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.