Before any trip, particularly one involving outdoorsy pursuits, I call Susan and we check over my packing list. Rarely have I forgotten something, but it pretty much satisfies my OCD. And, she's a good sport about it, which is probably why we've been close friends for so long. I really, really miss her mom - I think about her all the time, especially anything like gardening. She died when I was in Elim, so I think in 2000, but we all still really miss her.
Susan has no voice right now - just like her dog. Otter lost her voice, gosh, years ago now I guess. I keep forgetting it - every time I hear a dog barking in the background I say, "Oh, is that Otter?" Nope, it's always the little bossy one. So now Susan and Otter really match, though I hope Sue gets over the laryngitis soon.
Toni Morrison was great. My classmate Jeff went and we sat together, and that was actually more fun than being there alone - we have shared symbolism now. I went back to school grab some books and ran into his roommate, who had never heard of Toni Morrison. Sigh. I bet you big money that he knows all the MALE Nobel Laureates.
Best line of the night, when asked if she thought Kurt Vonnegut should win the Nobel Prize for Literature (after she talked about what a great person he was): Sure, why not? Nobel prizes, they're for everyone.
So, I think I have pretty much everything packed, including books to study from (I'm outlining all my classes) and a French Press to make my own damn coffee. That watery stuff they serve places, it always sucks. I know Tiff has that fondness for gas station coffee, but I'm thinking that's more about QT with the bearded musher. And to accompany it, I'm taking oatmeal - it won't be the excellent star quality I've perfected, but it'll do. Lunch Saturday is a Cajun thing - I think they said jambalaya and white beans, my very favorite things - so I have to keep my appetite for that. I plan to eat out Friday evening, but I'm taking camp food just in case I don't feel like it. It's like I'm trying to camp while staying in the motel room - and yeah, you're right, that whole coffee thing - it's about wanting to use my Jetboil. Love it. And I'm taking extra clothes because it's supposed to rain on Saturday. And I hate staying wet.
I have the rest of the semester mapped out with "to-do" lists, and I don't have a single free evening all next week - all sorts of meetings and the like. WTF is up with that? Finals start in about two weeks, and they have meetings NOW?
I just learned about getting on journals - there are summer "write-ons" which means you get a writing assignment you have to work on for the first month of summer break. Don't know how that fits into my plans, but it's not really optional. Getting law jobs is so rigid - they look only for certain things, so if those lack, it doesn't matter about all my other incredible experiences. Sigh. Oh well. Two more years. And it doesn't suck all the time.
OK, and for all that reading that I didn't do while I was listening to Toni Morrison (time well spent), I have to get up at the crack of dawn to take care of tomorrow before class. And then I have to slip out of Con Law without running into the Property professor (whose office is next door to the classroom where I'm in Con Law) and my weekend adventures BEGIN! Woo hoo! I don't really understand my enthusiasm for this little jaunt. I fear a little that because I have such high expectations I'll only be let down. And Michael and Miriam, who were there a couple weeks ago, did say it sucks. But I don't think I'll be disappointed - I think that I will learn new things and see new things and it will be wonderful even if not somehow perfect.
Thursday, April 12, 2007
just because you're paranoid ...
... doesn't mean they aren't out to get you.
Love that double negative? I've always been excited by double negatives. A former friend with whom I had a very passionate email correspondence couldn't stand my double negatives. But, then again, he's "former" friend, so who cares. Ah, Kennymanjaro.
Anyway, my property prof is way out to get me. He's still wanting us to stalk him (today he told us the name of a housing development down the street from him), and he's started dropping clues regarding me - mentioning Ouija boards is always a good one.
But today was just, unexpected. He called on me. Which, in most of my classes I don't totally hate, because I"m kind of masochistic. No law student knows anything. That's the law, and the professors' jobs is to point out how stupid we are. It's just the way it is, and I'm adjusting. But I particularly hate to participate in Property because, well, because it's fucking hard (fee simple subject to a condition subsequent WHAT?!) and the professor is a pompous ass, and seeing him stand up there with his smirk - let's just say he's fortunate I'm not packing.
I thought I was done getting called on. I participated and made him look WAY good in front of visitors - and that was only a week or two ago. There's probably 70 people in that class (40 or so who show up), and I didn't think he'd get back around to me. He owed me.
I guess he thinks I owe him, since he's videotaping class for me tomorrow since I "can't" make it.
I was first in line - he called on me in the first few minutes of class, which also breaks rules. He's supposed to let me settle in with my surfing and emailing first.
I am happy to report, that I did not flounder. I actually understood his questions and actually answered them, and while I was pretty much wrong, I wasn't laughably so. And I was only on the hotseat for about 10 minutes before he allowed somebody to jump in. Which, is all me - the only time people participate is when I start off. I make fun of him, of myself, and of the study of property. I make stupid jokes which aren't very funny, and I don't let the smirk get me down. In fact, I ridiculed the smirk in front of the visitors, and he took it well.
What he doesn't see is that my palms were way sweaty - I was actually nervous. Good practice for a courtroom, I guess. Damn.
And now I have one hour to do five hours' worth of reading. Getting to it. Damn I'm glad I read for Property class today - the one class I prepped for, because it's the lightest book to carry (yeah, seriously - there are times I don't do Legal Profession or Constitutional Law reading because the books weigh like 20 pounds apiece, and it hurts my back to carry them home).
And damn I'm glad I'm skipping property tomorrow. Glad I'll be missed.
Oh, and I ordered something and they just confirmed it, and they're charging me almost no shipping, which saves me money, which is super cool. What a grand day. This afternoon we have a meeting about the competitions to get onto journals for next year, and then Toni Morrison will be speaking so I'll do my best to get there for that. Love her. Grand day, now that class is over. I can breathe more freely and my palms are dry.
Love that double negative? I've always been excited by double negatives. A former friend with whom I had a very passionate email correspondence couldn't stand my double negatives. But, then again, he's "former" friend, so who cares. Ah, Kennymanjaro.
Anyway, my property prof is way out to get me. He's still wanting us to stalk him (today he told us the name of a housing development down the street from him), and he's started dropping clues regarding me - mentioning Ouija boards is always a good one.
But today was just, unexpected. He called on me. Which, in most of my classes I don't totally hate, because I"m kind of masochistic. No law student knows anything. That's the law, and the professors' jobs is to point out how stupid we are. It's just the way it is, and I'm adjusting. But I particularly hate to participate in Property because, well, because it's fucking hard (fee simple subject to a condition subsequent WHAT?!) and the professor is a pompous ass, and seeing him stand up there with his smirk - let's just say he's fortunate I'm not packing.
I thought I was done getting called on. I participated and made him look WAY good in front of visitors - and that was only a week or two ago. There's probably 70 people in that class (40 or so who show up), and I didn't think he'd get back around to me. He owed me.
I guess he thinks I owe him, since he's videotaping class for me tomorrow since I "can't" make it.
I was first in line - he called on me in the first few minutes of class, which also breaks rules. He's supposed to let me settle in with my surfing and emailing first.
I am happy to report, that I did not flounder. I actually understood his questions and actually answered them, and while I was pretty much wrong, I wasn't laughably so. And I was only on the hotseat for about 10 minutes before he allowed somebody to jump in. Which, is all me - the only time people participate is when I start off. I make fun of him, of myself, and of the study of property. I make stupid jokes which aren't very funny, and I don't let the smirk get me down. In fact, I ridiculed the smirk in front of the visitors, and he took it well.
What he doesn't see is that my palms were way sweaty - I was actually nervous. Good practice for a courtroom, I guess. Damn.
And now I have one hour to do five hours' worth of reading. Getting to it. Damn I'm glad I read for Property class today - the one class I prepped for, because it's the lightest book to carry (yeah, seriously - there are times I don't do Legal Profession or Constitutional Law reading because the books weigh like 20 pounds apiece, and it hurts my back to carry them home).
And damn I'm glad I'm skipping property tomorrow. Glad I'll be missed.
Oh, and I ordered something and they just confirmed it, and they're charging me almost no shipping, which saves me money, which is super cool. What a grand day. This afternoon we have a meeting about the competitions to get onto journals for next year, and then Toni Morrison will be speaking so I'll do my best to get there for that. Love her. Grand day, now that class is over. I can breathe more freely and my palms are dry.
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
food
At the risk of being, well, Gail, I'm blogging about food.
Hodgson Mill Bran Muffin Mix ROCKS MY WORLD. I don't usually use mixes, but this is one da bomb. It's all natural stuff, basically the ingredients that I would use if I were making bran muffins, but this way I don't have to buy molasses, etc. I add mashed banana, chopped up apples, cinnamon ... and next time I'll put in chopped pecans and the time after that blueberries. Yummilicious, and you can't go wrong.
And, I figured out the perfect oatmus combo. I don't much like completely cooked oatmeal, and while I do like them uncooked they don't stick with me as well. So, I put 1/2 c in the microwave with just 1/2 cup of water, for 60 seconds, then add some warm milk and frozen blueberries, then a little cold milk. YUM!
And my latest little shopping obsession is these 100-calorie packs of cookies. I got some as samples for the race, and I found it a brilliant idea.
When Sabine came to visit, she brought me some of those mini-whole wheat pitas from Trader Joe's (yeah, she brought me a whole suitcase filled with TJ's goodies), which are fantastico with jalapeno hummus.
OK, enough about food. I'm just missing La Beraca, but I won't make it there anytime soon. Sigh.
Hodgson Mill Bran Muffin Mix ROCKS MY WORLD. I don't usually use mixes, but this is one da bomb. It's all natural stuff, basically the ingredients that I would use if I were making bran muffins, but this way I don't have to buy molasses, etc. I add mashed banana, chopped up apples, cinnamon ... and next time I'll put in chopped pecans and the time after that blueberries. Yummilicious, and you can't go wrong.
And, I figured out the perfect oatmus combo. I don't much like completely cooked oatmeal, and while I do like them uncooked they don't stick with me as well. So, I put 1/2 c in the microwave with just 1/2 cup of water, for 60 seconds, then add some warm milk and frozen blueberries, then a little cold milk. YUM!
And my latest little shopping obsession is these 100-calorie packs of cookies. I got some as samples for the race, and I found it a brilliant idea.
When Sabine came to visit, she brought me some of those mini-whole wheat pitas from Trader Joe's (yeah, she brought me a whole suitcase filled with TJ's goodies), which are fantastico with jalapeno hummus.
OK, enough about food. I'm just missing La Beraca, but I won't make it there anytime soon. Sigh.
this weekend
I have no idea why I'm so excited about this weekend, but I am. Thrilled.
I'm going to Grand Isle, the only inhabited island in Louisiana (yeah, I have to cross a bloody bridge to get there), about as far south as civilization in Louisiana goes. It's right between the Gulf of Mexico (salt water) and Barataria Bay (fresh water), so the nature there is supposed to be incredible because of the estuary. It's apparently a huge fisherperson's paradise - and I'm not a big fishing fan, but when I saw some of the fish caught I was impressed. They have a a gazillion fish camps there that people rent out for a season or a week, and every lodging place has fish cleaning stations and outdoor cooking spaces.
But it's also a paradise for birders, so I'm going to the Migratory Bird Festival. I'll go on two birding excursions by foot and another by boat. And, there will be a mini-expo there and maybe I'll actually get some better binoculars. The ones I have now work ok, and they're nice and little, but they're limited.
I made a hotel reservation, after being told the campground there is just a big parking lot full of RVs. Yuck. So, in a hotel room I shall stay. That's easier ... plus this way I can actually do some work Friday evening. Ugh. And then I'll come back Saturday night, so I'll have all day Sunday to be productive.
Anyway, I'm way psyched about it and hope it meets my expectations. I haven't had an adventure since December. Mini-adventure visiting Kim in March, but that was Mobile suburbs so doesn't really count.
But until then ... guess I better hit the books. Sigh.
I'm going to Grand Isle, the only inhabited island in Louisiana (yeah, I have to cross a bloody bridge to get there), about as far south as civilization in Louisiana goes. It's right between the Gulf of Mexico (salt water) and Barataria Bay (fresh water), so the nature there is supposed to be incredible because of the estuary. It's apparently a huge fisherperson's paradise - and I'm not a big fishing fan, but when I saw some of the fish caught I was impressed. They have a a gazillion fish camps there that people rent out for a season or a week, and every lodging place has fish cleaning stations and outdoor cooking spaces.
But it's also a paradise for birders, so I'm going to the Migratory Bird Festival. I'll go on two birding excursions by foot and another by boat. And, there will be a mini-expo there and maybe I'll actually get some better binoculars. The ones I have now work ok, and they're nice and little, but they're limited.
I made a hotel reservation, after being told the campground there is just a big parking lot full of RVs. Yuck. So, in a hotel room I shall stay. That's easier ... plus this way I can actually do some work Friday evening. Ugh. And then I'll come back Saturday night, so I'll have all day Sunday to be productive.
Anyway, I'm way psyched about it and hope it meets my expectations. I haven't had an adventure since December. Mini-adventure visiting Kim in March, but that was Mobile suburbs so doesn't really count.
But until then ... guess I better hit the books. Sigh.
Tuesday, April 10, 2007
Gail and Shelton ... sitting in a tree ...
Yay! I just got Gail's wedding invitation - I hope I can make it, though I won't know for a while.
I like to say - I encouraged their relationship from the very beginning. I was "there" for the whole thing, before getting together, and all that, and after an extensive perusal of his blog, I declared Shelton to be Gail-worthy. And I was right! He was there with her until 3 am doing the wedding invitations. (Unlike another friend here, whose fiance wanted the big wedding but leaves everything up to her to do.) And he put up with my obnoxious mah jong moments, because I'm her friend.
Yay! Happy times!
I like to say - I encouraged their relationship from the very beginning. I was "there" for the whole thing, before getting together, and all that, and after an extensive perusal of his blog, I declared Shelton to be Gail-worthy. And I was right! He was there with her until 3 am doing the wedding invitations. (Unlike another friend here, whose fiance wanted the big wedding but leaves everything up to her to do.) And he put up with my obnoxious mah jong moments, because I'm her friend.
Yay! Happy times!
no love for the Yankees
Before I moved here, I thought aversion of Yankees was some quaint antiquated notion that nobody, in this time of globalization and ever moving, took seriously. My first hint that it's not dead was Tami's mom, when I said I was hungry for chowder, giving me a look and saying, "Yankees eat chowder."
More evidence - just read of covenants in Georgia housing developments that forbid sale of land to Yankees (defined as a person who was born, or has lived fo rmore than one year, north of the Mason-Dixon line).
Oh my soul. I'll never be acceptable here.
More evidence - just read of covenants in Georgia housing developments that forbid sale of land to Yankees (defined as a person who was born, or has lived fo rmore than one year, north of the Mason-Dixon line).
Oh my soul. I'll never be acceptable here.
Monday, April 09, 2007
frying plantains on a jetboil
So, I missed the chance for a cheap hotel room in Grand Isle this weekend because I didn't make reservations. The only ones I get info about now are over $100/night. And maybe I could somehow find that money - but I'm damn cheap.
There is, of course, the campground. I like to camp, I have all the gear I need. I even just did the little happy clap at the thought of using my jet boil to make coffee and breakfast.
Only worries: if I get forced to camp next to RVs. It'll be hot and they'll be running their A/Cs and it's SO obnoxious to be near that. Hot is another worry, and bugs - I hear the mosquitos there are HORRIBLE. Honestly, I don't know what I'm getting into - everything has been destroyed there so many times, most recently from Katrina. What if - what if there's no *gasp* shower?
Yeah, yeah, I'm such a baby. But I like to be clean when I spend a day out with people I don't know. It perks me up, gets me going. Without a shower I feel grungy all damn day.
OK, I'm thinking jet boil wins. And I still have plenty of camp food so I wouldn't even have to go out to eat. But I will. Because it's Louisiana.
I'm so damn excited about this weekend. Best part of camping? I can't really take my books and computer. Where would I study? That's rhetorical - I know Michele has electricity in her truck, but I don't and I'm keeping it that way. Yeah, it's just car camping, but it's still camping. We had SUCH a great time camping in the national forest last month, far away from the RVs and I just had wild land to look at and hear.
OH, that's my only real hold-up. The clean-up. I just finally got all my gear clean again, and now I want to camp on a freakin BEACH?! Sand and critters and all sorts of stuff that I won't want to store.
Sigh.
I'm doing it for the sunrise. And a break from law school, which I don't take nearly as seriously as plantains and frijoles. I can see me at job interviews, trying to explain why eating great Honduran food and chasing migratory birds (I won't really chase them - they're EXHAUSTED and need to be left alone) was more important that studying. Shrug. Who cares about those future career nay-sayers. I have a jet boil that NEEDS to be used. It cries out to me, pathetically beseeching attention. Who am I to refuse my darling jetboil?
Yup, I'm a gear puta.
There is, of course, the campground. I like to camp, I have all the gear I need. I even just did the little happy clap at the thought of using my jet boil to make coffee and breakfast.
Only worries: if I get forced to camp next to RVs. It'll be hot and they'll be running their A/Cs and it's SO obnoxious to be near that. Hot is another worry, and bugs - I hear the mosquitos there are HORRIBLE. Honestly, I don't know what I'm getting into - everything has been destroyed there so many times, most recently from Katrina. What if - what if there's no *gasp* shower?
Yeah, yeah, I'm such a baby. But I like to be clean when I spend a day out with people I don't know. It perks me up, gets me going. Without a shower I feel grungy all damn day.
OK, I'm thinking jet boil wins. And I still have plenty of camp food so I wouldn't even have to go out to eat. But I will. Because it's Louisiana.
I'm so damn excited about this weekend. Best part of camping? I can't really take my books and computer. Where would I study? That's rhetorical - I know Michele has electricity in her truck, but I don't and I'm keeping it that way. Yeah, it's just car camping, but it's still camping. We had SUCH a great time camping in the national forest last month, far away from the RVs and I just had wild land to look at and hear.
OH, that's my only real hold-up. The clean-up. I just finally got all my gear clean again, and now I want to camp on a freakin BEACH?! Sand and critters and all sorts of stuff that I won't want to store.
Sigh.
I'm doing it for the sunrise. And a break from law school, which I don't take nearly as seriously as plantains and frijoles. I can see me at job interviews, trying to explain why eating great Honduran food and chasing migratory birds (I won't really chase them - they're EXHAUSTED and need to be left alone) was more important that studying. Shrug. Who cares about those future career nay-sayers. I have a jet boil that NEEDS to be used. It cries out to me, pathetically beseeching attention. Who am I to refuse my darling jetboil?
Yup, I'm a gear puta.
buyer regret
Ever get home from the store and wonder, "What was I thinking?"
Yeah, me too.
I just realized I bought a cleavage-showing tunic with retro colors & big flowers on it.
OK, see, I actually remember when these things came around the first time. I have pics of me as a 5-year-old in my favorite jeans, with those same big flowers on 'em. I'm a flower child fo sho, but I usually keep it hidden deep inside.
Sigh. I guess everybody will see more of me now than ever before - and certainly more than they wanted.
Yeah, me too.
I just realized I bought a cleavage-showing tunic with retro colors & big flowers on it.
OK, see, I actually remember when these things came around the first time. I have pics of me as a 5-year-old in my favorite jeans, with those same big flowers on 'em. I'm a flower child fo sho, but I usually keep it hidden deep inside.
Sigh. I guess everybody will see more of me now than ever before - and certainly more than they wanted.
frijole love
OK, I'm going to have to retitle this blog "Love Song to La Beraca" but bear with me.
Today I started with a baleada - which is a big, thick flour tortilla with mashed beans and then mine had "crema," cheese, and scrambled eggs. I'm not a big egg fan and it was all a little gooey, too dairy for me. The tortilla was awesome though.
Ay got my favorite - beans, tortillas de maiz, plantains, and salad. Not cabbage salad, though, so I didn't feel too bad for not getting that.
All these websites I see, they say you'll get filled up with three baleadas. Three? One was just about enough for me, but I couldn't leave without plantains.
I told our "fantastico" waitress (who responded to everything we said with "fantastico" when I was there with Ale, but it's not weird - she's just so friendly) (and she saw me coming way down the parking lot and greeted me out there - it's like Cheers!) that I wanted some plantains. She didn't believe me that I just wanted plantains, so I said ok, with crema, though I don't really eat much of that. Out they came in short order, with beans.
She was right - that's what I wanted. So, I got an order of corn tortillas and boxed that all up, and made two meals out of $6. Which probably is about how much it would cost me to cook it myself. And this way, I get all sorts of Spanish practice - the one who speaks English wasn't there so I had to speak Spanish, and it does flow out when I have to - though some French does get mixed in.
Next time, I'm trying the "enchiladas" which are like tostadas. And we all know, next time won't be too far away. Whole Foods is right there, and the other grocery stores, and the mall, and the Aveda clinic I go to, and Target and KMart - so now every errand I could take care of locally is going to get rerouted to La Beraca territory.
It's just - the food satisfies me completely - it's so tasty and so hearty. I'm sure it's not low-cal, but it doesn't trigger any blood sugar issues. The only other thing that I love this much is Liberian-style potato greens.
So, I don't have a freakin clue what I'm doing this summer, but I'm thinking it'll revolve around food. That law firm I sent my resume to last week, they're only a mile or so away from La Beraca. Things are looking good for my belly.
Today I started with a baleada - which is a big, thick flour tortilla with mashed beans and then mine had "crema," cheese, and scrambled eggs. I'm not a big egg fan and it was all a little gooey, too dairy for me. The tortilla was awesome though.
Ay got my favorite - beans, tortillas de maiz, plantains, and salad. Not cabbage salad, though, so I didn't feel too bad for not getting that.
All these websites I see, they say you'll get filled up with three baleadas. Three? One was just about enough for me, but I couldn't leave without plantains.
I told our "fantastico" waitress (who responded to everything we said with "fantastico" when I was there with Ale, but it's not weird - she's just so friendly) (and she saw me coming way down the parking lot and greeted me out there - it's like Cheers!) that I wanted some plantains. She didn't believe me that I just wanted plantains, so I said ok, with crema, though I don't really eat much of that. Out they came in short order, with beans.
She was right - that's what I wanted. So, I got an order of corn tortillas and boxed that all up, and made two meals out of $6. Which probably is about how much it would cost me to cook it myself. And this way, I get all sorts of Spanish practice - the one who speaks English wasn't there so I had to speak Spanish, and it does flow out when I have to - though some French does get mixed in.
Next time, I'm trying the "enchiladas" which are like tostadas. And we all know, next time won't be too far away. Whole Foods is right there, and the other grocery stores, and the mall, and the Aveda clinic I go to, and Target and KMart - so now every errand I could take care of locally is going to get rerouted to La Beraca territory.
It's just - the food satisfies me completely - it's so tasty and so hearty. I'm sure it's not low-cal, but it doesn't trigger any blood sugar issues. The only other thing that I love this much is Liberian-style potato greens.
So, I don't have a freakin clue what I'm doing this summer, but I'm thinking it'll revolve around food. That law firm I sent my resume to last week, they're only a mile or so away from La Beraca. Things are looking good for my belly.
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