"I'll get a cheaper ticket next time."
Yesterday morning, Ian e-mailed me (in response to something else): "I'll be in in about 20 minutes. I'll have a surprise for you."
He actually didn't get in for more like 40 minutes, and I never did get anything, so I e-mailed at the end of the day:> I'll have a surprise for you.
Why does that frighten me?
(However, I was still hoping I'd get a toy surprise* or something.)
* From BtVS 3.20:
GILES: You did good work tonight, Buffy.
BUFFY: And I got a little toy surprise.
This morning he walked in and handed me a large hot chocolate. Which had marshmallows. Which led to an extended conversation about gelatin and what products contain it. [snopes on JELL-O]
[I'm extra-amused because I prompted a comment thread about the use of miniscule amounts of dead cow in McDonald's french fries on one of Amy's filtered entries last night]
I'd forgotten about photo emulsion and pills.
Cosmetics, lozenges, and ointments. Okay, this makes some sense, though it had never occurred to me to check.
News to me: Salad dressing? Sour cream and cream cheese? Cake icing and frosting? I've always thought the frosting on store bought cakes was gross anyway. Though cream cheese? My mommy's awesome frosting is cream cheese based. *pouts* (I guess after my yogurt issue I shouldn't be surprised by all this. Wikipedia also suggests jelly and ice cream and, oh, good grief, "Gelatin is used for the clarification of juices, such as apple juice, and of vinegar. Isinglass, from the swim bladders of fish, is still in use as a fining agent for wine and beer." Oh and then there's fun stuff like "Gelatin is closely related to bone glue and is used as a binder in match heads and sandpaper." and "As a surface sizing, it smooths glossy printing papers or playing cards and maintains the wrinkles in crêpe paper." *facepalm* Also: "Used as a carrier, coating or separating agent for other substances, it, for example, makes beta-carotene water-soluble, thus imparting a yellow color to any soft drinks containing beta-carotene.")
Theater lights? I'm unclear as to whether this is still true.
***
Yesterday, Laura put up (blinking!) multi-colored Christmas tree lights around her desk. They subsequently showed up on Rich's and Katie's desks as well. They actually don't bother me as much as I might have thought they would, but I remain a white light girl (as well as one who's not particularly into seasonally decorating, at her workplace in particular).
This afternoon she asked me, "Do you want some lights?" I said no politely, and she said, "Okay, if you want to be a scrooge." I said I was fine with that. She said she was just teasing, and I said I knew that, but that I was still okay with that identification.
In other news: The other day, Katie said the ice wouldn't be so bad if only people put sand out on it. My immediate thought (unspoken) was: Nah, if it doesn't melt the ice (like salt) then what's the point? However, recent commutes have convinced me of the error of my thinking. Traction is awesome, people.
I got my hair cut at Salon Cu tonight. (And checking my tag, I'm comforted that it's been about a month since I last got it cut, so it's not quite as ridiculous as I had feared.) It goes down to my ears, which takes a little getting used to (it's only about two inches shorter, but at that length everything feels a little dramatic) but I think it's what I want. The woman who cut my hair, Christine, basically didn't talk to me at all, which as I've said here before is fine by me, though it was weird to me that she didn't even make any effort to engage me (I mean, I don't think I sounded that stand-off-ish or anything when I answered her question about what I wanted done to my hair).
If only I could pull off butch short hair. Really my life would be easier in so many ways if I were a boy (hello finding dress shirts and pants that fit, and no bras, and pants with pockets, and on and on goes the list). Not that I have any actual desire to be a boy.
***
I was browsing Reason online today and read "Why The Right Shifted on Immigration" (Steve Chapman), which was interesting.
Later, reading the comments on a post by Megan McArdle on needle exchange, I learned the term "negative externality." I used the term "opportunity cost" in conversation this morning, and I've started jokingly using the term "human capital" (as in "building human capital"). I need a quippy tag for my budding usage of business school terms. [I'm not entirely sure what to do with my "it's the economy stupid" tag.]
Advent meditation: Matthew 11:2-11 (NRSV)
Tom did the meditation, in which he mentioned (re: Jesus): "Maybe the important thing is not so much who he is or what he does, but the effect his presence has on those around him."
+
joy sadhana for Advent (17)
"Joy Sadhana is a daily practice in the observation of joy." -mylittleredgirl [ more info]
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before our God to prepare the ways, to give knowledge of salvation to God's people by the forgiveness of sins. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
-Luke 1:76-79
Five good things about today:
1. Strawberry yogurt parfait, still making me happy. (I didn't have breakfast, and after the gym I was hoping to have one, not quite feeling in an omelet mood, and indeed they had some.) And while I really wasn't into the Alsace GlobalVeg for lunch, dried cherries turned out to be pretty good.
2. Tomorrow's CHPC Bible Study got canceled, so now I can go to the Blue Christmas Longest Night service at the UCC.
3. I got my hair cut.
4. Dear Ari: Your card came today. You referenced one of the greatest fics you've ever written, so no worries about the general plotlessness or whatever of the ficlet. I am envisioning Charlotte having made a collage card and am trying to decide whether she went traditional skin mag or suggestive combination of pictures and text from like Good Housekeeping or something in her collage selection.
5. Southland Tales graphic novel Volume 2 had some interesting bits to it, and I'm liking Our Lives As Torah a lot. (Supposedly -- meme at the bottom of this entry -- I've already read the latter, but I don't actually have distinct memories of it, so I'm discovering it anew.)
Three things I did well today:
1. I did ~15 minutes in the weight room.
2. I purchased (and wrapped) a Christmas gift for Nicole. (I had the idea on a whim based on recent chance incidents. I really do like doing nice things for people, but obligatory gift-giving occasions do not agree with me.)
3. I made myself dinner and washed dishes.
Two things I am looking forward to (doing [better]) tomorrow:
1. HBS holiday party
2. Coffee with Tiffany.
BONUS: Longest Night service
He actually didn't get in for more like 40 minutes, and I never did get anything, so I e-mailed at the end of the day:> I'll have a surprise for you.
Why does that frighten me?
(However, I was still hoping I'd get a toy surprise* or something.)
* From BtVS 3.20:
GILES: You did good work tonight, Buffy.
BUFFY: And I got a little toy surprise.
This morning he walked in and handed me a large hot chocolate. Which had marshmallows. Which led to an extended conversation about gelatin and what products contain it. [snopes on JELL-O]
[I'm extra-amused because I prompted a comment thread about the use of miniscule amounts of dead cow in McDonald's french fries on one of Amy's filtered entries last night]
I'd forgotten about photo emulsion and pills.
Cosmetics, lozenges, and ointments. Okay, this makes some sense, though it had never occurred to me to check.
News to me: Salad dressing? Sour cream and cream cheese? Cake icing and frosting? I've always thought the frosting on store bought cakes was gross anyway. Though cream cheese? My mommy's awesome frosting is cream cheese based. *pouts* (I guess after my yogurt issue I shouldn't be surprised by all this. Wikipedia also suggests jelly and ice cream and, oh, good grief, "Gelatin is used for the clarification of juices, such as apple juice, and of vinegar. Isinglass, from the swim bladders of fish, is still in use as a fining agent for wine and beer." Oh and then there's fun stuff like "Gelatin is closely related to bone glue and is used as a binder in match heads and sandpaper." and "As a surface sizing, it smooths glossy printing papers or playing cards and maintains the wrinkles in crêpe paper." *facepalm* Also: "Used as a carrier, coating or separating agent for other substances, it, for example, makes beta-carotene water-soluble, thus imparting a yellow color to any soft drinks containing beta-carotene.")
Theater lights? I'm unclear as to whether this is still true.
***
Yesterday, Laura put up (blinking!) multi-colored Christmas tree lights around her desk. They subsequently showed up on Rich's and Katie's desks as well. They actually don't bother me as much as I might have thought they would, but I remain a white light girl (as well as one who's not particularly into seasonally decorating, at her workplace in particular).
This afternoon she asked me, "Do you want some lights?" I said no politely, and she said, "Okay, if you want to be a scrooge." I said I was fine with that. She said she was just teasing, and I said I knew that, but that I was still okay with that identification.
In other news: The other day, Katie said the ice wouldn't be so bad if only people put sand out on it. My immediate thought (unspoken) was: Nah, if it doesn't melt the ice (like salt) then what's the point? However, recent commutes have convinced me of the error of my thinking. Traction is awesome, people.
I got my hair cut at Salon Cu tonight. (And checking my tag, I'm comforted that it's been about a month since I last got it cut, so it's not quite as ridiculous as I had feared.) It goes down to my ears, which takes a little getting used to (it's only about two inches shorter, but at that length everything feels a little dramatic) but I think it's what I want. The woman who cut my hair, Christine, basically didn't talk to me at all, which as I've said here before is fine by me, though it was weird to me that she didn't even make any effort to engage me (I mean, I don't think I sounded that stand-off-ish or anything when I answered her question about what I wanted done to my hair).
If only I could pull off butch short hair. Really my life would be easier in so many ways if I were a boy (hello finding dress shirts and pants that fit, and no bras, and pants with pockets, and on and on goes the list). Not that I have any actual desire to be a boy.
***
I was browsing Reason online today and read "Why The Right Shifted on Immigration" (Steve Chapman), which was interesting.
Later, reading the comments on a post by Megan McArdle on needle exchange, I learned the term "negative externality." I used the term "opportunity cost" in conversation this morning, and I've started jokingly using the term "human capital" (as in "building human capital"). I need a quippy tag for my budding usage of business school terms. [I'm not entirely sure what to do with my "it's the economy stupid" tag.]
Advent meditation: Matthew 11:2-11 (NRSV)
Tom did the meditation, in which he mentioned (re: Jesus): "Maybe the important thing is not so much who he is or what he does, but the effect his presence has on those around him."
+
joy sadhana for Advent (17)
"Joy Sadhana is a daily practice in the observation of joy." -mylittleredgirl [ more info]
And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before our God to prepare the ways, to give knowledge of salvation to God's people by the forgiveness of sins. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."
-Luke 1:76-79
Five good things about today:
1. Strawberry yogurt parfait, still making me happy. (I didn't have breakfast, and after the gym I was hoping to have one, not quite feeling in an omelet mood, and indeed they had some.) And while I really wasn't into the Alsace GlobalVeg for lunch, dried cherries turned out to be pretty good.
2. Tomorrow's CHPC Bible Study got canceled, so now I can go to the Blue Christmas Longest Night service at the UCC.
3. I got my hair cut.
4. Dear Ari: Your card came today. You referenced one of the greatest fics you've ever written, so no worries about the general plotlessness or whatever of the ficlet. I am envisioning Charlotte having made a collage card and am trying to decide whether she went traditional skin mag or suggestive combination of pictures and text from like Good Housekeeping or something in her collage selection.
5. Southland Tales graphic novel Volume 2 had some interesting bits to it, and I'm liking Our Lives As Torah a lot. (Supposedly -- meme at the bottom of this entry -- I've already read the latter, but I don't actually have distinct memories of it, so I'm discovering it anew.)
Three things I did well today:
1. I did ~15 minutes in the weight room.
2. I purchased (and wrapped) a Christmas gift for Nicole. (I had the idea on a whim based on recent chance incidents. I really do like doing nice things for people, but obligatory gift-giving occasions do not agree with me.)
3. I made myself dinner and washed dishes.
Two things I am looking forward to (doing [better]) tomorrow:
1. HBS holiday party
2. Coffee with Tiffany.
BONUS: Longest Night service