Okay, so just have to share the fact that Srevotfel (leftovers backwards) Night is amazing, especially after Thanksgiving. We have developed a habit of turning everything into a pizza. Yes, we made a Thanksgiving pizza. More than one, actually. The one that got a repeat was the stuffing, cranberry sauce, turkey and caramelized onions, topped with provolone. Another was mashed potatoes, turkey, roasted root vegetables, a balsamic reduction, and fresh mozzarella. Final one was barbecued pulled turkey (another form of leftovers), sweet potatoes, oil and garlic, pepper jack cheese and jalapenos. All of them were amazing! Great new way to use Thanksgiving leftovers!
Oh, and you know what else is awesome? My new co-op! I'm finally working with the prosecutors, in the child abuse unit, and it's already awesome (today was my first day). I get sit in on a trial tomorrow, and so today as spent meeting with the witnesses. And everyone there is just awesome. Spent about about an extra half hour there just talking to the other attorneys, who of course also have the requisite twisted sense of humor for doing that kind work. It kind of feels like V/WS, back when it was good. I'm totally excited to spending my quarter there! And now it's time for bed... Have to be there early for the trial in the morning!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Yeah, yeah, yeah....
Clearly I'm back to my procrastinating ways. On so many levels. And this time it may really be getting ready to bite me in the ass. Whatever. Moving on.
So changes. Lots of changes since the last time. I now have roommates. Two human, two feline and one canine. Thankfully, allergies are nearly gone by now, especially since one of the felines likes to practically sit on my shoulder when I study. It's kind of nice having roommates again, but I'm guessing that's only because they are really awesome roommates. Like helping me move, paint (my room was a monstrosity, including one poo colored wall...yes, you read that right, and yes, sadly I was serious), cook, everything. The down side: major distraction from doing homework at home.
And that's another odd change. I actually do homework at home now. My locker is barely used, I carry my books back and forth, and I can't study at school. And after two years, I can't seem to get up early any more, and am never at school before 9:30 (I used to be there at 7am). Seriously, what's up with that? I thought as you get older, you get up earlier... I guess I'm just getting to the point of being done with school. I don't want to be there any more than I have to. And I won't be there much longer! I actually graduate this year. And that is beyond terrifying. Even more so because as the bar exam results have come out, I found out that a friend did not pass. That means it's possible that a smart person may not pass the bar. That means it's possible for me to not pass the bar. You have no idea how much this scares me.
So changes. Lots of changes since the last time. I now have roommates. Two human, two feline and one canine. Thankfully, allergies are nearly gone by now, especially since one of the felines likes to practically sit on my shoulder when I study. It's kind of nice having roommates again, but I'm guessing that's only because they are really awesome roommates. Like helping me move, paint (my room was a monstrosity, including one poo colored wall...yes, you read that right, and yes, sadly I was serious), cook, everything. The down side: major distraction from doing homework at home.
And that's another odd change. I actually do homework at home now. My locker is barely used, I carry my books back and forth, and I can't study at school. And after two years, I can't seem to get up early any more, and am never at school before 9:30 (I used to be there at 7am). Seriously, what's up with that? I thought as you get older, you get up earlier... I guess I'm just getting to the point of being done with school. I don't want to be there any more than I have to. And I won't be there much longer! I actually graduate this year. And that is beyond terrifying. Even more so because as the bar exam results have come out, I found out that a friend did not pass. That means it's possible that a smart person may not pass the bar. That means it's possible for me to not pass the bar. You have no idea how much this scares me.
Sunday, August 30, 2009
Moving and Memories
So as I'm packing to move YET AGAIN (I had sworn up and down that I wasn't moving again in Boston for at least several years, and yet, here I am moving after only one year in my fabulously cute little apartment, thus failing to break my record of one year and three months as the longest I've lived in one place as an adult). I keep finding things that are rarely used, but still have so many memories attached (which, in some cases, is why I can't get rid of things, in spite of the fact that they have sat unused, unpacked, unnoticed for two years). One such item was my creme brulee torch, which made me laugh immediately, remembering my drunken meltdown over my attempt to use it for the first time. Because of course, it's best to caramelize the sugar right before it's served. Well, at our dinner parties, that means after several bottles of wine. (No judgement, there were about six of us there). And THAT is when I'm trying to figure out how to use this thing for the first time. It just wasn't working. It would light, then go out. And I was becoming unreasonably upset over this. And I was about the just chuck the thing in the trash, but one of my wonderful roommates gently reminded me that I would probably regret that when I was sober. And then it took another friend to discover the problem: I had no clue how to fill the damn thing, so it was essentially trying to run on fumes. No wonder I couldn't keep it lit. Well, by that time, most of the creme brulee had already been consumed sans sugar. And I haven't gotten around to using it since. So it gets moved from apartment to apartment, waiting for that day when I will make another valiant (and hopefully successful) attempt at creme brulee. And mocking me with my drunken meltdown every time I see it. When am I going to learn that making dessert whilst intoxicated is NEVER a good idea? (Anyone else remember the drunken cake? No? Good...)
Thursday, August 27, 2009
I love my Boston friends!
And all my other friends too, of course. But today was the first day I REALLY felt back in the Boston I know and love. First off, it was finally a cooler, rather dry day, with a slight breeze, but still sunny and bright. So perfect! Almost Flagstaff weather... So I spent the morning slowly getting into my day (I've had this horrific sleep schedule since I've been back when I'm up until 2-4am and sleep till 10am), then met a good friend for a movie downtown. By the way, "Julia and Julia" is an amazing movie, you should go see it! Then we got a late lunch at this little market that I've noticed before and was always curious about. Again, a good choice! It was such a beautiful day, being down at the commons, people watching (we saw a woman dressed head to toe in gold, and realized she was one of the living statue performers, and also randomly saw our former LF walk by...even a big city is still part of a small world!), and just enjoying the sun and the bustle of downtown Boston. We parted to get on our respective trains just in time to miss rush hour, and on the way home, I suddenly feel a tap on my shoulder. And of all coincidences, it's my friend, soon to be roommate, heading home from her law school. So I go with her, spend the late afternoon at her place, and then her boyfriend/my other roommate comes home and we have a fabulous evening together, grabbing drinks and appetizers for dinner at a local restaurant. I've missed this part of Boston... It really is so nice to spend time with good friends in a great city. Ahhh, it's good to be home!
P.S.~ Quick update on the getting home: After trying unsuccessfully to get on two flights from Seattle to Boston, I considered going to Portland Tuesday night, spending the night in the airport (well, six hours really), and getting the Portland to Boston flight, which looked much more promising. However, as the day wore on, not only did the PDX/BOS flight fill up, but so did the SEA/PDX flight. WTF??? So I caved and just bought a ticket for Tuesday night. Which took me through Portland AND San Francisco, before finally on a red-eye flight to Boston (which got in late). And my lovely new roommates were so very, very kind as to pick me up from the airport (thankfully all my luggage was there!), and the one who had to work wasn't even late! It was a long journey, but I finally made it!
P.P.S~ I wrote this after the kick-ass Mai Thais from Golden Temple, and managed to write the entire post without a spelling mistake (I make no claims regarding grammatical mistakes, this program doesn't check for those)... Is it wrong to be proud of myself?
P.S.~ Quick update on the getting home: After trying unsuccessfully to get on two flights from Seattle to Boston, I considered going to Portland Tuesday night, spending the night in the airport (well, six hours really), and getting the Portland to Boston flight, which looked much more promising. However, as the day wore on, not only did the PDX/BOS flight fill up, but so did the SEA/PDX flight. WTF??? So I caved and just bought a ticket for Tuesday night. Which took me through Portland AND San Francisco, before finally on a red-eye flight to Boston (which got in late). And my lovely new roommates were so very, very kind as to pick me up from the airport (thankfully all my luggage was there!), and the one who had to work wasn't even late! It was a long journey, but I finally made it!
P.P.S~ I wrote this after the kick-ass Mai Thais from Golden Temple, and managed to write the entire post without a spelling mistake (I make no claims regarding grammatical mistakes, this program doesn't check for those)... Is it wrong to be proud of myself?
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Travel (the continuing saga)
So, in spite of all my optimism about being able to make it onto the Sunday night flight to Boston, I did not. The flight, which was oversold by five, went completely full. I almost thought I would get on, because there was one passenger who hadn't boarded when they were about to close the doors, but she came running up at the last minute. So I spent the night in Seattle with my sister, and we went back to try again in the morning. That flight was only oversold by three, and yet EVERYONE actually showed up, and so they had to ask for volunteers for a later flights, as well as offering another flight through Houston (which, my sister informed me, costs the airlines quite a bit of money, so props to them for being willing to lose money rather than piss off customers by forcefully bumping them). So by this time, I had slept about nine hours total the last two nights together, and was rather delirious. And felt rather dirty, still wearing the same clothes. Because the bag with all my clothing went on the flight the night before, and my bag with all my makeup and toiletries was somewhere between Flagstaff, AZ and Seattle, WA. Did I mention that a bag had gotten lost? I actually just found it quite funny, because that bag has gotten lost several times. It's my only piece of luggage that has ever gotten lost. It began when I was coming back from Thailand, and it made it with me as far as LAX, and then it went to Beirut while I went to Phoenix. Really? How does that happen? And how did it get lost on a direct flight from Phoenix to Seattle, with no transfers? I don't know why I even try checking it any more. But I do. At first I was a little worried that maybe someone else had picked it up (it had come to Seattle three flights before me), but then I realized that wouldn't have happened because that would mean it would have been scanned in at Seattle, which it wasn't. So I knew they would find it eventually, and I just laughed about the fact that my bag seems to be cursed. Figures.
So wait, where was I? Oh yes, just got shot down for another flight, and told that the flight that evening was oversold by seven. Yikes. But all I cared about at the moment was sleeping. But first with a quick stop at Ross so that I could have some clean clothing.
After a fabulous nap, I began considering my options. Well, there's a direct Portland-Boston flight. But the leaves at 7:20am. Which is before the earliest Seattle-Portland flight gets in. So I decided that I would show up to try to get on the Seattle-Boston flight that night, and if not, then I would get on the last flight to Portland and spend the night in the airport (I know that Bridgete lives there, but with coming in at midnight and having to be back at the airport at 6am, it would be more trouble than it would be worth to leave). But then, as the evening goes on, the numbers get worse and worse. It begins looking doubtful whether I would get on the Boston flight, and then doubtful whether I would get on the Portland flight. And the flights out of Seattle didn't show any possibility until Thursday, and who knows what would happen between now and then. So I decided to just buy a one way ticket. Which goes through Portland and San Fransisco, getting into Boston about 7:15 the next morning. Oh joy. But I was sick of the standby game. First time ever I've had this hard of a time. I wonder if that's a sign of the improving economy that so many people are buying last minute tickets, which are in the $1,000 range. I mean really? Well, sucks for me, but good for Alaska Airlines and my sister. Job security.
So another thing I've realized during all of this is just how rude and self-centered many travellers are. I mean, I understand that flying these days generally sucks, but that's no surprise. Quit acting like you were expecting to be treated like royalty. And don't be an ass about it when you realized that the airport does not revolve around you. If you would chill out, everyone would be much nicer and all would be happier. Some simple things to remember:
1) You are told to arrive outrageously early for your flight for a reason. Security is a bitch. Again, this is no surprise. So don't get there 45 minutes before your flight leaves (leaves, not boards), and then complain when they didn't hold the plane even though you were checked in but stuck in security. It's called planning. The airlines does it. You should to.
2) Another airline's delay does not mean that your next flight is going to be held for you. Time tables are tight for airlines. If they wait for you, they throw off the rest of the day. Blame the other airline that got you in late and made you miss the connection, not the flight that didn't wait. Especially when they have another flight to put you on in an hour.
3) If you're flying stand-by, don't bitch at the gate agents when you don't get on the flight. It's the nature of stand-by. The gate agents have no control over it. If you want a guaranteed seat, pay for one. (Yes, I know I complain, but I don't do it to the agents, and I do it with the understanding that my ability to fly standby is a privilege I don't have to be granted).
4) Wait at the gate for the 45 minutes before your flight. It's a pain in the ass for everyone involved when they have to page you over and over again to show up and get on the plane because you're too intent on getting your Burger King to pay attention. You are told exactly when you're able to board, so you should be at the gate. When you're not, you're holding everyone up.
5) Finally, be understanding that things happen. Planes are late, flights get overbooked, luggage gets lost, but life goes on. Luggage is found, you'll eventually get where you're going, and bitching at the people who are not responsible is not going to do anyone any good. (And for those of you who take issue with flights regularly being overbooked, it's because people generally don't show up. The flight Sunday night was overbooked by five seats, but five people didn't show up. I bet those last five tickets sold were glad they did overbook, because that means they got seats that ended up being available. It's a small percentage of overbooked flights that actually need to ask for volunteers to take another flight.)
Okay, done ranting now. And finally going to get back to Boston! Yay! Just hoping my bag (yes, I had to check it AGAIN) gets there...
So wait, where was I? Oh yes, just got shot down for another flight, and told that the flight that evening was oversold by seven. Yikes. But all I cared about at the moment was sleeping. But first with a quick stop at Ross so that I could have some clean clothing.
After a fabulous nap, I began considering my options. Well, there's a direct Portland-Boston flight. But the leaves at 7:20am. Which is before the earliest Seattle-Portland flight gets in. So I decided that I would show up to try to get on the Seattle-Boston flight that night, and if not, then I would get on the last flight to Portland and spend the night in the airport (I know that Bridgete lives there, but with coming in at midnight and having to be back at the airport at 6am, it would be more trouble than it would be worth to leave). But then, as the evening goes on, the numbers get worse and worse. It begins looking doubtful whether I would get on the Boston flight, and then doubtful whether I would get on the Portland flight. And the flights out of Seattle didn't show any possibility until Thursday, and who knows what would happen between now and then. So I decided to just buy a one way ticket. Which goes through Portland and San Fransisco, getting into Boston about 7:15 the next morning. Oh joy. But I was sick of the standby game. First time ever I've had this hard of a time. I wonder if that's a sign of the improving economy that so many people are buying last minute tickets, which are in the $1,000 range. I mean really? Well, sucks for me, but good for Alaska Airlines and my sister. Job security.
So another thing I've realized during all of this is just how rude and self-centered many travellers are. I mean, I understand that flying these days generally sucks, but that's no surprise. Quit acting like you were expecting to be treated like royalty. And don't be an ass about it when you realized that the airport does not revolve around you. If you would chill out, everyone would be much nicer and all would be happier. Some simple things to remember:
1) You are told to arrive outrageously early for your flight for a reason. Security is a bitch. Again, this is no surprise. So don't get there 45 minutes before your flight leaves (leaves, not boards), and then complain when they didn't hold the plane even though you were checked in but stuck in security. It's called planning. The airlines does it. You should to.
2) Another airline's delay does not mean that your next flight is going to be held for you. Time tables are tight for airlines. If they wait for you, they throw off the rest of the day. Blame the other airline that got you in late and made you miss the connection, not the flight that didn't wait. Especially when they have another flight to put you on in an hour.
3) If you're flying stand-by, don't bitch at the gate agents when you don't get on the flight. It's the nature of stand-by. The gate agents have no control over it. If you want a guaranteed seat, pay for one. (Yes, I know I complain, but I don't do it to the agents, and I do it with the understanding that my ability to fly standby is a privilege I don't have to be granted).
4) Wait at the gate for the 45 minutes before your flight. It's a pain in the ass for everyone involved when they have to page you over and over again to show up and get on the plane because you're too intent on getting your Burger King to pay attention. You are told exactly when you're able to board, so you should be at the gate. When you're not, you're holding everyone up.
5) Finally, be understanding that things happen. Planes are late, flights get overbooked, luggage gets lost, but life goes on. Luggage is found, you'll eventually get where you're going, and bitching at the people who are not responsible is not going to do anyone any good. (And for those of you who take issue with flights regularly being overbooked, it's because people generally don't show up. The flight Sunday night was overbooked by five seats, but five people didn't show up. I bet those last five tickets sold were glad they did overbook, because that means they got seats that ended up being available. It's a small percentage of overbooked flights that actually need to ask for volunteers to take another flight.)
Okay, done ranting now. And finally going to get back to Boston! Yay! Just hoping my bag (yes, I had to check it AGAIN) gets there...
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Oy...
Okay, have I mentioned before how much I HATE travelling? Yes, I realize it wouldn't be quite so bad if I didn't fly stand-by, but really, when my choice s having flexible options (it took me to the end of July to decide when my last day at work was going to be) and flying for free, with the chance I will get bumped, or having to plan well in advance and pay $600-700, what choice is there? Do you know how much other fun I can have with that money? Or more realistically, what other bills I can pay... So needless to say, it's standby for me. And this is how my day has gone so far:
4:30am - Wake up
5:00am - Leave for the airport
6:00am - Leave Flagstaff
8:10am - Arrive at LAX
12:10pm - Learn that there's no room on the 12:30 flight to Seattle (the flight my luggage was going on, with or without me... I hope it's here waiting)
1:10pm - Find out there is no room on the 1:30 flight
3:10pm - Find out there is no room on the 3:30 flight
4:20pm - Manage to get one of the last two seats on the 4:30 flight
7:20pm - Arrive in Seattle
7:30pm - Get an overpriced cocktail and sandwich, and debate whether to try to make the overnight flight to Boston (which is currently oversold by 5) at 10:20pm, or staying in Seattle, which would require waiting for my sister to get off work at 11:00pm, only to be back here tomorrow to try to catch that overnight flight.
Okay, not really much of a debate there. I have to be here either way. I'm going to try it. However, that nearly guarantees a nearly $50 cab ride home in Boston, and no certainty whether I can even get into my apartment because the friend who has my keys hasn't been returning my phone calls... I hate travelling. I just want to be home. In my own bed. In my own space. Sigh...
4:30am - Wake up
5:00am - Leave for the airport
6:00am - Leave Flagstaff
8:10am - Arrive at LAX
12:10pm - Learn that there's no room on the 12:30 flight to Seattle (the flight my luggage was going on, with or without me... I hope it's here waiting)
1:10pm - Find out there is no room on the 1:30 flight
3:10pm - Find out there is no room on the 3:30 flight
4:20pm - Manage to get one of the last two seats on the 4:30 flight
7:20pm - Arrive in Seattle
7:30pm - Get an overpriced cocktail and sandwich, and debate whether to try to make the overnight flight to Boston (which is currently oversold by 5) at 10:20pm, or staying in Seattle, which would require waiting for my sister to get off work at 11:00pm, only to be back here tomorrow to try to catch that overnight flight.
Okay, not really much of a debate there. I have to be here either way. I'm going to try it. However, that nearly guarantees a nearly $50 cab ride home in Boston, and no certainty whether I can even get into my apartment because the friend who has my keys hasn't been returning my phone calls... I hate travelling. I just want to be home. In my own bed. In my own space. Sigh...
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Rain
THIS is how rain is supposed to be. A nice cool drizzle, flashes of lighting, rolling thunder, and a nice cool, gentle breeze bringing the fresh air into the house. Its a lovely monsoon storm tonight. It's so peaceful. Even if Moby is rather frightened... It's just such a lovely night, and, I must confess, it's wonderful having the house to myself for a bit. I was able to clean up the kitchen, and keep it clean as I cooked (something my roommates don't seem to believe in). So now I'm just able to relax and watch the storm as I wait for the aloo gobi to finish cooking.
On a side note, this is only the second time I've tried making Indian food. Like many people, I'm rather intimidated by Indian cooking, but I think that there's no real reason for that. I had some cauliflower waiting to be used, and a bunch of potatoes, so I decided to give it a go... I'll let you know how it turns out!
On a side note, this is only the second time I've tried making Indian food. Like many people, I'm rather intimidated by Indian cooking, but I think that there's no real reason for that. I had some cauliflower waiting to be used, and a bunch of potatoes, so I decided to give it a go... I'll let you know how it turns out!
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