resolution

resolution: in chemistry, the process of reducing or separating something into its components

It's New Year's Eve and I'm sitting here, staring at my laptop, having convinced myself that everyone already knows what the word "resolution" means, especially around this time of year. To most, resolution means expansive lists of vague goals to accomplish, stuff to obtain, ways to improve, things to do! But let's trash that. Let's throw that hum-drum definition in the filthy garbage.

I like the way the field of chemistry defines resolution instead. It's far better than, "a firm decision to do or not to do something." Oh no, chemists are not into firm decisions, oh no no they are not. Chemists are all about the process. Chemists take an item, a composite, a mixture of something they already know and have, and they reduce it, separate it down into it's most basic components. Now this sounds like a much more fitting definition, a much more evolved way to approach resolutions in the coming year.

I like it! I'm going with it!! Mainly because over the last few years, I have been struggling to achieve, achieve, achieve lofty and unattainable goals. And instead of achieving I've spun my wheels, ending up with half-baked resolutions, plans, things, stuff, what have you. Muddling along, I have come to know intimately what the end products, mixtures and composites are, primarily because I often live preoccupied with the future and forget to relish the most basic components of the present. So, this year, I would like to resolve all that I have been working towards and instead know every small piece and part that makes up my end products just as intimately as I know the products themselves.

To chemistry!

noel

noel: old English for Christmas; from the Latin phrase nātālis (diēs), "(day) of birth"

It's that time of year again when I watch White Christmas back to back 8 to 9 times and stay up 24 hours baking a shit load of cookies. Merry Christmas!

Never get's old!

Yesterday, I helped Highway put up x-mas lights. We don't have a latter, so I found her shouting to me, balancing on the fence trying to scale over the rain gutter. Bad idea. So, after an admonishing look from me, she got down and we called Candyman (derby announcer, lives near by), he loaned us his latter and bam!  Lights are up, looking sharp and sparkly.

These past few weeks have been nuts, and are about to get even nuttier.  I have a lot of posts to catch up on...those probably won't happen until after this weekend.  Why, you ask?  Well long story short this weekend there will be baking of a dozen or more holiday cookie recipes (I've recruited Gill for help), Raggedy's party, the wrapping of all presents, and Jesse's capstone dinner. Then on the 19th I'm headed home.  Weirdly, I've been feeling homesick for the sound. So visiting Oly should be a good remedy.

responsiblity

responsibility: adult shit

Just waiting for my car's oil to be changed. You know, being a "responsible adult." Something about hot coco makes everything seem so much bearable.

quotidian

quotidian: of or occurring every day; daily; ordinary; mundane

I've started doing this thing with my nieces where I ask them what the best part of their day was.  Mad (Madison, 4) hasn't quite grasped the concept. The activity just fuels the fire of crazy and illogical that she has already judged me to be, regardless of my numerous  and very logical explanations. Take for example, yesterday I came over in the morning to watch the girls and Dean while Jess went to the doctor for a sinus infection. I was fishing all the marshmallows out of the lucky charms box while Mad was staring at me sleepily in her footed pj's. Our conversation went something like this...

Me- "What did you do yesterday, Mad?"

Her- "Nuh-thing."

Me- "Well, if you had to pick one thing, what was the best part of your day yesterday?"

Her- "Moneeek! But I didn't do anything yesterday."

Me- "You didn't do ANYTHING! Not even breathe or blink?!"

Her- "Pretty much."  Grabs a handful of marshmallows and tromps away.

Lol. Four-year-olds are my favorite people.

Ry (Ryleigh, 9) on the other hand loves this question. Her answers are usually saturated in elementary school friend dramatics and shaped by a change of heart every couple of seconds.  Our conversations sometimes lead to serious life realizations, the kind that you wish their hearts would never have to weather. For example, the other night we went to the pumpkin patch (pictures below) and Ry told me that her favorite part of the day hadn't come yet.  She was excited to carve the pumpkins.  It was late and I knew full well that we weren't going to carve pumpkins.  She teared-up.  Jess and I had to explain to her that disappointment is a huge, gigantic part of life, and that just because she's going to feel it form time to time, she shouldn't let it impede her from having hopes and getting excited.  Both Jess and I grew up with a lot of disappointment in our lives, to the point where it hardens you, turns you into a zombie (no Halloween pun intended), and it hasn't been until recently that we've both learned to be vulnerable to disappointment again. It's the scary shit (sorry, so many Halloween words up in here) that counts.  What's the phrase, go bit or go home.  Corny, but true.  You'll never accomplish anything if you live in fear of disappointment. I think it was Escher that said, "Only those who attempt the absurd will achieve the impossible." And that takes strength. Now only to get myself to fully live that.

Anyway, this questions is working to bring more presence into our lives. I ask both the girls and myself, helps me climb out of the pessimistic shell I can cower beneath. Focus on what I find good and alluring.

 

Dean think that headbands can be worn like sun glasses

let's just say...

let's just say you know it's a successful New Eve Year's Party when Cherry shows up wearing a party hat with birds on it that have party hats of their own. Her party hat birds had hats! Brilliant!!  I made bomb GF cookies, wore a pretty dress (at least that's what my date said), and lit things on fire during Alice's New Years celebration. What'd you do?

fete

fete: an elaborate party or celebration (often outdoors)

I'm afraid, as the Fruit Bats said, "if I live to long I will die." So, let's shake things up. I have been berated for decades by holidays I don't care about. I'm sure you have too. Most holidays bemuse me, at best. So, I've taken the liberty to amend, reassign, and flat-out create new holidays.  Please, feel free to note these in your datebook. I will be celebrating them in the coming year's time.  I am also open to further suggestions.

Dec 31- is no longer "New Year's Eve," on my calendar years mean nothing, and staying up all night to "ring in the new year" is no great feat, Dec 31st is now National Insomniacs Appreciation Day.

Jan 1/March and April- New Years Day, along with Lent, require sort of resolution bullshit, do something or give something up to make yourself a better person.  B.S. All we are is all we DO; you can't change anything unless you do something and do it with passion and spontaneity. Take this day to ACTUALLY do something, something that you have never done before.  It doesn't have to make you better, heck it can even make you worse.  Whatever it does, just do it and you will be celebrating Combating Apathy Action Day.

Feb 2- Who doesn't want to hear the weather forecast by a small fluffy rodent? Groundhog's Day, bitches! Also this holiday gives me an excuse to watch Bill Murry movies. I wish we really could try crappy days over and over again until we got them right.

Feb 14- Not really a big fan of stuffy romance, but I do enjoy candy and chocolate, and cartoon greeting cards, and the colors purple, pink, and red, so we have a problem. Hmm.  I've got it, as inspired by those Whitman's samplers and the people I RESPECT most in my life, I present to you Random Act of Kindness Involving Sugar and Someone You Genuinely Respect Day. So show then that you respect them, how ever you do that is up to you.

Feb 28- Thank you IHOP, for the best marketing ploy ever. Free Pancake Day ought to be extended to all pancake/breakfast eateries.

Mar 17- Let's not lie, I'm not Irish, you're not Irish (1/15th % does not count). And since I don't drink, Green Beer has no appeal.  But boy am I a fan of corned beef and cabbage.  So, St. Patrick's day is turning into International Favorite Food/Beverage Day, do with it what you must.

March 31st-  Opposite Day/Opposite of Earth Hour, do it! You know that you have wanted to ever since you learned about opposite day, most likely from the pages of Dr. Seuss. Let it burn, all of it.  Turn on every light and blast your music to full volume when it's dark out, sleep when it's light, eat breakfast for dinner, charge the grocery store for your groceries, walk backwards, etc.

April- Take Your Daughter to Work Day, see picture below. It stays, no changes made.  Thanks mom and Dave for taking me every year throughout my childhood. Now, next holiday, Easter will be known hence forward as Fill Your Basket With As Much Candy As Possible Day.  I couldn't care less about your dead "savior's" resurrection.  Easter has been and always will be about dominating at finding hidden sugary confections and rubbing it in others' faces (where there is sugar, I will find it, all of it, and that's saying something because I am usually dressed in the frilliest thing possible, wearing the most uncomfortable shoes).  Oh, it's also about getting angry at you brother because he saw a giant semi-invisible rabbit using our toilet, and didn't think to call you so you could see too.  Aggression, punching, and competitiveness are encouraged.

May 16- Speaking of punching, Frenemies Day is a the one day a year when punching someone in the face just because they annoy you is acceptable, and you don't have to worry about anyone pressing legal charges. So go, tell them off, that's one less shitty person in your life!

May 31st- Also happens to be my birthday, and for reasons to complicated to explain, I am usually angry on my birthday, so let's participate in Break and Smash Things Day and then eat some cake and ice cream after.  You know that you have bunch of glass bottles, old cars, ugly mementos, and random shit you can throw to the hard ground or take a baseball bat to.  Think of this as a controlled mini riot.

July 4- There are somethings in life that I wasn't fond of as a child, but now that I have grown, I relish these things, like spicy food and reading, AND FIREWORKS! Truthfully, I enjoy anything that requires fire and destruction.  Jolly good fun.  No changes made here.  In the States, patriotism means keeping the cops and fire department busy on national holidays.  Also, I rather enjoy seeing a grown man, drunk, stuck in his kid's Hannah Montana lawn chair, shouting about being 'merican.


First Friday in August- Free Skate Night. Check your local rink or roller derby practice space.
 
Early September- the first day of school was always my favorite-- new outfit, breakfast at I-HOP, new teacher, new friends, new backpack, and a free card to be as weird and insightful as you possibly could, reinvent yourself.  The more you used your imagination and created your own reality, the better school got.  Unfortunately this euphoria only lasted until you got that first homework assignment and learned how to procrastinate instead.  At any rate, I think one day a year should be devoted to Outlandish Thoughts and Creation of Your Own Reality.  As fun as I am sure LSD and other thought provoking aids are, this creativity should stem from your brain, and your brain alone, no drug use, okay.

Oct 31- Two words, candy and costumes. Halloween stays. In fact, I propose a Half Way to Halloween Party in April, oh wait, already done!

Nov 20somethingth- This is the one day a year that I enjoy how crazy my family is.  Thanksgiving means deep fried turkey, sitting in the garage in a lawn chair listening to a hokey game on the radio, tipsy gun-wielding, countless trips to the grocery store (usually by atv), and one heck of a wonderful wonderful nap.

Second to last weekend in December- I like Christmas music, and that's about it.  I am not a huge fan of the Christian holiday that forces you to recognize one of the most ridiculous religions in modern society and masks it with mass consumption (does anyone else see a pattern...cough, Easter, cough).  So, I'd much rather be Winter Camping, far far away from people and society.

Call in Sick Day- any day, everyone get's at least one get-out-of-jail-free card.  And heck, if you're good at it, you can swing missing 29 days of spring semester your junior year of high school. Ha, how I finagled that is a mystery.


Offloading Hour- Anytime! Pause Time, Erase People if you wish, and for crying out loud, DO SOMETHING YOU HAVEN'T HAD THE BALLS TO BEFORE, something that requires obnoxious protection gear, that leaves your body sore and voice hoarse the next morning.  This holiday has been inspired by the cartoon show Rupert

ditto

ditto: used in accounts and lists to indicate that an item is repeated (often indicated by quote marks under the word or figure to be repeated); used to indicate that something already said is applicable a second time; a word that Nick taught me how to spell

Brilliant!

I'd wish you happy holidays, but first, I have an unyielding inquisition.  here's the question-- if Xmas lights are so beautiful and sparkly, and provide so much cheer, why don't we keep them up all year? Fuck, that even rhymed.  It's an omen, or a sign, or something equally as forthcoming.

Anyway, onward in true tradition. You all know how much I love this video/song, so here it is again. Sigh. It never gets old.

I'll spare you this year and won't rant about materialism and how the holiday themed media that I subject myself to is limited, at best. (Christmas is not a valid excuse for inadequacy and compromising quality, people.)  Instead, I'll let you enjoy your holiday.  Oh joy!



update 1/3/11- so Mollie got me derby socks and Sparking Apple Cider (the fancy multi Northwest Apple Blend), isn't Mollie the greatest! I drank the entire bottle out of this obnoxious beer glass my step-dad has with ducks and waterfowl on it. Reminded me of wearing camo and sitting in a blind for four plus hours of si...lence... I really do like hunting though. Despite the killing and bloody corps you have to haul away if you are so lucky, it really is very serince and peaceful. Speaking of dad, I just got a card in the mail from him today. It was a thank you card stating how much he appreciated my gift to him. I found a first edition (second printing) copy of Errnest Hemminway's Form Whom the Bells Toll for Hyde Park Books here in Boise. I'm glad he loves it.

bobbery

bobbery: a disturbance or a brawl

Drunk Alby and Just-Woke-Up Alby are surprisingly similar people.

"Do you want to go Chrrrrristmas shopping?" I knew it. I had called too early in the morning. Damn. She was talking in that silly voice again, "Do you want to go Chrrrristmas shopping dear sister? I just ate an entire bag of biscotee. Do YOU want to go Christmas shopping with me, your beautiful sister?" Fine. Fine. I will go Christmas shopping. Stop asking. Grumble grumble. I am only do this to avoid the bobbery that would ensue, like being punched in the boob.

The rest of the day was spent receiving absurd looks from other customers and cashiers.  Apparently, we talk about not so normal things in the checkout line.  My favorite was, "I'm like 20% lesbian already, so I might as well work on it." "Makes sense to me." Nervous chuckle from our cashier.  We also texted Mom a cascade of random photos of random things in random places; a taste of her own medicine.  She secretly loved it though.  And if I hear the words, "What should I get so-and-so" or "What do you want for Christmas" one more time...

fire, death, destruction. All will be black. Quit asking me for Pete's sake!

Here, here, here you go, these are my favorite things, these are things I need:

1. Costco-sized bag of Gold Star Jasmine Rice

2. Boise Opera Tickets/Seattle Ballet Tickets, if you really love me you'd get me a season pass :)

3. Wax skate laces from derbysupply.net (better yet, a healed ankle, you can fix broken bones magically, right?)

4. Miscellaneous kitchen things that are M.I.A. (pastry cutter, basting brush, cast iron pan, tupper wear/lunch box that Gill stole from me/I keep forgetting to get from him, knife set, don't even ask me how I lost an entire knife set)
5. New blow dryer, curling iron (both died on me, in a tragic accident)
6. When in doubt, anything with sparkles, a pin-up on it, smells like lavender/ginger, or was made 50 years ago, headphones too. I can always use headphones and socks! I go through these the most in life. Well that and crappy boyfriends.
7. Actually, this is kind of fun. I also like big pearl earrings, ice cream, root beer, ice cream and root beer together, I believe they call that a "float," those sea monkey pets we used to get when I was little, Eddie Vedder's hand in marriage, Bonnebell cherry lip gloss, green apple gum, Lion brand yarn, purple inked pens from Paper<3<3Mate
8. Scratch everything, if you can't do the following, don't even bother with a gift

just kidding. Sort of. I would be content making cookies in your company.

I have even put some serious thought into what I will be attempting to bake. see subsequent post to come.

All said and done, I accomplished most of my shopping. There are stickers involved. Lots of stickers. You have been warned.

limerence

limerence: is a term coined c. 1977 by the psychologist Dorothy Tennov, a neologism used to describe an involuntary state of mind which seems to result from a romantic attraction for another person combined with an overwhelming, obsessive need to have one's feelings reciprocated, a.k.a a crush

I apologize for the darkness of this picture, but if you squint you can see Ky as well as 4th of July fireworks in the background. I kept getting Ky in trouble because I challenged him to a spitting contest off the side of the BSU parking garage. te he.

Hey! Guess what? All my relationship troubles have been solved. While playing a rock skipping game on the Wii (side note, I kick ass at the space orientation game and some people, I'm not naming names, get a little too competitive...cough Tim cough cough) Jordan, a family friend's six year old boy, came up to me and asked if I wanted to be his girlfriend. Heck yes! So, news flash, I'm taken. Just ignore the 16 year age gap and things are golden. I love kids. They get a feeling and are confident about it, instead of cowering behind insecurities and leaning on mental crutches. Old people are like this too; they're unabashed. Damn it took some individuals that I know, again I'm not naming any names, two or more years of stringing me along until they finally backed down, afraid, or something. Shrug. Anyway, our friend has three boys (two 6 and one 5) and I'm pretty sure they all have a small crush on me, but this is probably because I buy them Silly Putty and apple sauce, and play light saber tag with them, and teach them how to count money and play slap jack. No actually, it's because if you minus the whole "being female" thing and shed off those 16 years, I AM a 6 year old boy. Case in point, I went to the lake this past Sunday with a new friend, Alisha and her girlfriend, and what happens? I make friends with the one unsupervised 4 year old boy on the whole damn lake. We compared scars and he built me a sand castle with hardwood floors and five bedrooms. no joke.

let's just say...

that was the weirdest Valentine's Day yet.

I got three cards, one from Jen w/a picture of Beck on it and the correct spelling of my name, and two from my mom...I mean one from my mom with Strawberry Shortcake stickers which I discovered are sadly not scratch-and-sniff, and one from my dog "Chicken" back home (I call her Chicken because she's afraid of everything, 80lbs of timid)

You can see my skate wrench near the top.  That's a nice touch.  he he.

Correct spelling of my name. It's got an apostrophe and everything. Silly.

Well that's all normal.  It was the waking up to a text at 6:30am from the last possible person I could ever imagine that was weird.  So Happy Fucking Valentine's Day.

auld land syne

auld lang syne: is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song "Roud." It is well known in many countries, especially (but far from exclusively) in the English-speaking world; its traditional use being to celebrate the start of the New Year at the stroke of midnight. By extension, it is also sung at funerals, graduations, and as a farewell or ending to other occasions. (Text courtesy of wikipedia)


There's another cover of this song sung by the Dropkick Murphys.

“Come on hit me. Hit me, I dare you.” Ha, as much as I’d like to say that this moment in my life was the inspiration behind Fight Club, it would defy all sorts of laws regarding time and space, and well, it just wouldn’t be true. The words here were spoke by my step-dad’s good friend (and sort of Uncle) Lyle. He wanted me to hip check him in the middle of our kitchen, while on skates. Note how prepared his stance looks. I think he was actually a little scared. If you could see my face, it has a big grinny smile on it. I did, indeed hit him. Bounced right off! I mean look at him, his like 300 pounds of snide middle-aged man. It wasn’t a fair match up.

Needless to say, I was home for New Years and my parents threw a party, like most years, except this year’s was bigger. I wore a sparkly dress, but couldn’t decide on shoes…so I wore my skates. Yet another big grinny smile. I had a date, but blah. I flaked. Sorry kiddo.

Anyway, spend a holiday with me and you will quickly learn that duels on skates and flaky dates are common.

yule

yule (or "Yule-time"): is a winter festival that was initially celebrated by the historical Germanic people as a pagan religious festival, though it was later absorbed into, and equated with, the Christian festival of Christmas.

Isn't this the greatest picture?! Reminds me of the year my mom made my step brothers and I matching Disney Christmas sweatshirts.  Mine had Minnie Mouse on it and if you pushed a button, it sang! That's right, it sang. I'll have to try and find the picture as proof.

Found it!

As for the holiday, it was enjoyable.  I was the only kid home this year, so nothing too exciting to write about.  Is it tragic that all I can think to write is a list of the presents I got? Damn materialistic Americans!  Actually, I only got a few things which was quite nice. Quality over the quantity, as they say. I got a sweet long-sleeved camo shirt (corn-field to be exact), some sketcher slippers I've been pining for for awhile, a mini-muffin pan, pasta noodles shaped like the Space Needle (which I think is my mother's subliminal effort to get me to go to grad school in Seattle...over the course of the next few months she'll be sending me random gifts related to Seattle), and a zhu zhu pet from Burger King. Speaking of my mom, this is a funny story...we were in Fred Meyer's the another day and we see a set of zhu zhu pet accessories, and my mother thinks out loud, "why would anybody dress their pet hamster up, that's torture!" I barely had the heart to tell her that zhu zhus are toy hamsters...so what does she do, she gets me one for Christmas. My family also gave me cold hard cash. They were too lazy to fold $1's into a money chain, so they just gave me a wad of money instead. The teller at the bank though I was a stripper when I went to deposit it in my account.  Classy! I bought new skates with that money though. My holiday has been reduced down to a secular list of greed-inducing acquisitions. Oh, bother.

I like being on the giving end, more than the receiving end.  This year, I made my mom's dog a snuggie for Christmas. It's ridiculous.

Poor thing.

claustrophobia

claustrophobia: fear of having no escape or being closed into a small space

six hours in a tiny room, bug-eyed in front of a cheezy job-training tutorial has taught me one very important piece of information- in 1941, President FDR moved the date of Thanksgiving to earlier in November, extending the holiday shopping season and allowing for more economic gain. God bless America in all it's materialistic glory! No seriously, if it weren't for this, Macy's probably wouldn't need as many seasonal workers during the winter, and I probably wouldn't have a job over break. So huzzah.

I start picking up shifts at the end of this week. And if this job is anywhere near as exciting as the training videos were, I'm going to have a blast selling people jewelry and blenders and department store trinkets. Look at this guy from part of my training on general safety,

he can walk over the top of government documents in cyberspace...like magic. Ooooh, ahhh. Experiencing this alone was worth the two hour drive between Portland and Olympia that I have made over five times in the last month.

My job training ended around 8:30pm and then I made (or attempted to make) my step-dad a birthday cake.  It was supposed to be German Chocolate, but looked more like Dilapidated Chocolate. Dad said it was delicious just the same.  Isn't he obligated to say that though, as a parent I mean? My ability to make savory and flavorful cakes that can't stand upright is a truly mystery.

black friday

black friday: the day following Thanksgiving Day, traditionally the beginning of the U.S. shopping season On this day, many retailers open very early, often at 4 a.m., or earlier, and offer promotional sales to kick off the shopping season.

Natalie Dee

every year, 4:30am. Knock, knock, knock. Switch. The light is too glaring to open my eyes. I all I can see are yellow blobs. My mother says with enthusiasm that only coffee can provide, "Wake up! It's time to go shoooooooping!!" I think she even claps her hands with joy.  It'd be better if she just said, "let's get ready to rummmble" (which I oddly thought was "rumbo" for the longest time) or something to that effect, at least that way I'd think, in my half-awake not-yet-cognisant morning haze, that I was preparing for an epic sports game or to go to war or something more worthwhile than shopping.  I roll over and groan.  Eventually, I get up and put some pants on and maybe a little makeup.  Despite the effort, I still look like the living dead at this hour in the morning.  You'd think by now my mother would have realized that I am the wrong person to take Black Friday Shopping. Despite my grumpiness, she brings me anyway. Think I'm bitchy during normal daylight hours?  Try making it 4am and adding six million annoying holiday shoppers. Oh man, my cynicism becomes particularly caustic, especially if I'm not fed.  Usually I end up getting a thing or two (I got a cute dress with skulls all over it) and tolerate knowing that I'll have to do this next year as well...so long as I'm compensated in I-hop pancakes.

After Friday, I got pesto pizza with Kayliegh, and we collectively decided that higher education is a joke.  I also had a sort of mini-date with my step-dad.  We watched The Hurlocker, my choice.  That's a damn good film. A sobering look at war from the perspective of three bomb-techs in Iraq. For parts of it, I clean forgot I was watching a movie.  I especially liked the grocery store scene, it rings true to all the experiences I've had with war vets. Next, I want to watch the wind that shakes the barely.



p.s. fuck, I didn't do any homework this weekend. well, I did, but it didn't make a dent in the amount of work I have to do :(

mashed potatoes

mashed potatoes: the most perfect food in the world. also, "the mashed potato" was a popular dance in the 1960's.

ha! Don't look too closely in the background of this picture. There is a woman making an obscene gesture.

any stretch of twenty four hours where I can eat mashed potatoes more than three times and have it be socially acceptable is alright by me!

for turkey day, I was going to make the potatoes, but the Lyle came over and delivered us a batch of his.  No joke, his are the best potatoes in the universe.  I've tried, but simply cannot match their superior taste.  It's like heaven drenched in butter and garlic. Instead, I made the dessert; ginger pumpkin flan.  For my first time making flan, it turned out perfectly.  I was quite proud.  I think my step-dad ended up eating most of the flan; it's his favorite dessert.

pictures to come

inured

inured: to accustom to accept something undesirable

to all those inured to war...

On the one hand, I'm sitting here this morning, comfortably eating my cereal and typing thoughts of free speech thanks to you. But as I swirl my spoon round the snow-cold milk and watch my words and uneaten Cheerios dance round the bowl, I recall all your pain and how it trickles down. You've affected my life in ways I never before imagined.

so for the things you do, that others can't. for the shit you've been through.

happy veteran's day.

semana trece

gringa: what they call Americans, it's considered an insult...but ha! after almost three months I have shed this label and reached a new level of integration, hooray!

día setenta y ocho: 3/28/2010 Sunday my host family was gone so I cooked spaghetti (and just now taught myself finally how to spell spaghetti). it was glorious. and it made me miss home, where I can cook without our maid Nancy staring at me in shock with a look of "are you sure you can cook?"

día setenta y nueve: Monday I felt like a true Cuencano! I crossed the street without stopping or getting hit by a car. I also got asked for directions x 2. First by a lady and her small kid and second by a family trying to get to Banco Central. Seriously though, I'm not that tan am I? I also commented on a gal’s purse on the way home and we chit-chatted it up in Spanish. fuck what's happened? I'm becoming Ecuadorian.


too bad I didn't have a valiant cross guard like in elementary school...and one as cool as Marilyn Manson. you know, I bet kids love Marilyn Manson. he seems lovable, right?

día ochenta: accomplishment! I finally ran without my lungs feeling like they were on fire. and when I got back from my run I had a positive bonding conversation with host sister, Josefina. She called me "loca" (crazy) for running with gripe (oh yeah I still have a cold by the way, it sucks) and then commented on how I she was "casi muerte" (almost dead) from her workout.

día ochenta y uno: Miscommunication is the theme of Wednesday! I thought I had explain clearly about the date of a dinner that I wanted to cook my host family. but oh no sir-y. turns out my host family will be going to their second home during that date for holy week. but that's alright, right? oh no! my host mom also thought that I was going to go with them for holy week too. come on. I have way WAY way too much homework to go to their second home...because we all know I'd just end up swimming in the pool the entire time and not getting my homework done. but on the sunny side of things I got to learn how the alarm system works. the damn thing is terribly fast. so far I've tripped a good four times trying to scramble up the stairs to shut it off and still the beeps just get progressively faster and faster and inevitably I have to answer the call from the alarm company and tell them the password and that everything is buenisimo.

I've also made an observation in the last week or so...normally, I’m a confrontational person and like to deal with things as directly and quickly as possible. but it’s not just not worth it here. maybe it's cultural, but to try and constructively work through an issue is seemingly impossible here. take for example, lately my host brother has been taking showers in the morning when he usually doesn't and making me late for class. normally I would just approach him to try and resolve things but if I were to do so, all I would get other than a pain in my side and a tummy ache, would be guff about how my host brother doesn't really care and that I should accommodate for him. ahh, it's really just not a worthy fight to worry about.

día ochenta y dos: today I got a good cat call from a construction worker. he said, “pssst pssst, hey over here” in English and then waved. it was adorable.

it's Holy Week (Semana Santa) people and so Ecuadorians will be eating plenty of Fanesca and parading around in purple robes to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus...


above is Fanesca, a sort of "everything stew" served on holy Thursday, it's kinda gross to be honest


here are some Cucuruchos walking in a procession to recreate the cross-carrying of Jesus...they look oddly like the KKK but if the KKK had a lot of gay pride and really liked the color purple

día ochenta y tres: Damn Catholics! everything and I mean everything is closed today due to Holy Week. I searched the entire city high and low, combed that sucker over with a fine tooth, and finally found THE one cabina (internet café) open. I did some online research aka fucked around on facebook for an hour and a half and then had a great conversation with the guy who owns the place. we talked about holy week and how crazy Cuencanos get during Easter. He told me that some years they actually crucify a guy during the cross-carrying procession. and that some people won't bathe on Good Friday because they believe that if they touch water they'll turn into a fish. on an unrelated note, I got to cook for myself again!!!! At first, I burnt some popcorn (what can I say? I've never used a pressure cooker before) but then made up for it by cooking some delicious tuna salad. I then topped off a wonderful evening by watching Julie and Julia in Spanish. it was a fucking adorable movie. I smiled the entire time.


this was me

día ochenta y cuatro: essentially, I did the same on Saturday that I did Friday, except the movie was Bolt and add in walking to the Super Maxi (which was really packed for Easter Weekend) and not being able to find my running shoes (eventually I found them though, they were on the roof...don't ask...but if you did I would explain that I forgot I had put them out their to dry them out because the rainy season in upon us here in Ecuador). my host mom was surprised that I was still alive after a weekend alone.