hats make it more fun!
I wore my pin-striped hat out on the town last night and had a great evening despite being a cripple – i think crutches may be my next big fashion investment although neoprene braces are pretty stylish.
Veronica and i, the latter adorned with stunning fake eyelashes that aren’t worn nearly enough, took much time and effort preparing and debating for dinner. We decided to go to EAST on Queen St. near John. The wait wasn’t too long for a table, the decor was nice, the service was timely (except for Veronica’s water refill) and the food scrumptuous. The wonton soup was GREAT. I loved the broth and there were many wontons filled with meatie goodness floating in the bowl. It was an appetizer that could have been shared.
I had unique satay pad thai, which was tasty. To get the “house” version, with 3 shrimp added to the chicken, was an extra dollar. I’m not sure it was worth it. I don’t really consider prawns with their tails on to be chopstick food and earlier in the evening i had cut two fingers open… so the satay pad thai sauce on my bandaids was not fun. I enjoyed the meal very much, but think i would try something else next time.
Veronica ordered a mango tango chicken plate – breaded chicken, mango strips and a sweet sauce with other mixed veggies. It was very tasty and she said that she would like go for that order again.
I ordered a coconut milkshake for dessert (yummy) and we have decided that their dessert menu merits a visit in and of itself.
After that, we had a little time to kill, so we wandered into Chapters to purchase books 2 and 3 of the His Dark Materials trilogy. I controlled by bookbuying tendencies for once – the move is expensive and, well, the books are taking up the vast majority of the van (and Veronica dissuaded me – thanks DOLL!). I WANT, NEED, Can’t live without the book on the revitilization of Sade studies and erotica by Roger Shattuck, my favourite author who writes on Proust, and a collection of the interviews given by Primo Levi that was on sale for all of $6. Sniff! I left them behind.
We met up with Harley, Skrud and their two other teammates from an engineering conference, Eric and Alexei, at Smokeless Joes – a pub on John. The pub is pretty small, but a lot of the crowd filtered out after we had been there about 30 minutes. It’s in the basement, but the decor is nice and pubbie and they have over 250 beers available. There were three i liked! I ordered a Kronenburg (all-time fave and classic), Veronica ordered a Mort Subite – which was EXCELLENT, and there was a German cherry beer that Harley ordered and didn’t like so gave to me. Yummy. Beer with codeine = craziness.
Skrud, Harley and Alexei regaled us (and the rest of the club district) with drinking songs. Very raunchy drinking songs. It was fun. Thanks for taking us out boys!
We missed the last train South bound from Osgoode, but decided it would be more economical to take the last train North to Downsview and then take a cab East to the Diamond Shack – it was. I paid $16 with tip in for a cab home instead of the usual $30-something. I pointed out to Veronica that this is the last time we will be stuck needing an expensive cab home – i think the ride from my new house to the downtown core is about $15 (but it’s also totally walkable on a nice night).
I have TONS of work to do, on top of the packing, and two bad knees, so i am going to get on that. Five posts left before the big move to another domain- i know you are excited.
“avoidance” sausage curry
so named for its incredible ability to help one avoid eye-contact when having a conversation and avoid readings and translations that should be completed.
This is a 100% original recipe – be warned. I really liked it though!
Ingredients:
1 lb mild italian sausage
1/2 cup dried lentils, cooked as per package directions
1 can V8 juice (any veggie blend will do)
1/2 small onion, diced
2 carrots, diced
1 garlic clove, minced
2 tbsp curry powder
1 cup slow-cooking rice
Parmesan cheese
1. Fry italian sausage in a large pan over medium heat, removing the meat from the casings and breaking into small bits with your spatula/wooden sppon. Cook right through and them remove with a slotted spoon into a bowl lined with paper towels (to absorb nasty grease).
2. Meanwhile, cook rice as per package directions substituting a tomato juice for water. Add enough water to follow the directions, but no more.
3. Drain pan of grease and return sausage to pan adding onion, carrots, garlic and curry powder over a medium heat until onion is translucent.
4. Add lentils and rice to pan. Mix quickly.
5. Serve with parmesan cheese on top.
a new home
I have found a new home and am likely moving in next Tuesday, Jan. 15, 2008. It is a very big bachelor apartment (2 1/2) with a brand new gas stove (you can tell this excites me) and a washer all my own. I will be drying stuff on a rack, which i have yet to purchase.
Much of the stuff i need for this move – utensils, pots and pans, etc., is still in the parental homestead, but i am sure that i can make due borrowing from Veronica in the short-term and bringing stuff back in February.
The rent is steep, but in exchange for agreeing to babysit 8 hours a month, it was reduced by $80. If i babysit the 19-month-old more than that, i will find my next month’s rent reduced accordingly. I like kids and the “babysitting” will consist of my listening to a baby monitor while in my own apartment.
The landlord is actually my current social history professor. This seems a tad incestuous, but as she doesn’t feel that it’s a big deal, neither do i. From France, by way of Montreal, she will be excellent practice for my failing French skills. I imagine it will be good for the baby too.
So, i am excited. I am not looking forward to packing up all my stuff and being much poorer, but walking to school in 35 minutes (or 20 minutes by bus) just isn’t beatable. One of the houses on my new street has a huge white elephant out front… i am perplexed.
Though only big question that i have is whether or not i will be able to chip in to their internet account – not that it’s a big deal. I lived without home internet last winter and can do so again (particularly when so close to so many excellent U of T libraries).
Did i mention that there is a brand new gas stove?
And it begins anew
The past week has been chock-filled with important events that i have no desire to blog about. They include the beginning of my move to heatherstein.net for my 500th post (very very soon folks), my grandmother’s interment, and much time spent with both friends and family.
Mount-Royal funeral services opened the wrong grave on Friday and then the funeral director proceeded to argue with my father that he didn’t know where the plot was. Of course, both my grandparents’ remains are located in my great-great grandfather’s plot (in the old section of the cemetery) and they had taken us to the new section. 3 hours and much upset later, we returned to discover that the funeral director was no longer going to be providing her services. Hence, yours truly ended up saying a few words as her family balled.
I spent yesterday, my last full day in Montreal, shopping with my mother (who kindly paid the bill) and going out to dinner and a movie with the complete household. We saw The Golden Compass which i thoroughly enjoyed and now wish that i had purchased to read instead of The Spiderwick Chronicles. Alas.
Today i am trying to figure out what to carry back from these two weeks at the homestead and what to put in the magic Fed Ex box which will follow me in a couple days time. Christmas loot must be prioritized.
The semester begins again tomorrow… i am both gladdened and saddened by this event. The recent change in my future plans encourages me to complete this master’s degree ASAP and with vim and vigour, yet, i haven’t done nearly enough work over the break and am worried about finding time to do it all while i am still apartment hunting.
I do not foresee frequent posting in the future, at least until said apartment and a job have been procured. Right now i need to devote some time to loving my Booey and sorting through piles of jewellery.
The stories we tell
As the only female blood-relative my grandmother had, i inherited all over her extensive jewellery collection. This was something both she and i relished for years. We would pick over the contents of her boxes and cases talking about when and where pretty, sparkling things were procured and on what occasions they were worn. We rarely focused on the prices of items… so i realize now that i have no idea which of the pieces should be deposited in safety deposit boxes to be protected from my incessant mislocating of important items and which can be safely worn with only sentimental value on the line.
My mother was particularly interested in a hematite, turquoise and coral pendant which i promptly told her to keep. My grandfather gave it to my grandmother on one of their only trips off the continent – to Jamaica. My Grammy was particularly fond of this sort of arrangement and i demonstrated the point by showing my Mom the number of items my grandmother had given her over the years that resembled it in cut and setting.
Sitting on my mother’s bed pouring over her collection of both inexpensive and expensive accumulated pieces from different relatives and friends i realize the true value of items like jewellery… the stories they represent.
Only my inexpensive jewellery is still at my home in Blainville. That and the collection of earrings to which i only have one of the pair and that i am ever saying i will convert into pendants.
My New Year’s Resolution is to not be cheap this month and get these items appraised, rings re-sized and earrings converted so that i can wear these memories on my person in the same way i showcase the photographs of voyages and big events.
My favourite almost-forgotten story of the week revolves around a gold, enamel inlay timepiece my Grammy wore around her neck when i was a little girl. I would sit on her lap, before i could read an analog clock, and like any small child was fascinated with lockets, boxes and any items with hinges. i would ask over and over again what time it was… and the answer was always conferred to me after much pensive deliberation: “Half-past kissing time, time to kiss again!” amongst a flurry of kisses. My Mom says that her own grandmother (fifteen years the senior of mine) would do the same to her when she was a little girl.
