Back my popular demand (one person) I have decided to post more awesome, and this time not-so-awesome, things about Ithaca.
Love
6. Internationals. A few weeks ago I went to a get-together at a girl's house and it was like stepping into the UN. Each one of us was from a different country. It was awesome. Countries represented were: Saudi Arabia, Spain, Czech Republic, Pakistan, Columbia, Mexico, Chile, and the US. I was the U.S. representative and apparently a pretty good one since the girl from the Czech Republic told me I was the first American she wouldn't mind hanging out with again. Go USA!
7. Sensible shoes. Some of my more fashionable bleaders might recoil, but I like the idea of Tevas being acceptable footwear. Or Birkenstocks for that matter. Or some other form of COMFORTABLE footwear. In California we wear Rainbow sandals to formal events. Why can't Ithacans wear Crocs everywhere? Ithacans really know how to enjoy life and having comfortable feet is the first "step" towards world peace.
8. Genuineness. People in Ithaca mean what they say and they do what they mean. The Green movement is not just a label on your dish soap here it's a way of life and I really appreciate that. Plus all Ithacans I have ever met are super nice, caring, sincere people. Not pretentiousness, just Crocs.
Hate
1. Banking. I don't know what Stoneage caveman is in charge of my bank's ATMs but they still use deposit slips here. Deposit slips! During an ATM transaction! Needless to say, this is frustrating and confusing. I don't know my account number, I have groceries to buy, real things to do. I don't want to talk to a human being. Please just let me stay in my sheltered pod of a car and move on with my life.
2. Mexican food. Not surprising, but I can't even talk about it.
Sunday, November 14, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Accessory Beings
Yesterday Ellie, Maggie and I were running errands. Something I hate to do on the weekend, but since it's been rainy outside I figure Petsmart is as good as place as any for Ellie and Maggie to get their exercise.
On our way back to the car things got a little chaotic because Maggie was pulling me towards the car (she hates the outdoors) and Ellie was pulling me towards two dogs walking by - let me remind you that Ellie is human and Maggie is canine. I looked like a cartoon.
Just then a couple was walking by and I overheard them say that Ellie was too big for the carrier so I was in the sad predicament of being faced with chaos everywhere I went. I didn't really think a whole lot about this at the moment since getting Maggie and Ellie in the car in their respective seats with their respective snacks was my pressing goal. Yet, while Ellie and I were walking towards a different store about 10 minutes later, the couple's words came back to me.
I must admit I smiled smugly and thought to myself, "Little do they know what a great baby and great dog Ellie and Maggie are. I really do have great accessory beings."
Surely you have heard of this term. No? Accessory beings are beings that live and breathe and reside with you. You take care of them and they take care of you, and enhance your life. Also, you make each other look good. It's symbiotic relationship. Brandon is also my accessory being.
I was basking in the warm glow of my luck when it occurred to me that there must be a better word for my loving entities other than, "accessory beings". It felt like too many words...
Family! These beings that live with me and make me look good are my FAMILY. They take care of me and I take care of them and we love each other and we often snuggle in the mornings.
Phew. Ok good, I'm glad that's settled.
On our way back to the car things got a little chaotic because Maggie was pulling me towards the car (she hates the outdoors) and Ellie was pulling me towards two dogs walking by - let me remind you that Ellie is human and Maggie is canine. I looked like a cartoon.
Just then a couple was walking by and I overheard them say that Ellie was too big for the carrier so I was in the sad predicament of being faced with chaos everywhere I went. I didn't really think a whole lot about this at the moment since getting Maggie and Ellie in the car in their respective seats with their respective snacks was my pressing goal. Yet, while Ellie and I were walking towards a different store about 10 minutes later, the couple's words came back to me.
I must admit I smiled smugly and thought to myself, "Little do they know what a great baby and great dog Ellie and Maggie are. I really do have great accessory beings."
Surely you have heard of this term. No? Accessory beings are beings that live and breathe and reside with you. You take care of them and they take care of you, and enhance your life. Also, you make each other look good. It's symbiotic relationship. Brandon is also my accessory being.
I was basking in the warm glow of my luck when it occurred to me that there must be a better word for my loving entities other than, "accessory beings". It felt like too many words...
Family! These beings that live with me and make me look good are my FAMILY. They take care of me and I take care of them and we love each other and we often snuggle in the mornings.
Phew. Ok good, I'm glad that's settled.
Hyperventilation
There aren't enough adjectives to describe what I'm feeling about the next HP film.
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Nakedness (or is it Nudity?)
My mom is the best. She reminds me so much of Raymond's mom (from the beloved TV sitcom). She'll see something on a sensationalist TV news broadcast and then calls me in a panic. Typically these calls have to do with Ellie. Like the time she insisted I stopped using baby wipes because of a report she saw. Or like the time she called someone a prick, because she saw it on a show. Things like that. Her most recent panic call went something like this (oh, and this all happens in Spanish):
"Hello"
"Are you spending so much time on your blog that your are neglecting Ellie?"
"...no... if I were spending time on my blog you'd know about it."
"How?"
"Because it would be updated all the time."
"Oh, that's right. Don't neglect Ellie."
Hang up.
I wish I got to spend time on my blog. If anything for my own amusement. So here is a story to make it up to my faithful bleaders (the ones in my imagination, I mean).
Brandon often makes fun of me. Not news. But he often makes fun of me for listening to A Prairie Home Companion. I don't know why, it's a great radio show with comedy, awesome music and cool old-timey ads. What's not to love? But Brandon says that it's dorky that I get the podcast.
On Prairie Home (as us fans call it) there is a section of the show where Garrison Keiller (or GK as us fans call him), the host, talks about his imaginary home town named Lake Wobegon, MI. He usually weaves a really funny story about the town's residents (who are all of Swedish decent and Lutheran) and there is usually a moral at the end such as, "don't mess with other people's rhubarb."
Anyhoo, there is one such story that I made Brandon listen to because I always crack up when I listen to it. It's about a lady that felt that Lake Wobegon was too stifling so she went out to Northern California to find herself, except that she was in charge of an event at the church. This event is approaching and no one knows what is going on so they call her and she answers the phone while she's naked (she had joined a nudist colony). According to GK she gets really nervous because people can always tell when you're talking on the phone naked. There is a mixture of giddiness and nervousness to your voice.
This is where Brandon comes in. A few weeks ago Brandon had called someone inquiring about an internship. This person was busy so they asked if they could call Brandon back in 15 minutes. For some reason Brandon thought that those 15 minutes would be the perfect time to take a shower. So he undresses and right as we he about to hop in the phone rings.
"BRANDON!!! YOUR PHONE IS RINGING!!! IT'S THAT GUY!!!"
Brandon comes running out of the bathroom.
"You answer!"
"You answer, it's your internship!"
And for reasons known only to himself he starts hopping up and down.
"But he'll know I'm naked!"
And so the make-funner has become the make-funee.
"Hello"
"Are you spending so much time on your blog that your are neglecting Ellie?"
"...no... if I were spending time on my blog you'd know about it."
"How?"
"Because it would be updated all the time."
"Oh, that's right. Don't neglect Ellie."
Hang up.
I wish I got to spend time on my blog. If anything for my own amusement. So here is a story to make it up to my faithful bleaders (the ones in my imagination, I mean).
Brandon often makes fun of me. Not news. But he often makes fun of me for listening to A Prairie Home Companion. I don't know why, it's a great radio show with comedy, awesome music and cool old-timey ads. What's not to love? But Brandon says that it's dorky that I get the podcast.
On Prairie Home (as us fans call it) there is a section of the show where Garrison Keiller (or GK as us fans call him), the host, talks about his imaginary home town named Lake Wobegon, MI. He usually weaves a really funny story about the town's residents (who are all of Swedish decent and Lutheran) and there is usually a moral at the end such as, "don't mess with other people's rhubarb."
Anyhoo, there is one such story that I made Brandon listen to because I always crack up when I listen to it. It's about a lady that felt that Lake Wobegon was too stifling so she went out to Northern California to find herself, except that she was in charge of an event at the church. This event is approaching and no one knows what is going on so they call her and she answers the phone while she's naked (she had joined a nudist colony). According to GK she gets really nervous because people can always tell when you're talking on the phone naked. There is a mixture of giddiness and nervousness to your voice.
This is where Brandon comes in. A few weeks ago Brandon had called someone inquiring about an internship. This person was busy so they asked if they could call Brandon back in 15 minutes. For some reason Brandon thought that those 15 minutes would be the perfect time to take a shower. So he undresses and right as we he about to hop in the phone rings.
"BRANDON!!! YOUR PHONE IS RINGING!!! IT'S THAT GUY!!!"
Brandon comes running out of the bathroom.
"You answer!"
"You answer, it's your internship!"
And for reasons known only to himself he starts hopping up and down.
"But he'll know I'm naked!"
And so the make-funner has become the make-funee.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
The Haps
Insane is not a strong enough word to describe the last month. It's all over though and though I love everyone that came to visit, I'm so glad to wear anything I please around the house.
Sad, however, that I lost my camera for part of it so the following is a very small sampling of the hilarity that ensued. Included is Ellie's 1st birthday, Brandon's family visit, some cool hikes, the waterfalls after a day of rain and... at day at the park. Hilarity.
Sad, however, that I lost my camera for part of it so the following is a very small sampling of the hilarity that ensued. Included is Ellie's 1st birthday, Brandon's family visit, some cool hikes, the waterfalls after a day of rain and... at day at the park. Hilarity.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Friday, September 17, 2010
Food, finally!
So I don't want to brag (yes I do) but I made killer buffalo wings last night. Like, delicious. Fine, I had a little help from the Anchor Bar Restaurant. The Anchor Bar in Buffalo is where wings and their sauce were created. Nowadays the Anchor Bar sells their sauce in supermarkets which is what went on the wings. Still, I was proud of the crispy skin and tender meat and the fact that they were never fried.
Alton Brown taught me how to make these.
1. Rinse and separate wings, cut off tip (use for stock or something).
2. Steam wings (in a pot with boiling water) for about 10 min.
3. Pat wings dry and put in fridge for about an hour.
4. Preheat oven to 425. Put wings on a roasting rack with a pan on bottom to catch drippings and put in oven for 10 min. Then turn wings over and roast for another 10 min.
5. Put wings in bowl, toss with your fave buffalo sauce, enjoy!
Way better for you than frying.
Also, I served them with sauteed kale with garlic and with quinoa salad and it was such a great meal. I am a wing lover to the death but getting them at restaurants is the worst because they're fried and always served with french fries or cole slaw or something super heavy that makes my tummy hurt. No more. Just make your healthier wings, serve them with something light and nutritious and you're set. Whoo-hoo!
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