Home Update: Week 1

I arrived back in Vancouver on Saturday the 2nd, at about 10 pm (well, I arrived at 8:30, but certain events meant that it was 10 by the time I got out of the airport). Since then, it's been a marathon of me seeing almost everyone I've missed over my trip, and trying to get a handle on my new job, as a retail associate at a specialty wine store. Because no one knows more about wine than I do. Except maybe everyone. Seriously, could I be less qualified for this job? I think I need to take a wine tasting course, because thre is no way I have a clue what is going one. Shiraz? Merlot? Cabernet Sauvignon? I can spell them without looking them up, but that (and the fact that they are reds and not whites) pretty much encapsulates me knowledge of them. Oh well. Here's to learning about something new!

Here goes nothing.

I May Be The Last One To The Party, But...

If you haven't yet, go see An Inconvenient Truth. Trust me, it is absolutely horrifying to see how glaciers have receded, lakes have dried out, and rainfall has changed and moved. But you need to see it, we all do. And while you're at it, go to www.climatecrisis.net. Things are changing, and faster than any government, newspaper or television newscast seems willing to admit.

HOME!

After 66 days away, I am finally back home. The trip was amazing, and since I enjoyed pretty good health the whole time, I have now come down with the flu/intense allergies/malaria. Only time will tell. I'll write more later, but right now I'm a little tired. But people, call me! I'm home, and my phone has lost a lot of your phone numbers!

Delhi!

So our group of 4 arrived in Delhi yesterday, and were greeted by the cool bliss of air conditioning. I'm not a huge heat wuss, but after being out in the beating sum the entire day, and then being plastered by bug carcasses on the train ride over, the mere idea of cold air and closed windows was somewhat akin to heaven.

After dropping off my entire backpack of laundry (seriously. I realized this morning I had nothing to wear), I went to bed. In the cool, bug free environment of the room. Sadly, it was a little too cool, and I woke up freezing. Goddamn temperature!

So far today it's just been shopping. And shopping. I now have way too much stuff, but it is beautiful, so hey who can complain? Possibly the airline people. Tomorrow we're sightseeing and the next day Linds and I are off to Chennai. Til next time, have a great week!

In India!

Hey everyone, still around, but internet is sloooow here. Have to go get ready for a hike up a mtn, I'll hopefully write more soon, but leave a msg, I want to know what you've been up to!

Eeeeek

I leave in three days. Three days. I have so much to do. I have to buy a backpack. A headlight. I need toiletries. I need a money belt. I need...someone to just follow me around my whole trip and make sure I don't screw up/offend anyone/get robbed/forget anything/get hurt. I need to get the whole world's mailing addresses. I need to pack my yet-unbought backpack. I need to get my prescriptions filled. I need to say goodby to everyone. I need to see Peek. I also need to breather, because I am perilously close to self-inducing an anxiety attack.

But I'm still excited to get there. Yeee!

Miscellany

While working at the cruise port handing out brochures on Wednesday, I offered a passenger a booklet, to which she responded "I grabbed one from the kiosk. God helps those who help themselves." In short, I offered her a coupon book, and she gave me a religious platitude. I responded with a surprised "...Right. Have a great trip!"

I was lifted from a blue mood yesterday by the discovery that I get my own tv screen on most of my flights this trip. And I get to play videogames! I love asian airlines!

I received my third and final innoculation against Japanese Encephalitis on Tuesday. Signs of an adverse reaction include swelling of the face and tongue and extreme itchiness all over the body. If I have extreme itchiness that is localized to the site of injection, should I be concerned?

I leave in 6 days.

Peek gets back in 6 days.

That is an example of impeccably awful timing.

I've eaten a ridiculous amount of food in the past few days. Much of it has been eaten with Cel (woo eating buddies!)

I've been watching lots and lots of Scrubs, and I love it.

Girly's gone, and I miss her. But then, I'm leaving soon too.

At dinner the other night (happy birthday miss j!) I realized that I probably went to the same chinese camp as my friend's boyfriend. Ah Chinese camp...I learned to play the chinese flute, to cook, to sew, do the fan dance, the ribbon dance, make the lion's mane for the lion in the lion dance...a weirdly low level of Chinese was learned, come to think of it.

Oh my god, I leave in six days.

World Cup Fever

Currently, the lovely internet is blocking me from both of my email accounts, which is irritating at best. Thankfully th World Cup is here to dull the pain. And can I just say how much I love the Jose+10 adidas ad? I love the music, it's perfect. Whoever found it/wrote it for the ad deserves a promotion. Seriously though, love the ad.

Loving My New Lens

Hungry Bee, originally uploaded by Never Reason.

I have a new obsession; photographing bees and ladybugs. I knew my mom's intense flower garden had it's purpose! Click on the photo to see more (I dare you!)

Why My Friends Are Great

Because both A and I are more chatty in writing than in person.

Because Tessa is the epitome of rationality, and reminds me that usually I am too, and that maybe the fact that I'm not just now means I should get a grip (all in a very sweet way).

Because T tells me the truth unsimplified, even if it only confuses me more, and then patiently listens to me work through it.

Because Kaisha is always up for a dim sum, and loves the dessert tofu. And because she will fiercely defend her friends, and tells me what she really thinks, no holds barred.

Because Girly...well, read this. If you don't get it, then I can do nothing for you.

Because Cel and I can run into each other completely unexpectedly, and then make a day of it, going shopping, getting manicures, and having a very fun, relaxing time without planning a whit of it.

Because Peek is in Africa, having the time of her life. I miss the crap out of her, and can't wait til we have our "how was your trip?/have a great trip!" lunch/dinner at the airport.

Case of the Lost Lens

On Sunday night, I stayed at Girly's house. I wasn't expecting too, and while they fortunately had contact solution, a lens case was not to be found anywhere, so I put my contacts in cups with a bit of contact solution overnight. The next morning after breakfast, I go into the bathroom, where one of the cups is now half full of water and upon cloer inspection entirely unfull of lens. Upstairs, the investigation begins:

In the kitchen, with Girly and her dad
Me: I have good news and bad news. The good news is, my right contact? Good as new. The bad news? I think someone drank my left contact.
Girly: It wasn't me, I knew those were your contacts!
Girly's Dad: I don't drink water.
Girly: ...I'll go ask mom. (goes upstairs) Hey, did you drink out of one of those glasses? Jan's contacts were in them.
(pause)
Girly's mom: How much do I owe her?

Case solved.

Graduated!

5:58 am
cellphone: beepbeep! beepbeep! beepbeep!
J-Bird: Oh god.

5:59 am
cellphone: beepbeep! beepbeep! beepbeep!
J-Bird: Shut up.

6:00 am
J-Bird: Hey. It's six. Get up.
N: I hate you.
J-Bird: I hate me too.

7:15 am
N: Oh god, do you think they reuse the hats? I did not pay $20 000 for my degree and another $40 to rent my regalia to wear a hat someone else used.
J-Bird: "I graduated and all I got was lice!"

7:30 am
N: How's my gown look?
J-Bird: ...Voluminous?
N: It's so early! I want to take a nap.
J-Bird: Good thing you're wearing that comfy nightgown, then.

8:00 am
Marshall: ...and for all you ladies wearing higher heels than you ever have before. we have, at the bottom of the exit stairs, a gentleman known as a catcher, in case you should fall. This happens every ceremony at least once or twice, but we've never needed an ambulance.

10:00 am
President of University: I present you the May 2006 graduates!

Home Cooking

My mom is unable to waste food. Leftovers are always eaten. Every part of a vegetable/fruit/cut of meat that is remotely edible is eaten. There are no exceptions, and should there ever be, we would probably mark it down as the first sign of senility. This...tendency, coupled with her hyperopia, resulted in one of the funniest meals I'vee ever eaten at home. See, my brother moved back in after his surgery, and as my parents did the actual moving, my mom cleared all the pantries, the fridge, the cupboards, and then went straight into planning how to use the new ingredients. Two nights ago, she made pasta to go with some chicken and broccoli. However, her previously mentioned farsightedness kept her from being able to read the label. And so, with our lovely (and otherwise wholesome) meal, we were served none other than penis-shaped pasta. Which I have to say, was very surprisingly...faithful in its representation. It didn't taste too bad either, although I may have been slightly unable to tell, having accidentally eaten a chili pepper while I was laughing hysterically.

Ah, Family

Today, on my way out, I noticed that there were several bags of chips stashed in the bottom of the coat closet. My mom is a huge proponent of the "everything in its place" philosophy, so it was a little surprising. Everything was made clear tonight, however:

My mom walks to the tv room holding a bag of chips
Bro: Hey mom, why are there chips in the closet?
Mom: Because I didn't want you guys to eat them all!

My mom is a chip hoarder! Honestly, you think you know someone...

Good News!

So my bro discovered earlier this year that he was born with a birth defect in one of the openings of one kidney (prior to the chain of events that led to this discovery, he apparently thought that the recurring, nearly constant pain was "normal"), and had surgery to correct it earlier this week. The good news mentioned in the title is that it seems to have gone well, and once the stent they implanted is removed, he should be as good as new! Good news indeed.

Quote for the Day

"[Talking to Jesse Jackson] is like boxing a glacier. Enjoy that metaphor by the way, because your grandchildren will have no idea what a glacier is."
-Stephen Colbert, at the White House Press Correspondents Dinner.

Discussing Celebrity Disgrace

There's a question that's been in heavy rotation lately. Who's worse: Angelina Jolie, or Denise Richards?

For anyone who has managed to avoid the insane amount of entertainment gossip, I'll give some backstory. Angelina Jolie stole a very married Brad Pitt from his then-wife Jennifer Aniston. More recently, Denise Richards (who has been in the midst of a very sordid "he said/she said" divorce with Charlie Sheen) seems to now be dating the very recent ex-husband of her supposed best friend, Heather Locklear. So what's worse? The woman who breaks a home, or the one who gors looting at her best friend's house?

It's an interesting question, if only because it generates a lot of fairly intelligent discussion. On the one hand, Denise Richards didn't overstep the bounds of someone's marriage, Angelina. On ther other hand, your best friend, Denise? Really? You're an adulterer! But you're dating your best friend's ex! You were married to the creepiest man alive, Billy Bob Thornton! But you persist in continuing this "no, he's the worse person!" with Charlie Sheen! Oh my god, I can't decide!

Why? Because to me, they both did awful, horrible things. But what about Brad and whoever Heather's ex is (Richie Sambora, the imdb tells me)? What they did was equally awful. I mean, stepping out on your wife, Brad? And Richie, dating your ex-wife's best friend? You are both dead to me. But nobody talks about them. Why is that? Is it because they're men, and therefore get more leeway in their behaviour? Or is it because we just don't care about these men, who are in the middle of all this? Why do you think it is?

Completion and Relaxation

Well, it's over. My undergraduate degree is completed, assuming everything goes well (I'm not too concerned). It feels pretty good, on the whole. The fabulous weather on my first two days off didn't hurt at all; it was summer come early, and I even managed to whip out some summery clothes. Definitely a good-mood inducer.

The past two days have been great in general; just hanging out with friends and walking in the sunshine. Shopping when I shouldn't be, reading books I've just haven't gotten to, things like that. Of course, today the weather is dreary again, but hey, can't have it all, right? Plus, I got to go to dim sum with one of my babies before she leaves for Singapore, which was fantastic.

Book-wise, I read The Book of Dreams, by O.R.Melling, and A Scholar of Magics, by Caroline Stevermer. They're both sequels to books/series I've read already, and sadly, they weren't that impressive. Whioch isn't to say they weren't good, I just didn't love them like I loved the previous novels. But they still make good reads, and who knows? They may grow on me after repeated readings. Here's hoping!

Today was my last full day off until next week; I'm working tomorrow til Sunday, thank goodness (I need the money big time). Anyway, time to fit in some more relaxing. Heh. If anyone needs me, I am officially available for chill time.

Burnout

Hey y'all. Sorry I haven't been around, it's been one of those weeks where everything from every angle happens, and because of exams I have no chance to deal with any of it. Things are stressful, and I want to just pretend none of it was going on including the exams), but I can't, so...I'll catch you on the flip side.

Numa Numa

So I'm guessing a lot of you have seen the original "Numa Numa" video. But have you seen the UBC version? Check it out, it'll make you sing along.

Quiet Time

I've decided to take the night off; I've rented 8 episodes of Scrubs, I have mini eggs, and I have a whole floor of my house, at least until my parents finish watching their latest BBC special. I am so excited. I had to get up at 6:30 am today, and then sit through class after class when I could have been watching storm the wall, and really, hanging out with J.D., Carla, Turk and Elliot sounds like the perfect night.

Ah, relaxation.

Oh, and Tessa wins the photo guessing contest. It's the bottom of a dasani bottle, through the top.

What Am I?

What Am I?, originally uploaded by Never Reason.

Alright people, guessing has begun; what is this? (Amanda, if you heard what it was in class, then you're not allowed to guess.) Oh, and there are more pictures if you click on the photo.

Closeup

Rearview, originally uploaded by Never Reason.

This has been my favourite subject thus far. It's the rearview mirror of an old truck that parks down my street. I love the colour contrast, and the texture of the rust up near the top. It reminds me that sometimes things are prettier when you look more closely.

So...

How is everyone? I have no idea what y'all have been up to, except Amanda, cause she's in my photography class (hi Amanda!). So tell me! I'll start:

Saturday I had formal, which was good times, and everyone looked very pretty. Also, I have gorgeous earrings, which I always find exciting. And I was voted most likely to succeed! Always a nice feeling.

Yesterday Peter Mansbridge of CBC came and gave a talk, which was fun. It was a good speech, not too preachy, or congratulatory. I found the number of Mansbridge-worshippers a little surprising. Seriously, some people were crazy about him. I had no idea.

Finally, I went to Roosters, a country-themed br, last night. It was fun, and I'll never turn down 5 cent chicken wings, but topless mechanical bull-riding? So, so unattractive. Listen, girls (none of my girls, thank god): there are many, many other things you could be doing needlessly topless, if you must, that would look far, far better. Yeesh.

Activity Headache

You know when you have one of those days that is so full that at the end, your head hurts, but in a good way? That was today. This morning I got up, ate a hearty breakfast to fortify myself, then muddled my way though makeup (now y'all know it was a big day), and sprinted down the street to catch a bus (which I managed to catch, thank goodness). Why was I in such a hurry? Why, to make it for lunch with this woman, who in addition to being incredibly intelligent and a pioneer of memory psychology, is also surprisingly personable and fun to talk with. It was such a nice lunch, and I'm so happy to have been able to attend (Thanks, L!).

After lunch, I had class for an hour and a half (that was my break).

Then, the aforementioned researcher gave a talk titled Illusions of Memory, which had the most heated question period I've ever experienced in a psychology talk, and then, finally, a reception with (tasty) canapes and mingling. And I know that it doesn't sound like that much when you read it here, but activity headache, people. It was big. And I need sleep. Adieu!

Still Alive

Hey y'all,

I'm still alive, just been busy. Oh, and I wrote my last midterm of my undergrad degree EVER! Be back later, need to sleep.

Not for the Squeamish.

Ladies and gentlemen, the toenail is leaving the building.

Yep, after over a month of strange colours and varying pain, it has officially started un-sealing itself from my toe, the sight of which is both fascinating (to people like me) and extremely unsettling. I do find it fascinating, because the...shedding? of the nail is completely painless, and yet my nail is falling off. So as I sit here, watching a repeat of Queer Eye (John K., cutest little old man ever) I take little breaks to look at my toe.

The one negative is that this means I won't have a toenail for my last formal, so...closed toe shoes it is! Heh, it's an annoyance, but a small one, and at least my "Sekke! I'm not going to have a toenail for formal!" was good for a laugh.

And no disparagig remarks about me looking at my toenail. You're just jealous you can't see it.

Conversations

In the car
N: Okay, so I'm just going to say it. I love Kelly Clarkson.
Jan: Oh, me too. I mean, I wasn't a fan of her early stuff.
N: I know, I totally thought she was crappy.
Jan: I know! And then I heard Since You've Been Gone, and never
N: turned back! I KNOW!
Jan: God I love her.
N: I know, she's my K.C.

On the phone
Jan: So what are you up to tonight?
Girly: I don't know, me and the boy might watch the movie we downloaded.
Jan: There you go squandering your money on useless luxuries again.
Girly: I know! Heh.

Playing Buddhism Jeopardy in class
Reader: The guy in the Heart Sutra, like higher than a man...
Guy: Bodhisattva?
Reader: Yes! But which one?
Silence
Jan: ...Av, Avalokitesvara?
Reader: YES!
Silence
Sekke: Seriously, Jan? What is wrong with you?
Jan: I have no idea.
Random: That's a two pointer, right there.

Sasha Cohen skates
Jan: You know, she annoys me sometimes, but damn can she act the skate. Too bad she fell.
Mom: I like her dress.
Jan: ...okay.

Shizuka Arakawa skates
Jan: Oooh, Ina Bauer.
Mom: Thats not a word!
Jan: It's a name, Mom. Ina Bauer
Mom: Oh. It's very pretty.

Irina Slutskaya
Jan: What the hell?!
Mom: What? She fell. Everyone's falling tonight.
Jan: But she never. falls. Never.
Mom: She did tonight.
Jan: Along with the rest of the world. This night of skating? Sucks.
Mom: I thought you liked the Japanese girl.
Jan: I did, she was beautiful. But this? This is crap. I miss Kurt Browning.
Mom: Kurt Browning is a man!
Jan: You miss him too.
Mom: I do.

Pop Quiz

ducky, originally uploaded by Never Reason.

What's the ducky saying? (Please select correct response)

a) Hi! I prove that you are in fact, Jan, and not some impostor trying to play Basketball on the sly.

b) You have a midterm tomorrow that you are NOT ready for!

c) I'm holding my hand up to show my jammed finger, and pointing at my black toenail with a pencil! Y'know, just 'cause.

d) I will never ever come off, even with dish detergent. No, really. It's been two days, and I'm still here. Okay, 'love ya!

e) All of the above.

Break is Over. Reading, Not So Much.

This is the end of Reading Break. Considering mine was so uneventful so as to cause swaths of it to be completely forgotten, I'd say it was a success! However, let's recap what I do remember, shall we?

Got hit on by a creepy old guy at work
Had coffee and dinner with Alex for Valentines
Went to a nice lunch with T
Had several chats over msn with Tessa (hi Tessa!)
Bought my plane ticket
Had a visit from Amanda at work (Hi Amanda! HUGE improvement over El Creepo)
Watched the skeleton races, and cringed for their entirety
Wrote one paper
talked with Girly on the phone

Yep! Definitely a success.

Paid!

I bought my plane ticket yesterday. Asia, here I come! In a few months. Which is good, because now I need to earn some money so I can afford to be in Asia. But whooo! Now I can start the planning in earnest! I currently have about 6 tour books, and I got some of those little post-it tabby things, so I can make a note of things that I want to see/could be important. Thus far, I've only really decided that I'm going to skip Varanasi; holy city though it may be, the stories I've heard about the creepiness of the men there has put me off. Plus, there's so much else to see, why bother?

And, slightly related to the post title, my mom and I watched Oprah today, about her new "Debt Diet", which...seems to be sorely needed. 70% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck? I was surprised, and I was expecting a high number. It can't be much lower here in Canada, either. The three families that were the focus on the show were astounding. $7000 a year on hair? $100 a day on takeout food? I know it happens, hell I've been cutting back on food spending at school, because it's so expensive, but one hundred dollars a day is insane. The whole thing got me a little scared about my finances, and I don't have problems (knock on wood).

It just amazes me that we can get so wrapped up in looking like we have money. If you don't have money, trust me, buying a new car is not the way to get it. Even less the way to get it? Buying your kid a new car. A teenager doesn't need a brand new car, get a used one! I don't know if my first car will be new, and I'm 22!

The sad thing is, I think all of us are at least a little guilty. I mean, I've been going to starbucks a bit lately. The bad part is that I got so many of their gift cards that it seems like liquid money. And then you get in the habit of going...Yep, starbucks and food out are going to be my date diet. I'm pretty sure I can live without 'em, though.

It's Got Me Convinced

I want a Magic Bullet.

Have you seen the infomercial? This couple that apparently collects moochers as a hobby goes through the amazing abilities of this tiny little blender system that can do everything from smoothies to salsa to soup to sorbet. And it even makes things that don't start with the letter "s"! More importantly, the couple uses ridiculously specific times in their commercials. It takes six seconds to make chocolate mousse. However, it takes eight seconds to make raspberry- mango sorbet. I also enjoy that the casting agent decided the male half of the couple would be Australian. This allows him to say things like "and just throw in some tomato, and one, two, three seconds, Bob's your Uncle, and you've got salsa!".

Who doesn't want a Magic Bullet?

(Note: I actually do want one. The ridiculous ad is just a bonus.)

Happy Valentine's Day!

pomegranate, originally uploaded by Never Reason.

Not a heart, but something red, and yummy.

I had a great Valentine's Day. I got flowers from the kids I tutor (white tulips), and met up with an old friend for coffee and dinner. It was beautiful outside, and we walked along the beach just chatting and catching up. It got to be pretty cold out though, so we decided to head back to the car, and then to dinner. Every florist we drove by (and there were several on our route) contained at least 5 or 6 guys who'd obviously left their shopping til late. With them in spirit were men walking down the streets with bags from BeautyBar, and Hope Unlimited. A girl walked by, having clearly just indulged in a shopping spree for herself. The restaurant was packed, full of old couples who were completely comfortable, and new couples who were nervous.

And now I am completely full, and am going to spoil myself with some hot tea and a good book.

Planning! Whoooo!

So trip planning has officially begun. Not the flights, that doesn't count. I'm talking about the real planning, the "what to do once I get there" planning. And let me tell you, India? Incredibly confusing, even just in the guidebooks. But hey, I'm going to India. Who cares what else is going on?

You think I'm talking about this lots now. You just wait til I'm within 3 months of actually leaving!

Now excuse me. I have more planning to do.

Low

I hate this feeling. It's nothing but melancholy, lonely tinged with sad. I don't know why it comes on; every once in a while, it creeps in, and even more occasionally, I won't manage to push it away, and I'll dwell in it, and it doesn't spiral. It just...settles, deep, like there's a place it fits just right, as if I've been in denial all those other times.

I wasn't in denial. There are other things that fit there too, and they don't hurt.

If I haven't found one by tomorrow, I'll let you know.

Restaurant Review: Banana Leaf

Banana Leaf Malaysian Restaurant - West Broadway Location

I went with Peek and T for an early dinner a couple of weeks back, and have to say, I was very impressed. It moved ito the location cleared by a restaurant my family loved, and while it redecorated a little, it didn't do too much, which is great because that place has an amazing internal structure.

As for the food, I had spring rolls (not bad) and coconut rice, which was exceptional, if a bit bland on it's own (which I should note is not how it's meant to be eaten. That was my decision, not the server's suggestion). Coconut rice in this case was like the Malaysian version of sticky rice at dimsum, but with less in it, and wrapped in a banana leaf. T and Peek had things that I could never hope to remember the names of, but trust me, they were good. I can't claim that Banana Leaf is super cheap, but it's definitely worth a visit.

Y'all Don't Even Know.

The past few days have been a trial.

Sunday was one of the most ludicrously busy days at work I've ever had the misfortune to experience. The kitchen was backed up 45 minutes (which, trust me, customers love), and in addition to this, my coworker had just been broken up with, and Ihad contracted a head-cold overnight. I got home, and pretty much went to bed at 9:30, after pretending to be awake enough to eat dinner.

On monday, basketball bit me again; everything was going just fine, and seven minutes before the final buzzer, I got my wedding finger jammed. It's now a lovely shade of green, swollen (but far less so than it was yesterday), and hurts. I still went to bed that night in a reasonably good mood, but...

I woke up at 6:03 am Tuesday, feeling...uncomfortable. Managed to doze of again, but at 7:25 am (I look at my clock a lot), I got up, ran into the bathroom, and hurled what little there was in my stomach. Violently. I then returned to bed, and dozed for another two hours, until it was necessary to haul myself to my first class to hand in an assignment, and then come back home for the day. Oh yeah, and in the meantime I dreamt that I was being forced to reorganize a closet, and was covertly stealing my books back from the evil lady who was making us do it.

Today, thank god, was better. My finger still looks ridiculous, and kinda hurts, but I registered for my photography class at the AMS minischool (yay!), and got some very nice letters from friends. And I can eat again, which is very nice. But I have an exam on Friday, and have just figured out that I'm missing a huge chunk of them, which is disconcerting. But happy letters! Whoooo!

Ow, it hurts to type. Bloody basketball.

Happy New Year!!!

I had a very Chinese New year day today; Celeste and I went to Aberdeen Centre, and basked in the glorious New Year celebrations. We visited Daiso (everything only $2!), which was even more fun than you can imagine. From the frivolity of cupcake holders with chess pieces on them, to the necessity of stationary with "Happy Circus!" all over it, this place has everything. Including my new favourite beverage, Peach Water. We wandered the store for well over an hour, oohing and aahing over the merchandise. It was beautiful, and I just now have realized the deprivation I've been living in.

After Daiso, we though we'd explore the mall a bit more, but got sidetracked 50 paces along the path by Dragon's Beard Candy, which was being made right there. If you ever get a chance to see this process, stop and watch; celeste and I stood, in fascinated silence, as the candymaker turned a lump of sugar into thousands and thousands of tiny strands.

After buying some of the candy (we definitely had to eat some, after seeing it be made), we left the mall, and after some initial car trouble, got home. My mom had made an incredible New Year's feast, including fish, hot pot, stuffed tofu puffs, and of course rice. After dinner we had tea, and the dragon's beard candy, which, as it turns out, is excellent. Crispy and sweet and light.

And now I am incredibly full. So, so full.

Happy New Year! May you have a wonderful year of the dog!

Meet Pretty

Me and Pretty, originally uploaded by Never Reason.

Ladies and gentlemen, I have the honour to present...the new, the amazing, the fantABULOUS...

Pretty D50!

Snow, Cousins and Growing

Sunpeaks was beautiful. Pure white everywhere, and falling from the sky. Because of the basketball game of death, I wasn't able to do anything but snowshoe, but it was great to have an actual weekend, and snowshoeing was beautiful. In addition I had a chance to use Pretty (that's Pretty D50, my camera), and try out the various functions.

I also got to hang out with Peek, and my cousins, Jackie (just 7) and Stephanie (8). We played dress-up, as well as several games of Sorry! (I won both), Cadoo (kid's Cranium), and between me and Peek a game I think is called Teacher's Question, which is the most politically incorrect children's game I've ever seen. Here are some examples:

Q: If you're an albino, what colour is your skin?
A: White

Q: Obese people are all _____.
A: Fat

Needless to say, we were laughing hysterically.

The two cousin units are ludicrously cute. As evidence, note this conversation I had with Jackie on the ride up to Sunpeaks.

Parents in the front: We want to take the girls to Disneyland, but Jackie is an inch too short for most of the rides. mumblemumblemumble.

Jackie: Janice?

Jan: Yes?

Jackie: I keep trying to eat lots and lots, but I just can't grow that inch!

Happily, we measured her over the weekend, and she now only needs half an inch! Way to go Jackie!

So cute.

And then I Sez...

"I'm sorry, but pretty comes with an expiry date, and yours is up."

*Smart people go check my new pictures.*

It's the Twenty-Third

Y'all better be voting.

Uh Oh.

A new TV show, Skating with the Stars, is starting this week. It's pretty obvious that it's a rip-off of Dancing with the Stars (networks don't even try to pretend they aren't copying anymore), and as such, I'd assume it's pretty stupid. Because frankly, the "stars" are all somewhat mediocre actors, in general. B-listers, soap stars, oldtimers...not the people you see on the cover of US Weekly. Also, these types of shows usually make me uncomfortable; there's always at least one judge that's a raging witch, and demeans people incessantly for no reason, which is unpleasant to watch (except for when you do it, Janice Dickinson. Tyra, why did you send her away?), and seeing people humiliate themselves in front of millions (okay, thousands) of viewers is excruciating. So I will not be watching.

However, Kurt Browning is one of the pros on the show.

My love for him knows no bounds. But I cannot watch this show.

Thank god for internet summaries.

They Lied to Me About Basketball

It is a contact sport. Tonight we played two games, and I now have a chipped tooth (from being offensively fouled IN THE FACE) and a toenail that may fall off (that one was my shoes' fault. And to be fair, the offensive foul was by definiteion only; the poor girl clobbered her forehead on my mouth, I don't think it was terribly pleasant for her either).

The good news is, not only were my grad photos last week (thank god, as my lips are somewhat asymmetrical right now), but my dentist appointment was rescheduled to tomorrow morning, so hopefully they can do something about the tooth situation.

This is the most injured I've ever gotten during a sports event. My toe hurts, a lot, but it feels kinda cool to have an actual sports injury.

Grad photos.

So I got my hair done (it looked fabulous), and T did my make up (thank goodness. She makes me look lovely. I make me look...let's go with "odd"). So I looked very nice, relative to my everyday, and went to the studio. And now, thanks to Evangelos' on Broadway, there are pictures of me in a graduation gown...in front of a blue background. And "in" a library. And "in" a garden, a forest, a japanese palace, on someone's porch, in catacombs and leaning against a pillar made of foam. I'm holding a diploma, a diploma case, one rose, three roses, a bushel of roses, random books, and, in one priceless photo, my knee. We'll see how it goes when I get the prints back. And yes, I'm kidding about the Japanese palace.

But I'm not kidding about the catacombs.

Orikaso

This is so cool.

I'm a sucker for a good gimmick.

I'm going to travel this summer; I'll make it happen. I want to go to India, and Malaysia, and maybe Taiwan. I want to See the World. I'm a little scared of doing it alone, but I know it's not impossible, and I know I may not get another opportunity to do it in the near future.

And you know what? I'm bringing an Orikaso bowl, dammit!

Restaurant Review: Hon's Won Ton House

Hon's Won Ton House, Robson St.

I went with Kaisha last week, since we were looking for something cheap and light. And cheap it is! Light not so much. It's a huge place, fluorescent lighting and at the time at least, crazy Christmas decorations abound. They serve a ton of different Chinese dishes, including the titular won tons, congee, and dim sum. Kaisha had congee, while I had some won ton soup, and then we shared a siu mai (pork dumpling) dim sum steamer. The soup was okay, but the dim sum was oddly salty. Basically it was your typical mediocre Chinese food, but with supersized servings (not the dim sum) and low low prices (again, not the dim sum). It was meh, but if you want to feel full for cheap, then it's worth your time.

Thoughts Like This

I'm listening to Iron and Wine's cover of "Such Great Heights", which - thankfully - s not just a regurgitation of the same song through different vocal cords. It's soft and peaceful and so much more restrained than Postal Service's original, which to me has always been irrepressibly joyful.

As it's 12:08 am, and my brother no longer lives here, I'm the only person who's still conscious in the house; my parents are in bed already. It feels so restful to be alone, I wonder if this is why all my friends end up staying awake 'til 4 am; it's the only time we have to be alone. This and while I'm enroute to somewhere else. Even then I'm surrounded by people, but at least my anonymity affords me some illusion of solitude. Of course, I'm spending my alone time writing on my blog, which ostensibly is to other people, so I guess I fail a little, too.

I'll list some random facts about myself, because...because I feel like it.

My favourite member of the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants is Bridget, and the third book, Girls in Pants, makes me cry. I think Bee is my favourite because most of the time she's fearlessly marching into her future, marshalling it into what she wants with pure will without even realizing it, but sometimes she's frozen behind a wall of confusion, doubt, and apprehension about this world she's made for herself. It may also be because of her long yellow hair, which I alwasy wanted as a kid, and would have, if it wasn't for the fact that I'd look ludicrous.

Some of my friends are surprised when I'm cynical, and some of them are surprised when I miss an opportunity to say something cynical and instead say something nice. My good friends aren't surprised either way.

T once teased me for liking Jon Stewart, saying I wanted to marry him. I replied that if he were younger and taller (and of course, single, rather than happily married with a child) all he'd have to do is ask me. I was only half kidding.

I'm scared I won't get into grad school, even though I know if at first I don't succeed...

I've had several people tell me that if I don't meet someone to spend my life with, I'll end up a crazy cat lady. Which is partially true (you really think I'd limit myself to just cats?), but fingers crossed, it'll never happen.

I miss J, Girly, Tessa, Shakey and Mranda. I wish they were here.

While at work today, a couple from Seattle came in with their (Vancouverite) granddaughter. They've come in a few times, and I love them (we always chat), and when they found out I was graduating soon, they were so excited and congratulatory. It was a really nice feeling, but congratualtions upon graduating from university seem few and far between to me; it isn't an accomplishment, in my world. It's just what you do, and that's sad.

I'm half dreading graduation. I'll have to decide what to do, I won't see all my friends every day anymore, people will start moving away, I might move away. I have the best, best friends, and I don't want to see them fade away. I know they'll never disappear entirely, but I also know nothing will be the same.

I'm upsetting myself, and I'm tired. I need to sleep, and maybe read something happy. 'night, all. 'love.

What in the World?

There is a grocery/bulk store close to my high school that makes salad rolls I love, for the very affordable price of $1.99 each. They contain rice noodles, lettuce, and tofu, and come with this peanut dipping sauce that is divine. Since they're no longer so geographically convenient, when I'm in the area, I tend to grab one. Today, it turned out I was in the area at the same time as current high schoolers were out for lunch.

A few of said high schoolers, all girls, went to get salad rolls at the same time as I did, and one of them, a mouthy little tween, opened two of the peanut sauce containers, poured one into the other, and then replaced the lids, taking the now-full one and leaving the nearly-empty one on the shelf.

...What? Are you serious? They sauces are already portioned, you little brat, and you basically just stole from the store, since it says right on the shelf that extra sauces are 50 cents. Why do you think it's okay for you to just re-portion one for yourself?

I keep having to remind myself about the delayed development of the prefrontal cortex. But seriously. Agh.

Paging Futurephoto

Dear Futurephoto,

In the past, I have very much enjoyed your services; you're affordable, I can send in the digital files over the internet and crop my photos however I like, and I can have my prints sent to the bookstore at uni for free, which means I don't have to take a half-hour trek to your store to save $5. All in all, you and I have had a lovely relationship of mutual reciprocity.

Until now.

I ordered my photos on December 14th, Futurephoto, and you promised them to me by Christmas. In fact, I had two days to spare before meeting your "no longer guaranteed by Christmas" deadline. But you disappointed me, Futurephoto. There was no notification of my pictures being ready for pick up, no beautiful photos in my hand, ready to be embellished into scrapbook oblivion. Instead, on the 23rd, there was an apology letter, and it wasn't even personal, Futurephoto, it was a mass letter. A mail merge. How could you? I don't care how much money you offer me (thank you for your $10), you can't buy back my trust. Or rather, you could have, if you'd just give me the damn pictures already. Seriously, we're approaching a month, now. Did you forget about us? Even when Mariah Carey's song is playing on infinite loop on every radio station in North America? Well fine, I'll just shake it off. You're dead to me, Futurephoto. Dead.

Sincerely,
Jan

Restaurant Review: Mistral

Mistral is a new restaurant on Broadway and Vine, next door to such lauded establishments as Lumiere and Feenies (neither of which I've been to). It's a french restaurant, owned by the same people who once owned L'Emotion in West Vancouver, which was adored by my dad, but was never frequented by moi (I feel like using french words throughout, so I will). Anyhow, since we felt like going out to dinner (ie. giving maman a break from cooking), we decided to go check out Mistral.

With the appetizers, I...was not that impressed. As an appetizer, I had a plate of three different flavours of sauces/spreads. The anchovy-garlic dip was waaay too strong, and not in a good, anchovy-garlic way. It was supremely salty, and instead of having that great anchovy kick, you got a fishy aftertaste. Not pleasant. The cod spread was good on the croutons, but I could only take a very limited quantity of it. Like two bites. The olive tapenade, I'll admit, was awesome. The bro and papa ordered spinach soup to start, which was...really really bland. As the bro (who could only take about a third of the bowl) said, it was as if they'd blanched spinach, and then blended it. No seasoning, nothing. I would have been happier with some spinach sauteed with garlic.

The entrees were loads better. I had honey mussels in a saffrom cury sauce, which were amazing. The one drawback was that the mussels arrived already out of the shell. I personally love taking them out myself, but since I presume that it's meant as a courtesy, I can't really complain. The bro had veal, which also went down well, while my parents both enjoyed their entrees thouroughly (beef stew and...something else, I don't remember).

In the end, an okay dinner. To be fair, this is not an extravagantly priced restaurant (but it's not exactly affordable, either - $18 - $29 entrees), and the service was excellent, and hilarious (ah, les Francais). But if I were to go again, I'd skip the appetizers and go straight to the entrees.

98 in 976

Two more done! I love crossing things off lists, don't you?

6. Buy a digital SLR - Completed December 25th, 2005.

No, I did not go shopping on Christmas Day. Thanks to my incredible family, I don't have to! I am now the proud owner of a Nikon D50, and it is beautiful. Seriously, the amount of fun I'm having? Ridiculous.

47. Find a pair of heels I can wear all day - Completed December 26th, 2005.

Love Boxing Day this year; not only did I find several things I specifically wanted, but I didn't buy anything "just cause it's on sale". Take that, marketing fiends.

See 101 in 1001 for the full list.

The Haul

Anyone in Canada is well-versed in the custom of Boxing Day: basically, the day after Chrismas, all the stores put on massive sales. Some of them have such huge sales that people line up at the door starting at 9 pm Christmas day. Some of the stores you walk by on Boxing Day have line ups halfway around the block (hello, Coach). Basically, it's a ridiculous event of shopping, that was spawned of a holiday presumably given so everyone would have time to clean up after Christmas. Anyway, it used to be one day. Now it's become a full week. Generally, Boxing Day itself is pure retail insanity; stores packed with customers weaving their ways between the security guards who've been hired to contain the crowds. It's a spectacle to be sure, and the line ups for stores can be bizarre (why would you line up for Aritzia? Their sale is like $3 off the $245 jeans). And this year, J and I braved the storm.

On Boxing Day itself, I came out with 3 shirts from Buffalo (50% off everything) some body wash and moisturizer from the Body Shop, and some round-toed black pumps (tiny, tiny heel, which is perfect because it means I can walk, also, $55 at 50/5 off - wicked).

Today, I got a pair of Pumas ($50, 66% off - ie. $100. Whooo!), which is nice, because my shoe (non-)collection is severely lacking in any fields that don't include the words "flip flops".

All in all, not bad.

I still have a "last few days" entry in the works; I keep adding to it and never manage to finish it, but it's there, and it's coming.

Where Have I Been?

FINALLY I have a chance to post this. Everyone's back home! I don't know what to do with myself, there are so many people I love to see!

Girly's back! We went Christmas shopping together on the 22nd (less than twelve hours after my last exam was over. Yech), and managed to get some of the shopping under our belts, and some serious catching up, too. I also made these amazing mashed potatoes, with sour cream and cream cheese and parsley. Sooo good. They were for Kaisha's Christmas party, where we also had turkey, and then presents! I got pyjamas from T, a scarf from Mon, and a Lululemon headband and scrapbooking letter stamps from Kaisha!

On the 23rd I met up with Shakey, an old friend from the sorority who now lives in California. It was so great to see her, it's been over a year now! We always manage to cover everything that's happened since we last saw each other. And she gave me the cutest Christmas ornament! She told me she chose it for me, and that it was to convince me to visit. Upon opening it, I found a tiny palm tree, decorated for Christmas with presents under it and everything. It's very very cute, and a picture of it will be posted soon. Also, I'm definitely visiting.

After meeting with Shakey, it was off to West Van, because J had landed that morning, FINALLY. It was so great to actually see her, she still looks exactly the same, having left in September, all tanned, and returned in December, still tanned. Malaysia'll do that to ya.

Christmas Eve, I did some last-minute Christmas shopping, met up with J for a bit, and then headed to Girly's for our gift exchange and Christmas Eve dinner, which was a riot, as usual. I gave Niall these cool martini glasses that hold a deceptively high amount of actual martini, and Niall gave me a sparkly notepad and a necklace (when asked, I gave her the theme "pretty". Heh). Niall made little packages of cookies that were proclaimed "visual perfection" (as a joke), we downloaded and sang along to such Christmas classics as "I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas" "Six White Boomers" and "Dominic the Italian Donkey". It was awesome, and by the time I got home, it was technically Christmas Day.

Christmas Day was, as usual, great times. My dad, for the second year in a row, forwent the dreaded Christmas chart. Everyone liked their gifts, although I have to return the Bro's (he'd already bought it for himself, the brat. At least I know I have good taste). I have a pretty, pretty new camera named Pretty (from my parents and Santa, who've joined forces this year to bring me Pretty. I also received the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants DVD (yay!) and various edibles (mmm...edibles).

Boxing Day, as you know, I shopped with J. We also exchanged gifts; I gave her a shirt and a book about advertising (which is the field she works in, so it isn't entirely random. Also, it was an interesting book, that I may or may not have to quickly read before she flies off to Malaysia again), and she got me a shirt, a purse, a pendant and some earrings (I know, seriously got outmatched by her and her Malaysian purchases. Dammit).

Since then, I've bascailly been a blur of hanging out with J, partying at the Buffalo Club with my girls, chilling at Peek's post-Christmas party and, sadly for my visa, shopping. which must. stop. Luckily, today I'll be seeing the Kits crew, who I haven't seen in way too long, and I'm going back to work tomorrow, so wooo income! Just in time for tuition. Yeesh.

I love Christmas time. Everyone's home, and it's a whirlwind of fun.

Merry Christmas!

Hey y'all! I hope you're having a great break! So far, mine's been great! I'll write a full recap later, but just wanted to wish all a wonderful time!

Restaurant Review: Candia's

Candia's (Taverna?) is a small Greek-Italian restaurant on West 10th Avenue. Sekke and I decided to go for some food nearer to the end of the exam period, since we were both so sick of campus food that anything, ANYTHING would do, and it had the benefit of being quite affordable.

The decor of the place is...novel. Honestly, it's like being inside of a cuckoo clock. Dark, cabin-like wood everywhere, accented by out-of-place African-looking tapestries, apple topiaries and light in the shapes of vegetables. The table we were seated at was pretty small, and for some reason our seats lacked cushions. It was still pretty comfortable, though.

Our server was new, I presume, since she said she "didn't really know the menu", which...yeah. Anyway, we both got pasta, garlice bread and salad for 8.95. And it was okay, but not exceptional. The salad seemed like it was Kraft dressing poured over lettuce (wet lettuce. Candia? Salad spinner), which frankly is a little shabby. But the pasta was okay, and if they'd screwed up the garlic bread, I doubt they'd still be in business.

Basically, it's not bad, but with so many great, also affordable places along 10th (the pho noodle place, Burgoo, sushi) I'd head somewhere else any day.

Freedom!

I have finally, finally finished my last exam. Huge props for Sekke, who with an almost as crappy exam schedule, studied with me nearly the whole way. We were getting pretty punchy by the end of it, but seriously, who wouldn't? Especially last night, when the entire library was empty except for us two and the girl who, hilariously, got the hiccups and then said "excuse me" after each one. At leat with Sekke there, I wasn't completely alone. Of course, she still finished her exams like 7 hours before I did. Bitch.

Tomorrow, Christmas shopping and dinner at Kaisha's. Yay!

100 in 987

One down, one hundred to go!

77. Construct the “J-Bird and Sekke Family Tree” Spanning back a minimum of 3 generations. - Completed December 13th, 2005.

Made it as a card/gift for Sekke's birthday. We are the proud relations of such eminent world citizens as Gary Coleman, Dakota Fanning, Jackie Chan, and Mulan.

Definitely Christmas

This morning, I woke up feeling dessicated (my room is like an arid desert, and I have no idea why), and went downstairs to make some breakfast. I started singing Britney Spears' Christmas song (As Tessa knows, I seem to have some sort of pre-ordained love for pop star Christmas songs).

Santa can you hear me?
I have been so good this year

To which my lovely mother says "Yeah, you've been SORT OF good."

Thanks mom.

Halfway through my breakfast, and apparently after some thought on her part, she let a little bit of Christmas cheer in with "Okay, you've been pretty good this year."

One Under My Belt

Well, my inaugural exam is now over; that leaves me two to go. Yech. In better news, I successfully poached an egg today! Two eggs, actually, which leads me to believe that it wasn't a fluke. I'm excited because poached is one of the few ways I like eggs. AND I got them to perfect firmness (ie. not very). It was a beautiful moment, which I would have photographed, but that would have meant my breakfast would be cold. And do you really think I would let my first poached eggs get cold?

Tonight was also the viewing of the perennial Christmas classic, A Charlie Brown Christmas. My favourite non-sensical clip is when Charlie Brown pays Lucy for his therapy, and she raves over the sound of the moeny in her tin, and says "snickly snickle, snickle". What in the world is a snickle? I'm so going to say that from now on.

Well, back to the books; tomorrow I'm taking a break from studying to attend three (three!) Christmas parties. This means I have to study today, but it also means I can look forward to tomorrow!

A Well Deserved "YEAH ya Did!"

St. Andrew's Episcopal School, in Austin, Texas, was told by a donor that if they didn't remove the short story Brokeback Mountain (which the movie is based on, so...gay cowboys) from it's library, they could consider themselves out of the 3 million dollars he was going to donate.

And you know what they did? They decided to keep the book.

Which in itself blows my world, but it's also started a new collective of writers. So check out AS IF! (Authors Support Intellectual Freedom). And don't forget to send out mental props to the St. Andrew's Episcopal School.

Commercials I Enjoy

I agree that most tv ads are preposterous wastes of airspace. I mean, how many ads do you encounter that actually make you think "Wow, I should totally buy that Swiffer!" In fact, the only ads that really motivate me to buy something are infomercials, with their amazing demos and insanely over-enthused spokespeople. And even then I don't buy them.

However, some of them are funny. Funny in the way that I will watch them again and again. In fact, if I'm flipping channels idly, and come across one of these, I'll stop for the duration of the commercial. Robitussin, Swiffer? Not among these. Here's a brief list of some that are.

Febreze - The one with the baby toys/dog toys
If you haven't seen this ad, you need to. Basically, this lady cleans all these little toys off the floor, then sprays the carpet with Febreze. She puts the bottle back in the cupboard, and when she turns around, all the toys are face down on the floor, including this insane-looking money. In my mind, the crazy implication that the floor smells so good that stuffed animals love it is pretty inventive in itself, but the deal-clincher for me is the close-up shot of the monkey, who looks bat-shit crazy. Seriously, that is the cutest little homicidal monkey ever.

Trident - Did you say filing?
Basically, this guy working ina cubicle is given a stack of files to...file, and the whole office breaks out into a song and dance about filing. There are spirit fingers, dolphin dives, and theatrical faces. It's pure genius, and when it went off the air, I cried a little.

Fido - What if cell phones didn't exist? pigeon edition
There are no cell phones, and everyone is using carrier pigeons to communicate. Pigeons are everywhere, and there's this one hysterical moment with employees cooing to the pigeons, telling them to "fly home!"

There are more (there's a car ad in which a guy gets his blackberry thrown out the window by his jerk of a "friend", and then turns around and throws the guy's toupee out the window), but there's no hope of me ever remembering them all. Anyway, it's nice to know that in all that garbage, you can find the occasional gem.

Grumbles in the Tummy Area

This morning I woke up, and everything seemed fine. Then I got out of bed, and voila! My gastrointestinal system decided to vent its anger at...the state of the world? All I know is, when I got up this morning I felt green-at-the-gills kind of sick. Not to the point where I was going to throw up, it was more of a "Hello? Hi, this is your digestive system, giving you a friendly warning that any missteps on your part are very, very discouraged. And don't worry about forgetting, this is a constant reminder. We'd feel bad if you forgot."

Needless to say, my morning was excellent. I hate it when my organs get all self-important. Good thing I found some oatmeal for lunch, that shut it up good.

Girly

A few days ago, I was furiously looking for my Charlie Brown Christmas CD. I didn’t end up finding it; instead, I found a few of many remixes I burned at Girly’s house this summer. While I burned a lot of CD’s, it seems I didn’t label many of them, so I popped them into my CD-ROM drive one by one. After all, I was sure to encounter at least a few songs I wanted on my iPod. And I did; remember Breakfast at Tiffany’s? Gone til November? Blinded by the Light?

It’s funny how just flipping through the first 5 seconds of a song can still bring back memories; not eventful, big memories, either. Blinded by the Light recalls the scene of Girly and her brother (over)excitedly discussing the various remixes of the song they’d found, and then head-bopping and lip-syncing to the words. Not very epic, is it? And yet this is what my mind has selected to remember.

Just like any 98 Degrees song will always remind me of her house in high school. I used to spend a lot of time at Girly’s house, and she went through a phase of infatuation with the boys of 98 Degrees. I’m not joking; there were CD’s bought, posters hung up, specials watched, all to satisfy this obsession of hers. My most vivid memory involving the band doesn’t even have anything to do with their music. At a party, her brother’s friend untacked one of the 98 posters, and re-tacked it upside down as a joke. Girly freaked out. She walked in the room, noticed the drunken, mischievous look on his face, looked around suspiciously, sighted the poster, took a deep breath and reamed him out. She was mad. The guy would probably have been pretty intimidated; Girly has some pretty strong “intimidation” genes in her family. Unfortunately, when Girly gets mad, her voice rises three octaves (to what my brother likes to call “the Hamster”), and this was before her growth spurt, so instead of a scary creature of wrath, the guy was looking at a 5-foot tall cute little girl he’d known since she was three who was shrieking just barely within the range of human hearing.

Another one of the songs I found on the mix CD’s was Colin Hay’s Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You. I’ll just give you a sampling of the lyrics, so you know what I’m talking about here:

I don't want you thinking I'm unhappy
What is closer to the truth
That if I lived till I was 102
I just don't think I'll ever get over you

Anyway, it’s a very pretty, if incredibly depressing, song. However, whenever I hear it it makes me smile, or if I’m feeling particularly reminiscent, giggle a little. See, the first time I heard this was the day after I was dumped a guy I was completely in love with; I left for Girly’s house the second I woke up that day, cried on a good portion of the bus ride (it was summer, thank goodness, so I was wearing sunglasses the entire time), and promptly climbed into her bed and bawled upon arrival. I’m guessing she decided to turn on iTunes so I (or more likely for her benefit) wouldn’t have to hear my crying as the soundtrack for the day. It was a good plan; iTunes has that handy “Shuffle” setting, so I could just lie there and cry while listened sympathetically, and the trusty computer would keep on playing.

At one point, though, the as-of-then-unheard-by-me strains of Colin Hay kicked in. I was in one of my crying lulls, and had retired into a period of quiet despair, so there was no crying to drown out the lyrics. I think Girly had zoned out a little, which is understandable, as I’d woken her up at 7 am or something equally unreasonable to cry all over her pillow and hog half of the (twin) bed. So I’m listening to what he’s saying, not wanting to move or ask Girly to change it, because I felt bad for being such a pain. So I sat there, just feeling more and more awful, until finally I said something.

“Um…Girly? Do you think you could change the song?”
“Huh? What are we-Oh my god! I’m so sorry!” She lunged to turn it off, yelping as she stubbed her toe and nearly tripping over the chair into a face plant.
“That’s okay” I said (I’m willing to bet I sounded pretty pitiful).

I spent the entire day at her house. She made me toast, which I didn’t eat. She later got mad at her brother for eating my (by then, cold) toast, at which point he carefully put it back on the plate and made a sad, apologetic face at me. Her mom came down and gave me a hug, and then her mom’s best friend came down and gave me a hug. Both these things made me cry. Her dad stayed away, except once in the morning to tell us it was beautiful outside, and ask if we would like to sit on the porch, to which I said “not yet”.

By afternoon, I went out on the porch, into the sun, and just watched the people walk by. Girly had been helping her mom with some of the guestrooms (her house is a Bed and Breakfast), and within about five minutes she came out to join me on the porch.

“Hey, you’re outside! …You know, you’re going to be fine. I promise.”
“I know.”
“What the hell is that lady wearing?”
“I know.”

So I Just Don’t Think I’ll Ever Get Over You, while sad and sweet, is like pressing play on the memory of Girly nearly killing herself to turn off what, if left alone, would have been just another love song. It’s a pretty funny image, as is the one of her brother’s realization that he was eating my toast, and the memory of the hideous outfit that lady was wearing. And considering how I felt, I think it’s pretty bloody amazing that I can laugh at the memory of anything at all from that day.

And even though I’m a Backstreet Boys girl at heart, always have been and always will be, I’m probably stuck with this soft spot for 98 Degrees forever.

Miscellany

Kaisha and I went to dim sum today, and let me tell you, there is no better way to start a study day than with dim sum. Mmmmm. Studying, on the other hand, was possibly more tedious than ever; I'm not sure if I just hit the wall early on, or if I really was reading the most boring material yet. Either way, here's praying it's better tomorrow.

This week I've been averaging four chapters a day, which I think is pretty good, but my god was today difficult. I only got three chapters in today, but I'm going to try to force myself through another one, since a chapter read now is a chapter that I don't need to read later.

In other news, I tried to go Christmas shopping today. I knew what I wanted to buy, but when I went to get it at a "discount" store, it was $5 more than at the normal retailer! What is that all about? Clearly, I didn't buy it. Sigh. Looks like all my Christmas shopping will be done on Christmas Eve after all.

You Can Tell I've Had a Big Day When...

Right now, as I type, the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show is on TV. Anyone familiar with the geography of my house knows that since I'm writing this, I'm also not watching. Granted, I could probably watch it in the interests of research for the hot underwear I need to buy in the next 998 days or so. However, there are far more efficient ways to peruse underwear, and they don't involve hours on end of way too thin models walking (or, from what I've heard of past shows, floating on wires) down the runway. And god knows that the items being sashayed down the catwalk cost more than I'm willing to pay.

IToday I managed to read two chapters of clinical psychology, and two of memory. The clinical psychology book is awfully written. It's not just that it's boring; boring is somewhat expected in a textbook. It's the amazing violations of the rules of the English language that I find so irritating. Some sentences are so bad that I wonder if the editor was even fluent in English. I don't think it's too much to ask that an academic text be written in proper English, but it would seem this is just me.

In contrast, the "text" for my memory psychology class is really interesting; It's titled Searching for Memory, by Daniel Schacter, and is written in more of a "popular non-fiction" than academic format. It helps that I love this class, of course. But seriously, go read this book. There's some crazy stuff our brains will do. Also, this book? Completely grammatical!

Clinical, Memory, Relationships

That's the order of my exams. Which don't start until the 16th. You would think that this would mean that since I have so much time to study, I could just make myself a nice, leisurely study schedule, and follow it straight to A-ville. Alas, no such luck. What it means is that I've made myself a schedule, and what with the immense lack of urgency, I have to fight the urge to pracrastinate at every turn of the page. It doesn't help that as clinical is the first exam, it is what I'm studying first, and also the most boring.

Other than this, however, I've had a pretty good day. I got to see the almost-always-absent T, who was sick this morning and therefore got the day off, which was nice. And even further back in the day, my mummy made me breakfast! And I got to have diner with Peek. So not all bad. But I definitely need to get these exams over with - reading this text book makes me feel like my brain is being slowly transformed into cream of wheat. Ew, I can't believe I just made that up. I need to sleep.

If I dream about clinical psychology, you'll be hearing from me in the morning.

It's Begining to Look a Lot Like...

It was snowing all day today! I love seeing snow falling; it's beautiful and gets an automatic happy response out of me. Anyhow, in honour of it being December, the snow, and the general Christmasiness outside, I've made a Christmas playlist on my iPod of all my favourites:

All I Want for Christmas - Mariah Carey [my favourite Christmas song ever]
The Chipmunk Song - Alvin and the Chipmunks [obviously]
Christmas Song - Christina Aguilera [...yeah. I have no explanation]
Six White Boomers - Rolf Harris [If you don't know this song, you need to hear it. It is sheer genius]
Newfie Christmas - Great Big Sea [recommended by the lovely Tessa. Need you know more? I thought not.]
Christmas Medley - Sarah McLachlan and Barenaked Ladies [love both these musical units, and love the song]
Christmas Wrapping - Waitresses
Santa Baby - Eartha Kitt
Run Rudolph Run - Bryan Adams [because I thought I needed more Canadians. Heh.]
Baby Please Come Home - U2 [what's a holiday without a little Bono?]
Simply Having a Wonderful Christmas Time - Paul McCartney
Twelve Days of Christmas - Muppets [ah, Muppet Christmas Carol. Classic cinema.]
Christmas Song - Dave Matthews [not the same song as Aguilera's]
Silent Night - Enya [I think. What? I can't quite tell!]

Note: this list excludes the entire Charlie Brown Christmas CD, which, in its entirety, is tied with All I Want for Christmas as my all-time favourite

101 in 1001.

The idea is that these are 101 things I've set out for myself to achieve in 1001 days. In other words, I have to complete these by August 31st, 2008. I'll update as I progress - here we go!


1. Buy hot underwear I can wear every day. - Completed December 2007
2. Go to at least three new restaurants, and review on Never Reason.
3. Take a photography course. - Completed February-March 2006.
4. Take a cooking class/learn to cook at least 3 new entrees. - Completed God Knows When.
5. Learn to sew at least from a pattern.
6. Buy a digital SLR. - Completed December 25th, 2005.
7. Read Proust (not all his works, necessarily, but at least something).
8. Work in a psych lab, and identify at least three things I’d like to study. - Completed at some point.
9. Get my undergraduate degree. - Completed June 2006.
10. Write letters to all my babies, Peek, Kaisha, Sekke, and anyone else.
11. Get a physical.
12. Visit friends who live abroad. - I visited Jo in Malaysia and Ally in Singapore. I'm not done visiting everyone, but hey, it's a start.
13. Make a will, and write letters in case.
14. Finish my scarf.
15. Learn to make classy chicken
16. Write more, not just in journal; short story, mini essays, whatever.
17. Go to the chocolate buffet in Sutton Place.
18. Have high tea in Bacchus w/ Trina.
19. Finish at least 2 scrapbooks – ie. Up to the end of Uni.
20. Shoot one amazing photograph that I love. - Completed in India.
21. Go to Daiso, and buy something I can actually use.
22. Attend a professional (or World) sports event.
23. Buy something off an infomercial.
24. Go on a picnic, with a picnic basket and everything.
25. Skate on a frozen water-mass (lake, canal, whatever).
26. Go to Malaysia and climb the huge mountain with the sherpas. - Completed August 25th, 2006.
27. Find the biggest flower in the world, quickly take a picture, and then leave. Quickly.
28. Ride the London Eye.
29. Buy a pastry from Galerie Lafayette.
30. Build a website.
31. Make a list of places to see, eat and shop for when ppl visit Vancouver.
32. Take the SkyTrain through every station.
33. Get something I wrote published.
34. Learn to kayak.
35. Become unbroken. - Completed. As is the case with these things, there's no date of completion, it just happened.
36. Acquire the entire Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. - Completed January 2007.
37. Buy the following DVDs: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Scrubs. - Completed January 2007.
38. Learn to cook mum’s steamed trout.
39. Learn to cook mum’s moo shoo pork. - Completed September 2006.
40. Back up all digital photos and store the CDs in a safe place.
41. Bake three new kinds of dessert, and have them turn out the way they should.
42. Host a dinner party. - Completed September 2007.
43. Learn to do my own makeup (for both every day and going out).
44. Save $50 a month for one year continuously. - Completed. Thanks to TD Bank, this gets done for me automatically.
45. Buy myself some fabulous, classic jewelry.
46. Get a pet.
47. Find a pair of heels that
a) look really good
b) I can walk, run, dance in for hours. - Completed December 26th, 2005.
48. Get my tube top mended.
49. Go to a concert - Completed November 25th, 2006 - Rolling Stones
50. Take the GRE. - Completed May and July 2007.
51. Go on a real road trip.
52. Not use my credit card for three months (exception: tuition)
53. Visit K. - Completed May 2006, and May 2008.
54. Fall in love (again).
55. Get a queen-sized bed.
56. Get a really nice bedframe I can see myself having for the rest of my life.
57. Create and follow a budget for one month. - Completed May 2008.
58. Prior to and following the “budget month”, not go buy buy buy to “make up for it”. - Completed June 2008.
59. Go to the Art Gallery. - Completed May 2007.
60. Buy new glasses that don’t make me look twelve. - Completed July 2006, in Delhi.
61. Attend a taping of the Daily Show/Oprah.
62. Take surfing lessons.
63. Give blood.
64. Clean and purge my room, including all drawers, shelves and closets. And the hammock chair.
65. Learn to curl my own hair so it looks good. - Completed September 2007.
66. Ride a roller coaster.
67. Spend a day with mummy doing stuff we both find fun.
68. Buy a nice pair of pants that aren’t jeans. - Completed January 2007.
69. Learn (teach myself) to pipe icing.
70. Have one week where every day, I feel hot.
71. Figure out what my credit rating is.
72. Create an action plan to improve credit rating, and stick to it.
73. Make a pinata, fill it with candy, and bash it good.
74. Finish and develop the waterproof camera from Penticton 2005.
75. Redesign/upgrade Never Reason.
76. Send a parcel, wrapped up in brown paper and everything.
77. Construct the “J-Bird and Sekke Family Tree” Spanning back a minimum of 3 generations. - Completed December 13th, 2005.
78. Tell one person (other than Peek) “I’m busy that day”.
79. Learn to shoot a basketball again.
80. Watch My Neighbour the Totoro again, and figure out the plot beyond "Furry lumpy things”.
81. Practice cursive enough that it isn’t ugly and slow.
82. Take a luxurious bubble bath/bath bomb bath, and moisturize right after.
83. Cross-country ski.
84. Go for a decadent dinner with girlfriends, where we get dressed up and dine in style. - Completed January 2007.
85. Photograph a portrait and have it look great (they can look good, or the photo can be good). - Completed July 2006, in Jaisalmer.
86. Ride the seabus.
87. Ride the skytrain all the way around.
88. Finish my current journal and start a new one. - Completed December 2006.
89. Learn more about my mom’s youth.
90. Make and share a chocolate fondue.
91. Switch my old stereo for something more compact. - Deemed unnecessary, will replace stereo when it doesn't work anymore.
92. Read Wicked. - Completed May 2006.
93. Have a snowball fight.
94. Write 1 letter about good service.
95. Invest in the stock market. - Completed November 2006.
96. Get a good strapless bra.
97. Get a good tshirt bra. - Completed October 2006.
98. Have a “day at the spa”. - Completed December 2006.
99. Flirt with a cute stranger. - Completed May 2006.
100. Purge jewelry drawer and get a jewelry box. - Completed October 2007.
101. Make hot chocolate, and have it with tiny marshmallows and cheerios.

Last updated February 15th, 2008.

Crackle!

Crackle!, originally uploaded by Never Reason.

Tonight I made chocolate crackles. Not only do they look lovely, but they taste divine as well. And this, ladies and gentleman, is the first Martha Stewart recipe I've actually made. And they look just like the picture in the magazine! Well played, Martha. Well played.

Conversations Span the Globe

Jan and J - Vancouver to Kuala Lumpur

J-Bird: Why the hell don't you live in Vancouver and still work at Guess so I could get 50% off?! And also, when do you get home?
J: Um...I'm sorry? And on the 23rd.
J-Bird: I've fallen in love. And not with a guy.
J: ...With the jacket?
Jan: It's beautiful.



J: Uh, J-Bird?
J-Bird: Hey, how was your weekend?
J: I...spent $2300.
J-Bird: What!? How? It's $2300 dollars!
J: I got paid, and I needed work clothes, and a coat for when I get home.
J-Bird: Please tell me you bought more than that.
J: I got a cellphone. It's so cool!
J-Bird: Sweet jaisus.
J: Don't worry, I already got you your Christmas present.
J-Bird: That's not what I'm concerned about! Well, at least I don't feel bad for buying the jacket.
J: Wait, you bought the jacket!? I thought you said it was too expensive!
J-Bird: I'm sorry, I couldn't hear you over the sound of $2300 coming out of your bank account IN ONE DAY.
J: Whatever. You bought the jacket?!
J-Bird: It's SO pretty.



J-Bird and Girly - Vancouver to Montreal

Girly: So coffee; good idea, bad idea?
J-Bird: Well, only if coffee means "meet up while you're wearing your fantabulously hot shirt"
Girly: Haha. So what're you doing for Christmas shopping?
J-Bird: Oh god, I don't want to talk about it.
Girly: Why are parents so hard to buy for?
J-Bird: Oh I don't know. Maybe it's because they ask for things like tape measures, pruning shears and brooms.
Girly: No, that's why your parents are hard to buy for.
J-Bird: Thanks.
Girly: Whereas my parents want me to spend more time with them. While I'm living in Montreal.
J-Bird: We should just give them pinatas of our faces.
Girly: You're insane.
J-Bird: I prefer creative.

Snow Love Hate

It snowed last night. Now, I love snow. I love the whiteness, and the hush it puts over everything, and the clothes people wear. It also makes me love my duvet more than ever.

What I do not love is how this city reacts to snow. We got 5 cm, people! That's 2 inches, for any Americans out there. So please, explain how it is that after 5 cm of snow, buses are sliding across intersections, delayed, disabled, and can't make it up hills? Have you never heard about snow tires? Chains? These are not new developments! And drivers: I understand that snow is not a common occurrence in this city, but it's not the apocalypse. Stop driving at 15 km/h. And the rest of you, stop driving at 70. Look behind you; there's no one there. Slow down.

Also, UBC, you know your drainage issues? Why do they get a frajillion times worse when it snows? And why, when Plant Operations shovels the walks, do they form snow walls around puddles, creating miniature lakes at every crosswalk? And why is it that instead of shoveling the snow in central places like the bus loop, you spend your time clearing Koerner library, and allow the rest of campus to become a huge slushball? Why don't you use your tiny snow plows more in the morning, instead of waiting until 5 pm like today?

Vancouver: why does UBC have more snow plows than you do?

And mom? Please stop stealing my pretty snow clothes - I know you have my hat. It's pretty and soft and warm and it has a bow and I want it back. Now. And also, remember that time you left my favourite shoes outside and racoons ate them? I've decided, since they no longer make those shoes, that you can replace them with warm, fuzzy boots. And they have to be cute.

Election, Anyone?

Rrring! Rrring!

J-Bird: Hello?
Campaigner: Hi, I'm calling from the office of Stephen [crackly sound], [crackly sound]rty candidate for your riding, we believe that soon the government will fall and wanted to know if we could count on your vote in the upcoming election?
J-Bird: I'm sorry, you're calling for Stephen who? (Note: both the conservative and liberal candidates for my riding have Stephen as their first name)
Campaigner: Stephen Rogers. Of the Conservative Party.
J-Bird: Oh. Uh...No. You can't.
Campaigner: ...Oh.
J-Bird: ...Yeah. Um, thanks for calling!

A Bunch of Little Stuff

I'm currently working on my 101 in 1001 list. It's taking me a bloody long time to find 101 things.

I'm addicted to Sudoku. Seriously.

I have Bombay Dreams songs in my head. (Shakalaka baby, shakalaka baby...)

I'm having another one of those phases where I feel all pensive and less bubbly than usual. But It's okay, cause I know it'll pass.

Less than a month til J and Girly are back! Yay!

I have a paper due on Thursday, and I haven't started.

I may, without even having read, have fallen in love with Queer Eye Carson Kressley's new book You're Different and That's Super!

It's almost Christmas! And I love Christmas!

Baby Did a Bad, Bad Thing...

Marciano bag, originally uploaded by Never Reason.

It's not black, though. (If you hadn't guessed, I bought the jacket.)

I Need a Plumber!

My house is currently suffering from an odor problem. Namely, it smells like sewage. Not everywhere; my room, for example, is thankfully free of the stank. But the scent wafts throughout the main floor of the building, coming from the basement, into which I refuse to venture. I did it at the beginning of this whole mess (yesterday), and since I found nothing, I clearly shouldn't be in charge of the second sweep.

The problem is, nothing looks wrong down there; if it weren't for the obvious smell, and the fact that the toilets are tripping out and only half-flushing every once in a while, everything seems normal. Except that I'm now scared to use our toilets (what if, when I flush, it finally gets to be too much and our pipes explode into grossness all over the basement?). And scared to shower (do the toilets and the shpwers use separate pipes? Or the same ones? What if showering could cause the unhygienic explosion?). I figure at this point, a good portion of the perks of living in a house have been negated. I'm basically living in a heated, exceptionally-furnished but non-operational port-o-potty.

For the love of god, get me a plumber.

Fog Rolls In...

There's fog all over the city. Thick fog, like dry ice sublimating. I've always liked fog - walking through fog like this is like walking in a void, where you're hidden by a huge blanket. When you do see objects, they seem more significant for their cloaks. And the air is heavy and wet and feels thicker.

The fog is supposed to stay for a while; I'm going to try to take pictures of it.

I Keep on Falling

When I go shopping, I'm generally perfectly happy with the slightly-above-what-I-would-call-reasonably-priced stores such as Jacob, RW&Co, and the sales racks at Banana Republic and Guess. I'm told that I'm kind of cheap, when it comes to clothes, although I don't think I am at all; it seems to me the people telling me this are way too spendy ($300 on jeans? I don't care who made them, hell no). But lately, I've noticed that every once in a while I seem to fall in love with items I see when browsing with my less cost-conscious friends in pricier stores; falling in deep, obsessive, longing love.

Over the summer, it was a skirt; an oh-so-pretty skirt from Bebe, below the knee (they make things below the knee! The new Bebe: not all skanky), yards of cloth, a reddish pink, with embroidered detailing all over and a sash. I loved it. While T marveled at the bejeweled jeans (I admit it, a month before it was the new thing), I lamented to Kaisha about the price of my skirt - $135. Not including tax. My skirt and I bed a fond goodbye, and we parted ways.

In August, however, we returned to the store, and lo and behold, the skirt was on sale! I have to give Bebe its due; they know how to put things on sale. I walked out with my skirt for a mere $45, tax included. And wore it to a wedding later that month.

Friday, I went shopping with Kaisha and T again. Kaisha and I took a look through Guess before meeting up with T. Generally, I find a few things in the store to earmark for the sales rack later on. Friday I found nothing. The whole store was completely bleagh, until I got to the back where I found...this (but in all black).

I'm completely in love again.

Unexpected Guests

What lives in your sink?, originally uploaded by Never Reason.

So last night, I get home, go to the kitchen to fix myself a snack, and hear a scrabbling noise. Look in the sink, and behold! My mum has six live crabs chilling out in there. They weren't so impressed with my arrival however; got a little snappish when I came too close.

I love my family.

Damn, I'm Mouthy! (250!)

250, people! This is post number two hundred and fifty! Which means three things:

1) I type a lot.
2) There's a strong possibility I have far too much time on my hands.
3) It's time I introduced a new, exciting aspect to the blog, so behold...

(look to the right hand side of the page)

the Flickr badge! That's right, I have added photo (and what limited video you see in the badge) to NeverReason! If you can't see it, get Flash, people. Seriously. This is the 21st century we're in. Join the party. And to see all my pictures, in larger, less squinty format, click on the "what is this?" and then Never Reason.

I'll write more later today, I promise. However, it took me a long, long time to cajole my computer into letting this work, so I'm going to take a break and bask in the glory, and in the Oprah. See? Nothing's really changed.

Bruised

Ow. I am at my most battered in a long time. I generally live a fairly delicate life; no contact sports, no heavy lifting...you get the picture. Tonight, I type before you a wounded woman. Not as a result of impact sports; no, although the last few days have also been my most athletic in a long time, with the exception of a broken nail (which no, I do not include in my inventory of injuries), I emerged from them unscathed. No, these bruises have been inflicted by The Cafe.

Yeah, you heard me. A Cafe/family breakfast place has beaten me into submission. This is probably where some of you are starting to think I'm just using "beaten" as a metaphor for "exhausted", but I'm serious. I have bruises, people!

So how did I get them? Mopping. Not by me, mind you - peripheral character mopping. Basically, the boys in the back (ie the kitchen crew) were mopping the place. When the floors of the cafe are wet, they get very very slippery. We're talking slip'n'side here. And I bailed. Full on, landed horizontal on my left-side, bailed. On my iPod mini. Which, thank god, lives up to its claimed sturdiness. But my body? Does not. I am bruised to the bejeesus. And my ankle really hurts.

Ow.

Stay tuned for the 250th NeverReason post! That's right, 250! Right after the break.

Good News!

After three consecutive "passes", I now need only go in for pap smears once every two years! Oh, wonderful day!

Of course, that's assuming I'm a nun for the next two years. If otherwise, smear me up. I'm all for taking care of myself, people.

here's reminding you to go take care of yo'selves too

Muffin is the Word!

Tonight, I have completed a challenge; the A-Maze-ing Team Challenge. This is a time-honoured tradition of garbage-bag mazes, shooting adversaries with pingpong balls, and memorizing Mr. Potatohead configurations (among other things). And not only did we complete the challenge, we WON the challenge, baby! That's right, undefeated throughout the events, after head to head playoffs, we came out so on top!

As I mentioned, a garbage-bag maze is involved; a more detailed description is necessary, which will now be supplied (to you, my enthralled readers. Heh). The maze is made up of various wooden frames covered in orange plastic mesh (these make the walls). This entire structure is covered in garbage bags, making it basically pitch black inside, and then smoke machines pump smoke in the whole thing, making it even harder to see. The maze is only about four feet high, which means you have to run around in it hunched over. Objects are hidden throughout the maze (at least two teams are going at a time, the objects are colour-coded), that have to be retrieved by team members in the maze (armed with flashlights, thank goodness). In the preliminary round, each person must get one item, in a relay setup. We got the 2nd best time overall in the prelims, which should have warned us we were about to rock the whole thing; after completing the other stations (I'd describe them entirely too if I wasn't sure you'd all just get up and leave if I did), we advanced to semifinals, which were head to head against another team. We won handily, getting ourselves to finals.

Finals were a little different; three objects to retrieve, three flashlights, six people in the maze at once, everyone had to be outside the maze to win. The objects were as follows - a pingpong ball duct taped to the floor, a baton also taped to the floor, and a hockey bag weighing over 100 lbs. As another round was occuring, our team got together to strategize; we decided to stay in pairs (so no one was wandering in the dark). After some more discussion, I came up with the idea that we should have a safety word; if all the objects were found and outside the maze, but team members were still in the maze, those members outside would yell the safety word to let those inside know that they should just get the hell outside. We decided on the word "muffin", for it's distinguishability, and guarded our word closely, so the other team wouldn't hear and use it against us.

Finals start: we all enter the maze, and myself and my partner couldn't find a single one of our items. We found every item that belonged to the other team, but not one of ours. We're running frantically through the maze, trying to find these things, when we hear our team mates yelling "MUFFIN! MUUUUUFFFFFIIINNNN!!!" at the top of their lungs. We were a little lost at this point, but after some handy teamwork between myself and my partner, we were outside, and the CHAMPIONS!!!

Which is why, of course, muffin is the word.