(no subject)
So apparently I never post any more. Don't know how I fell out of the habit. I guess I suddenly became too busy. With what, I'm not sure.
Hmm... updates, updates. My life hasn't been exceedingly exciting as of late, but it hasn't been terribly idle, either.
In August, Mike and I explored the Oregon coast for two weeks. We saw a lot of neat things, we took several photos, and I filled up a journal with memories, but I can't think of anything terribly specific to describe about the trip right now. We hiked mountains, watched waves, smelled roses, toured Victorian homes, learned local history, chatted with interesting people, and visited Mike's cousins, etc. All in all, it was fun to get away for a little while and explore our "backyard."
Work has been steadily busy, but--unlike MGS--does not (thank goodness) demand crazy cyclical crunch time. On a daily basis, I am highly amused by some of the quotes from some of my coworkers. I work with awesome people.
I've been fiddling with various craft projects lately. Finally finished that stripey blanket I was knitting last Thanksmas (I ran out of yarn just as it was getting too warm and I lost interest in playing with string for the season--but it's done now!). I bought a beading loom and have been playing with a few secret projects. Inspiration comes and goes.
Perhaps the biggest "craft" I've been dabbling with this year is cooking. This a surprisingly big deal--a huge personal turn-around. Prior to this spring, I had zero interest in cooking (I had failed at making cookies a couple times when I was little, which depressed me and convinced me that, "I was just bad at cooking," so I lost interest and moved on). So Mike would make the food and I'd clean the dishes. That was our secret pact. I hated cooking and was ashamed that I really didn't know how to make much more than a plate of nachos. Deep down inside, I felt it was a personal failing at a pretty basic prerequisite for survival, yet I managed to avoid it for years. (The weirdest part was that on a tour of the culinary arts department of a college where my high school computer aided drafting class was competing in engineering conference, I FELL IN LOVE with the idea of going to school to learn how to be a chef, but didn't think to act on it.)
The bento boxes were the initial gateway into culinary arts. I'd whip out my little red boxes, fill them with cutely arranged leftovers, wrap it all up in its matching furoshiki, and then be downright giddy the next day at lunch as I opened it up and ate the contents with my chopsticks. It would take me 30-45 minutes to put together a lunch the night before, but it was worth it because it make me so stupidly happy. It was a weird investment in myself; when I ate my little boxes of neatly packed food, I felt so warm and content and loved.
The next major step on my road to the kitchen was Erika and Jeff's trip to Greece. What does that have to do with cooking, you ask? Well, they bought a share of food from a CSA in Woodinville and asked us to help "babysit" some of the produce while they were gone. Suddenly surrounded with more raw, organic veggies than I was normally used to, I ran to the Internets, where it told me how to make simple things, like casseroles. I followed online recipes carefully and was pleased with the results--I could cook! There was hope for me yet! Plus it was fun! It was somewhat reminiscent of chemistry labs (how I miss them)! I'd turn on the "fume hood" over the oven and wear my chem goggles as I diced onions with my ulu. I'd listen to KEXP or video game soundtracks as I chopped and grated. I'd chat with Mikey as he sat on the couch. I'd step over the cat as he glared and demanded snacks.
I gained confidence and started trying new recipes. We joined in the CSA fun and started picking up food at the farm every week. We'd get new and strange veggies I'd never heard of before. I'd organize the refrigerator and plan meals days in advance. I felt inspired. I'd kick Mike out of the kitchen and insist on making things (he didn't mind). I bought small kitchen gadgets and various types of spices. I finally started "jazz cooking" and making stuff up from prior experiences and combinations of online recipes. As a result, I've made some very tasty things that I'm not sure I can reproduce. I've also made some pretty abysmal failures, but all the while I'd make mental notes and write it off as "gaining EXP." Making mistakes can be good; it's on the path to growth.
So I've had fun dabbling with food. A year ago I wouldn't have thought it possible. I'm pleased to have had such a change of heart.
In other news, the house hunt continues. We're fond of searching for homes on Redfin. We toured through many and even made an offer on one (that was snatched away from us by another couple--drat!). Not much is on the market at the moment with the winter setting in, but we remain optimistic and keep an eye on the web for any new and interesting listings.
In a sudden fit of inspiration, I've been studying Japanese online and through a few textbooks I bought. I'm doing it on my own time--no pressure, just for the fun of it. I end up studying about two nights a week. I know very little, but I'm learning. I'm starting to recognize hiragana, but katakana still pretty much all looks the same to me. Mike's mnemonics from when he studied Japanese years ago have been terribly amusing (and they've helped).
I also started attending an Iaido class in Bellevue. This has been a real pleasure because I fell in love with Iaido after one of my Aikido senseis demonstrated some of the kata for us. I'm a sucker for swords. When I learned that a hakama was a part of the uniform, I almost passed out from excitement. I've also been craving physical activity (particularly a martial art) and really enjoy taking something like a kata or dance, breaking it down and refining and refining and refining... I think it appeals to the perfectionist/OCD part of my brain. ;)
Perhaps my biggest vice over the last few months has been Netflix. Holy cow, streaming TV shows and movies over the 360 is so dangerous. Mike and I fell into the clutches of the US version of The Office, This American Life (I love you, Ira Glass!), the new Doctor Who, etc. We discovered that we apparently like French films. I suddenly realized that I've grown to enjoy Woody Allen's sense of humor (when did that happen?). Priscilla Queen of the Desert is now one of my all-time favorite movies.
We also watched Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo and highly recommend it. It really is the best anime series I've seen in a long time.
In other news--partially inspired by that YouTube autotune video--I have a massive crush on Carl Sagan. He's at the top of my list of famous people with whom I'd want to have lunch. He and Feynman. I want to invent a time machine so that I could travel back and give them both hugs.
Hmm... updates, updates. My life hasn't been exceedingly exciting as of late, but it hasn't been terribly idle, either.
In August, Mike and I explored the Oregon coast for two weeks. We saw a lot of neat things, we took several photos, and I filled up a journal with memories, but I can't think of anything terribly specific to describe about the trip right now. We hiked mountains, watched waves, smelled roses, toured Victorian homes, learned local history, chatted with interesting people, and visited Mike's cousins, etc. All in all, it was fun to get away for a little while and explore our "backyard."
Work has been steadily busy, but--unlike MGS--does not (thank goodness) demand crazy cyclical crunch time. On a daily basis, I am highly amused by some of the quotes from some of my coworkers. I work with awesome people.
I've been fiddling with various craft projects lately. Finally finished that stripey blanket I was knitting last Thanksmas (I ran out of yarn just as it was getting too warm and I lost interest in playing with string for the season--but it's done now!). I bought a beading loom and have been playing with a few secret projects. Inspiration comes and goes.
Perhaps the biggest "craft" I've been dabbling with this year is cooking. This a surprisingly big deal--a huge personal turn-around. Prior to this spring, I had zero interest in cooking (I had failed at making cookies a couple times when I was little, which depressed me and convinced me that, "I was just bad at cooking," so I lost interest and moved on). So Mike would make the food and I'd clean the dishes. That was our secret pact. I hated cooking and was ashamed that I really didn't know how to make much more than a plate of nachos. Deep down inside, I felt it was a personal failing at a pretty basic prerequisite for survival, yet I managed to avoid it for years. (The weirdest part was that on a tour of the culinary arts department of a college where my high school computer aided drafting class was competing in engineering conference, I FELL IN LOVE with the idea of going to school to learn how to be a chef, but didn't think to act on it.)
The bento boxes were the initial gateway into culinary arts. I'd whip out my little red boxes, fill them with cutely arranged leftovers, wrap it all up in its matching furoshiki, and then be downright giddy the next day at lunch as I opened it up and ate the contents with my chopsticks. It would take me 30-45 minutes to put together a lunch the night before, but it was worth it because it make me so stupidly happy. It was a weird investment in myself; when I ate my little boxes of neatly packed food, I felt so warm and content and loved.
The next major step on my road to the kitchen was Erika and Jeff's trip to Greece. What does that have to do with cooking, you ask? Well, they bought a share of food from a CSA in Woodinville and asked us to help "babysit" some of the produce while they were gone. Suddenly surrounded with more raw, organic veggies than I was normally used to, I ran to the Internets, where it told me how to make simple things, like casseroles. I followed online recipes carefully and was pleased with the results--I could cook! There was hope for me yet! Plus it was fun! It was somewhat reminiscent of chemistry labs (how I miss them)! I'd turn on the "fume hood" over the oven and wear my chem goggles as I diced onions with my ulu. I'd listen to KEXP or video game soundtracks as I chopped and grated. I'd chat with Mikey as he sat on the couch. I'd step over the cat as he glared and demanded snacks.
I gained confidence and started trying new recipes. We joined in the CSA fun and started picking up food at the farm every week. We'd get new and strange veggies I'd never heard of before. I'd organize the refrigerator and plan meals days in advance. I felt inspired. I'd kick Mike out of the kitchen and insist on making things (he didn't mind). I bought small kitchen gadgets and various types of spices. I finally started "jazz cooking" and making stuff up from prior experiences and combinations of online recipes. As a result, I've made some very tasty things that I'm not sure I can reproduce. I've also made some pretty abysmal failures, but all the while I'd make mental notes and write it off as "gaining EXP." Making mistakes can be good; it's on the path to growth.
So I've had fun dabbling with food. A year ago I wouldn't have thought it possible. I'm pleased to have had such a change of heart.
In other news, the house hunt continues. We're fond of searching for homes on Redfin. We toured through many and even made an offer on one (that was snatched away from us by another couple--drat!). Not much is on the market at the moment with the winter setting in, but we remain optimistic and keep an eye on the web for any new and interesting listings.
In a sudden fit of inspiration, I've been studying Japanese online and through a few textbooks I bought. I'm doing it on my own time--no pressure, just for the fun of it. I end up studying about two nights a week. I know very little, but I'm learning. I'm starting to recognize hiragana, but katakana still pretty much all looks the same to me. Mike's mnemonics from when he studied Japanese years ago have been terribly amusing (and they've helped).
I also started attending an Iaido class in Bellevue. This has been a real pleasure because I fell in love with Iaido after one of my Aikido senseis demonstrated some of the kata for us. I'm a sucker for swords. When I learned that a hakama was a part of the uniform, I almost passed out from excitement. I've also been craving physical activity (particularly a martial art) and really enjoy taking something like a kata or dance, breaking it down and refining and refining and refining... I think it appeals to the perfectionist/OCD part of my brain. ;)
Perhaps my biggest vice over the last few months has been Netflix. Holy cow, streaming TV shows and movies over the 360 is so dangerous. Mike and I fell into the clutches of the US version of The Office, This American Life (I love you, Ira Glass!), the new Doctor Who, etc. We discovered that we apparently like French films. I suddenly realized that I've grown to enjoy Woody Allen's sense of humor (when did that happen?). Priscilla Queen of the Desert is now one of my all-time favorite movies.
We also watched Gankutsuou: The Count of Monte Cristo and highly recommend it. It really is the best anime series I've seen in a long time.
In other news--partially inspired by that YouTube autotune video--I have a massive crush on Carl Sagan. He's at the top of my list of famous people with whom I'd want to have lunch. He and Feynman. I want to invent a time machine so that I could travel back and give them both hugs.