Thursday, December 22, 2011
It's just been my state of mind this week
But I've needed lots and lots of cute animal photos. These should be the last since I'm leaving on vacation in just a couple hours!
Wednesday, December 21, 2011
More Photos for Your Enjoyment!
These are from the National Geographic Photo of the Year Contest (places, people, nature).
| Beluga Whales in the Arctic - Dafna Ben Nun |
| Zebra in Tanzania - Marius Coetzee |
| Jellyfish Cotylorhiza tuberculata - Angel Fitor |
| Rainbow over Onuk Islands (Philippines) - George Tapan |
| Monsoon in Nepal - Anuar Patiane |
Monday, December 19, 2011
All the places I'd rather be
From National Geographic's Photo of the Day series:
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| New York from Above |
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| Octopus near Mt. Vesuvius |
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| Night at Yosemite Falls |
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| Blue Pond in Japan |
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| Girl in Tibet |
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| Clown fish in Indonesia |
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| Zebra in Tanzania |
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| Deer in Japan |
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| Sea Stars |
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| Buddhist Festival in Myanmar |
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| Elephants in Kenya |
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| German Forest in Autumn |
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| Underwater Air Bubble |
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| Kyoto Geisha |
Friday, December 16, 2011
How Knitting Behind Bars Transformed Maryland Convicts
"Each week the men eagerly await the women's arrival, then promptly get to work. 'It takes you away a little,' Horton says. 'You have to watch what you’re doing, otherwise your stitches will become loose or tight or you’ll skip stitches. It almost makes you feel like you don't have to be anything. You’re all sitting there knitting. You can just be yourself.'"
Read the rest here.
What a cool idea! I wonder if they made their own hats?
Read the rest here.
What a cool idea! I wonder if they made their own hats?
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| Photo by Lynn Zwerling, found here. |
I want to steal this adorable dog.
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| via Boo's fb page here. |
Actually, not even sure if I like this
Like, it's adorable and I can't look away, but also I want to rescue the baby. Hello, Mom, your baby is crying and having it's ear chewed off by a tiny animal with sharp teeth. But, also, puppies and babies.
I have a great idea!
Why don't I just start posting all the things I like from the interwebs! ALL THE THINGS!
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| via the genius |
the happiness i receive will overpower this episode of diarrhea i am currently undergoing
"Claire Anrie: what we have in common is love
Teddy Wayne: yes. love, and your age being the age when i developed chronic diarrhea.
Claire Anrie: – and i will always be there for you my love
– honey when are you sending me the money i asked you?"
– honey when are you sending me the money i asked you?"
Read the rest here. I promise, it's worth it.
Muggings in DC
From Prince of Petworth
"Hi PoPville,
I was mugged tonight around 9pm on 11th St between Columbia Rd and Harvard St. A teenage boy dressed in all black with a black mask came up behind me. I heard footsteps getting closer so I walked from the sidwalk into the road/bikelane area but when he saw me do that he started running. I turned around and he put me in a chokehold. Two teenage girls (one in a yellow jacket, one in a periwinkle colored jacket) were trailing and grabbed my bags while the guy held me in the chokehold as I tried to fight back. I think they ran north on 11th, possibly down the alley on the west side of 11th between Columbia and Harvard. I called 9-1-1 and also was able to flag down a police officer who drove around the neighborhood but we did not see anything.
I was not listening to music or on my phone. I was walking home from the Columbia Heights Metro after a work night meeting. I was aware of my surroundings and heard the guy approaching/sensed something was about to happen but could not do anything to stop it at that point. A heads up for others out and about in this neighborhood.
If anyone sees a small brown leather purse, a yellow wallet, or the contents of my wallet (all cards have been canceled), please let me know.
Thanks,
Brooke"
"Hi PoPville,
I was mugged tonight around 9pm on 11th St between Columbia Rd and Harvard St. A teenage boy dressed in all black with a black mask came up behind me. I heard footsteps getting closer so I walked from the sidwalk into the road/bikelane area but when he saw me do that he started running. I turned around and he put me in a chokehold. Two teenage girls (one in a yellow jacket, one in a periwinkle colored jacket) were trailing and grabbed my bags while the guy held me in the chokehold as I tried to fight back. I think they ran north on 11th, possibly down the alley on the west side of 11th between Columbia and Harvard. I called 9-1-1 and also was able to flag down a police officer who drove around the neighborhood but we did not see anything.
I was not listening to music or on my phone. I was walking home from the Columbia Heights Metro after a work night meeting. I was aware of my surroundings and heard the guy approaching/sensed something was about to happen but could not do anything to stop it at that point. A heads up for others out and about in this neighborhood.
If anyone sees a small brown leather purse, a yellow wallet, or the contents of my wallet (all cards have been canceled), please let me know.
Thanks,
Brooke"
This is LESS THAN TWO BLOCKS from where I live.
White Hair
This Fall has screwed me in so many ways, but I guess I got final confirmation of that this morning when I found my first white hairs. So now, I would just like to say one thing:
Fuck you, world.
FUCK. YOU.
Fuck you, world.
FUCK. YOU.
True Words - Now How to Execute?
What would you tell a young woman who wants your job someday?
That’s easy — the good jobs are ones you have to create yourself. I’ve found the most interesting entry-level jobs inevitably dead-end, and the ones with the most aggressive career path are, at core, boring. If you want to have your cake and eat it too, you have to bake it yourself.
-Tereza Nemessanyi, CEO Of Honestly Now (via Jane Dough)
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Swelles
Oh Wellesley, I feel like I was told life was going to be difficult, but I wasn't listening very carefully at the time.
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Dreams
Last night, I had a very detailed, vivid dream that I experienced open heart surgery. Then I biked through the lushest fields and woods I've ever imagined. When I woke up, I literally checked my chest for the scar.
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
An Interesting Take on Twilight and Feminism
Check out this Hairpin article - I don't believe I've ever heard this argument articulated. Possible the most insightful paragraph:
"The Twilight series challenges what I would call the "Buffy Summers Maxim": that teen heroines be physically empowered, oftentimes at the expense of emotional clarity. Bella Swan diverges from many of our more recent teenaged female heroines. The ones who appear in films — the feisty Olive from Easy A, the quirky ironist Juno MacGuff — often seem to be written by thirtysomethings seemingly desperate to revisit high school to work some alchemical magic: turning the abjection of it all into a badge of indie cred. But even the more complicated female heroines of recent young adult fiction — Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games or Katsa of Graceling — embody a suspiciously pleasing, "empowered" form of female adolescence. These girls go through a narrative arc, but for the most part, they are already-formed subjects with the "right" values (freedom, self-determination, physical strength) that simply have to navigate some growing pains."
I would argue that Bella doesn't truly represent the typical teenager anymore than Olive, Juno or Katniss, but at least the last three take active roles in their stories.
"The Twilight series challenges what I would call the "Buffy Summers Maxim": that teen heroines be physically empowered, oftentimes at the expense of emotional clarity. Bella Swan diverges from many of our more recent teenaged female heroines. The ones who appear in films — the feisty Olive from Easy A, the quirky ironist Juno MacGuff — often seem to be written by thirtysomethings seemingly desperate to revisit high school to work some alchemical magic: turning the abjection of it all into a badge of indie cred. But even the more complicated female heroines of recent young adult fiction — Katniss Everdeen of The Hunger Games or Katsa of Graceling — embody a suspiciously pleasing, "empowered" form of female adolescence. These girls go through a narrative arc, but for the most part, they are already-formed subjects with the "right" values (freedom, self-determination, physical strength) that simply have to navigate some growing pains."
I would argue that Bella doesn't truly represent the typical teenager anymore than Olive, Juno or Katniss, but at least the last three take active roles in their stories.
Friday, November 11, 2011
Thursday, October 6, 2011
So this one time at the Library of Congress...
You know when your boyfriend sends you a random invitation to a Russian cultural event in a few weeks and asks if you want to go, and you're thinking "mmm, I'm not really super interested in Russian culture but there will be food and an open bar and I really don't have a reason to say no" so you end up saying yes, thinking you can always a) cancel if you have to, b) invite your cool friend who is into Russian culture and c) bounce after the free food but before they make you watch what is sure to be the weirdest movie ever made. We've all been there, right?
That's what I thought.
The boat in which I found myself last Friday was... peculiar. Let's just say I didn't know such boats still existed, but I may have imagined them when I was a child playing tea with my American Girl dolls (Samantha and Josephine, in case you were wondering). First of all, I didn't actually read the invitation very carefully. I understood there would be free food and booze, but I neglected to note the location (Library of Congress). And yes, we did have to RSVP, but I didn't think much of that, nor did I worry about sneaking in another friend, Not Emma Templeton, with someone else's name. Because, let's be honest, it never really occurred to me that there would be name tags. And O My Beloveds, were there name tags. Not only name tags, but women in cocktail dresses, dozens of servers, and tables and tables of Russian delicacies served on silver platters with heavy silver serving spoons (Russian pickles, been stroganoff, mushroom vol au vents, cheeeeese, snap pea salad, green bean salad, little pasta bags filled with chicken and artichoke, I could go on but I won't) - each table carrying a different set of dishes such that my attempt to try everything ended after table and plate two out of a whole room!
Perhaps it didn't help that I consumed about 4 glasses of free champagne - the good stuff - and was rushed down to a movie theater after only an hour. Normally when I think of a movie at a cultural event, I think of a projector, a screen flopping in the breeze and a bunch of folding chairs. That wasn't so much the case at this venue. We were ushered downstairs to a red carpeted theater lobby complete with men dressed as bell hops, inviting us down a hallway that was lined with candy-stocked tables. Giant boxes of jujubees, junior mints, rainsinettes and Russian chocolates, as well as boxes of popcorn (plain, caramel, chocolate-covered), were ours for the taking! We snagged bottles of water (also free!) and made our way down to the plush, red velvet theater seats.
I'm not going to say the movie wasn't weird. Because it was really, really weird. And there were a couple of seriously disturbing incidences of blackface (are we actually supposed to believe that this actress, this white, Russian actress, is a black, Cuban jazz singer?) however it was an entertaining movie. And it got significantly more entertaining when I realized the hero is the doppelganger of a guy I dated in Paris. After almost falling asleep from sugar shock and champagne consumption, we all woke up for the end and concluded the movie was pretty entertaining.
At this point, we were figuring just about everything that was going to happen had happened. But no, Russia had another ace up its sleeve. After too much talking and speech-giving, we were invited upstairs for dessert and "a special surprise". Now sometimes, a "special surprise" is actually lame, like another speech by yet another Russian culture enthusiast. Other times...
...it's a giant ice sculpture of the Kremlin.
Just take that in for a second. It was so large, it actually cooled down the room.
And then, of course, dessert. Which wasn't even a suprise, it was planned. And this is what it looked like:
In case you can't see it too well, I'll describe: it's a table full of silver platters of cookies, chocolates, cakes and Russian black tea (served with jam?). There were two of these tables, two long tables with ice cream stations (3 per table) and two coffee bars. Also, they opened the reading room for our enjoyment.
After that, Igor Brill (famed Russian jazz pianist) was on hand to play an exclusive concert for the attendees. I don't know him, but apparently he's famous.
I suppose if we're going to wind up this story with a moral it would be...always attend cultural events even if they seem weird. No, wait, how about: When in doubt, follow the open bar. Or actually: Just because it's a free Russian movie, it doesn't mean there won't be dessert after. Er, maybe this story isn't actually well suited to a moralizing.
That's what I thought.
The boat in which I found myself last Friday was... peculiar. Let's just say I didn't know such boats still existed, but I may have imagined them when I was a child playing tea with my American Girl dolls (Samantha and Josephine, in case you were wondering). First of all, I didn't actually read the invitation very carefully. I understood there would be free food and booze, but I neglected to note the location (Library of Congress). And yes, we did have to RSVP, but I didn't think much of that, nor did I worry about sneaking in another friend, Not Emma Templeton, with someone else's name. Because, let's be honest, it never really occurred to me that there would be name tags. And O My Beloveds, were there name tags. Not only name tags, but women in cocktail dresses, dozens of servers, and tables and tables of Russian delicacies served on silver platters with heavy silver serving spoons (Russian pickles, been stroganoff, mushroom vol au vents, cheeeeese, snap pea salad, green bean salad, little pasta bags filled with chicken and artichoke, I could go on but I won't) - each table carrying a different set of dishes such that my attempt to try everything ended after table and plate two out of a whole room!
Perhaps it didn't help that I consumed about 4 glasses of free champagne - the good stuff - and was rushed down to a movie theater after only an hour. Normally when I think of a movie at a cultural event, I think of a projector, a screen flopping in the breeze and a bunch of folding chairs. That wasn't so much the case at this venue. We were ushered downstairs to a red carpeted theater lobby complete with men dressed as bell hops, inviting us down a hallway that was lined with candy-stocked tables. Giant boxes of jujubees, junior mints, rainsinettes and Russian chocolates, as well as boxes of popcorn (plain, caramel, chocolate-covered), were ours for the taking! We snagged bottles of water (also free!) and made our way down to the plush, red velvet theater seats.
I'm not going to say the movie wasn't weird. Because it was really, really weird. And there were a couple of seriously disturbing incidences of blackface (are we actually supposed to believe that this actress, this white, Russian actress, is a black, Cuban jazz singer?) however it was an entertaining movie. And it got significantly more entertaining when I realized the hero is the doppelganger of a guy I dated in Paris. After almost falling asleep from sugar shock and champagne consumption, we all woke up for the end and concluded the movie was pretty entertaining.
At this point, we were figuring just about everything that was going to happen had happened. But no, Russia had another ace up its sleeve. After too much talking and speech-giving, we were invited upstairs for dessert and "a special surprise". Now sometimes, a "special surprise" is actually lame, like another speech by yet another Russian culture enthusiast. Other times...
...it's a giant ice sculpture of the Kremlin.
Just take that in for a second. It was so large, it actually cooled down the room.
And then, of course, dessert. Which wasn't even a suprise, it was planned. And this is what it looked like:
In case you can't see it too well, I'll describe: it's a table full of silver platters of cookies, chocolates, cakes and Russian black tea (served with jam?). There were two of these tables, two long tables with ice cream stations (3 per table) and two coffee bars. Also, they opened the reading room for our enjoyment.
After that, Igor Brill (famed Russian jazz pianist) was on hand to play an exclusive concert for the attendees. I don't know him, but apparently he's famous.
I suppose if we're going to wind up this story with a moral it would be...always attend cultural events even if they seem weird. No, wait, how about: When in doubt, follow the open bar. Or actually: Just because it's a free Russian movie, it doesn't mean there won't be dessert after. Er, maybe this story isn't actually well suited to a moralizing.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
This Summer
My it flew by, didn't it? I've been on a trip to France to see the little one (my Dad calls her "the littlest girl" which is a more adorable nickname than I ever would have thought him able to produce). It was essentially a week spent indoors with a baby either crying or sleeping or eating - exhausting but somehow a restful break from life. So far I've attended two weddings with another coming up in a couple of weeks, one requiring a road trip to Pennsylvania, the other a trip to Cape Cod and a five day family reunion of epic proportions. Never have all my cousins (except my sister) been in the same place at the same time!
Look, I don't want to bore you and I'm not feeling very clever at the moment, so let's just get down to brass tacks, shall we? This summer:
Trips taken:
Charleston
France
Pennsylvania
Williamsburg
Cape Cod
Ocean City
Money Spent:
All
Other Life Achievements (Coming at you [me] in September!):
Moving (lower rent, what up!)
New Job (If you know me, you know I'm producing a massive primal scream of thanks to the universe!)
New Choir Season (Managing Director this time - yikes)
Going to the mitten state to meet my gentleman caller's family (double yikes) (also going to a football game, and there is fear in my heart)
Old Man Stevens is getting married [this isn't really my life achievement - maybe I should start a new list]
Crap that has happened:
You know, all those trips, etc
Shit ton of brunching
Some grilling and picnics
Weddings
Oh yeah, my 24th birthday
Susan G Komen breast cancer walk
Slutwalk
Crap that has yet to happen:
Moving
Commencement of new job
New Choir Season
Mitten State
Old Man Stevens' wedding
Whew, most disorganized post ever. I have got to get some pictures up sometime as well.
Also, sorry for the long break from posting. See y'all soon!
Look, I don't want to bore you and I'm not feeling very clever at the moment, so let's just get down to brass tacks, shall we? This summer:
Trips taken:
Charleston
France
Pennsylvania
Williamsburg
Cape Cod
Ocean City
Money Spent:
All
Other Life Achievements (Coming at you [me] in September!):
Moving (lower rent, what up!)
New Job (If you know me, you know I'm producing a massive primal scream of thanks to the universe!)
New Choir Season (Managing Director this time - yikes)
Going to the mitten state to meet my gentleman caller's family (double yikes) (also going to a football game, and there is fear in my heart)
Old Man Stevens is getting married [this isn't really my life achievement - maybe I should start a new list]
Crap that has happened:
You know, all those trips, etc
Shit ton of brunching
Some grilling and picnics
Weddings
Oh yeah, my 24th birthday
Susan G Komen breast cancer walk
Slutwalk
Crap that has yet to happen:
Moving
Commencement of new job
New Choir Season
Mitten State
Old Man Stevens' wedding
Whew, most disorganized post ever. I have got to get some pictures up sometime as well.
Also, sorry for the long break from posting. See y'all soon!
Friday, May 20, 2011
The Next Two Months
My niece was just born yesterday. She's a dreamboat. She's the cutest little baby I have ever seen (and I'm not really one to think babies are all that cute). I've already started calling her Annie in my head and planning a trip to the trains in Tilden Park (Berkeley) where I will buy her a tiny, tiny engineer hat in pink and white stripes.
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| Tilden Park mini-Trains |
Anyway, as you can see, I'm quite excited. BUT I'm also quite busy. Possibly until the end of time. I haven't blogged in ages, but I hope to get back into it soon!
Friday, April 22, 2011
Bad Eyes, Bad Eye Doctors [AN UPDATE]
I'm sure this saga is endlessly fascinating to all my poor friends who have had to listen to it over the past couple of weeks - I have gotten tired of thinking about it. And it's silly, really, it's only a pair of glasses. But I'm still MAD! I carefully selected the doctor based on largely positive reviews. I liked him, the office was clean and they seemed well-equipped. Then they started down this path of excessive flattery and incompetent work and I'm so irritated that I can't continue to see the doctor that I genuinely liked because his co-workers are unprofessional asshats.
I went back to Embassy Opticians yesterday to choose my replacement frames. Initially they left me alone but as they realized I wasn't going to chew them out for breaking my frames they got more and more friendly, falling into their habit of flattery - unbearable enough with one person but completely out of control when three people are talking over each other - until finally one of them (the store manager) said "we've had such bad luck with Martha's order, it's really too bad because she's so sweet!"
So. Sweet. "Bad luck"? No, you know what actually happened? You messed up my order, broke my glasses and assumed that if you flatter me, tell me I'm pretty and make all kinds of promises to get me what I need without actually getting me what I need, I won't get mad about it. Here's the thing: they were clearly right. In the face of all that niceness (fake as it was) I couldn't get mad. I felt mad, sure, but I couldn't express it. I just shrugged and said nothing, picked out my frames, and left. By the way, they gave me a loaner pair of glasses and furtively expressed that no one would ask for them back. They're probably hoping that I don't write a negative yelp review. Next time I go in there I should tell them exactly why I'm never going back. We'll see if I actually do it.
Ask yourself this: if they had messed up the glasses of a 23 year old man, would they have tried to ease his irritation by complimenting his bone structure? I think not. Somehow calling a guy "sweetheart" doesn't have the same power.
I went back to Embassy Opticians yesterday to choose my replacement frames. Initially they left me alone but as they realized I wasn't going to chew them out for breaking my frames they got more and more friendly, falling into their habit of flattery - unbearable enough with one person but completely out of control when three people are talking over each other - until finally one of them (the store manager) said "we've had such bad luck with Martha's order, it's really too bad because she's so sweet!"
So. Sweet. "Bad luck"? No, you know what actually happened? You messed up my order, broke my glasses and assumed that if you flatter me, tell me I'm pretty and make all kinds of promises to get me what I need without actually getting me what I need, I won't get mad about it. Here's the thing: they were clearly right. In the face of all that niceness (fake as it was) I couldn't get mad. I felt mad, sure, but I couldn't express it. I just shrugged and said nothing, picked out my frames, and left. By the way, they gave me a loaner pair of glasses and furtively expressed that no one would ask for them back. They're probably hoping that I don't write a negative yelp review. Next time I go in there I should tell them exactly why I'm never going back. We'll see if I actually do it.
Ask yourself this: if they had messed up the glasses of a 23 year old man, would they have tried to ease his irritation by complimenting his bone structure? I think not. Somehow calling a guy "sweetheart" doesn't have the same power.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Bad Eyes, Bad Eye Doctors
I decided, after much squinting, brow-furrowing, head pain and frequent/furious blinking (and when I was running out of contacts) that I needed to go to the eye doctor for a little update. After some searching on yelp, I found a place near-ish work called Embassy Opticians. Scheduled an appointment, got psyched. I love getting new glasses. I went to the eye place about three weeks ago, had a good visit with the doctor, was prescribed reading/computer glasses to wear over my contacts, switched to "biofinity" contacts (which are great and super squishy) and got excited for my frames to come back.
Oh friends, I thought it would be so simple. How wrong I was. When I went to pick up my distance glasses and contacts (three days later than they said they would be ready), I basically tried them on, determined they were good and left the store. For some reason I didn't notice that the frames were all wonky and one side was a different shape (!?) than the other. Next morning I go back, they say they'll fix them, but they have to order new lenses. Meanwhile, by the way, they are calling me sweetheart, doll-face, honey, you name it. It's the creepiest thing in the world. I was also getting complimented on my excellent bone structure and all around style/beauty. Gee thanks, now give me the glasses.
ANYWAY. The lenses finally came in (please keep in mind that I'm still waiting for my reading/computer glasses, which are supposedly on the way. hm) and I took my glasses over this morning. Adding to the confusion is the presence of the regional manager who seems to be a reasonable man, not inclined to overly effusive compliments and strangely personal monikers, and apparently concerned (as was I!) about the frame situation. This other guy, Don, tells me not to worry about it, he'll fix it right up "honey" and that the regional manager doesn't know anything (uuuuuh??). Fixing the frames and lenses was only supposed to take 15 minutes, so I decided to wait. 10 minutes later, Don comes out of the office and says childishly, "Now you're not gonna like Don anymore!" "Why?" said I. "I broke the frames," said he.
"WHAT THE LASKDJFLAWKEHGSLADKFJASOIGUASEOIRUQ@#$^)(#*$RALSDV XLCVASLDTHASEFASDH," said I (silently, in my head).
Out loud: "........."
Not to worry though friends, don't be alarmed! There is no cause for concern! Don will be picking out frames from their selection that will both fit the lenses they already have AND be "as delicate and beautiful" as I. They cannot confirm that they will be ready in a week, which is when I will need them for sure (I'm not travelling out of town without my glasses!).
Let's recap, shall we? Here's where I am:
1) Out $750
2) With lovely advanced contacts (not even this place could screw up that order, thank goodness)
3) No distance glasses
4) No reading/computer glasses (and no estimate as to when they will arrive)
5) STILL NO PRESCRIPTION (no matter how many times I ask it never seems to be ready)
5) No guarantee that I will be receiving a quality product for which I paid BIG BUCKS
6) Newly doubtful that I even need reading/computer glasses, and thinking I may have been duped into an unnecessary purchase
Going back tonight after work for round, what is it now, 6? 7? Prepared to take them to the mattresses if I must. Though they may think I'm a sweet, pretty, naive young girl, they will soon be made aware of the steely tiger bitch I only bring out for special occasions. I'll keep you appraised of my progress.
Oh friends, I thought it would be so simple. How wrong I was. When I went to pick up my distance glasses and contacts (three days later than they said they would be ready), I basically tried them on, determined they were good and left the store. For some reason I didn't notice that the frames were all wonky and one side was a different shape (!?) than the other. Next morning I go back, they say they'll fix them, but they have to order new lenses. Meanwhile, by the way, they are calling me sweetheart, doll-face, honey, you name it. It's the creepiest thing in the world. I was also getting complimented on my excellent bone structure and all around style/beauty. Gee thanks, now give me the glasses.
ANYWAY. The lenses finally came in (please keep in mind that I'm still waiting for my reading/computer glasses, which are supposedly on the way. hm) and I took my glasses over this morning. Adding to the confusion is the presence of the regional manager who seems to be a reasonable man, not inclined to overly effusive compliments and strangely personal monikers, and apparently concerned (as was I!) about the frame situation. This other guy, Don, tells me not to worry about it, he'll fix it right up "honey" and that the regional manager doesn't know anything (uuuuuh??). Fixing the frames and lenses was only supposed to take 15 minutes, so I decided to wait. 10 minutes later, Don comes out of the office and says childishly, "Now you're not gonna like Don anymore!" "Why?" said I. "I broke the frames," said he.
"WHAT THE LASKDJFLAWKEHGSLADKFJASOIGUASEOIRUQ@#$^)(#*$RALSDV XLCVASLDTHASEFASDH," said I (silently, in my head).
Out loud: "........."
Not to worry though friends, don't be alarmed! There is no cause for concern! Don will be picking out frames from their selection that will both fit the lenses they already have AND be "as delicate and beautiful" as I. They cannot confirm that they will be ready in a week, which is when I will need them for sure (I'm not travelling out of town without my glasses!).
Let's recap, shall we? Here's where I am:
1) Out $750
2) With lovely advanced contacts (not even this place could screw up that order, thank goodness)
3) No distance glasses
4) No reading/computer glasses (and no estimate as to when they will arrive)
5) STILL NO PRESCRIPTION (no matter how many times I ask it never seems to be ready)
5) No guarantee that I will be receiving a quality product for which I paid BIG BUCKS
6) Newly doubtful that I even need reading/computer glasses, and thinking I may have been duped into an unnecessary purchase
Going back tonight after work for round, what is it now, 6? 7? Prepared to take them to the mattresses if I must. Though they may think I'm a sweet, pretty, naive young girl, they will soon be made aware of the steely tiger bitch I only bring out for special occasions. I'll keep you appraised of my progress.
 |
| Steely Tiger Bitch |
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Thursday, April 7, 2011
Embroidered Dustjacket
Is this not the coolest thing ever? Penguin commissioned this book cover (along with two others you can see here). Yeah, I wish I could embroider like this. Awesome.
A Shameful Not-So-Secret
I am a feminist, sometimes rabidly so, and I can't imagine living...no wait, I can imagine a scenario in which I'm treated with absolutely no respect, but that's a different story. The point is, even though I am a feminist, I think I would have been really good at life say, 100 years ago. Why? First of all:
Because I would rock these dresses. Seriously. Also, I'm a hat person. Second of all, spending my days reading, arranging flowers, learning French and playing musical instruments would be my ideal life.
So today, when I would rather be living in a novel, this television show, or any other place other than the one in which I currently whine, I'm going to conveniently ignore all the crap that goes along with being a woman 100 years ago, and think about how nice it would be to have someone else pay for my life while I learn to play the piano.
So today, when I would rather be living in a novel, this television show, or any other place other than the one in which I currently whine, I'm going to conveniently ignore all the crap that goes along with being a woman 100 years ago, and think about how nice it would be to have someone else pay for my life while I learn to play the piano.
Monday, March 28, 2011
Curried Sweet Potato Fries with Yogurt-Hummus Dipping Sauce
If we've met, and talked about food/cooking for about two seconds, then you probably know that I love Joy the Baker. I love her blog, her writing style, her food styling, and almost every single recipe she's ever posted. Many of the recipes you see on this site are from her. This is one of them!
The Fries:
1 Sweet Potato
1 Egg white
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
Turmeric
Cumin
Curry
Ginger
Preheat your oven/toaster oven to 400 degrees. Get out a cookie sheet that will fit in said oven.
Peel the sweet potato and slice it down the middle, width-wise. Keep slicing until you have fry-sized spears and put them in a bowl.
Whisk the egg white, olive oil and spices and pour over the fries. Toss to coat with the mixture. Place them on the baking sheet in one layer and bake for roughly 30 minutes.
Dipping Sauce
1 cup greek yogurt
3/4 cup hummus
cumin
lemon juice
salt
olive oil
While the fries are baking mix all this nonsense together and put it in a pretty bowl.
Serve the fries right out of the oven. Yum!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Reblogged from Fug Girls: Potential Oscar Looks from NYFW
I'm so behind on reading the Fug Girls. Problem is, you can't see the full post in GReader. And my friends, if it doesn't exist in GReader it doesn't exist. Below, my favorites from their picks for Oscar fashion.
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| Renee Zellweger. Carolina Herrera. Love. |
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| Nicole Kidman. With red hair, if you please. |
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| More Carolina delight. I could see a lot of people in this. Nicole Kidman, Anne Hathaway... better be sans sleeves though. Chic on the runway, frump on the red carpet. |
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| Hailey Steinfeld, sans aucun doute. It's a little bridal, but it's also a little ballerina and a little tea party. I like. |
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| Their pick for Natalie Portman. Dead on, right? |
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| Anne Hathaway. I wish. Hated her actual picks. |
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| Melissa Leo, again I wish. Ooh, or Helen Mirren, |
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| I know, pink and sparkly and I love it! I could see Anne Hathaway in it. |
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