Wedding Cake and Toothache...

She works hard for the money...

2009-11-06T00:20:00.002-04:00

So hard for it, honey.

I'm terrible. I keep meaning to come back here and write, but I don't. I will never give up on WCaT; I just got caught up in school and work and life and whatnot.

I promise, I promise, I promise, I'll write. Hopefully, people will come back to me... baby, we'll paint the town red.

I'm going to have a few finished knitting projects, and I'll get them snapped and posted.

And, I also have big news... today, I picked up my first driver's licence. For reals! I'm now a driver. Beep, beep!

iPod pick ~ 'Drive My Car' - The Beatles.

Fourth time an auntie

2009-07-17T00:23:00.003-03:00

My older sister, Beulah, went and had herself another baby. A boy! A perfect, wonderful, boy. I'm going to call him Sam in this blog. He was born on July 13th. The family is thrilled, seeing as we've had 18 girls born since 1969, and only one boy.

Sam's already a star.

The whole family was home for the week. I'm here until Tuesday. Mads and the kids head back to Atlanta in the morning. I'm going to miss them.

Caleb is back in town... we're going to Bettie's wedding this weekend! I'm pretty excited to see them. I got the best wedding present ever; I'll post a link to it on Sunday.

I was out with DeeDee, Bianca, and Frenchie the other night. It was great to see them. I don't get out much these days in Charlottetown. I've had a shithouse past few months; hopefully, things are going to start coming up Jaichan!

iPod pick - 'Beautiful Boy' John Lennon

All Haligonians... please help!

2009-03-13T23:54:00.002-03:00

I lost my little red coin purse in the back of an independent cab. I just got a lift home from a 'Breakaway Cab' in Halifax to Dartmouth. I called 411 for the number, but it wasn't registered. There wasn't much in the purse; it's more of sentimental value. I don't care about the change; please help me track down the cab!

xo j

We taught the rat with a baseball bat

2009-03-12T23:13:00.002-03:00

Hahaha. Misheard lyrics still make me laugh.

So, I tried to make it back to Dartmouth this morning. I got on the bus, and was told the Confederation Bridge was closed to high-sided vehicles) due to high winds. Bah. We got all the way out there, and it still wasn't open for buses.

Back to Charlottetown I went.

Tomorrow, I will try again.

I was sadness. I wanted to get back today so I could go a knittin' with the gals in Dartmouth. It wasn't meant to be. I do have a burp cloth on the needles for my nephew - I hope it will be done by the time he arrives.

If I'm not in Halifax by 1 pm tomorrow, keep your eye out on the water. I'll swim if I have to.

iPod pick ~ 'Sex on Fire' Kings of Leon. For Angus. He loves this song.

Out here in the fields, I farm for my meals

2009-03-11T13:31:00.003-03:00

So, there have been a few changes here at Wedding Cake and Toothache... It's still a work in progress. If you have any suggestions, please let me know.

I thought it was time to give it a bit of a face lift. I've used my favourite colour combo. I like the fact that I can change the picture behind the title, too. I'll be doing that often, I'm sure.

I'm heating up some of the 12 pound lasagna in the oven. We don't have a microwave, which is fine. I would only use it for microwave popcorn. Well, not anymore... I bought a hot air popcorn popper at Value Village for $5 a few months ago. I love it; it gets used several times a week... okay, like every day. I love popcorn. I was sprinkling it with truffle salt and Romano cheese, but we ran out of truffle salt. Eep. It didn't help that I had accidentally dropped the container, spilling it onto the floor. I was able to salvage some... but any spilled truffle salt is a tragedy.

Yes, I like decadent popcorn. Wanna make somethin' of it?

iPod pick ~ 'Satellite' Elvis Costello

A. E. Get off of my clown

2009-03-10T23:18:00.003-03:00

Urp. Angus and I went for dinner at the Lucy Maud. The students get a meal card, which entitles them to three three-course meals, at $25 a pop. It was good, but I am stuffed, just like the chicken I had for supper. The sacher torte was also delicious. It was no Bacon Explosion, but that's a once-a-day food, not for every meal.

So, I got offered a part-time job. At Indigo! Yup, I'm going to be shilling books. You'd think that I would have had a job in a bookstore in the 20-odd years I've been working, but no. This is the first time! I don't want to be pushy and ask if I get a discount, but it would be nice to know... Anyhow, it it's only part-time, and it would be something I would like to keep if I get a job cooking or food related this summer. I'm afraid that I'm going to blurt out 'You can just pay me in books!!!' at some point during the orientation. Eep.

I also don't have the heart to tell them that I've never read any Harry Potter or Twilight series. I also have never read any Tolkein. Will that get me fired immediately? I'm also afraid that I'll snort at anybody buying a Faulkner or Steinbeck book. Bleh.

Dance class was fun last night, although I found out that I'm much better at making salsa than I am at dancing salsa. Please help.

iPod pick ~ 'My Baby Loves a Bunch of Authors' Moxy Fruvous

I can't go on, I watched him mow the lawn

2009-03-09T17:11:00.003-03:00

I most definitely giggled when I saw this misheard lyric.

I thought I'd pop by before I head off to dance class with Molly. It's not my first time taking dance class; I took swing dancing lessons with DeeDee, B and JN about 10 years ago. It was a scream; I can still 'fall off a log'. And, if you piss me off, I am more than capable of administrating

a sunshine kick to your head... waPOW!

I am going to be going home to Dartmouth this weekend. It's a big birthday for Beulah! I already have part of her gift... and it's going to make her laugh and laugh and laugh. I can't wait to give it to her.

I'm also hoping to spend some time with DeeDee and Bianca. I'm sure it

will be a blast... it's been a while!

When I get back from dance class, I'll be sure post pictures of Angus' latest culinary adventure...

iPod pick ~ 'You Are The Sunshine Of My Life' Lisa Ono

As promised, here is a picture of the bacon explosion... and the link to the whole process.

One day at a time... for a week

2009-03-08T13:52:00.004-03:00

I am going to try this again

I used to write on this blog every day. Then every other day. Then every week... then every other week... then to this - once every six months. I'm going to try to write every day this week to get back into it. I hope my readers will come back... and comment!

It's been a crazy few months. I'm going to be an auntie again! Yup, Beulah is having a little BOY this summer! The first boy born into the family since 1974 - the second since 1950! It's crazy. I come from a family of girls - lots of girl cousins, with girls of their own. I have three nieces. We're all very excited; I'm hoping he'll be named Jaichanopher.

Mads, my younger sis, has her very own witty blog over at Pretty in Pink and Green. It's very cute and you get to see lots of pics of my gorgeous girls.

As for me... well, I'm in the final months of school. I just had a huge meeting regarding my final project, and I've gotten the green light to do my proposed changes. This is a load off my shoulders. I'm going to be busy for the next few weeks putting everything together, but I feel really good about the direction in which everything is going. I'll be able to tell you more about it later this week.

I've started taking belly and Latin dancing with my friends/classmates! It's so much fun. I'm having a bit trouble with some of the moves, because my hips (especially my left one) like to pop in out of joint. It's kinda gross... but it also happens to JMc, so I don't feel like such a freak. We're going to show off our moves when we go to the Domincan in April, just before graduation. As some of you may remember, we started a catering company last year to raise money for a class trip. We ended up with just over $13,000. Thre are nine of going - including Angus! It's going to be a blast. I'll definitely be posting pictures.

Speaking of pictures, here are some from the Sex and the City night we went to last week.

JMc and Farkas

Molly, Farkas, and JB

JB and me

JB's silver shoes, my coral shoes and yellow bag

Me and Molly

It was a great time! I was defintely the brightest person there, in a purple dress, yellow accessories, and coral shoes. I looked a bit like an Easter egg, but it was fun. The shoes were surprisingly comfortable, but I was almost crippled by the end of the night... all of us were. Well, beauty is pain.

iPod pick ~ 'Use Somebody' Kings of Leon

Homeward bound

2008-09-27T10:36:00.002-03:00

I'm moving back to Charlottetown in the next few hours! I'm sad to be leaving Lunenburg, but I can't WAIT to see my friends and family (my parents will be here in a few hours).

iPod pick ~ 'So Why So Sad' Manic Street Preachers

Clinging to your stocks and bonds, paying your H.P. dumbass forever

2008-08-23T17:44:00.007-03:00

I read the title of this article and thought, 'No shit!'

Damn. I used to paddle competitively. Oh, the fun I would have at the daily, three-hour practices, throwing up my guts over the edge of the boat, watching my fellow crew members being carried from the boat because they couldn't move on their own, having tendinitis in every single one of my joints... ah, it was good times.

That being said, I'm thinking about getting back into next summer. Crazy? Perhaps.

The swimming is going well. I'm up to 45 minutes/5 days a week. I have no problem going to the pool; it's around the 25 minute mark as I'm dragging my arse through the water I start thinking ~ 'I hope this pays off'.

So far, it has. I've lost 38 pounds since May 1st! Hoorah.

I'm heading back to Charlottetown in just over a month. I can't wait, but I'm really going to miss Lunenburg. It really is beautiful here, and delightfully weird. I could film a documentary on the pay phone just around the corner from my apartment. Every day (at different times), the same three men are on it. One of them speaks a language that I can't even begin to recognize; I suspect it's Etruscan. Another man seems to be conducting business calls. The third man is begging someone to take him back. I feel like an eavesdropper, but I have to walk by them to get to work. Maybe I should bring them sandwiches.

I've got a new hobby. Pendant making! Yup. Hopefully I'll get better at it, but here is an example:

If anyone knows where I can get bails and glass tiles in Halifax, please let me know.

iPod pick ~ 'Sleep Walk' Santo and Johnny. For Angus

The scallop is gone...

2008-08-08T21:54:00.003-03:00

None of us are free until ALL of us are free

My good friend over at PoMo Golightly strongly believes in this, and so do I.

The scallop is gone! Hoorah! It went away on its own! Even more hoorah! I must have digested it. I found this out when I went to the surgeon and there was nothing there for her to remove. I ask you all to go out and celebrate by eating scallops. But remember to chew before you swallow them, or else you could end up like me.

I'm going to be volunteering at the Folk Harbour Festival tomorrow. I'll be sure to take lots of pictures!

iPod pick ~ 'Hallelujah Jordan' Hothouse Flowers

I remember when you could start a blog

2008-07-17T23:00:00.003-03:00

I'm not a John Cougar fan. I like one or two of his songs; the misheard lyric is from a song I don't like.

Thank you all for your concern. I'm all right; please don't worry about me. I've got a great support system (which you are obviously all a part of) and all signs are pointing to it being nothing more than a fluid-filled cyst. And it's angry right now (thanks to PMS), so that's a good sign. I am going to be home next weekend for Beulah's wedding reception and I hope to see most of you if I can. I will be getting the results a week from Monday (I hope) so it'll all be good, right?

I was going to cater Beulah's reception, but I know I wouldn't get much done in the kitchen with Worried Mom behind me every step of the way. My family has decided to go with a caterer, which will make everybody happy, and DeeDee won't feel bad about going to Newfoundland that weekend.

In other news, I did better at Weight Watchers this week. I lost 6 pounds! Whoop! The pesky 3 pounds I gained last week left and took some friends with them. Good riddance! I still have a way to go, but I'm closing in on 30 pounds gone since May 1st. Yay!

I think most of it was hair. I cut off about a foot of hair a few weeks ago. It was fried because of the amount of time I spend in the pool. The hairdresser also thinned the hell out of it, so now I look like I have enough hair for two heads, instead of four. It's also very curly and it doesn't play well with humidity, so I have to coat it with non-frizz cream. I don't mind; I don't want to give up swimming.

I constantly smell like saltwater, no mater how many times I shower. The water aerobics class I go to is Elderobics; I'm the youngest person there by at least 20 years. It's lots of fun. The first night I was there, a man rough 800 years old hit on me. He hasn't been back since. Angus thinks the excitement may have killed him. Oh dear.

So, I'm going to be hanging out in Lunenburg this weekend, knitting and swimming (not at the same time). I may go out for fresh clams! Anybody wanna come?

iPod pick ~ 'Scared of Cancer' The Dean Malenkos

I'm pretty sure it's just a scallop

2008-07-16T20:32:00.002-03:00

First of all, I suck, I know. I will post more.

I've had an interesting 10 days. I had my 35th birthday on the 6th. It was great! My parents, Beulah, Gerardo, and Lexie all came down for a visit. I ate scallops and apple pie. It was all good.

Then it wasn't my birthday. Then it was me not doing so well at the whole life thing. On the 7th, my computer crashed, taking some important files with it. I had most of it backed up, but there are some things that are gone, gone, gone, they've been gone so long. So that was a big BOOO.

That night, I found a lump in my left breast. It seemed to be large and angry. I wasn't going to take any chances, so the next morning, I went to the ER in town. The doctor found it right away and scheduled me for an ultrasound and a mammogram. I had a bit of a scramble because I didn't have a family doctor. Well, one above ground... my family doctor died in 2003 and he hasn't been seeing many patients these days. Fortunately, I've got some great friends, some who are doctors, and I got hooked up pretty quickly.

I've lost some weight since most of you have last seen me. My company has a Weight Watchers program, so I started on May 1st. I've lost 25 lbs since then... but gained back three at my last weigh-in. I've been swimming five times a week and I go to water aerobics on the days I don't swim. The pool is a 30 second walk from my apartment, so I have no excuse. I usually have the pool to myself when I swim. I'm swimming about 5 - 7 km a week. Last week, I didn't drink as much water as I usually do, which could have led to the gain. Hopefully, it'll be gone when I weigh in tomorrow!

I had the mammogram and ultrasound yesterday. Sure enough, there's something about the size of a ping pong ball in my left breast. I'm pretty sure it's just a misplaced scallop. I eat scallops pretty quickly, so it's likely I didn't chew one and it got lost on the way to my stomach. It could also be a cherry tomato or a grape tomato. I eat lots of those, too.

I'm trying not to worry about it.

I have a very good support system all around the world. If it is something serious, well, I'll just have to deal with it. And if it's a scallop, well, I'll be a viral hit.

iPod pick ~ 'Hello Hooray' Alice Cooper

I'm back, and here to stay

2008-06-02T19:00:00.003-03:00

I've been on a bit of a break. I'm settled enough here (well, as much as I'll ever be) in Lunenburg, so it's back to blogging. Besides, I have some lovely friends, Milkberry (obviously not her real name), who is reading my blog from Japan, and Hag, who is reading from the States, so I had better get back to posting.

I also had a surprise visit from DeeDee and Frenchie (the nifty boy with whom she's been spending time) yesterday, and she yelled at me for not posting. I'm sorry, DeeDee. I'll behave from now on. It was great to see them; we went to the pub for a few beer. They enjoyed the tour of my apartment, with rooms like 'The Bag Room' and 'The Yarn Room'. I have no furniture, just echoes.

Work is fantastic. I love my job and the people in the lab. Every day, I go in there and realize that this is the field of work I definitely want to pursue. I'm going to be in a different section this week. All of my coworkers are going to be in Toronto, so I'll be checking out Quality Control. I hope they like me.

I'm also taking in what the town has to offer. I went to breakfast at the Legion on Saturday! It was really good. Much different from what I remember at the Legion when I was little. It was PACKED in there; I'm pretty sure the whole town turned up for bacon, eggs, hash browns, and baked beans. After that, I went to the spring fair at the Academy, and the Quilt Show at one of the churches. I bought a tin of gingerbread men, who now reside in my freezer.

I'm also swimming down at the local pool. The last two times I've gone, I've had the whole pool to myself. It's a saltwater lap pool, which almost burned my eyes out after my first swim. I have goggles now (goggles, Mr. S, goggles), so I should be fine. It's not as bad as getting water from the Dead Sea in your eyes, but it's still unpleasant.

I'm also trying my hand at gardening. Yup. I'm just as surprised as all of you are. So far, so good. I'm cheerfully optimistic. Or delusional. I haven't decided which one yet.

iPod pick ~ 'Other' The Apples in Stereo. I love this song. Love, love, love.

Somewhat settled

2008-05-02T20:32:00.005-03:00

Now that you all know where I live, you have to come and visit.

I'm almost settled. I'll be getting internet and a phone on Wednesday. Hurrah! I've decided against getting a tv for the summer. There is a library around the corner full of books that I want to read, and I have to finish Beulah's afghan. Whew!

I love my new job. I really do. I can't really get into what I'm doing, but I can tell you we are working on exciting new products and improving the taste of existing products. It's been a crazy week. My first job? Hahahaha... butterflying shrimp for a new product test. As most of you know, I love working with shrimp. If they told me, "Jaichan, your job this summer is to peel and devein shrimp. When you finish the shrimp, you have to remove pinbones from fish," I would probably keel over with happiness.

I like my coworkers. They're very friendly and helpful. After moving last week, my wrists are acting up... I've got ganglions in both of them. It's hard for me to hold a piping bag properly; fortunately, my coworkers understood. I think.

They're also beginning to figure out that I will do the most dreaded, menial tasks - happily - if scallops are my reward. I'm afraid they will figure out that I would happily accept scallops in lieu of a pay check. I would be homeless, but I would have a very happy tummy.

Anyhow, it's a great little town here, and if you ever want to come and visit, please, drop me a note. I have a tonne of room; I've got a sparsely furnished, two-bedroom apartment. It's twice the size of my overstuffed apartment in Charlottetown. Oh well.

You'll be seeing more of me around here.

iPod pick ~ 'Less than Zero' Elvis Costello

I like to move it, move it

2008-04-21T23:55:00.002-03:00

Actually, I don't. I hate it.

I'm the process of moving to my very cute new apartment in downtown Charlottetown. Then, I'll be going home for a couple of days and moving to Lunenburg. Hurrah!

So, my internet connection may be spotty at best for the next few weeks, but I'll be back in full swing here once I get settled.

Keep your eyes on this space...

iPod pick ~ 'Over You' Roxy Music. I love, love, love this song

I'm finding it hard to believe you're eleven

2008-04-06T01:52:00.002-03:00

An old friend reminded me of this lyric the other day. It made me laugh and laugh... especially in light of the title of the artist's latest CD.

I have been busy avoiding schoolwork, which is no excuse for not posting. I'm back, and I'll be writing so much that you'll be sick to death of me. That's me, from one extreme to the other.

Things are winding down at school. My classmates and I have lots of assignments to avoid, and we're working together to try to get them done. Most of us have jobs for the summer, from Executive Chef at a new restaurant to cooking on the line at school to research and development. All of my classmates are staying on the island, whooping it up without me.

I have a new one bedroom apartment downtown. It's cute and I can't wait to move in, although, it'll be weird not having roommates. Who am I going to leave my 'missing person' notes to? Who am I going to have apple crisp and ice cream with?

I also have a wonderful two-bedroom place in downtown Lunenburg. Please come and visit! We can eat seafood and look at the water. We could also drink beer and listen to old Who albums on the record player I should really buy.

We had our first catering function as a group. My classmates and I are raising money to go to Italy next year; our first gig netted us enough to send one of us in style. Whoop! It was a stand up reception for our accounting instructor's 25th wedding anniversary. We had hors d'oeuvres, an oyster bar, a mussel station, and a scallop station. Molly and I were on the back deck plating up the hors d'oeuvres and freezing our asses off; JB and JL were serving, DS was on the oysters and JB and SL were on mussels and scallops. We were really happy with how everything went. If you want us to cater anything... let me know!

DeeDee had a great time in Switzerland and France. I think she should send me pictures, don't you?

Angus is off to New Zealand on Wednesday. I'm so jealous I could spit, especially because he may get to see Mokey (Ms. Rock Me Amadeus herself) in Auckland. Angus has dual citizenship; he lived in NZ for most of his schooling. He hasn't been back in a few years and I know there are going to be people who won't want him to leave. But he has to come back to Canada because I will miss him... and hate him for living in Neil Finn's country.

iPod pick ~ 'Some Sing, Some Dance' Michel Pagliaro. Trust me, you know this song. I love it. The aforementioned old friend reminded me of it the other night.

Fish heads! Fish heads!!

2008-03-12T22:03:00.003-03:00

I received my package in the Hot Cocoa swap. I was frustrated that I had to wait, but as you can see, there are some loverly things my partner chose for me. Thank you, Jinxsa!

When I get the time, in about a hundred years, I'm going to knit this. Finally... the hat/bandana of my dreams. The colourway (sorry, Lynne!) is the one in the picture, Nova Scotia. It's slouchy and very, very me. Coco wants me to knit this, which made me laugh and laugh and laugh. I would totally wear it.

Oh... and...

I!

Got!

The!

Job!!!

I'm more than a little bit excited. I start on April 26th at High Liner. I'm movin' to Lunenburg! Thank you all for your positive thoughts. Leave all of your fishy ideas in the comments!

iPod pick ~ 'Step On My Old Size Nines' the Stereophonics

Helen, let your lampshade down

2008-03-11T22:10:00.002-03:00

Hahahaha. Hahahahahahaa. That is for you, Wayback Gwen.

So, I'm back on the island, back at school. I'm still waiting to hear about the job, and I'm getting more and more nervous as each day passes. Keep your fingers (and fish sticks) crossed for me.

As for the Hot Cocoa Swap, I STILL haven't received anything. I was told it was sent (within Canada) almost 2 weeks ago; I'm going to wait a few more days, then write it off. I'm not really impressed with the situation. I am glad, however, that I've met wonderful people like Devin. And people like Teresa (who I met on another website), offering to send me a package... even though she wasn't part of the swap.

It's no secret how much I adore Lesley. Check out the sweater she made for her mom!

I'm still soooo excited for Angus to receive his package. When he sends me pictures, I'll post them here. Meanwhile, DeeDee is in Switzerland right now, trying to find one of these.

Ugh.

iPod pick ~ 'The Waiting' Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers

Police La-di-dah

2008-03-07T00:58:00.002-04:00

Haha. You'd think I'd be sick of the misheard lyrics by now, but no.

Simple minds... you know the saying.

Actually, Simple Minds had one or two songs that I liked. At the risk of getting beaten with cudgels by you all, I have a confession to make...

I, your lover of the 80s, did not like the movie The Breakfast Club. I know! I should; it had all the elements of a great 80s film. Brat Pack! Soundtrack! John Hughes!

Meh.

I thought Sixteen Candles was so much better.

I'm at home in Dartmouth right now, knitting trendy dishcloths. The interview was the other day, I'm hoping to hear back from them within the next few days. If I do, and I get the job, I'll have fish sticks for you all!

Well, no, not really. But it would be a nice gesture. I know that I'm going to get strung up for telling you this story, but I love it. Angus already refers to my blog as the 'hate' blog... I'm not sure what he'll call it after he reads this.

When Angus was younger, he wasn't allowed to have any pets. He's allergic to cats, and dogs weren't really an option either. So, he had a pet fish stick. He kept the fish stick in the freezer. One day, his dad came home late from work... and he was hungry. Into the freezer he went, out with the fish stick he came.

I'm not sure if Angus has ever gotten over it.

iPod pick ~ 'Born Free' Matt Monro. For Angus' pet fish stick. May he be swimming freely in that process plant in the sky.

Livin' like a lover in a red-eyed thong

2008-02-28T23:33:00.002-04:00

Oh dear... sorry. I've been foolish at school. We've had to make up classes that we've missed due to snow days. The schedule has been wonky and we've had an asstonne of assignments dropped on us. I honestly don't know if I'm coming or going anymore. I reached my breaking point at school the other day and walked out of class to speak to the head of the school. Fortunately, I kept my temper in check (Molly reminds me of diplomacy daily) and I think that things are going improve.

I'm optimistic. I have to be. Tomorrow is the last day before spring break, and I can't wait to go home.

I've at least gotten lots of knitting done in the meantime. I'm just finishing up a Calorimetry for Molly's sister. It's loverly.

It appears that I have been flaked on in the Cocoa Swap. I was supposed to receive the package by the 18th, but nothing arrived. My partner had messaged me at the beginning of February to tell me that she was waiting for stitch markers to arrive from the States. Then nothing. I had to email her to ask if she had sent the package. This was the other day. She said she was still waiting for the stitch markers and was going to send the package on the 27th. I wrote back to tell her that I wished she had emailed me to let me know; I'm more frustrated with the lack of communication than with the lateness.

I haven't heard anything since. I'm not impressed.

One of the hostesses of the swap has been absolutely wonderful about the whole situation. I feel awful; it appears that I'm the only one that has been flaked on! I've ruined her perfect record! I hope she can forgive me, because I personally think she rocks.

As I said, I can't wait to get home. I have an interview next week... wish me luck!

iPod pick ~ 'It's Only Make Believe' Glen Campbell

Larry in a coma!

2008-02-16T09:42:00.009-04:00

My bed frame has cracked.

A close up, for those in the nosebleed section. I took these pictures for Angus. He sent me instructions on how to fix it. He's handy like that. I am not. Can someone lend me a drill?

I've been doing lots of knitting to stay positive. Here's Quant, which took me a few hours from start to finish. I used the Bernat Felting Natural Wool in New Iris.

Believe it or not, that is my first i-cord! Molly is fascinated by it. I'm knitting another one in Meadow and she's going to choose between the two. I'll be sending the other one to Mads, if she wants it... it'll probably be this one, Mads. I'll also need to knit one for Beulah. I know that DeeDee and Courtney (my favourite political candidate) also want a Quant or a Calorimetry. If I have time, I'll also end up knitting ones for Candace and the lovely Miss Jay. Just leave your colour preferences in the comment box and I'll whip them up.

I saw this today. You have got to be kidding me. Seriously, stop it. I will be your eternal slave if you can get me tickets and means of transportation. Donkey, skateboard... I don't care.

I'm hoping to go to the market this morning to stuff myself with perogies and samosas. When you go to the Farmers' Market, on what do you gorge?

iPod pick ~ 'Fans' Kings of Leon. Because of the Times is slowly becoming one of my all-time favourite CDs. Rolling Stone loses its mind whenever the Kings of Leon releases a new CD. People write in with comments like, '... it seems like the Followills could drop a turd on a reord and you guys would drool over it.' I saw the Kings of Leon four years ago (in a club that was the size of a postage stamp) and they were incredible. To the haters, I say... eff you, you effin' effs.

ps.... it's -26°C with the wind chill factor. Please send warmth.

Don't worry... I haven't forgotten you

2008-02-12T21:38:00.002-04:00

JLF, modeling her Calorimetry

Calorimetry for everybody! I knit one for myself in Patons SWS and my lovely classmate, JLF, loved it. So, I found some 100% wool in her favourite colours... for 3 dollars! I used half a skein and it took about 35 seconds to knit. Well, a bit longer than that, but you get the idea.

I've been really busy trying to get caught up and stay on top of things at school. We've got heaps and heaps and heaps of work to do, and our schedules have been thrown out of whack. Snow days, miscommunication, bear attacks... you know the drill. I hope to be able to devote more time to blogging, now that my dear friend, Candace, has given up blogging for Lent. She is much more virtuous than yours truly... your collapsed Catholic.

Also... very happy to see Moe back on the blogging scene. Sorry about your kitty, Miz Frozen Extremities.

I had a phone interview for with a company that supplies you all with fish sticks from everybody's favourite Captain. It went well, I think... I have a second interview next month in Lunenburg. I'm really excited; please keep your fingers crossed for me.

iPod pick ~ Something by Dan Fogelberg. I had no idea that he had died in December. Most of his music was fluff, but he had his place.

Fun with Jell-O

2008-01-27T14:23:00.001-04:00

I'm having a hard time getting my pictures on Blogger right now; but please enjoy the hijinks Molly and I got up to yesterday. We had so much fun; we're going to be doing something crazy like this once a month and we're taking suggestions.

I think a Wedding Cake (complete with Toothache) would be a perfect project of us.

iPod pic ~ 'Can't Hardly Wait' The Replacements... I know it's recently been an iPod pick, but I really love this song.

Sorry

2008-01-22T22:34:00.000-04:00

Sorry, I've been really, really busy trying to get caught up in school. I will write more soon.

RIP Heath Ledger

iPod Pick ~ 10 Things I Hate About You... the movie and the soundtrack

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap

2008-01-13T20:09:00.001-04:00

Here are some of the absolutely fabulous things I got in the Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap. Tara was my partner and she couldn't have done a better job. The lava lamp cracked me up; I've always wanted one. Thank you, thank you, thank you! Oh, and the fudge she sent didn't last long... once my mom saw it, it was pretty much gone.

I've been neglecting WCaT... for the past little while. I've been trying to get caught up in school. I missed an asstonne of work and it's been a bit overwhelming. I don't mind... I got a trip to Japan out of the deal, so I'm happy.

I do have pictures that I'll post. Angus sent me his batch of pictures last night. Both of us are going though Japan withdrawal, and I have to be honest... I think if the opportunity presented itself, we'd both be on a plane tomorrow. When I left 2 1/2 years ago, I was done. I had an uneasy feeling thinking I had stayed at the party too long.

Going back helped me get over that feeling. If I had left a year earlier, I wouldn't have met people who had become good friends in my last year. I wouldn't have seen REM in concert. I wouldn't have started school with Molly, Caleb, Nelly, Bettie, and lots of other wonderful people. I wouldn't have worked in St. Andrews... and I wouldn't have met Angus.

I think I made the right choice.

iPod pick ~ 'Get the Party Started' Dame Shirley Bassey. How awesome is this?

Hot Cocoa Swap Questionnaire

2008-01-09T22:46:00.000-04:00

The Questionnaire!

It's here at long last... so let's hear it for the Questionnaire!

Cocoa:
1. What is your favorite way to drink cocoa? Prepared with milk? Water? from home made recipe or store bought?, In a tea cup, or big mug? I like cocoa made with milk from a big mug. Store bought or homemade are both good.

2. Marshmallows or whipped cream? If it has them, great, if it doesn't, that's good, too.

Yarn/Knitting/Crochet
1. What is your favorite type of yarn? In what colors? I like natural fibres in jewel-tones.

2. Do you knit or crochet (or both)? Just knit.

3. What are your favorite type of needles, would you like to try something new? I like bamboo needles and I would love to try something new.

4. Do you have a healthy supply of notions? I've got almost everything I need.

5. What one thing do you keep thinking you need to buy for your knitting habit (outside of yarn)? I would like a yarn snipper.

6. What is your favorite 'quick knit/crochet' pattern (quick gratification)? I like 'Fetching' from Knitty.

Miscellaneous
1. What is your favorite thing to do in the Winter? I like to knit!

2. What is your favorite animal? I like dogs, turtles, seafood...

3. Do you get the 'winter blahs'? In Charlottetown... oh, yeah.

4. What is your favorite way to beat the blahs? I knit!

5. What is the thing you are most looking forward to this spring? Wearing my bright pink raincoat.

6. What are your favorite treat? Dark chocolate.

7. What is your favorite board game? Scrabble!

8. Do you have any children (furry or human)? No, just roommates.

9. Do you have any allergies or special considerations you partner should know about? Penicillin... but that shouldn't be a problem

In a prior life, Fernando

2008-01-05T11:10:00.000-04:00

Haha! This made me giggle.

Happy New Year and all that rot. I hope that you spent it with the ones you love or face down in a pile of streamers and drool. Either way, I hope it was great.

I catered a dinner for my mom's friends. It was four courses for four couples. The starter was salad with Boursin, pancetta, (I used the dripping to cook the walnuts, which I deglazed with orange juice), pomegranate, heirloom tomatoes, and mixed greens.

The soup was a sherried squash puree.

Main was individual Beef Wellingtons and roasted pototoes (thank you, pancetta drippings), served with crispy topped Brussels sprout, broccoli and asparagus. Oh, and buttery caraway carrots.

Dessert was Pavlovas with berry coulis and Chocolate Cabernet sauce. It went over pretty well; everyone seemed happy and no one had to go to the emergency room.

I've been procrastinating. I have a tonnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnne of work to do and I'm just pretending it's not there. I don't advise you to try this at home. Panic is going to set in soon, along with the uncontrollable weeping. I should get started.

I also have lots of thing on the needles that don't seem to be knitting themselves. Hmm

I received a package from Angus yesterday. Somehow, he managed to find the only elastics that don't explode in my unruly hair. I had precious few left from the pack I had gotten 2 1/2 years ago in Japan. I looked everywhere for them in Japan and I couldn't find them. He found some in NC and sent them up.

I was very happiness to receive them. And now I miss him even more.

iPod pick ~ 'Living Room' Tegan and Sara

Happy New Year!!

2007-12-31T09:50:00.000-04:00

Happy New Year! Resolutions, anyone? Leave them in the comments box.

Happy Birthday, Molly.... xoxo.

Missing the blue-eyed bear and the Super Hotel.

iPod pick ~ 'Once Around the Block' Badly Drawn Boy

So true...

2007-12-29T18:54:00.000-04:00

The Recipe For Janice

3 parts Drive
2 parts Recklessness
1 part Bravery

Splash of Uniqueness

Finish off with a little umbrella and straw

What's the Recipe for Your Personality?

Happy Holidays and all that

2007-12-28T09:02:00.000-04:00

Ok, so I'm back. And Blogger isn't letting me upload pictures. Boo.

I've been waiting to post. I don't know why; maybe it's because my ears are still blocked from the flight home from Toronto. I can barely hear and I've been shouting at people since Sunday or Monday.

The trip was amazing. Angus and I had a great time. I felt really bad for him, though, because I didn't realize how many of my friends were still in town. I wanted to see everybody, but I didn't have a whole lot of time in which to do it. This resulted in strange mixes of people, who all knew me but didn't really know each other. I know it was overwhelming at some points for Angus, and I still feel guilty about that. Sorry.

Other than that, the trip was great! We went to eat and we weren't disappointed. I have some great pictures up on Facebook and I'll put a few here. We had negi-toro don, which is raw tuna belly on rice and possibly one of my most favourite meals ever. We ate at the bakeries everyday; Angus was very excited about finding them on almost every corner. He had Japanese-style fried chicken (karaage), Japanese-style pizza (okonmiyaki), octopus balls (takoyaki), Japanese pop (CC Lemon), and a whole host of other foods. He loved everything; it was really exciting to show him new foods. We had nabe with TS and his wife, A; Andi made us a Japanese breakfast, we ate onigiri (rice balls) and smoked string cheese every chance we got, and one day, we went to Tor Road Deli and bought smoked duck breast. Mmmmmm. We also went out for dinner with Irma and her family and it was delicious... Angus got to eat bibimbap for the first time.

I think Angus loved absolutely everything he ate
.
We played video games! We drank coffee! We went to shrines! We drank beer! We ate ice cream with strawberries and a drizzle of 30 year-old balsamic vinegar! It was divine.
We cooked dinner for a bunch of friends... chili and cornbread! It went over well. We experimented with TimTams and came up with a de-constructed TimTam pie, which was a hit.

I was so happy to see Ian, Jane, Darren, Kausar, Lynva, Shinobu and Kevin, and of course, Sonoko. If I'm forgetting anyone, my apologies.

We stayed at the Super Hotel in ShinKobe, which was small but very cozy. Angus wanted to live there. Then we stayed with Andi, who couldn't have been more of a gracious host. We later stayed with TS and his family. I've always loved his apartment.

Angus says he won't speak to me anymore now that our trip is done. I'm pretty sure he's kidding. At least I hope he is. I would be very much sadness if he no longer spoke to me. He's down in North Carolina, celebrating Christmas with his family. It was a bit difficult to say goodbye to him, but I know I'll see him again... if he's still talking to me.

I'll post later on how the holidays are going....

iPod pick ~ 'Heartbeat' Tahiti 80

Stupid delays

2007-12-22T21:49:00.001-04:00

I'm stuck in Pearson International in Toronto. I may not get out until... get this... the New Year. Hahaha. Hahahah. Hahahha.

The trip was great... will write more later.

iPod pick ~ Not airline delays, that's for damn sure.

I'm seeing Angus in the morning

2007-12-08T22:11:00.000-04:00

Ding dong, the bells are going to chime...

Off to Toronto in the morning.

Japan on Monday.

Sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet.

iPod pick ~ 'Big in Japan' Alphaville

Remember...

2007-12-06T19:47:00.001-04:00

14 women lost, but not forgotten.

Sock yarn-o-rama

2007-12-04T11:58:00.001-04:00

I just received this yarn in a swap. It's Cherry Hill Tree in Jewel and I'm in looooooooooooove.

I also won Ninjaknitter's advent give away yesterday. Wander over to her blog to check out that glorious sock yarn. I am going to have the happiest feet in the world!

Angus got his hat yesterday. He loves it... even with the very crooked seam, and he looks very handsome in it. It makes his eyes look really blue. Bettie also received her wavy scarf and told me that she hasn't taken it off her neck. I'm happiness knowing that people are happy with their gifts.

Mads, your second sock is on the needles... but I'm itching to knit with the above yarn... do you mind?

Today is a snow day! I believed it would happen, and sure enough, it did!! It did! I'm going to spend all day knitting.

iPod pick ~ 'Listen to the Radio' Pukka Orchestra

Walking in this mouth for you

2007-11-30T21:34:00.000-04:00

Wahhooooo!!!

This week is finally over. Ohmagawd, it felt like it went on forever. I had so much work to do and I was sure I was never going to get it done.

It's also the last post for NaBloPoMo! I also thought I would never get this done. Except for that blip when I had problems with a server last week (hey, it was before midnight in some places), I managed to do it.

I'm pretty excited right now. I'm going to see Angus a week from Sunday. I'm just going to hug him to pieces. Then I'm going to sweep those pieces up and take them to Japan with me. It's going to be strange to go back and see all my old friends. Not many of my readers knew me pre-culinary school days; I was a different person. I think it will be interesting to see how much everybody has changed.

I'm a bit nervous... but the thought of stuffing myself with maguro-don is stronger than the uneasy feelings.

iPod pick ~ 'Turning Japanese' The Vapors

Go shawty, it's Shiver!

2007-11-29T21:10:00.000-04:00

Nelly made curry today. The whole house smells like it, which makes me very happy.

This week has been busy. I'll be glad when it's over and I can sleep for 3 days.... and then start on all the assignments I have. Hiss. At least we're playing Monopoly in Accounting class, which is fun! I'm totally getting my ass kicked, but I'm having a great time. Whenever I play a game like Monopoly, I always get my ass kicked. I'm also the first one to say, 'Let's play again!!! I wanna be the boot!'

Pinball and air hockey, however, I play to win. Grr.

All I want to do is knit. I don't want to do any work. I sit in class and think I could be spending that time knitting socks. I worry that I'll end up on Intervention, with my family threatening to take away my knitting needles and asking me 'to accept this gift...'

They'll be prying my Opal Rainbow sock yarn from my cold, dead hands.

iPod pick ~ 'Reminiscing' Little River Band. Hahaha, TS and I used to sing this all the time. I can't believe I'm going to be seeing him in less than two weeks.

iPod Library Meme

2007-11-28T19:20:00.000-04:00

Nicked from Courtney.

How many total songs?
1372. I have less than 1% of my music on my iTunes. It took up sooooooooooo much room on my last computer that it slowed down everything.

Sort by song title - first and last...
ABC ~ Ladysmith Black Mambazo and Kermit the Frog
867-5309 ~ Tommy Tutone

Sort by time - shortest and longest...
Sailors' Rest Intro ~ Stan Rogers
House of the Rising Sun ~ Santa Esmeralda

Sort by Album - first and last...
Acoustic, London 1993 ~ a Neil Finn bootleg
7 Worlds Collide: Live at the St. James ~ again, Neil Finn (like Courtney and her Beatles)

Sort by Artist - first and last...
ABC ~ one of Sonoko's favourite bands
50 Cent ~ Hahaha, I share a birthday with him!

Top five played songs...
Goodbye ~ Steve Earle
Absolutely Zero ~ Jason Mraz
Bluenose ~ Stan Rogers
Thalessocrasy ~ Frank Black
All Through Throwin' Good Love after Bad ~ Guy Clark

Find the following words. How many songs show up?
Sex: 3
Death: 2
Love: 92
You: 186
Home: 24
Boy: 65
Girl: 44

First five songs that come up on Party Shuffle...
All Through Throwin' Good Love After Bad ~ Guy Clark
In My Life ~ Johnny Cash
(Silence) ~ Hawksley Workman
Birdhouse in Your Soul ~ They Might Be Giants
Battery ~ Metallica

Hmm. I'm weird.

Well, I guess you're all 'IT'. You can leave some of your answers in the comments.

iPod pick ~ Any of the above songs

Stupid speech

2007-11-27T22:53:00.000-04:00

I have to write a stupid speech for my stupid class and I can't be bothered.

iPod pick ~ A finished speech. Do you have one?

R.I.P.

2007-11-26T22:22:00.000-04:00

Two of my favourite spots in Halifax are no more: The Med and The Phoenicia.

The Med was on Barrington Street and it had the best breakfast menu in town. It also had fantastic club sandwiches, a kick-ass Lebanese menu, and great seafood.

The Phoenicia was a specialty food store just up from the bridge. You can get Lebanese and Greek foods at corner stores in Halifax, but the Phoenicia was something else. I would go in there after work (when I worked at the Italian Market on McCully Street) and I would by tahini, couscous, and lots of other goodies. The owner was lovely and talked my ear off, even though I worked for the 'competition' ... haha. I knew it had been closed for quite some time, but seeing the leveled building today made me sad.

Rest in peace, Med and Phoenicia. This girl will miss you heaps.

iPod pick ~ 'Only the Good Die Young' Billy Joel

Weekly WWCS topic

2007-11-25T20:35:00.000-04:00

What is the ideal setting for enjoying the perfect cup of coffee? Who would be there - or would you be alone? Inside or out? Morning or night? With food or just the steaming cup of joe?

There is a coffee shop in Halifax that is right around the corner from my sister's old apartment. We used to meet there every day for a cup of Hazelnut Vanilla. I would get a samosa or a flavoured yogurt to go with it. We would sit there for hours and laugh; I really missed that when I went back to Japan. I still miss it.

Still not done my assignments. Oh dear.

iPod pick ~ The Devo song from the Dell commercial.

Roots.... boots... and toots...

2007-11-24T22:49:00.000-04:00

I like that song.

I have started on the mountain of assignments I need to have done for this week. Gah. Not fun at all. My mom bought me Accounting for Dummies which hopefully will help me out. I'll be working on that tomorrow.

Beulah and Mads bought me new boots for Christmas. Beulah bought me a red pair and Mads bought me a purple pair. Or maybe it's the other way around, I'm not sure. At any rate, they're the first pairs of winter boots I've owned in over ten years. Hoorah!

iPod pick ~ 'Can't Hardly Wait' The Replacements

Gawdammit

2007-11-24T03:39:00.000-04:00

I'm home with the shittiest server ever. I thought the one I had in Charlottetown was bad... I was unpleasantly surprised by what awaited me at home.

I've spent more than a few hours trying to get connected... I had to unplug my dad's computer and pray for the best. Not cool.

Do internet malfunctions count in a late posting for NaBloPoMo?

iPod pick ~ 'Shitty Server' **ia**

Hair I go again on my own

2007-11-22T21:28:00.000-04:00

Have I ever told you about '80s Lady?

There is a woman who works at the college who looks like a retired hair band video vixen. She has frosted blond poofy hair, styled into a Kentucky waterfall, and full-on pastel make-up. She wears power suits with Dynasty-style shoulder pads, white boots and Sears catalog gold jewelry.

She is awesome.

I'm not being facetious. I can't figure it out; is she oblivious to the fashion change or does she just not care? Either way, it works.

I'm off to Halifax in the morning. Hoorah!

iPod pick ~ Insert eighties hair band song here. What's your secret favourite eighties tune? Let me know.

Rip your eyeball out and you'll lactate butter

2007-11-21T20:10:00.000-04:00

Ha. Haha. Hahahahaha.

The air quality in our classroom is terrible. My classmates and I sit in class and try not to fall over. I'm worried that it's either 100% carbon dioxide in there or we're about succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning. I'm going to start bringing a plant to school.

We managed to knock our chef instructor completely off topic today. We were supposed to talk about management training; we talked about movies and television. At least it kept us awake.

I have assignments in every single one of my courses due within the next week or so. I won't see the sunlight til I don't know when...

iPod pick ~ 'Working in the Coalmine' Devo. Or, rather... 'Canary in a Coal Mine' The Police as Coco pointed out.

She keep her mole hair shiny

2007-11-20T20:04:00.000-04:00

It's been decided... I'm going home for the weekend! Hoorah. It was a tough call... I really want to go to dinner at Sirenella. Oh well.

I'll have to finish the dishcloth I've been working on for my mom.

I'd love to see everybody in Halifax. Let me know if there is anything going on this weekend.

Must do Accounting. Grr.

iPod pick ~ 'The W.A.N.D.' The Flaming Lips

Hold on tight to your drink

2007-11-19T21:40:00.000-04:00

This week's topic for the swap:

The Thursday upcoming is Thanksgiving in the U.S., so let's all - American and not alike! - just share a post with what it is we're thankful for. A wonderful thing to do any time of year, I thought it'd be a nice thing to share for this week with the group!

Hmm.

I'm thankful for my family and my friends. I'm thankful for yarn, which led me to meet all of my wonderful knit chix and inspired me to write a blog. I'm thankful for Digby, for producing the best scallops in the world.

One of my instructors uses 'literally' in almost every sentence. Literally. I started to count the other day in class. I literally stopped at 25. It literally gets distracting after a while.

iPod pick ~ 'Anytime' Neil Finn, the version from 7 Worlds Collide: Live at the St. James

ps... Help me make a decision. My parents have asked me to come home for the weekend (I have no class on Friday and start at 1 on Monday). I want to go and see everyone, but I have reservations at the greatest restaurant in the world, Sirenella, next Saturday with my friends. What do you think? I'm going to be back in Halifax for a few days in three weeks, but I won't have much time to see my friends. Leave comments here.

Mush brain

2007-11-18T21:12:00.000-04:00

My brain is mush. I'm almost finished my paper and I have to start writing a speech. I spent all day on the computer and now my head hurts.

I can now answer any questions you may have about Yum! Brands, Inc.

Insert witty comments here, I'm too tired to think of any.

iPod pick ~ 'Let My Love Open the Door' Pete Townshend

I think you're a gnome now

2007-11-17T21:12:00.000-04:00

Haha. I had a chef instructor who reminded me of a garden gnome.

I am procrastinating something fierce; I NEED TO FINISH THAT PAPER and start writing a speech for Monday. Meh. I'm more interested in doing anything but those things. Grr.

I went to the market with SL for my weekly samosa fix. It was then on to the craft shows with Molly. We met Maggie, who has some absolutely amazing bags, boxes, ottomans... everything. I bought a box which I intend to use for jewelry. I hope to see her and her mother at the knitting group on Tuesday. I'll get you more info on her Etsy shop.

The craft show at the high school was incredible! Molly and I were expecting a few tables in the gym selling those awful tea towels with the knit edge. Not the case. I can't believe this is the third winter I've lived in Charlottetown and I've never been there before.

I have to get back to not doing my paper. Grr. I'm going to be up for the next 1000000000000000 hours finishing this beast of a paper.

iPod pick ~ 'This Wreck of a Life' Sam Roberts

Hokum boleration

2007-11-16T21:28:00.000-04:00

Oh dear. I've been distracted by 'What Not To Wear'. I'm supposed to be writing about Yum! Brands, Inc. Instead, I'm learning how women with large chests should dress.

I guess that could be helpful.

I also have to write a five minutes speech on modern culinary trends. Any suggestions? I'm thinking about savoury Twinkie recipes....

To add to my procrastination, I've started knitting a ball band dishcloth for my mom (in Christmas colours, of course). Not that I don't have a sock to finish or an afghan to start. My god, I need motivation.

The woman on WNTW is dissing Lane Bryant! Oh no, she di'ent! That's where I bought all of my powerful matching underwear... all 15 sets. I won't stand for that! Oh, it's so on like Donkey Kong.

iPod pick ~ 'Free in the Harbour' Stan Rogers

Lost virginity, mountainous mammaries

2007-11-15T20:40:00.000-04:00

Hahaha, Hahaha. Oh, I don't think John Denver had those misheard lyrics in mind when he was singing that song.

I'm going to be laying low this weekend. I have a veritable shittonne of work to do this weekend. I'm worried about what accounting will bring tomorrow. I'm leaving for Japan in three and a half weeks and I'm going to have to a wall of work to get done before I fly out. I could bring it all on the airplane with me and get Angus to do it, but I don't how well that will fly (haha, I'm so punny).

Can anyone explain to me why Michael hates Toby on The Office? I think I missed some earlier episodes which may have explained the hatred.

I'm hoping to get to the craft show at the high school this weekend. One of the other knit chix, Maggie, is going to have a table there. If you're in Charlottetown this weekend, go check out her swag.

iPod pick ~ 'There Stands The Glass' Ted Hawkins. It always makes me think of Coco.

Hot dog, jumping far, I'm on cocaine

2007-11-14T22:33:00.000-04:00

Yum. Chicken, Black Bean and Corn Quinoa salad. It was yum. Again, if you want the recipe, let me know.

We had a class trip yesterday. We went to the Food Technology Centre. Ohmagad, Molly and I were like kids in a candy store. Sensory tests! Labs! Big machiney things! I thought I was going to have to be hospitalized. I is gunna be a culinologist, yo.

Then I went home and spent 8 hours trying to get my accounting homework to balance. Boo. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. It finally worked out (I think) but I was ready to dropkick my computer out the window.

Angus has applied to work in Afghanistan. He wants to cook on the bases there. Of course, people are telling him he's crazy. I would go in a heartbeat; I don't think it's crazy at all. Of course, there aren't many countries in which I wouldn't work, so I'm not really a good judge of this kind of thing.

I have so much work to do this weekend it's unfit. I won't have time to watch crappy TV. No Celebrity Fit Club for me.

iPod pick ~ 'You've Never Been This Far Before' Conway Twitty

I hate it

2007-11-13T23:49:00.000-04:00

I hate accounting. I hate it.

I have to freeze you like a shoe

2007-11-12T19:05:00.000-04:00

Tonight's dinner. Hot Italian Sausage Grape Tomato Sauce on Fresh Black Pepper Pasta. I bought most of the ingredients at the market, threw in some Asiago and scarfed it down in one bite. I have enough left for lunch tomorrow. If you want the recipe, let me know.

I love President's Choice. The bowl, the fork and the remaining ingredients came from the Superstore. That bowl can hold everything I have in my fridge, all at once. I'm pretty sure it's bottomless.

I have to start thinking about where I would like to do my internship next summer. The ultimate goal is to take over President's Choice (well, the food department), but I should probably start small. I've never met a President's Choice product I didn't like.

What's your favourite PC product?

iPod pick ~ 'True Love Way' Kings of Leon.

Take your teeth right out and write the next line

2007-11-11T22:47:00.000-04:00

This is this week's topic for the WWCS.

As the cold of winter approaches, do you change the projects you work on? Do you work on gifts for others or do you continue working on projects for yourself?

Oh god, no. If I did that, I would never get anything done. Right now, I have a sock I have to finish, my mother's scarf, a scarf for one of my chef instructors (it's been on the needles for, gulp, two years), and, of course, Beulah's afghan. My mom also wants dishcloths for Christmas and every other time of year, so I have to get started on those. Basically, I'm knitting for Christmas the whole year. I also need to knit socks for Mads, fingerless gloves for my dad, Odessa for DeeDee, mittens for Molly, a Transformer hat for Angus...

AAAAAAARGGGGG!!!!

I'm going to go hide under my bed.

iPod pick ~ 'Still is Still Moving to Me' Toots and the Maytals featuring Willie Nelson.

Can you Alabama Wedding World?

2007-11-10T21:50:00.000-04:00

Hahah, this misheard lyric is for Angus ('I want you to listen to me as hard as you fucking can...').

I went to the Farmers' Market with my classmates JB and SL today. JB's girlfriend came along and we stuffed her full of samosas, raclette, smoked salmon and spicy sausages. The raclette wasn't as strong as I would have liked, but it made SL's car smell pretty rank. Mmmm.

I'm going to make a pasta tomorrow if I don't eat all the grape tomatoes I bought for the sauce.

I was thinking about more of my favourite places in the Maritimes today. I'm going to break them down into categories for y'all.

Favourite Irving Big Stop: Auld's Cove, NS. Runner-up: Aulac, NB.

Favourite Shoppers Drug Mart: Spring Garden Road, Halifax, NS. Runner-up: University Ave, Charlottetown, PE.

Favourite grocery store: Pete's Frootique, Halifax, NS. Runner-up: Atlantic Superstore, University Ave, Charlottetown, PE.

Favourite coffee shop: Daily Grind, Halifax, NS. Runner-up: Blowers Street Paperchase, Halifax, NS.

Favourite late, great diners: Fog City Diner, Halifax, NS. Runner-up: Downtown Diner, Charlottetown, PE.

Favourite late, great restaurants: Libertine, Halifax, NS. Runner-up: Soda Pop's, Halifax, NS.

Favourite market: Halifax, NS, Runner up: Saint John, NB.

Favourite yarn store: Tangled Skeins, Dartmouth, NS. Runner-up: Cricket Cove: St. Andrews, NB.

Favourite bar: Tom's Little Havana, Halifax, NS. Runner-up: The Seahorse, when it was old and grotty, Halifax, NS.

iPod pick ~ 'Don't Get Me Wrong' The Pretenders

When Suzie Wongheart dresses right

2007-11-09T21:23:00.000-04:00

I've got the house to myself for the weekend! Woohoo ~ party at my place. You're all invited.

I'm not even going to look at the mountain of work I have to do until Monday. I'm going to the market with the boys in my class tomorrow and we're going to stuff ourselves with samosas. Seriously, if I ever get engaged, I don't want a ring. I want a samosa. And an air hockey table.

I found another yarn store today. Ohmagawd. It has every colour of Patons Classic Merino wool and Noro Kureyon that looks like peacocks! I'm a happy girl. I have to pick up the rest of the yarn for Beulah's afghan... all 72 squares of it.

I'm off to Japan in a month! I fly out to Toronto in a month. I'll be there for a night and then it's off to Japan in the morning. Angus and I are on different flights out of Toronto (boo) but we'll meet up in Vancouver for our zillion hour flight to Osaka. I am so excited I can't think straight! I'm really looking forward to seeing Japan through his eyes. I'm nervous to go back; there are a few things I'm not sure I'm strong enough to face, but with Angus by my side, I think I'll be fine.

iPod pick ~ 'Philosophy' Ben Folds Five

Procrastination

2007-11-08T21:33:00.001-04:00

I am hiding from my accounting homework. I know it's going to take me forever to do it, and I just can't be bothered.

I'll cook dinner for anyone who wants to do it for me.

iPod pick ~ 'Fascination' Human League

Why do I bother?

2007-11-08T03:23:00.000-04:00

I have insane hair.

I love it and I hate it. It's really, really, REALLY thick. And wavy. And prone to frizziness. And it can be reduced by half, and I would still have enough for two heads.

I want to wear cute hair accessories. They break within 10 centimetres of my hair. I want to use product in my hair. It doesn't work. I want to wear it straight. Straightening ~ even with industrial-strength chemicals, lasts about 2 hours (at best).

Yazu, my beloved Japanese hairdresser, once said, 'You want straight hair? Only way is to laminate it.'

I'm a shallow person for telling you this. I don't care; I would kill for one day with normal hair. Hair that isn't 'the boss of me'. Hair that doesn't have freakishly blonde streaks which shed over everything. Hair that doesn't spend 2 hours and cost hideous amounts of money to be 'straightened', only to go wavy within 20 minutes of leaving the salon. Hair that doesn't inspire roommates to say, 'Jaichan, there's not enough room for the three of us in this apartment... '(one of us being my hair). Hair that doesn't shatter plastic accessories and take out the eyes of bystanders.

iPod pick ~ 'Hair' Hair OST

I miss you like sleet

2007-11-07T18:25:00.000-04:00

Celebrity Fit Club is awful. Yet I can't turn away. Willie Aames, get over yourself. You're no Leif Garrett.

I got my hair did today. I'll post pictures later on; I'm getting ready to go to J's for drinks.

In the meantime, try this Rolling Stone quiz. I got a 38. I know there are some of you out there who can beat me.

iPod pick ~ 'Heavy Heart' Mike T's version. I doubt he sings it much these days. I've always thought he sang it best.

Don't lean on me, man, 'cause you ain't got time for chicken

2007-11-06T21:11:00.000-04:00

Hahaha... I love that song.

My copy of Son of a Stitch came today! Complete with Moe's pattern! I brought it to my first knitting group in Charlottetown tonight and bragged that I knew the designer. I'm such a geek.

The group was very small, but lovely. Three older women and me. They liked my accessories. I liked their table in the children's loft at the local library. I'm sure it's the beginning of a loooong relationship.

I can't believe it was my first time in the library. I lived in the old library in Dartmouth when I was a kid. It was one of my most favourite places in the world (it got torn down not too long ago) and I think I read every book in the children's section.

Another one of my most favourite places on earth is in Macau, Ruinas De Sao Paulo. I was there in 2001; all the places I've seen in the world, this is the one site that will stay with me forever.

What are some of your favourite places? Why?

iPod pick ~ 'Golden Years' David Bowie. I've had tickets to see Bowie. Twice. Guess how many times I've not seen David Bowie? Yeah. Twice. Grr.

Pee your bed, pee your bed

2007-11-05T19:18:00.000-04:00

I think my head is in the shed.

More than once in the past week, I've printed off assignments at home, only to leave them on my desk. Fortunately, I remember to send a copy of the assignment to myself, so I can access them from school, but still...

I have a breakfast meeting tomorrow morning. Well, 'breakfast' is used loosely, it's actually just muffins and coffee. There will be a motivational speaker there... which should be interesting. I've always been a bit skeptical of motivational speakers, I guess too many infomercials will do that to you. I don't know how motivated I'll be on an empty stomach.

We survived Hurricane Noel without too much damage. We didn't lose power, but some of our trees lost branches. I am happy to report that my backyard is still a perfect venue for the best game on earth... bocce ball.

I think I'll organize a tournament for next summer. If you haven't played bocce, you don't know what you're missing.

iPod pick ~ 'Mambo Italiano' Rosemary Clooney

Spend your life sincere in misery

2007-11-04T19:54:00.000-04:00

I can't get the Participaction ads out of my head for some reason. They never failed to make me laugh; the claymation ones were amazing and the live-action ones were cheesy as hell.

I think I'm going to get back into shape.

Do it, do it, do it!!

iPod pick ~ I dunno, anything by Billy Newton Davis, I guess.

The FO Parade

2007-11-03T17:39:00.001-03:00

Finally, here are some pictures of my FOs. Here we have a ballband dishcloth, Devin's Toque (modeled by Molly) for Angus, a Wavy Scarf for Bettie, and my first fine yarn sock (in Opal Rainbow).

I'm hoping to get some knitting done this weekend, most likely, it will be in the dark. We're expecting Hurricane Noel to knock us sideways tonight. As long as I have my yarn, I should be ok.

For the swap I'm in, I need to talk about my first time... with coffee, that is. I was 14 and I had to attend a conference for Teens Against Drugs to represent my junior high (I was the student council president). I had spent the night before at a retreat at the church (a requirement for my Conformation) and I was exhausted. They had instant coffee at the conference and I gulped it down to stay awake. I thought it tasted pretty foul, but it kept me awake. I would learn to love it a few months later, as I would hang out at various coffee shops in town with my friend, Eric.

Now, I drink far more coffee than is healthy for me. Eeeep.

iPod pick ~ 'Maybe' Stereophonics

Random acts of randomness

2007-11-02T19:07:00.000-03:00

Egan told me I have to make my posts more revealing. Ok.

I guess I've been tagged by Lesley over at Yes, I Knit!
The Rules:Once tagged, you must link to the person who tagged you. Then post the rules before your list, and list 8 random things about yourself. Consider yourselves all tagged.

1. I found this today. I would pretty much eat all of them, but if I had to choose my last meal, it would consist of pan-seared Digby scallops, negi-tofu, a baked potato with sour cream and butter, roasted asparagus tossed in pumpkin seed oil, and homemade apple pie. (Insert Homer-esque drool sound here). What would yours be?

2. On the food theme, I didn't learn how to cook until I was 23. Before that, I was hopeless. I ruined Kraft Dinner and set off fire alarms when I boiled water... on more than one occasion. I was so sick of people making fun of me that I learned how to cook out of spite. Look at me now!

3. As some of you know, my mom never let me have an Easy Bake Oven as a child. She was convinced I'd burn down the house. Caleb and Bettie gave me an oven last year for Christmas. Although I am a chef, my mom is still afraid I'm going to burn down my house baking mini cakes with a 100 watt bulb.

4. I didn't eat pork for more than ten years. It wasn't really a religious or Jules Winnfield-esque decision; I loved the taste, it just made me violently ill. We're talking Linda Blair in the Exorcist here. I do eat a little bit now and then without too much incident. Working in a kitchen where pork fat makes everything taste better, I didn't really have a choice but to try to stomach it.

5. I've never had a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

6. I've never watched any episodes of the following shows: Survivor, Will and Grace, Grey's Anatomy, 24, Lost, The Sopranos, Desperate Housewives, The Amazing Race...

7. I hate cooking shows; I've never watched the Food Network.

8. I would rather eat instant mashed potatoes than real mashed potatoes.

As a bonus... I don't think I've ever explained my 'bus'. Those of you who know me well know what I'm talking about. If I had a bus that was about to go over a cliff and I could only put 5 musical artists on it, the following would find themselves, well... no longer singing.

1. Rod Stewart. Music's biggest waste of talent. Rod Stewart has sung nothing but crap since I was in elementary school. Waste.

2. Eric Clapton. I don't deny he has talent, he's just so boring I can't bear to listen to him.

3. Aerosmith/The Eagles. I would tie them all together and shove them into one seat. My bus, my rules.

4. Theory of a Nickelcreed. No explanation needed.

5. Van Morrison/Sting. After years of waiting at the bus stop, they've finally gotten a seat (tied together, of course). Again, I am not denying their talent ~ I LOOOOOOOOOOOOVE the Police ~ but I can't really stand anything Sting has done in the past 15 years.

Who would you choose?

iPod pick ~ 'Raising Hell' Run DMC

30 days of blight

2007-11-01T18:57:00.000-03:00

I've signed up for NaBloPoMo, meaning I have to post every day this month. Hurrah! Poor WCAT... has been woefully neglected for the past few months... no more. Oh the fun we'll have! Knitting pictures! Swaps! Recipes!

I can hardly wait!

iPod pick ~ 'The Payback' James Brown

Winter Wonderland Coffee Swap Questionaire

2007-10-24T17:36:00.000-03:00

Coffee

What are your favorite kinds of coffee? (Brands, Roasts, anything at all you'd like to share!)
I love dark roasts, vanilla hazelnut, praline, chocolate, caramel, fair trade coffees....

Do you prefer whole bean or ground coffee?
Either is fine with me!

This time of year, there are often Holiday Blends available, and many flavored coffees - do you drink flavored coffee? Do you enjoy special blends?
I love special blends, but nothing fruit-flavoured or with coconut.

How do you take your coffee? Cream and Sugar? Straight up? Decaf?
Straight up! No milk, no sugar... mmmmm.

Do you prefer drinking from a nice thick mug, or a matched cup and saucer?
a nice thick mug.

Winter and Holidays - PLEASE be descriptive! Your pal will need this information to be sure to put together a package you will enjoy!

What is your favorite part of Winter?
I love the colour of snow at dusk, that blue-ish hue.

Do you celebrate a holiday in December, and if so, which holiday?
Christmas with my family.

If you celebrate Christmas, do you put up a tree?
My parents put up a tree; I celebrate with them

Would you enjoy items related to the holiday, or would you prefer a Winter themed package?
Definitely a winter themed package; I would like to be able to use the items all season!

Do you collect anything? Are there any holiday or winter-themed items (Snowmen, Angels, Snoflakes, Santas, etc) that you collect?
The only thing I really collect are lambs and sheep. My grandmother was a knitter and she collected sheep and lambs, too.

Do you wear scarves? Mittens? Hats?
Yes! I live in Canada and I have a 20 minute walk to school. My classroom is pretty cold...

What is your favorite holiday or winter treat?
Mmm. Dark chocolate.

Please share a favorite Winter or Holiday memory.
My mother and my great aunt would do the holiday baking in early December every year. The kitchen would be overrun with baking supplies and my mom would always be so happy.

Yarn and Crafting

Do you Knit or Crochet? For how long?
I've been knitting for about 2 years.

Do you like wooden, metal, or plastic needles\hooks? Circular or straight?
Bamboo or wooden, circular or straight is good.

What sort of projects do you enjoy making?
I like making socks.

What are your favorite types of yarn to work with?
Natural fibres: merino, cotton, silk, cashmere...

Do you spin or dye?
No, but I would like to learn.

Do you do other crafts such as scrapbooking or needlepoint or anything else?
I love to cook and bake. I'm also learning how to sew.

General

When is your birthday?
July 6th.

Do you have any children? (Furry kind count!)
No, just some roommates.

What are your favorite colors?
Green, purple, burgundy, yellow... I love jewel-tones.

Do you have any allergies?
Just to penicillin.

Dressed for such sex

2007-10-19T18:47:00.000-03:00

Could this day get any better?

I don't think so. It finally happened...

I GOT MY APPRENTICESHIP BOOK!!!!

Yup, it's now on its way to New Brunswick to get all signed off. Yay! It took a few months and some, uh, outside help to get to this stage, but I'm a very happy camper. Thanks for listening to me bitch about this damn book.

Could the day get better? Why, yes... yes it could.

Molly is returning to Charlottetown. Yup, my partner-in-crime, my left hand, my best friend from culinary school... is possibly going to be my classmate again. Culinary world, beware...

Could the day get any better? Yes, yes it could...

It looks like all of my instructors are very cool with me going to Japan and missing, gulp... almost 2 weeks of school. Angus and I already booked at the Super Hotel in Kobe for our first two nights. I can't wait. He's very excited about the one-size-fits-all pajamas which are available in the rooms.

If anyone needs me, just tug on my ankles to pull me down from the clouds.

iPod pick ~ 'Whistling in the Dark' They Might Be Giants.

I dust the plains down in Africa

2007-10-12T18:23:00.000-03:00

This time last week, Beulah and Gerardo had just gotten married.

It was a small wedding, just Beulah, Gerardo, Lexie (my niece), my parents, and the judge. Oh yeah, and me. It was quite lovely and I'm very happy to have a new brother-in-law. Unfortunately, Mads and her family couldn't make it up from Atlanta for the ceremony, but it was lovely just the same.

I just finished my first week of school. My class is really small; including me, there are just six of us. It's a really good crew, which is good, because I'll be working with this group for the next 2 years. The workload hasn't been too much so far, but I know that's going to change. I have a few papers to do this weekend... and a shit tonne of house work. Boo.

I miss Angus. I'm much better than I thought I would be, but I do miss him. I keep expecting him to knock on my door after he gets off work. I know that's not going to happen, and that makes me a bit sad.

iPod pick ~ 'Funky Kingston' Toots & The Maytals Feat. Bootsy Collins & The Roots

There goes my gyro

2007-10-11T16:06:00.000-03:00

Knitters of the world, we have a new hero.

Emerson Cod

I am so knitting the gun holsters.

iPod pick ~ 'Watching the Detectives' Elvis Costello

Ding, dong, the bells are going to chime...

2007-10-05T09:56:00.000-03:00

Check out the Play-Doh Sony Bravia ad when you get the chance.

It's the little yellow bunny waiting to cross the road that cracks me up.

Someone very special is getting married tonight!

Stay tuned...

iPod pick ~ 'Photograph' Def Leppard. The very special someone is a fan, I figure I can make an exception...

Jack-of-all-trades stance

2007-10-01T23:48:00.000-03:00

I'm back on the sandbar.

It was surprisingly easy to say goodbye to Angus today. We rented a car and drove over this morning. We got over here in good time, even though both of us were operating on about 2 hours of sleep. I was sad to leave so many great people behind in St. Andrews, but I'm anxious to start school.

It was great to come home and find Nelly comfortably moved in to my duplex. I have a new roomie who seems quite lovely. She's in the golf program at school.

My invitation to Ravelry came today! Hurrah! I'm very exciting about this.

I had sushi for dinner. I'm a happy, happy girl right now.

iPod pick ~ 'Preschool Prostitute' GWAR. Angus didn't think I would make this my pick. Silly boy... he should know better than to dare me to do something.

When the moon strikes curious poses

2007-09-26T20:57:00.000-03:00

This one's for you, Gwen

I also wanted to congratulate Mr. Textbook Walker on acquiring a Mrs. Textbook Walker over the weekend. I can't wait to meet her.

I have just a few days left here in St. Andrews. It's crazy how fast the summer went. I'm excited to get started at school, but I'm going to miss everyone here. Angus will be driving me to Charlottetown on Monday. I will be saying farewell to him, which will probably leave me feeling as though I've had something amputated. I'm sure he'll be happy to be rid of me, but it's going to be crushing to say so long.

I bought Sarah Dallas Knitting and Cool Socks Warm Feet today. I'm looking forward to getting my knit on this winter. I'm also going to be knitting this as a wedding gift for a very, very special someone. I'll tell you more about that in a little over a week...

iPod pick ~ 'For You' The Outfield

Let sleeping bears lie

2007-09-18T12:31:00.000-03:00

So, my new computer is having a hard time connecting itself to the Internet. Grr. I think I may have configured something that should not have been configured. As usual, I'm using Angus' computer. He is trying (in vain) to sleep for a few more minutes before he has to get up and go to work for the 70000000000000000th day in a row (well, not really... he sometimes gets one day off a week). I feel bad, I don't want him to think I just use him for his computer and lovely alarm clock. He's absolutely exhausted and I think his winter job should be hibernation. If any of you know of any places hiring wannabe bears, please let me know.

I went to Fredericton again yesterday. I rather like Fredericton; it has charm and a Chapters. I got to play the South Park pinball machine in the arcade. I put in enough tokens for three games and ended up playing about ten games. Oh yeah, I rock. I miss playing pinball; there aren't many pinball machines to be found here in St. Andrews.

I plan on finishing the mystery gift today. I also have to finish Angus' toque before I leave. I have some Opal Rainbow that I'm anxious to get on the needles. I also have one of these which needs to get started. Do you think I could call into work and say, 'I can't come in today, I've come down with knits.' and not get fired?

iPod pick ~ 'Swimming in Your Ocean' Crash Test Dummies

On the road to Jaichan

2007-09-12T01:49:00.000-03:00

I'm on the road to being Jaichan.

I had a great day. Ginny and I worked a split shift today, giving us 4 hours free this afternoon. So, we hopped in her VW Bug and drove to Calais. It was great; she's one of my favourite people and I don't get to spend much time with her outside of work (she's one of the beverage cart girls at the golf course). I spent an insane amount of money on knitting accessories and whatnot... including a Transformers Mr. Potato Head for Angus... Optimash Prime. Hahhaah... it's a scream.

Tonight, there was a fundraiser for breast cancer at the course. I donated a scarf I had knit for the silent auction, which fetched $25. Sweet!

iPod pick ~ 'Red Haired, Red Blooded Woman' The Divorcees

Get loose, rubber moose

2007-09-03T18:12:00.001-03:00

Fifteen years ago today, on his 18th birthday, I met Willie.

It was the first day of Frosh Week at St. FX. I was the House President of the 'Virgin Vault' (hahaha, head virgin) and I had to greet the freshmen as they moved in. Willie was helping his friend move into the Vault. I didn't really hang out with him much until two years later.

We've been through a lot together. I don't think I would have made it through almost eight years in Japan without him (coincidentally, tomorrow marks 10 years since I first went to Japan). We traveled through Southeast Asia together five years ago, which was quite the adventure. He's always been there for me and he means the world to me. We had a falling out a few months ago; the first and only falling out we've had in all the years we've been friends. I'm pretty sure we're back on track right now, which makes me happy. He's a good man and I'm hoping that he has a wonderful birthday.

I spent today working on the birthday scarf for someone. It's knitting up pretty quickly, which is great because I have to get back to knitting Devin's Toque for Angus. I know he won't have much use for a cashmere toque for another few months, but I really have to get it finished.

iPod pick ~ Today's misheard lyric, for Willie

We can't make tea together with suspicious ice

2007-09-01T22:35:00.001-03:00

I giggled when I saw today's title.

Finally, here are some pictures of the Clapotis I knit. It took three weeks, but I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Angus and I had a great time in Saint John the other day. We waited for an hour or so for me to get into the emergency room, only to be told it would be easier for me to go to St. Stephen to get my stomach checked. Hahaha. Hahahah. They'll probably remove my stomach with a rusty can opener.

Anyhow, we spent the rest of the day at the Market and the outlets. We spent obscene amounts of money that we should have saved for our trip to Japan. We plan on living on onigiri and gyudon while we're in Japan, so I guess we can afford to spend a bit.

Work is going to be busy for the next few weeks. The exodus of staff has begun and we're going to be slammed for most of September. I have the next few days off, but I think I can whistle for getting two days off in a row together from now on. I'm working on a new scarf for someone; I can't say who. I will post some pictures this week.

iPod pick ~ 'Bittersweet Symphony' The Verve

Feel the beat from the jamboree, oh yeah

2007-08-28T17:18:00.000-03:00

On Thursday, Wedding Cake and Toothache... will be two years old.

Wow. I look back at everything that has happened since I started writing WCAT... and it astounds me. Two years ago, I was waiting to start school, I had just started knitting, I had only been back in Canada for two months and I had two newborn nieces. I hadn't met any of my knitting buddies yet, there was no Molly, Caleb, Bettie, Nellie, Angus, my blogstalkers... anybody.

Thanks for joining me for the ride. I'm sure the Terrible Twos will be just as exciting.

I'll be celebrating WCAT...'s birthday by going to the hospital in Saint John with Angus. My stomach is still hurting me, but I'm hoping I can get things sorted. It'll be good to get out of here for the day.

Angus brought me some prime rib the other night. He was worried that I'm not eating enough red meat. He also said he read my blog and sensed I was upset. Haha. I was upset, but not really with him... more with the situation. We tried to talk the other night but we kept getting interrupted. I'm not really worried. I'm sure we'll get to talk about it and I'm sure the situation is going to get sorted... one way or another.

Tomorrow night is going to be a gong show at work. It's the last night for a few of the golf boys and they're going to be tearing the roof off the place. I'm looking forward to getting serenaded again with 'Big Girls Don't Cry' by Fergie.

iPod pick ~ 'The Only One' Billy Bragg

Realize a chump is a stretch upon my youth

2007-08-25T22:40:00.000-03:00

My new computer arrived the other day. Angus and I transferred my music to it last night, one GB at a time. It took a few hours, but now my new computer is good to go.

I'm still feeling like a chump, but it doesn't really matter. I tried, I really did. I put it all out there; it wasn't easy, but I finally had the nerve to do it. I put it all on paper, everything I felt. I didn't think my voice would be able to deliver the message properly.

Was it read? I'm pretty sure it was. Was there any response?

Hahahah. Hahahaha. Hahahahhahaha. Sure there was. Absolute silence. No acknowledgement whatsoever. Business as usual.

It felt super. It's right up there with the time I got quarantined with dysentery or when I found out my grandmother was dying. Super.

iPod pick ~ 'Road to Nowhere' Talking Heads

Kaleidoscope Kow

2007-08-23T19:15:00.000-03:00

Say Anything...

Lloyd Dobler: "She gave me a pen. I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen.'

I got ice cream.

iPod pick ~ 'Tears of a Clown' Smokey Robinson & the Miracles

Cheese and salad potato

2007-08-20T20:44:00.001-03:00

I'm about to put it all on the line. Wish me luck.

iPod pick ~ 'Icy Blue Heart' John Hiatt

It was the last ferry boat race

2007-08-13T19:57:00.000-03:00

I saw Ratatouille last night with some friends. I can't remember the last time I enjoyed a movie so much; I'm pretty sure the people I went with think I'm a bit daft. I have a huge laugh... which filled the auditorium on more than one occasion. I loved the little details; the clogs, chef pants, hotel pans... it was a great movie.

I had a rough week. I know that you've been hearing this almost every post, but this week I really hit the wall. I asked for help and was basically told I could whistle for it. This is frustrating and I almost packed it all in to go to journalism school in the fall. Angus came home to find me quietly resigned to the whole situation. He spent three hours trying to make me laugh, which helped, but I was still a bit down. So, he just scooped me into his arms and held me close until I promised him I was feeling happier.

The next night, he came to me bearing Diet Coke and seared scallops. He set up a 'spa' day for me in his room. Included was an all-you-can-eat Kraft Dinner buffet (provided I make the KD because he had to work), use of his computer, TV and DVD player and permission to admire his alarm clock.

I know everyone is wondering about Angus and I. According to rumours around this little resort town, we're practically married. It's as easy as this; Angus is supposed to be in my life. I tell him this and he asks how I know. I just know. I don't know what's going to happen when I leave in a month and a half. He jokes saying that I'll be happy to be rid of him.

I know I'm going to miss him terribly.

iPod pick ~ 'Whole of the Moon' The Waterboys

Pile on the beefsteak

2007-08-07T21:48:00.000-03:00

I figured I should post a picture of me knitting, because I'm sure that most of you are thinking I'm no longer tangled in Merino.

I'm knitting Devin's Toque in this picture... for the blue-eyed boy sitting next to me. I'm also wearing the Clapotis I finished a few months ago. This picture is funny, Angus had just gotten off work and we were probably watching MacGyver.

Work was foolish these past few days. I don't really want to talk about it; let's just say I found out what I'm really made of pretty quickly. Ever get so frustrated you feel as though you are going to choke? Yup.

Fortunately, I have a fantastic staff with which I work. The servers and the manager are great and are always willing to hop on the line with me when I get in the shits. I got in the shits on Saturday afternoon; it was sheer luck that it didn't happen sooner. I had no prep; I still hadn't recovered from Thursday night's Men's Night and I had no time to build up my line. I was alone in the kitchen for 5 days during the biggest tournament of the year and my dishwasher went down.

Trust me, I've made my feelings known. Of course, things fell apart all over the place this weekend. I probably should have waited to say something. Alas, my Chef has always been very good to me. Even if nothing comes of this, I know that he's listening to my concerns.

I'm still waiting for word on what the hell is going to happen with my Apprenticeship papers. Grr. I'm frustrated as hell, but I'm trying to remain optimistic. To paraphrase Michael Corleone, this is the week I settle all family business.

I'll fill you in later.

iPod pick ~ 'Here I Am (Come And Take Me)' Al Green. And UB40...

'If you are a big, big tree...'

The happiest picture ever

2007-08-05T02:34:00.001-03:00

This is my dad and my niece. I love this picture.

Here we are now, eatin' 'taters!

2007-08-01T20:08:00.000-03:00

Mmm. 'Taters!

We've got a ginormous tournament going on this weekend. The whole hotel is balls-out busy; I know I'm going to get slammed over the next few days. I think I'm ready to catch the deluge in a paper cup.

Andi is coming to visit me next week. I can't wait; Andi (yeah, that's her real name I'm using) and I have been very good friends for 16 years. She was one of the first people I met at St. F.X.; in fact, she toilet-papered my door the first week I was there (I have yet to get her back for that...). We've been through a lot together ~ Pizza for Shut-ins, pick-ups which have gone horribly wrong, Loud Hour Lounge Nights, Gaelic classes with future premiers and Canadian recording artists... etc, etc. On top of that, she moved to Japan while I was living there (and is still there). Andi knows where all of my bodies are buried and will GLADLY tell you every embarrassing story she can about me. You just have to ask her twice... (DeeDee will get that one). She was there both times my heart was broken; she actually knew both of the men quite well. She was there when my dad was really sick (both times for that, too). She was there when I got really sick in the Middle East and was quarantined. When she almost died a few years ago (you can read about it here) from internal hemorrhaging, I felt like I was about to have a part of me amputated. I love her like a sister and I'm sure I'm going to cry buckets when she arrives here.

The Apprenticeship Logbook saga still continues; it looks like my classmates and I are up shit creek without a Grey Owl paddle. Boo. I'm frustrated because I've worked 10 years to get where I am; I've sacrificed relationships, family, pretty much everything. To be told that the past two years I've spent at school, the tens of thousands of dollars I spent, everything... could be worth nothing towards getting my journeyman papers? I may just give it all up and become a journalist like I had planned in high school.

iPod pick ~ 'Somewhere Out There' Steve Earle. I love this song.
Andi (and Wayback Gwen) pick ~ Tokyo Tower and all of its glory, baby. Wax museum, anyone?

I guess that's so we don't have a plot

2007-07-29T14:37:00.000-03:00

Finally.

I'm finally feeling human. After almost two months of feeling like crap, bleeding from places from which I shouldn't be bleeding, and being a basket case... my head is clear.

I started taking Tricyclen last month to help balance my menstrual cycle. Hahah. Hahaha. Hahahahaha. Well, it turned me into a hormonal, crying, bleeding wreck of a human. My anemia came back with a vengeance... and I have a bacterial infection in my digestive tract. I found this out when Angus had to take me to the hospital on Tuesday. If I can't kick the infection I get to have scope. Oh dear god. This all on top of the Apprenticeship paper debacle... and I missed 6 days of work.

Have I been fun to be around? No. Has Angus pushed me out of a window yet? No. But should he have? No doubt. I tossed the Tricyclen, started cleaning out my system to get rid of the infection, and began taking steps to combat the anemia. The old Jaichan should be in the house very soon. I haven't finished any knitting in over a month and a half, haven't really read any books, haven't really talked to friends or family. This ends today. Fortunately, I have good friends here and coworkers who care about me; I'm pretty lucky.

I've finally taken some pictures of the Dimebag Darrell doll I knit for Angus. Here you go. I had heaps of fun knitting it; I'm going to knit him some friends and accessories.

I will be paying more attention to Wedding Cake and Toothache... as well as my favourite blogs, like my knit chix, Jumping at the Ground, Midvale School, Les Singes, Kill the Goat, Knotty Mess, Amandamonkey, Pomo Golightly and everyone else.

I'm back. And it feels good.

iPod pick ~ 'Fascination' Human League. I had this playing in my room last night and it makes me laugh...

Queen Doubtfire of Turpentine

2007-07-21T16:44:00.000-03:00

I'm home from work because my stomach is not so good. Angus brought me a gift the other day to help me when my stomach isn't feeling so hot.

Butt Out

I laughed my ass off when he gave it to me, along with a poster of a fat, greasy Elvis. And dinner. I don't know what I've done to deserve this, but I'm a lucky girl.

Not so much with my Apprenticeship papers, however. It's been three months and my graduating classmates and I still haven't our papers. This is troubling, as we may not get credit for our school hours or last year's internship. That is 3000 hours towards the 6000 hours I need.... gone. I'm going to try and sort out the situation on Monday. Wish me luck.

I'm going to watch MacGyver on DVD now.

iPod pick ~ 'Silent House' Crowded House

She shit on the door, she cut out the light

2007-07-15T23:09:00.000-03:00

I love Otis Redding.

I've had quite a week. My family came through St. Andrews again the other day and we went down to Bangor for the night. It was good to get away for a night and spend copious amounts of money. I ended up getting the Escoffier cookbook for 20 bucks, along with Molecular Gastronomy by Herve This... and some more lingerie. I now have enough bras to switch up twice a day for a week! Things are going to get much sexier around here... hahah.

No, not really.

I was sad to say goodbye to Mads, Viv and Lizzie. They almost got stuck in Bangor for the night after their flight got delayed. Mads had already gone through security with Dad and the girls. She was on one side of the glass, I was on the other. We communicated by writing notes; I used Mom's notebook and Mads used Viv's MagnaDoodle. They ended up flying out a few hours later than they had anticipated and my parents and I drove back to St. Andrews.

Work is going well. I have a three day weekend, which is unheard of. I went out for dinner at the hotel with some other cooks and had a feast. Angus sent out a 'diner' amuse bouche for a joke; a tiny hot dog with a milkshake. It was pretty funny. I had the scallops as a main and then ate an assload of cheese off the cheese plate. Yum.

I'm probably going to spend the next few days knitting. Feel free to drop me note.

iPod pick ~ 'Love in Store' Fleetwood Mac

Hot dog, jumpin' frog, I got herpes

2007-07-07T22:18:00.000-03:00

Hahaha. Hahahaha. Hahahahahahahaha.

This one is for Wayback Gwen.

A few years ago, someone used to make discs for me. There was a tonne of them; they ranged from a bootleg Billie Holiday album to Billy Bragg. They used to make me dizzy, as did the man who made them for me. He used to show up out of nowhere, lean over (he was at least a foot/30 cm taller than me) and quietly say, 'I've made a disc for you. I think you'll like it.'

I always did. Then one day, he sheepishly gave me a Prefab Sprout CD. He was embarrassed; it wasn't his usual taste but he loved the 'clean, pop sound' that Prefab Sprout played. So, I gave it a listen and I really liked it. Wayback Gwen had been a fan from way back and we ended up playing the CD for our 5 year-old students. They also loved it.

(remember... my titles are misheard lyrics, we wouldn't really play music about STDs for the kids).

My birthday was yesterday. It was pretty uneventful. We got slammed at work but did well. One of my servers gave me a bouquet of asparagus for my birthday. I know that Beulah would knock me in the head to steal it. My fellow cook gave me a yellow-theme pack, which I thought was amazing. She also took me on a cart ride through the back nine of the golf course. The view was incredible. My coworkers are pretty cool.

Angus and I bought our tickets for Japan! Yup! We're leaving on December 10th for 10 days. It's going to be a scream. I know that Angus is a slightly worried man; he's not as used to hopping on a plane and worrying about the money later as I am. That makes him much more practical, realistic and mature than I am (which isn't really that difficult). I'm going to stuff him full of so much maguro don and gyudon that he won't be able to move.

iPod pick ~ 'Weather With You' Crowded House. Oh yeah... they're back together. And Angus got me their new CD for my birthday. It should be arriving this week.

When love makes a sandwich

2007-07-03T20:21:00.000-03:00

I'm about to make a very yummy sandwich. It's going to have spicy Calabrese, roasted chicken, artichoke spread, Monterey Jack cheese... I told Angus I'd make dinner for him (he made chickpea salad for me last night, I thought I'd return the favour).

It's been quite a weekend. I had some busy spurts at work and ended up in the shits due to some miscommunication. I'm hoping it doesn't happen again because I felt awful about it. I'm working on writing some menus to bring in more guests. Wish me luck.

As of the weekend, I've been back in Canada for two years now. I can't believe how quickly the time has gone. I can't believe all the people I've met since then. I can't believe I've finished culinary school. I can't believe I learned how to knit.

I wasn't sad when I left Japan. I was ready to leave. I still miss my friends from Kobe, but I'm glad I'm back in Canada. I used to have nightmares where I would fall asleep in Canada and wake up in Japan and I couldn't get home. It took me a while to get used to living back in Canada; but I think I've got a handle on the situation.

That said, these past few days have been hard. When I left Japan, there was someone to whom I never said goodbye. He was a big part of my life and then he was gone. At the time, I thought it was for the best; he was the one person I dreaded leaving. His decision to disappear made things easy for me, right?

Wrong. When the numbness wore off, the pain was visceral. I felt like I couldn't breathe. It took a long time for that pain to go away; I don't think it will ever completely dissipate. These past few days, I see him everywhere. The other day, he was part of a road construction crew. Today, he was in the grocery store. It's not him, I know that; he's gone. I don't know why this is happening; it could be a result of my plans to return to Japan... and unfinished business. Who can say?

I'm pretty happy with my life at the moment. I like my job. I've finished culinary school. I've been accepted to a program which I've worked hard to get into and received 2 scholarships in which to pay for it (I just found out I got a Millennium Scholarship from the government the other day). I have a great family, amazing friends and a crazy man in my life who makes me chickpea salad and gives me Nickelback for my birthday.

I think I'll be fine.

iPod pick ~ 'Levi Stubbs' Tears' Billy Bragg. When the world falls apart some things stay in place.

You're a vol-au-vent

2007-06-28T17:33:00.000-03:00

Hahaha, what a classic.

It's been a busy few days. My parents came up on Tuesday night. After having coffee with them, I went back to the residence to roast (it was pretty humid). When the boys got off work just before midnight, one of them suggested that we go swimming out at the lake. So, I hopped in the car with Angus, Kelsey, Cookie and the Wave and we drove out to the middle of nowhere (even more the middle of nowhere than we already are). We parked the car, climbed a few rocks (Angus was smart enough to bring a flashlight), the guys made a fire and I dove right in.

It was possibly the best idea ever. Sure, you're thinking ~ you hopped in a car with four men to go swimming ~ at midnight ~ in the middle of nowhere ~ to a place you've never been before? Seriously, have you lost it?

Well, it was amazing. Some of the girls in the house followed us out there. It was my first swim of the year and I didn't want to get out of the water. I knew I had to get up early the next morning to go to Bangor, so I reluctantly stopped swimming.

The next morning, we drove into Bangor. I went crazy for summer clothes and lingerie. I made out like a bandit on both counts. We picked up Mads, Viv and Lizzie at the airport. They had flown in from Atlanta. Poor Lizzie wasn't liking the flight much; she's still only a wee thing and she was recovering from an ear infection. But, they got here in one piece, more or less, and we drove back to St. Andrews. Mads is possibly the bravest woman alive; flying with two children under the age of two, by herself. She was exhausted when she got here, but really happy to be back in Canada. We let her get the girls settle and fall onto the bed.

It was great to see Mads and meet my nieces. They look just like their photos, except more adorable. Angus and I met up with my family this morning and we went to breakfast and the market. Viv was quite taken by Angus and kept flirting with him from across the table. I'll post pictures today as soon as I get them.

It was hard to say goodbye to them today, but I'll see them in a few weeks. I'll try not to spend the day crying.

iPod pick ~ 'Mama Said Knock You Out' LL Cool J. Yeah!

I don't think you're ready for fizz jelly

2007-06-24T16:01:00.000-03:00

Meet Laramie the Lobster.

He came into the kitchen the other day. Angus and Kelsey were having a bit of fun with him last night.

I've been hiding out in Angus' room, knitting and watching A&E. My gammy eye is feeling somewhat better, but it's still weepy. I'm knitting a cashmere hat right now (Devin's Toque); when it's done, I'll have a handsome model to show it off.

iPod pick ~ 'You Are The Everything' R.E.M. You know, Sometimes I feel like I can't even sing...

but I'm in this kitchen... everything is beautiful... the stars are the greatest thing you've ever seen...

ps ~ I received an early birthday gift from Angus. This. He had it in his nightstand for me. I almost laughed myself hoarse.

18 and life clam chowder

2007-06-22T18:55:00.000-03:00

Gah.

So, I woke up last Friday morning and my eye was weeping.

It hasn't stopped. Even though I went to the doctor on Monday and was told it was allergies. I was given a prescription for Nasonex and sent on my way.

Guess what? It didn't get better. My face felt and looked like hamburger. My eye would not stop weeping. Angus was ready to take me to the hospital in the middle of the night on Wednesday because I looked like I had gone 10 rounds. I went back to the hospital today and saw a different doctor. He told me I have an eye infection. No shit. Anyhow, I have eye drops and cream to clear up my eyes and clear up the hamburger meat which is my face. I'll be off work for the next two days. Booooo. Not cool.

Angus had to learn the hard way that I think I'm a whole lot stronger than I really am. (Coco learned this when I accidentally dropped him flat out on a busy road in downtown Kobe). We were wrestling the other day. I'm by no means a small girl and I'm no weakling, but Angus wrestled me to the ground in no time. So, not being one to back down, I pounced again. Again, I was wrestled to the ground in about 9 nanoseconds.

Think I learned my lesson? Nope. I think my eye infection has eroded my brain. I'm going to have to get the drop on him a la Kato in the Pink Panther movies.

So, I'm going to be out of commission for the next few days. Please send something to combat the crushing boredom that will ensue.

iPod pick ~ 'Even An Ugly Man' Hawksley Workman

Why don't you show up naked, all right?

2007-06-19T13:59:00.000-03:00

How many times have I asked myself this question?

I am still alive. I'm really sorry; work has been foolish. I've also dropped my computer on its head and now it doesn't work so well. Angus has looked at it and the diagnosis isn't good. I've been using the staff computer or Angus' computer. I haven't forgotten about you... I promise I will write more than once a week. Please know that I love you all.

Last week was pretty eventful. Angus and I went to the fine dining room for dinner. I was given a free dinner for two for rewriting some menus. We got all gussied up and ate ourselves into oblivion. It was a celebration of sorts; that day, I also found out I received the entrance scholarship for the applied degree program I start in the fall. I was very excited.

I will post pictures soon, I promise. Right now, I have to go and make some chowder... Angus' stomach is growling.

iPod pick ~ 'I Hate Love Songs' GWAR. Angus' pick.

You've got me down on my bandit knees

2007-06-11T11:45:00.000-03:00

Sorry, sorry, sorry. I've been very busy. I promise I will post pictures of the clapotis and of the, uh, project I just finished for Angus. Let's just say I had a great time knitting the goatee.

iPod pick ~ 'Remote Control' Age of Electric

Slim Whitman, sing for the year

2007-06-02T20:47:00.001-03:00

Hells yeah! I love the movie 'Mars Attacks!', especially the little old lady who loves Slim Whitman.

Work has been crazy. We're still getting things sorted, but so far, so good. I've had nothing sent back to the kitchen so far, which is pretty amazing... let's hope it continues.

Emotionally, I've had rough week. May is always a horrible month for me. As some of you know, I'm not very good at asking people for a shoulder upon which to cry. Poor Angus was left with the unenviable task of trying to put me back together, when I couldn't even put into words what was making me upset. It was exhausting and terribly frustrating for him. I feel awful about that and I hope he's not entirely convinced that I am, indeed, full of bees. To make up for this, I'm going to knit him a doll... a Dimebag Darrell doll. He is very, very excited about this. I hope I can do the doll some justice.

I have two days off again this week! Someone up there must like me. And someone down here likes me, too.

iPod pick ~ 'Little Time Bomb' Billy Bragg. Yeah, I'm off my food.

I'm not talkin' 'bout the linen, redux

2007-05-27T18:09:00.000-03:00

I'm pretty sure I have used this title before, hence the redux.

Work is going swimmingly well. I haven't even been working for two weeks yet and I have over 100 hours going towards the 450 I need for school. Sweet. The restaurant is running smoothly and if things keep this way, then I'm going to have a great summer. I'm working my arse off, but I'm enjoying it.

I've been hanging out with Angus pretty much every other day. Our schedules are completely incompatible, but we're managing to have fun. I knit and he makes me Kraft Dinner. He's also convinced that I'm going to buy him a Bugatti which goes over 400 km an hour. It costs 1.9 million dollars Canadian, which doesn't seem to faze Angus in the least. His confidence in my earning power is a bit out of whack.

Angus' sheets are, for the most part, the exact same colour as my eyes. They also thoroughly smell like me. If you know me, you know I have a very distinctive smell. Coco once told me I smell like cookies. I think I smell a bit differently than cookies; I'm not sure of any cookie recipe in which Bvlgari perfume is a main ingredient.

iPod pick ~ 'How Long' Blue Rodeo

I would abandon my spirit to your farms

2007-05-23T19:53:00.000-03:00

I'm going to have 70000000000000000 hours this summer, I know it. Please stop me from deep-frying my head if I burn myself out.

This may not be a bad thing, but I've kinda gone off food. It happens every once in a while; I'm surrounded by food but I forget to eat. I'm hoping I can maintain some balance of nutrition through osmosis.

Angus and I went out for chowder last night. Mmm. Chowder. Then he drank a Colt 45 and made Kraft Dinner. He burned it, which I thought made it taste better. He didn't agree, but it was probably because he was shitcanned from the Colt.

iPod pick ~ 'My Dreams of You' the Box. I can't this song out of my head, which is why I used this misheard lyric.

Dear readers, my apologies...

2007-05-20T19:52:00.000-03:00

That's a line from Sad Professor by REM. I'm so sorry; I've been crazy busy. I started work on Tuesday and I'm already into overtime.

As you know, I've been given the golf course restaurant kitchen to run. Crazy people here seem to think I may know what I'm doing. I'm frightened they may actually find out I'm made of plastic or full of bees or something horrible. I'm trying not to run it into the ground. Wish me luck.

Angus got here more or less in one piece on Tuesday and immediately had to go into work for the nightline. He found out I was in the same residence as him and came down, still in his check pants at 1 am.

We work different hours and more often than not, there is a knock at the door after midnight. He eats my granola bars and makes sure I'm tucked in properly in my freakishly large bed. We've been laughing about the rumours about us that we've heard.

I'm off to Saint John tomorrow to pick up a friend. Wow! A big trip to the city! More importantly; a day off!

iPod pick ~ 'Secret God' Neil Finn

Golf, anyone?

2007-05-15T14:48:00.000-03:00

Greetings from St. Andrews!

Yup, I'm here! Things are going well. I'm not in the same dank cell I was in last year; I'm in the good rez. With a king-sized bed! Hoorah. I'll be the kitchen at the golf course this year. Yes, you read that right. I am the kitchen, dammit! Actually, it's just me out there this summer, which should make for some hijinks! Hilarity will ensue, no doubt.

Angus arrives today and I won't lie to you, I'm excited to see him. He arrives today and is supposed to work tonight, which I can't really see happening, but I wouldn't be surprised.

I'll write more later when things settle down.

iPod pick ~ 'Red Morning Light' Kings of Leon