Report Card - "F"
Lots of people complain about the weather around here. It is November on the East Coast, and as per tradition, I have been saying for a few weeks now what weird and unseasonably warm weather we've been having; several days reaching temperatures in the double digits (November 7, 8 and 9 all had daily highs of 14C here in the city). Last Saturday and Sunday found us battling sheets of rain, whipping around in hurricane-strength winds (120 km/hour in some spots). The high wind + cold rain continued for a few days, but as of yesterday morning, the weather station on the local radio was calling for a stop to precipitation by noon. All this to say that since it was 14C not too long ago, and the weather reports were calling for no precipitation, there was no preparation for the freaking blizzard that tore through here yesterday.
This will be my third winter here in Nova Scotia, and by a mind-boggingly moronic combination of unreliable weather forecasts, unprepared municipal workers (in particular salt trucks and snow plows) and a private-run power company that favors executive bonuses over maintenance, this is the second time the city has come to a complete halt at the sign of five inches of blowing snow. FIVE INCHES! That's fucking nothing. In Hometown, we have had storms that cover our first floor entrances entirely so that upon opening your door, you are met with a wall of packed snow. (I have a picture somewhere, I'll dig it out once I get home). We knew it was coming, we prepared with food and candles, and stayed the fuck off the roads. Oh, and we had a provincially-run power company that keeps their shit together instead of blaming salt spray or raccoons for crumbling infrastructure.
A blizzard out of nowhere means people were leaving work all at the same time (instead of trickling out of downtown cores slowly), clogging (or entirely blocking) highways with cars moving 50 km/hour. (because why get winter tires yet?? It was 14C ten days ago!!) People stranded on the Cobequid Pass all night in cold cars because no one bothered to salt the hills (or plow the snow) in advance and it became an impasse containing over one thousand vehicles. I presume in an attempt to save money. School closures and power outages all over the city, as is the norm since the privately owned Nova Scotia Power Company took control of supplying electricity to the residents of NS in the mid-nineties. They run it so well, dontcha know. The poor in this city must pay for increased service rates (around 10% per year the last few years) as well as over-inflated executive earnings (estimated at 41% above industry standards) while dealing with lost service every time the wind picks up.
So last night was interesting, as it was my first time 1) driving home on our snowy, slippery rural road in the dark. At least it looked peaceful. 2) arriving to an electricity-free home, previously functioning on a well and pump. ie no running water & no flushing toilets. Luckily husband is somewhat used to the procedure, as he grew up in the country, but he started out with "but when we were expecting a storm, mom would always fill water bottles and pots on the stove..." Expecting, eh?? That would be nice, you know, to be warned ahead of time. But apparently in Nova Scotia, storms develop instantly and without warning. So you are shit out of luck when the power goes out. Literally.
This will be my third winter here in Nova Scotia, and by a mind-boggingly moronic combination of unreliable weather forecasts, unprepared municipal workers (in particular salt trucks and snow plows) and a private-run power company that favors executive bonuses over maintenance, this is the second time the city has come to a complete halt at the sign of five inches of blowing snow. FIVE INCHES! That's fucking nothing. In Hometown, we have had storms that cover our first floor entrances entirely so that upon opening your door, you are met with a wall of packed snow. (I have a picture somewhere, I'll dig it out once I get home). We knew it was coming, we prepared with food and candles, and stayed the fuck off the roads. Oh, and we had a provincially-run power company that keeps their shit together instead of blaming salt spray or raccoons for crumbling infrastructure.
A blizzard out of nowhere means people were leaving work all at the same time (instead of trickling out of downtown cores slowly), clogging (or entirely blocking) highways with cars moving 50 km/hour. (because why get winter tires yet?? It was 14C ten days ago!!) People stranded on the Cobequid Pass all night in cold cars because no one bothered to salt the hills (or plow the snow) in advance and it became an impasse containing over one thousand vehicles. I presume in an attempt to save money. School closures and power outages all over the city, as is the norm since the privately owned Nova Scotia Power Company took control of supplying electricity to the residents of NS in the mid-nineties. They run it so well, dontcha know. The poor in this city must pay for increased service rates (around 10% per year the last few years) as well as over-inflated executive earnings (estimated at 41% above industry standards) while dealing with lost service every time the wind picks up.
So last night was interesting, as it was my first time 1) driving home on our snowy, slippery rural road in the dark. At least it looked peaceful. 2) arriving to an electricity-free home, previously functioning on a well and pump. ie no running water & no flushing toilets. Luckily husband is somewhat used to the procedure, as he grew up in the country, but he started out with "but when we were expecting a storm, mom would always fill water bottles and pots on the stove..." Expecting, eh?? That would be nice, you know, to be warned ahead of time. But apparently in Nova Scotia, storms develop instantly and without warning. So you are shit out of luck when the power goes out. Literally.
Friday, November 14, 2008
Une Bague Come Toi
Months ago I rode the elevator at work with a Francophone family; mother, father, and three boys (guesstimated age: 11, 8, 5). The middle boy was telling a story in astoundingly good french, I followed them all the way out the lobby and down the exterior stairs and he just kept going and going...for the family, barely paying attention, his antics were well-worn. But I was enthralled, because he was so darn cute! Not unlike this miniature story-teller.
Once upon a time... from Capucha on Vimeo.
Once upon a time... from Capucha on Vimeo.
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Add your own!
(My sister once told me as a teenager that my music selection made her want to jump out a window. Huzzah!)
(My sister once told me as a teenager that my music selection made her want to jump out a window. Huzzah!)
As if it grows on Trees
I got those geek-chic red glasses ages ago and I LOVE them so much. For under $40 Canadian, I got an awesome pair of prescription glasses. And then on Monday I got an email from the same company promoting a two-for-one sale. I. cannot. resist.
Palin glasses here I come (goddamit!)
And for the free pair?
Now I will have a plastic pair, a rimless pair and a metal framed pair of prescription glasses to choose from. All for $120 dollars. Oh La!
Palin glasses here I come (goddamit!)
And for the free pair?
Now I will have a plastic pair, a rimless pair and a metal framed pair of prescription glasses to choose from. All for $120 dollars. Oh La!
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Oh Mama, give me your sympathy!
Surely you are the only one who would excuse such stupidity...
That angry red welt up there is a burn I acquired when trying to lift a tray of boiling water out of the autoclave yesterday. It weighed about ten kilos so I had to prop it against my hip for support. Stupid me didn't realize the sloshing water was about to go right through my flimsy shirt and burn my skin. War wounds baby! Science is ROUGH.
Surely you are the only one who would excuse such stupidity...
That angry red welt up there is a burn I acquired when trying to lift a tray of boiling water out of the autoclave yesterday. It weighed about ten kilos so I had to prop it against my hip for support. Stupid me didn't realize the sloshing water was about to go right through my flimsy shirt and burn my skin. War wounds baby! Science is ROUGH.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
A Fine Frenzy: Faking it through life since the mid 80s
This past weekend we ran into old landlords of ours from back when we lived in the quaint University town where I did my undergrad. We really adore this couple - she works at the only bookstore in town, he the wildlife service. They have kids around our age, and liked to invite us over to their side of the house for tea (we lived in a separate but attached one bedroom apartment). Turns out they purchased a rambling old farm house in an uber-rural area, and are in the process of fixing it up. I admire them so much for taking on that task because they could have easily lived with the status quo. To take on the enormous project of the restoration of an old farm house without a lottery windfall belies a passion I envy.
Their situation got me thinking about how I choose to do the things that I do, especially the perceived risky decisions in life that bring me out of my comfort zone. It ties in closely to a conversation my husband and I had a few weeks ago about selling the house we built over the past year, and moving to a two-room building off the grid somewhere. The most interesting people I have met in my life have, at one time or another, lived off the grid. One of the couples we met through the Landlords raised two small children for five years in a one-room building they maintained in the woods somewhere. They raised chickens and livestock, gardened their veggies, and went into town only once a week for essentials they could not produce themselves. Like, how cool is that? It pulls me very strongly - the idea of self-sustainability and simplicity. Admittedly, there are levels to this idea of off-the-grid living (I would need to have a day job with appropriate wardrobe and a car, so daily trips to the city). The duelling parts of my personality take turns: I LOVE entertaining people in our home, inviting them over for dinner parties where I set the table in matching napkins and dinner plate chargers. The other part of me wants to give away all my crap (like dinner plate chargers) and live in a hobbit house in the side of a hill somewhere. So do we do it? We could certainly try for awhile, and this is the crux: I make many of my decisions based on what I admire in other people, and what they would do in this situation. And the answer is plain: I have already identified the fact that some of the coolest people I've ever known have lived off the grid, therefore I should also, at some point in my life, live off the grid. Basically shaping my identity as an adult based on becoming what I admire most.
Do normal adults make decisions like this? I was unsure of my tattoo because of its permanency but alas every time I saw someone showing off beautiful art on their bodies, I oohh-ed and aahh-ed. I admire those people, I want to be like those people, so I also got a tattoo. When I write it like that, it seems so disingenuous - but honestly, how does one become the type of person one wants to be without first identifying the things that are meaningful to them? In first year undergrad I modeled for a student artist, who made a cast of my entire upper body (naked). When it finally came out among my close friends that yes, indeed, those were my breasts up on display there at the art gallery they couldn't believe it. "Why?" they asked. Because I've always admired people who were free of inhibitions and didn't buy into the bad body image projected by our culture, so it was my attempt at living it. I was not 100% comfortable with it, but it was my attempt at becoming the type of person that was comfortable enough with it. In so doing, I was.
I think.
Am I a big old fake? I can't decide. I don't know if it matters. Who will judge me? Nobody seems to have it figured out perfectly (or if they have, they have yet to share their secrets with me). And until I (or if I ever) change my method of self-examination and action, perhaps I too will be someone's inspiration to live a life outside their comfort zone. To do the daring, even if it feels wobbly.
Their situation got me thinking about how I choose to do the things that I do, especially the perceived risky decisions in life that bring me out of my comfort zone. It ties in closely to a conversation my husband and I had a few weeks ago about selling the house we built over the past year, and moving to a two-room building off the grid somewhere. The most interesting people I have met in my life have, at one time or another, lived off the grid. One of the couples we met through the Landlords raised two small children for five years in a one-room building they maintained in the woods somewhere. They raised chickens and livestock, gardened their veggies, and went into town only once a week for essentials they could not produce themselves. Like, how cool is that? It pulls me very strongly - the idea of self-sustainability and simplicity. Admittedly, there are levels to this idea of off-the-grid living (I would need to have a day job with appropriate wardrobe and a car, so daily trips to the city). The duelling parts of my personality take turns: I LOVE entertaining people in our home, inviting them over for dinner parties where I set the table in matching napkins and dinner plate chargers. The other part of me wants to give away all my crap (like dinner plate chargers) and live in a hobbit house in the side of a hill somewhere. So do we do it? We could certainly try for awhile, and this is the crux: I make many of my decisions based on what I admire in other people, and what they would do in this situation. And the answer is plain: I have already identified the fact that some of the coolest people I've ever known have lived off the grid, therefore I should also, at some point in my life, live off the grid. Basically shaping my identity as an adult based on becoming what I admire most.
Do normal adults make decisions like this? I was unsure of my tattoo because of its permanency but alas every time I saw someone showing off beautiful art on their bodies, I oohh-ed and aahh-ed. I admire those people, I want to be like those people, so I also got a tattoo. When I write it like that, it seems so disingenuous - but honestly, how does one become the type of person one wants to be without first identifying the things that are meaningful to them? In first year undergrad I modeled for a student artist, who made a cast of my entire upper body (naked). When it finally came out among my close friends that yes, indeed, those were my breasts up on display there at the art gallery they couldn't believe it. "Why?" they asked. Because I've always admired people who were free of inhibitions and didn't buy into the bad body image projected by our culture, so it was my attempt at living it. I was not 100% comfortable with it, but it was my attempt at becoming the type of person that was comfortable enough with it. In so doing, I was.
I think.
Am I a big old fake? I can't decide. I don't know if it matters. Who will judge me? Nobody seems to have it figured out perfectly (or if they have, they have yet to share their secrets with me). And until I (or if I ever) change my method of self-examination and action, perhaps I too will be someone's inspiration to live a life outside their comfort zone. To do the daring, even if it feels wobbly.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Revel in the Mediocrity
Gave a talk today. Pretty unprepared. No one seemed to care, and some people patted me on the back. (But some people do that regardless, which actually pisses me off. Praise should be earned, and I don't give it away free. Maybe cheap, but never for free.)
It's interesting stuff, but my graphic-heavy slides (which usually works really well for me because I have a good memory when jogged by visual clues) failed me briskly this morning. I couldn't remember any of the neat stuff and could only remember the redundant, boring stuff. AKA my brains on no sleep and cold medication.
And two boys were snickering and whispering in the back, which threw me off my groove. It used to be the older men sleeping in the front aisle that bothered me (not so much anymore - I have since noticed it is not personal) but apparently the younger men laughing at me/my incorrect knowledge/my shitty pronounciation/etc. gets under my skin. Especially when I know I'm not very prepared. Oy vey.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
True Story
Scene: Trying in vain to find American election coverage on the three Canadian channels we get. No very successful, watching This Hour has 22 Minutes instead.
Me: "I think...I would sleep with Rick Mercer"
Him: eyebrows raised
Me (justifyingly): "You know, it's the humour..."
Him (deadpan):"I don't think I needed to know that about you"
Me: "I think...I would sleep with Rick Mercer"
Him: eyebrows raised
Me (justifyingly): "You know, it's the humour..."
Him (deadpan):"I don't think I needed to know that about you"
Saturday, November 1, 2008
Wrong Holiday my Little Friend
Hmm..my cat and I were sitting at the computer this morning, alone in the house. I heard a funny scratching sound coming from downstairs. Was someone trying to break into our house? My cat, noticing the sound as well, jumped from my lap to investigate. As I slowly descended the stairs, I realized the sound was coming from the fireplace. It sounded like logs were falling down over themselves while burning low...but there was no fire going. So I opened the door and stared into the black eyes of a trapped bird. Shocked, I failed to close the door in time, as the bird flew out toward the patio door. My cat's instinct kicked in, and he went chasing after the bird, but backed off when I yelled at him at the top of my lungs. Luckily the bird flew toward the patio and not up the stairs, but the poor thing got caught up in the sheers. He was fluttering about, repeatedly smacking into the window, and wouldn't come away from the corner. I was able to open the patio door and screen, and then gently coax the startled Starling out with creative use of the curtains. As far as I could tell, his flying was unaffected and he seemed quite well. My cat, on the other hand, was still shaking with excitement ten minutes later.
I wonder how often I'll have to fish birds out of our fireplace? That's not in the manual.
I wonder how often I'll have to fish birds out of our fireplace? That's not in the manual.
Friday, October 31, 2008
Pushing Back the Dawn
I ate my weight in candy last night at the departmental function where everyone was dressed up. Two years in row there has been a Super Mario brothers theme...I guess it's a testament to the pop culture viability of the Nintendo franchise that twenty-somethings think it's still hilarious to dress up as Koopa Troopas (both years the costumes brought home the costume prizes).
So I wore the wench dress, minus the gruesome make-up because although I bought some fake wounds, they looked ridiculously cheap and I didn't have time to make up some fake blood. I was busy instead throwing together a matching pirate costume for Hubby in similar fabric (different colour) than my wench dress. He sported a goatee, and I must say that I prefer a nice full beard to the fancy facial stuff :)
Although even a goatee is better than this:
This morning I wasn't planning on wearing a costume to work, but alas I looked over at the purple cat ears I bought ages ago (I think for a high school dress-up day, as royal purple was one of our colours. Not very realistic though) and the matching purple leotards and thought "what the heck". I was the only person dressed up on the bus (next to the toddler dressed up in her stroller), and garnered surprisingly few smiles on my commute. Where has everyone's sense of humour gone? Come on people: bring out your inner child!
And then tomorrow will be Teela costume. I made an Orko doll, and he's got wire arms so that I can wrap him around my leg the entire night . Yeah!!
So I wore the wench dress, minus the gruesome make-up because although I bought some fake wounds, they looked ridiculously cheap and I didn't have time to make up some fake blood. I was busy instead throwing together a matching pirate costume for Hubby in similar fabric (different colour) than my wench dress. He sported a goatee, and I must say that I prefer a nice full beard to the fancy facial stuff :) Although even a goatee is better than this:
This morning I wasn't planning on wearing a costume to work, but alas I looked over at the purple cat ears I bought ages ago (I think for a high school dress-up day, as royal purple was one of our colours. Not very realistic though) and the matching purple leotards and thought "what the heck". I was the only person dressed up on the bus (next to the toddler dressed up in her stroller), and garnered surprisingly few smiles on my commute. Where has everyone's sense of humour gone? Come on people: bring out your inner child!
And then tomorrow will be Teela costume. I made an Orko doll, and he's got wire arms so that I can wrap him around my leg the entire night . Yeah!!
Wednesday, October 29, 2008
iT's CoMInG!!!
I recently read somewhere (Wil Weaton’s blog?) that Halloween was like “Geek Christmas”. Because what other time of the year are costume-obsessed cosplay geeks allowed to revel in their awesome costume-making skills? Or the outcasts and goths find themselves reflected in every seasonal aisle in town? Even the drunks and the skanks have reason to celebrate, as the older I get the more I realize handing out candy is just to distract the kids while you drink your face off in the sluttiest costume you could scrounge up.
So I like it a alot. And this year my husband wanted to go as Adam Prince of Eternia (alter ego: He-Man) from the beloved 80s North American animated show He-Man (part of a larger, corporate-endorsed/cross-over-friendly line of toys/games/movies featuring the “Masters of the Universe “).
At first I was going to make a companion costume as She-ra, the most recognizable female characters from Masters of the Universe.
But her costume was more difficult and, for continuity’s sake (geek alert): She-Ra was Adam’s sister. His twin sister. So….eww. A few weeks ago I changed my mind, and opted to create a far less demanding costume of Teela, the love interest in the show. She’s a rocking warrior and whatnot, so I’ve been spending ridiculous amounts of time making a costume from scratch.
Really, I’ve just got the components of the vest created: the body piece + a collar + swirly boob thingies. Tonight I need to put it all together, and make a little felt companion “Orko”. Last night I got my sword (which needs to be repainted) and FINALLY found a body suit that was under $70 (can’t see in the picture, but she wears the crazy gold vest over a white body suit. It turned out to be the most difficult thing to find around town, I’m sure I checked six or eight places…dancewear places/lingerie shops/ American Apparel/Zellers.). I revisted a large department store and found new stock in just what I need for an affordable price. It needs some modification, but not too bad.
On top of all this, I’m seriously considering making a second costume, just to mix it up a bit at the various events I want to attend this weekend. A departmental thing tomorrow night, a Life Science student party downtown at a club on Friday, and finally a house party on Saturday night. My second costume? A beer wench: made with an existing shirt I own, and the ginormous underskirt from my wedding gown, overlayed with a tie-up vest and petticoat I have yet to make. But I found the perfect grey fabric! And it’s only $2 a yard! So it would be cheap to make…and then I got to thinking that the dark grey would be somber and would fit PERFECTLY for a “beer wench from hell”…literally. Accessorize with gothic spider rings and fishnets, paint my face a pale white with open wounds on my exposed shoulders and maybe a bloody wound along my neck. Black plaited wig, and a few beer mugs and voila! “the most popular wench at Lucifer’s Lair”!
Again: I love it. Love it love it love it.
So I like it a alot. And this year my husband wanted to go as Adam Prince of Eternia (alter ego: He-Man) from the beloved 80s North American animated show He-Man (part of a larger, corporate-endorsed/cross-over-friendly line of toys/games/movies featuring the “Masters of the Universe “).
At first I was going to make a companion costume as She-ra, the most recognizable female characters from Masters of the Universe.
But her costume was more difficult and, for continuity’s sake (geek alert): She-Ra was Adam’s sister. His twin sister. So….eww. A few weeks ago I changed my mind, and opted to create a far less demanding costume of Teela, the love interest in the show. She’s a rocking warrior and whatnot, so I’ve been spending ridiculous amounts of time making a costume from scratch.
Really, I’ve just got the components of the vest created: the body piece + a collar + swirly boob thingies. Tonight I need to put it all together, and make a little felt companion “Orko”. Last night I got my sword (which needs to be repainted) and FINALLY found a body suit that was under $70 (can’t see in the picture, but she wears the crazy gold vest over a white body suit. It turned out to be the most difficult thing to find around town, I’m sure I checked six or eight places…dancewear places/lingerie shops/ American Apparel/Zellers.). I revisted a large department store and found new stock in just what I need for an affordable price. It needs some modification, but not too bad.
On top of all this, I’m seriously considering making a second costume, just to mix it up a bit at the various events I want to attend this weekend. A departmental thing tomorrow night, a Life Science student party downtown at a club on Friday, and finally a house party on Saturday night. My second costume? A beer wench: made with an existing shirt I own, and the ginormous underskirt from my wedding gown, overlayed with a tie-up vest and petticoat I have yet to make. But I found the perfect grey fabric! And it’s only $2 a yard! So it would be cheap to make…and then I got to thinking that the dark grey would be somber and would fit PERFECTLY for a “beer wench from hell”…literally. Accessorize with gothic spider rings and fishnets, paint my face a pale white with open wounds on my exposed shoulders and maybe a bloody wound along my neck. Black plaited wig, and a few beer mugs and voila! “the most popular wench at Lucifer’s Lair”!
Again: I love it. Love it love it love it.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
faaaackk....my other earbud from my quasi-working headphones just died too. They are not even six months old! I bought them at Radioshack (or, what was once called Radioshack. I don't know the name of it now...AMERICAN ELECTRONICS or something) and they were expensive.
If I didn't have alot of goddamn work to do right at this moment, I would launch into a bitchy tirade against our disposible culture. Stupid gaddamn Walmart stupid cheap electronics and goddamn DVD players that cost $40 and why can't a washer/dryer combo last more than ten years and holy goddamn I don't wanna kill babies from toxic chemicals leeching from electronics in China because we ship them over when they break and just buy new ones and AGHHH!!
If I didn't have alot of goddamn work to do right at this moment, I would launch into a bitchy tirade against our disposible culture. Stupid gaddamn Walmart stupid cheap electronics and goddamn DVD players that cost $40 and why can't a washer/dryer combo last more than ten years and holy goddamn I don't wanna kill babies from toxic chemicals leeching from electronics in China because we ship them over when they break and just buy new ones and AGHHH!!
Sunday, October 26, 2008
solo scenester
I am a dumbass: I missed Basia Balut in concert because I didn't get tickets in time. It was sold out by noon on Saturday, and so when I sashayed into the hotel lobby to get some tickets for her show (as well as the Woodhands show) at 6 pm, the pretty girl on the other side of the table broke the bad news. She said that they do keep back some tickets at the door, so I paid her for my $8 late show ticket and jumped on the bus to the North End by myself because - dude - what else did I have to do? It was an adventure, getting to the venue via public transportation in an area of town I'm not very familiar with. My timing was good, I arrived at the show at 7:35 (for an advertised start time of 7:30) but still no go...big ass sign on the door that told me I was too late. Again.
So back on the bus I jump, make a pit-stop at the liquor store, and end up at a friends' place in the West End an hour later. I spend an hour and a half there eating some of their left-overs (yay for grad student mooching!) which consisted of an amazing glazed ham with potatoes, carrots and salad (with wine). My mouth is salivating just writing that. We watched most of a James Bond film but the combination of incredibly comfortable couch, glazed ham and red wine soon meant I was slack jawed and napping. This despite consuming a red bull less than three hours before. I had to be prodded awake to catch my bus downtown to the late show at Coconut Grove. By myself.
Anyway, I show up in time to watch the second act set up. Coconut Grove = hipster mecca. Not the same hipsters as the Marquee though - these guys are visibly trying much harder to be cool, and are also significantly younger. They hang around in packs of five or six (like I did in grade nine!) instead of two or three, although it's possible I was just being hyper-sensitive to the clique atmosphere. The Bicycles played, and it was blah and quirky all at the same time. I think I was still recovering from food coma. Peter Project (scrathy scratch scratch - cute guy. I picked him out of the crowd earlier - zing!) with MoreorLes played next. Same thing: reception was lukewarm. And while I have no pretenses about accurately judging a hip hop artists ability to rap, the girl in front of me seemed to, and she exclaimed loudly half-way through the set "this is lame". To wit: he rapped about food.
Twice.
Another set change, and Young Rival came on. The did a great set (although I was sitting by this time). A intense style of jumping bass lines & repetitive riffs, they really got the crowd going. Like White Stripes, but bigger sound. Eventually I got up from my seat (but not before I was approached by a Dutch boy, asking whether I was interested in moving locations to the bar we locals nicknamed the "dirty dome". Apparently him and his buddies were going to make the most of their night as they were unexpectedly laid over due to engine problems on their trip from California to Amsterdam).
Last set change of the night, and Woodhands comes on. One half of the duo sets the mood by yelling obscenities into the mic. The other is wearing a charming vintage Star Trek T-shirt. It doesn't take long for the entire crowd to start dancing like crazies (me included) as they open with some of the tracks from the newer album (like here: warning, will open sound bite). Knowing virtually no one at the club meant I was free to really give 'er :) The drummer was amazing, and everyone was sweating profusely by song four. Very adept headlining act too - they were sure to give each opening band credit during their inter-song banter. The set was only supposed to last 45 minutes, but they played until 2:30 (club was supposed to close at 2 am) and then only reluctantly leaving the stage amid cries of "one more! one more!". But the tech guy had to get home to his girlfriend (or something), so we all streamed out of the club onto pizza corner. I tried to graciously finagle my way out of a dinner date with a charming Montreal photographer named Xavier who had failed to pick up on my non-verbal communication signs all night long, and met up with someone outside the club whom I recognized from work. We chatted a bit about the show, and research, and the East Coast before parting ways. The last act of the night did not disappoint, and was completely worth the $8 ticket price.
So back on the bus I jump, make a pit-stop at the liquor store, and end up at a friends' place in the West End an hour later. I spend an hour and a half there eating some of their left-overs (yay for grad student mooching!) which consisted of an amazing glazed ham with potatoes, carrots and salad (with wine). My mouth is salivating just writing that. We watched most of a James Bond film but the combination of incredibly comfortable couch, glazed ham and red wine soon meant I was slack jawed and napping. This despite consuming a red bull less than three hours before. I had to be prodded awake to catch my bus downtown to the late show at Coconut Grove. By myself.
Anyway, I show up in time to watch the second act set up. Coconut Grove = hipster mecca. Not the same hipsters as the Marquee though - these guys are visibly trying much harder to be cool, and are also significantly younger. They hang around in packs of five or six (like I did in grade nine!) instead of two or three, although it's possible I was just being hyper-sensitive to the clique atmosphere. The Bicycles played, and it was blah and quirky all at the same time. I think I was still recovering from food coma. Peter Project (scrathy scratch scratch - cute guy. I picked him out of the crowd earlier - zing!) with MoreorLes played next. Same thing: reception was lukewarm. And while I have no pretenses about accurately judging a hip hop artists ability to rap, the girl in front of me seemed to, and she exclaimed loudly half-way through the set "this is lame". To wit: he rapped about food.
Twice.
Another set change, and Young Rival came on. The did a great set (although I was sitting by this time). A intense style of jumping bass lines & repetitive riffs, they really got the crowd going. Like White Stripes, but bigger sound. Eventually I got up from my seat (but not before I was approached by a Dutch boy, asking whether I was interested in moving locations to the bar we locals nicknamed the "dirty dome". Apparently him and his buddies were going to make the most of their night as they were unexpectedly laid over due to engine problems on their trip from California to Amsterdam).
Last set change of the night, and Woodhands comes on. One half of the duo sets the mood by yelling obscenities into the mic. The other is wearing a charming vintage Star Trek T-shirt. It doesn't take long for the entire crowd to start dancing like crazies (me included) as they open with some of the tracks from the newer album (like here: warning, will open sound bite). Knowing virtually no one at the club meant I was free to really give 'er :) The drummer was amazing, and everyone was sweating profusely by song four. Very adept headlining act too - they were sure to give each opening band credit during their inter-song banter. The set was only supposed to last 45 minutes, but they played until 2:30 (club was supposed to close at 2 am) and then only reluctantly leaving the stage amid cries of "one more! one more!". But the tech guy had to get home to his girlfriend (or something), so we all streamed out of the club onto pizza corner. I tried to graciously finagle my way out of a dinner date with a charming Montreal photographer named Xavier who had failed to pick up on my non-verbal communication signs all night long, and met up with someone outside the club whom I recognized from work. We chatted a bit about the show, and research, and the East Coast before parting ways. The last act of the night did not disappoint, and was completely worth the $8 ticket price.
Seaweed sisters
One East-Coast July day we brought our (twin) nieces to Duncan's Cove.
Hilarity and (probably illness) ensued.
Thursday, October 23, 2008
From the book I read yesterday:
"Sacrifice is a part of life. It is supposed to be. It's not something to regret. It's something to aspire to. Little sacrifices. Big sacrifices...Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're not really losing it. You're just passing it on to someone else."
Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven
Mitch Albom, The Five People You Meet in Heaven
HPE Lowdown
Picture of the tambourine guy, stolen from www.thecoast.ca HPE blog:
We arrived for "Golden Hands Before God...", having missed "The Love Machine". They struck me as a mix of The Divorcees hard country rock and a 70s hairband. Not my style, but they were rocking it hard - all five or six of them had long beard and most had long shaggy hair. The tambourine player in particular was posing and jumping around like a true rockstar, always centre stage and always straight faced. I got a kick out of him.
Next up was "Rebekah Higgs", a local gal who I've never heard play live before. She was wearing this astoundingly constructed purple dress that made her butt look great...a suspect she may have made it (she confessed to a "love of crafts" before her set started). Anyway, she was adorable but her voice was consistently high-pitched and child-like, which sort of got on my nerves. Great stage presence though.
Then "Amos the Transparent", whom we had come to see. They were alot more hard-rock than I was expecting, based on their music available online. But the lead singer's voice is great; he hits and holds notes clearly, great tone. They kept my favorite song for last, and it was awesome. They seemed excited to be on the East Coast, and swore in delight at the people by the stage singing along to their songs.
The headlining act were "The Inbreds", indie old-timers and by the way the crowd thickened, a local favorite. Unfortunately, we were both pretty much asleep at this point and we only stayed for a few songs.
Next on the list: Basia Balut playing surprisingly early at the Molson Room, so that means two things: 1. I might just go alone since the companion who offered may be busy, and I don't have to walk in the sketchy area of town in the middle of the night by myself 2. I can catch Woodhands later in the night, and get my groove on. By myself.
Off-topic: So I'm always surprised by how many good looking guys go to the Marquee as opposed to every other establishment in the city, which is usually dominated by the fairer sex. By far, this is the place to be to pick up if you are a girl. Of course I look. And twice now (last month at the pre-pop show, and then again last night), I've eyed the cutest boy in the room (in my opinion) and twice now they've ended up on the stage later in the evening as part of a band. Apparently, if I wasn't attached, I would make an excellent groupie. Shameful.
We arrived for "Golden Hands Before God...", having missed "The Love Machine". They struck me as a mix of The Divorcees hard country rock and a 70s hairband. Not my style, but they were rocking it hard - all five or six of them had long beard and most had long shaggy hair. The tambourine player in particular was posing and jumping around like a true rockstar, always centre stage and always straight faced. I got a kick out of him.
Next up was "Rebekah Higgs", a local gal who I've never heard play live before. She was wearing this astoundingly constructed purple dress that made her butt look great...a suspect she may have made it (she confessed to a "love of crafts" before her set started). Anyway, she was adorable but her voice was consistently high-pitched and child-like, which sort of got on my nerves. Great stage presence though.
Then "Amos the Transparent", whom we had come to see. They were alot more hard-rock than I was expecting, based on their music available online. But the lead singer's voice is great; he hits and holds notes clearly, great tone. They kept my favorite song for last, and it was awesome. They seemed excited to be on the East Coast, and swore in delight at the people by the stage singing along to their songs.
The headlining act were "The Inbreds", indie old-timers and by the way the crowd thickened, a local favorite. Unfortunately, we were both pretty much asleep at this point and we only stayed for a few songs.
Next on the list: Basia Balut playing surprisingly early at the Molson Room, so that means two things: 1. I might just go alone since the companion who offered may be busy, and I don't have to walk in the sketchy area of town in the middle of the night by myself 2. I can catch Woodhands later in the night, and get my groove on. By myself.
Off-topic: So I'm always surprised by how many good looking guys go to the Marquee as opposed to every other establishment in the city, which is usually dominated by the fairer sex. By far, this is the place to be to pick up if you are a girl. Of course I look. And twice now (last month at the pre-pop show, and then again last night), I've eyed the cutest boy in the room (in my opinion) and twice now they've ended up on the stage later in the evening as part of a band. Apparently, if I wasn't attached, I would make an excellent groupie. Shameful.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Halifax Pop Explosion! + trees
Great bands lined up this year. The perpetual dilemma is always finding enough cash to attend them all : tomorrow night is Amos the Transparent with Rebekah Higgs and Basia Balut on Saturday are both must-go's. My husband is away this weekend so I'll be all by myself and will need to recruit someone to attend the Saturday show with.
And in response to my failed experiments lately, I turned to my supervisor for some advice. He came swooping down to my desk this morning about 25 minutes before I was planning on leaving for my tattoo appointment, and we went through my work to date, double checking all my sequencing primers, their orientation, etc. Anyway, it made me sort of nervous. I was sweating harder sitting at my desk than I did later in the tattoo parlour. Thankfully, he found all my work so far to be satisfactory, and it was possible my sequencing efforts were failing due to nothing I could control or know about in advance (my insight into the genome has since improved, so I'll rerun some of the tests tonight to see whether I can get a different outcome). I semi-jokingly asked him whether I "passed the test", and he said that I had indeed passed the test. So I ran outta here as fast as I could to keep him from changing his mind.
And here are some pictures of our tiny pathetic shrubs and landscaping in front of the house. They'll look good in ten years, probably :)
(I just pulled my PCR reagents from the fridge while those pics were uploading. There is a whole fridge, and we are all crammed into one corner of one side of one shelf. Sigh.)
And in response to my failed experiments lately, I turned to my supervisor for some advice. He came swooping down to my desk this morning about 25 minutes before I was planning on leaving for my tattoo appointment, and we went through my work to date, double checking all my sequencing primers, their orientation, etc. Anyway, it made me sort of nervous. I was sweating harder sitting at my desk than I did later in the tattoo parlour. Thankfully, he found all my work so far to be satisfactory, and it was possible my sequencing efforts were failing due to nothing I could control or know about in advance (my insight into the genome has since improved, so I'll rerun some of the tests tonight to see whether I can get a different outcome). I semi-jokingly asked him whether I "passed the test", and he said that I had indeed passed the test. So I ran outta here as fast as I could to keep him from changing his mind.
And here are some pictures of our tiny pathetic shrubs and landscaping in front of the house. They'll look good in ten years, probably :)
(I just pulled my PCR reagents from the fridge while those pics were uploading. There is a whole fridge, and we are all crammed into one corner of one side of one shelf. Sigh.)
Monday, October 20, 2008
date with Andy
tomorrow at noon tomorrow at noon tomorrow at noon tomorrow at noon tomorrow at noontomorrow at noon tomorrow at noon tomorrow at noon...
Update: Awesome experience, I can definitely see why people would become addicted to tattoos. I am so giddy right now! The design is stunning and he complimented me for "sitting" very well for my first time, especially since the tattoo was centered on my upper spine. I would do it again in a heartbeat and would recommend it as well - I am in no discomfort whatsoever and the only thing I feel right now is the bandage tape pulling awkwardly at my skin. The varying amounts of pain (from nearly unnoticeable to quite pronounced) meant that even when I was feeling like a needle WAS actually going through my skin (very rare during the 1.5 hours I might add) it subsided in less than a minute as he moved on to another spot. The only thing I would change if I could: to go with the lighter/redder brown ink he had instead of the greener/darker one.
And get this: apparently the design was so fine he used an "outline needle" to fill the whole thing in, which as he explained to me increased the pain because the needles are fewer and closer spaced than a "filling in" gun. Ha! How about THAT for bragging rights?
I found that the best music was Volcano by the now defunct band Hot Springs (Montreal), although the opening act featured Hayloft by Mother Mother (Vancouver) on repeat. Yeeeeaaaaaa!
When he went out to smoke a cigarette, I snuck in one badly aimed and unfocused picture before he bandaged it up. Voila!
Update: Awesome experience, I can definitely see why people would become addicted to tattoos. I am so giddy right now! The design is stunning and he complimented me for "sitting" very well for my first time, especially since the tattoo was centered on my upper spine. I would do it again in a heartbeat and would recommend it as well - I am in no discomfort whatsoever and the only thing I feel right now is the bandage tape pulling awkwardly at my skin. The varying amounts of pain (from nearly unnoticeable to quite pronounced) meant that even when I was feeling like a needle WAS actually going through my skin (very rare during the 1.5 hours I might add) it subsided in less than a minute as he moved on to another spot. The only thing I would change if I could: to go with the lighter/redder brown ink he had instead of the greener/darker one.
And get this: apparently the design was so fine he used an "outline needle" to fill the whole thing in, which as he explained to me increased the pain because the needles are fewer and closer spaced than a "filling in" gun. Ha! How about THAT for bragging rights?
I found that the best music was Volcano by the now defunct band Hot Springs (Montreal), although the opening act featured Hayloft by Mother Mother (Vancouver) on repeat. Yeeeeaaaaaa!
When he went out to smoke a cigarette, I snuck in one badly aimed and unfocused picture before he bandaged it up. Voila!
Friday, October 17, 2008
Buck up
None of my experiments really worked today, although I still have one to finish so maybe the week will end in a bang (doubt it). The crappy car we drive had to be "inspected" today - a joke since we both knew dropping it off that the thing is going to fail. I imagine we'll end up paying $750 dollars in repairs this time around which is a total kick in the nerdy pants when I have much better ideas on what I could spend that money on.
And on the agenda this weekend is a massive, soul-cleansing, exterminate-every-dust-bunny cleaning marathon. Wood needs to be split and stacked, every fixture that our water comes into contact with needs to be scrubbed hard (the water purification system we paid 3 grand for is doing a shit-tastic job so our water cycles through the disgusting colour rainbow of grey, red, or yellow. We have someone coming next week to give us yet another opinion) and those chairs still haven't been entirely recovered.
My poor neighbour - she is giving me free plants for the garden (more hostas than I know what to do with) and she set out some stuff for me to plant weekend before last. I didn't get around to it, and of course that meant they stayed in the wheelbarrow for the whole week. Apparently she commented about it to the husband (who she hilariously calls Andrew even though we have corrected her multiple times) but we were never home during daylight hours the entire week. Friday we left for Hometown for Thanksgiving weekend and I felt so guilty upon returning after the long weekend that I took one look at the wheelbarrow and decided to plant those motherfuckers right then.
It was 11 pm on a Monday night.
I didn't even bother to get changed, I just threw on my sneakers with the skirt and tights I was wearing (oh, and my houndstooth jacket) and got to digging. I was mixing peat and manure by the light of the front porch, and if my neighbours didn't think I was crazy before, suspiciously digging in the yard at midnight in near formal attire will have convinced them otherwise.
And on the agenda this weekend is a massive, soul-cleansing, exterminate-every-dust-bunny cleaning marathon. Wood needs to be split and stacked, every fixture that our water comes into contact with needs to be scrubbed hard (the water purification system we paid 3 grand for is doing a shit-tastic job so our water cycles through the disgusting colour rainbow of grey, red, or yellow. We have someone coming next week to give us yet another opinion) and those chairs still haven't been entirely recovered.
My poor neighbour - she is giving me free plants for the garden (more hostas than I know what to do with) and she set out some stuff for me to plant weekend before last. I didn't get around to it, and of course that meant they stayed in the wheelbarrow for the whole week. Apparently she commented about it to the husband (who she hilariously calls Andrew even though we have corrected her multiple times) but we were never home during daylight hours the entire week. Friday we left for Hometown for Thanksgiving weekend and I felt so guilty upon returning after the long weekend that I took one look at the wheelbarrow and decided to plant those motherfuckers right then.
It was 11 pm on a Monday night.
I didn't even bother to get changed, I just threw on my sneakers with the skirt and tights I was wearing (oh, and my houndstooth jacket) and got to digging. I was mixing peat and manure by the light of the front porch, and if my neighbours didn't think I was crazy before, suspiciously digging in the yard at midnight in near formal attire will have convinced them otherwise.
PA Notes
Plethora of passive aggressive notes on the 15th floor, where I had to go yesterday to pick up some supplies for the lab. If I only had a camera with me, and someone/something to distract the lab workers from my snickering and snapping....
Thursday, October 16, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Blocqué
God this is hard.
You know when you know you have to do something, but no matter how much you tell yourself "this is important"... you still can't quite get your fingers to play along or your mind to just sit still for long enough to obey?
I am having one of those days.
I got an email from a colleague about a job opening at the one and only spot I want to work when I graduate. And do you think I can sit still long enough to throw together a bilingual cover letter, one that I have been planning on getting done for weeks now in preparation for just such an opportunity?? My mind is buzzing with lots of things that have nothing to do with jobs or realistic futures or responsibilities. I have checked facebook a dozen separate times today, just out of habit. Today, I AM one of those GenerationADD kids.
Current Soundtrack: Rose Cousins
You know when you know you have to do something, but no matter how much you tell yourself "this is important"... you still can't quite get your fingers to play along or your mind to just sit still for long enough to obey?
I am having one of those days.
I got an email from a colleague about a job opening at the one and only spot I want to work when I graduate. And do you think I can sit still long enough to throw together a bilingual cover letter, one that I have been planning on getting done for weeks now in preparation for just such an opportunity?? My mind is buzzing with lots of things that have nothing to do with jobs or realistic futures or responsibilities. I have checked facebook a dozen separate times today, just out of habit. Today, I AM one of those GenerationADD kids.
Current Soundtrack: Rose Cousins
Monday, October 6, 2008
web weary
I suspect the coverage of the election(s) may have pushed me over the edge. That, plus all the news of our doomed economy... lately my usually fervent internet-info consumption has waned. I haven't been on facebook in ages, my celebrity gossip knowledge is superficial, and this blog has gone dormant for several weeks.
The weather is changing; the sun comes up after we have left for work and comes down shortly after arriving in the evenings. The past two weekends we have spent improving the exterior facade of the house with a paving stone walkway and additional landscaping (adding more sod to the side yard and shrubs/plants/trees to the front yard). I hope I can find a job now after graduating and are able to sell the house in a market where no one can get a mortgage...
I have finished reading Catch-22 (for me, not one of my favorites but I recognize why it would be for others) and started the more frivolous Harry Potter series. Currently on book four.
The appointment is booked for my tattoo on October 21st. The design, sketched by my husband, is something like this:
The artist needs to tweak some of the lines as they are too close together for a tattoo. We had a discussion about white ink. He convinced me to go for a natural brown colour instead, something like a henna tattoo or a birthmark, which would be subtle but not marred by the cons of white ink; mostly that everyone reacts differently to the ink, that it is prone to extra inflammation because the titanium oxide white colour breaks down the fine metal instruments (placing shards of metal into the skin along with the white ink) thus creating heavier scar tissue that often has to be retattooed several times, and that it is prone to extreme fading in sunlight. He told me the first few white tattoos he did were fantastic, and buoyed by the success, he went on to do a few more. They turned out terrible. He has beautiful white markings on his face, but he also has a circular leaf design on his chest done in a subtle brown and that looks great too. I'll post a picture when it is healed.
I also ordered some glasses online a few weeks ago, they should be arriving shortly. (Actually, I just checked my email to grab a picture of them and found an update saying they had shipped on October 2nd- they might even be here by the end of the week!). I tried to balance the look I wanted (crazy reddish plastic frames with thick heavy arms) with the cost factor (these were one of the cheapest frames among the half dozen sites I checked) and came up with these for $37.00 Cdn INCLUDING UV-coating, anti-reflective coating, tax and shipping. For prescription.
These were my second choice because they are different then what I normally wear and are more flexible for at-home adjustments:
Unfortunately they are about $30 more expensive AND they look like stupid freakin' Palin glasses so it doesn't matter that I had my eye on them before she was even vetted, there is no way I'm ordering the goddamn glasses now.
And of course, with Halloween coming up shortly, I've started to think about costumes. I am going as She-ra, the epitome of sexy 80s superhero (big category, I know) and have been trolling around for do-it yourself ideas. Next weekend we're off to Hometown for Thanksgiving - I might be able to get something done on it then. My new-ish coworker has decided she will be hosting a Halloween party this year at her place, so there is no backing out now.
The weather is changing; the sun comes up after we have left for work and comes down shortly after arriving in the evenings. The past two weekends we have spent improving the exterior facade of the house with a paving stone walkway and additional landscaping (adding more sod to the side yard and shrubs/plants/trees to the front yard). I hope I can find a job now after graduating and are able to sell the house in a market where no one can get a mortgage...
I have finished reading Catch-22 (for me, not one of my favorites but I recognize why it would be for others) and started the more frivolous Harry Potter series. Currently on book four.
The appointment is booked for my tattoo on October 21st. The design, sketched by my husband, is something like this:
The artist needs to tweak some of the lines as they are too close together for a tattoo. We had a discussion about white ink. He convinced me to go for a natural brown colour instead, something like a henna tattoo or a birthmark, which would be subtle but not marred by the cons of white ink; mostly that everyone reacts differently to the ink, that it is prone to extra inflammation because the titanium oxide white colour breaks down the fine metal instruments (placing shards of metal into the skin along with the white ink) thus creating heavier scar tissue that often has to be retattooed several times, and that it is prone to extreme fading in sunlight. He told me the first few white tattoos he did were fantastic, and buoyed by the success, he went on to do a few more. They turned out terrible. He has beautiful white markings on his face, but he also has a circular leaf design on his chest done in a subtle brown and that looks great too. I'll post a picture when it is healed.
I also ordered some glasses online a few weeks ago, they should be arriving shortly. (Actually, I just checked my email to grab a picture of them and found an update saying they had shipped on October 2nd- they might even be here by the end of the week!). I tried to balance the look I wanted (crazy reddish plastic frames with thick heavy arms) with the cost factor (these were one of the cheapest frames among the half dozen sites I checked) and came up with these for $37.00 Cdn INCLUDING UV-coating, anti-reflective coating, tax and shipping. For prescription.
These were my second choice because they are different then what I normally wear and are more flexible for at-home adjustments:
Unfortunately they are about $30 more expensive AND they look like stupid freakin' Palin glasses so it doesn't matter that I had my eye on them before she was even vetted, there is no way I'm ordering the goddamn glasses now.
And of course, with Halloween coming up shortly, I've started to think about costumes. I am going as She-ra, the epitome of sexy 80s superhero (big category, I know) and have been trolling around for do-it yourself ideas. Next weekend we're off to Hometown for Thanksgiving - I might be able to get something done on it then. My new-ish coworker has decided she will be hosting a Halloween party this year at her place, so there is no backing out now.
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Bebop
Ah, just got caught in the stairwell awkwardly pseudo-raving by some undergrads while I was in my lab coat and listening to Daft Punk way too loudly on my headphones.
iPod oblivion:1, Natalie:0
iPod oblivion:1, Natalie:0
Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Hello Autumn
Yesterday morning we woke up to a barely risen sun. The sky above the tree line on the other side of the lake behind our house was just the most amazing colour: An aqua blue sky with a stripe of orange/red. The blue was being reflected on the dark waters, so the picture outside our window was blue- black- orange- aqua. Astounding, I tried to get a photo with my crappy digital camera but of course the washed out colours don't really impress so much on (digital) film.
This is my rough photoshop representation, based entirely on memory (and created entirely without skill):
Nature knows how to balance the colour wheel so well, non?
This is my rough photoshop representation, based entirely on memory (and created entirely without skill):
Nature knows how to balance the colour wheel so well, non?
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Frivolous Things
Current novel: Catch-22 (ten pages from being done)
Thing that I do when I'm supposed to be working on the house: We are into week 2 (Season 2) of Battlestar Gallactica mania
Current soundtrack: Ane Brun. Unable to get rid of her and her hauntingly catchy songs. It's been a month+ of constant rotation in my CD player/mp3 player/iTunes list.
Thing that I would buy if I had $1500 in disposable cash: an impossibly trendy Herve Leger bandage dress in grey. Like this one, 'cept I would rock it harder because I have actual curves:
(I had to cut off her sad, emaciated head because her cheekbones were disturbing me, not because I like to objectify woman by chopping their bodies into chunks without heads or brains). Sigh.
Thing that I do when I'm supposed to be working on the house: We are into week 2 (Season 2) of Battlestar Gallactica mania
Current soundtrack: Ane Brun. Unable to get rid of her and her hauntingly catchy songs. It's been a month+ of constant rotation in my CD player/mp3 player/iTunes list.
Thing that I would buy if I had $1500 in disposable cash: an impossibly trendy Herve Leger bandage dress in grey. Like this one, 'cept I would rock it harder because I have actual curves:
(I had to cut off her sad, emaciated head because her cheekbones were disturbing me, not because I like to objectify woman by chopping their bodies into chunks without heads or brains). Sigh.
Geek Chic
I came across this website while browsing Slate. It was mentioned in an article about buying prescription glasses online, and I was intrigued being the poor, near-sighted student that I am. The essence of the article is that buying online prescription glasses is just the next step in online consumerism, and that astronomically high mark-ups in the brick-and-mortar stores can be side-stepped in favor of deeply discounted but essentially identical glasses bought online. This means people like me, who have been putting off a very important thing (proper sight) because of the cost ($300-ish), now have options.
This article is particularly timely because the last few months I have been bugging my husband that it's time for new specs (these ones I currently wear - my only pair- are about five years old) but the truth is new glasses are on the bottom of our priority list at the moment. But I love me some bargains, and I love going online shopping. Some of the more sophisticated sites listed on the GlassyEyes blog allow you to virtually "try on" a pair of glasses using an uploaded close-up headshot. So guess what I've been doing for the past week? I've got it narrowed to my favorite half-dozen frames, but my next priority is getting a current prescription. So I'm going to call up my optician and see if I can't get that done asap, and then scrounge around for $50 for a brand new pair of glasses.
This article is particularly timely because the last few months I have been bugging my husband that it's time for new specs (these ones I currently wear - my only pair- are about five years old) but the truth is new glasses are on the bottom of our priority list at the moment. But I love me some bargains, and I love going online shopping. Some of the more sophisticated sites listed on the GlassyEyes blog allow you to virtually "try on" a pair of glasses using an uploaded close-up headshot. So guess what I've been doing for the past week? I've got it narrowed to my favorite half-dozen frames, but my next priority is getting a current prescription. So I'm going to call up my optician and see if I can't get that done asap, and then scrounge around for $50 for a brand new pair of glasses.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)