Mmmm real life.

And when I get to cook for myself... yumyumyum!! Inspired by the new recipe I found for spaghetti and meatballs. (check) after the name of the recipe means I've made it.

A list of recipes I have on my computer...

1-2-3-4 Cake

Almond Birthday Cake with Sherry-Lemon Butter Cream (check)

Baguette

Black Trumpet Mushrooms, Arugula and Sweet Bell Peppers

Blood Orange Olive Oil Cake

Brownies (check)

Challah (check)

Chocolate Chip Cookies (check)

Chocolate Cupcakes with Chocolate Icing

Chocolate Soufflé

Chocolate Oatmeal Cupcakes with Maple-Bacon Butter Cream

Clafouti aux Cerises (check)

Country Pâté

Fettuccine with Mushroom Ragù

Fresh Strawberries with Almond Crème Anglaise

Ginger-Apple Upside-Down Cake

Mexican Chocolate Tofu Pudding

Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies (check)

Outrageous Brownies (check)

Pasta with Butter, Safe, Parmesan

Pasta with Lamb Ragù and Pecorino Romano

Pecan Shortbread Cookies (check)

Real Strawberry Shortcake (check)

Red Velvet Cake and Cream Cheese Icing (check)

Simple Chocolate Layer Cake (check)

Spaghetti and Meatballs (NEW!)

Spiced Beef Skirt Steak

Stone Fruit Patchwork Bake

Vanilla Pots de Crème

I hope my job will pay me a lot so I can eat these delicious sounding things...

Roll my eyes.

When I'm not in the mood, don't flirt with me.

When I ask, can I have a refill of hot water? don't reply by asking, guess what? only so that I can say, what? and you say, yes you can.

A nice smile would suffice.

Despite this, my almond croissant with my tea is making everything better.

P.S. What's the difference between an almond croissant and a bear claw, other than the shape?

Happy 100, dear Ohbutwhynot!

And what better way to celebrate it talking about the weather and my breakfast?

It's a gloomy Monday morning, and it just started to rain, streaking my windows with little pearls of water and pitter-pattering on the sill outside. The clouds in the distance are slowly drifting by, all sorts of shades of grey. I just finished my toast with chunky peanut butter (the better kind), and I'm sipping on my mug of French breakfast tea... I forgot how good that tea is, much more flavorful than English breakfast.

It's been a lovely 100 posts, dear blog, and I wish you a happy anniversary!

Thanks to my lovely readers for being loyal and making me happy when I see that people (aside from me) read my blogging.

If you have suggestions for topics you'd like to see me talk about or things you'd like to see on here, let me know (more regularly post links I find, more animal videos...or less?, actual reviews of restaurants, music blogging, etc)! I'd love to explore.

In any case, this is just the beginning!

Date to the max

Hello from Half Moon Bay!

Emily and I are sitting on the patio of a cafe overlooking the ocean... it's a street and some rocks away from us! Depending upon how the wind blows, we occasionally get some seaspray. It's a beautiful day; warm sun after all of that rain does wonders for just about everything.

Lots of puppies walking by, little children, and even a horse! = paradise

I asked Emily what else we should add, and she said, "It's beautiful, you could almost see Japan from here. (Can you?)" I think that if the sun weren't in our eyes, we probably could.

Emily showed me this video, and it's very cute :)

Speaking of Emily, we cooked brunch this morning: scrambled eggs with looots of onions, bell peppers, and tomatoes, and LOTS of provolone cheese. It was sooo cheeeeezy and delicious! I love scrambled eggs with veggies. So delish, so easy. Then I decided to haul my work over to Half Moon Bay with her. Hooray! Good choices in life.

It's a lovely weekend, and it's supposed to rain more. Yay!

My next post is number 100! Suggestions please on what I should do, otherwise I'll just post cute animal pictures and videos...

OK, my fingers are getting cold, I'm going to stop typing.

CLEANING

I'm in a major cleaning mood. At first, it started pretty innocuously... wiping down dust from my computer speakers, cleaning my countertop... then I moved on to vacuuming (inspired by upbeat music), and cleaning my mirrors. Then I progressed to take things out of bags and reorganize them (bookshelf, top of refrigerator, etc). Then I got into the boxes sitting on top of my closet. Purge. Purge. Purge.

And it feels so good.

Will I look at my course readers ever again? No. Into the recycling bin they go. I'm having a bit more trouble with my notes and all of my work, but who knows, maybe I'll do that by the quarter's end.

And that printer cartridge I've had for AGES, waiting to be shipped back to HP (in a box with the shipping label and everything...)... I'm going to get rid of that.

And the books I've had? Resell this weekend.

And the boxes with notes? Back into the trunk of my car (hah, thanks Avi).

SO GOOD!

I had good meetings today that reassure me that I'm on the right path. It's a great feeling. I'm going to spend one of my days this weekend figuring out what I want for medical school. Ahhh...

97th post!

Ah, I've posted so much! Hard to believe I've only started it this summer... I wish I started it sooner!

The rain is so much more enjoyable indoors with a cup of green tea. I don't want to have to leave ever again. It's the perfect kind of weather for me to sit on my sofa, knit, and listen and watch the rain. (=old lady)

Oh, work. And orchestra tonight.

I guess it's almost the weekend, so that's what it'll be for (I hope it'll still be raining!).

On my way back from lab, I saw a dead bird in the dirt. Its wings were tight at its sides... makes me wonder how it died. :(

Lab-wise, I've been punching. I've been taking brain slices that I did a while ago, and punching out tiny holes of brain parts that I'm interested in, where I will be quantifying gene expression. I've done about 25 now and each one takes about 30 minutes. Ahhh so much punching.

The shiba inu puppies are still the most adorable thing ever. Lucky you, you get to read my gushing about them for the next couple of months or so!

OK, more tea, work, then maybe nap-time later as a reward! I'm wondering if I should go to senior night later... Nola's Raspberry mojito = Yum.

Update @3:11pm: Reason why Koreans are awesome, because we created bibimbap. And this video. Oh, and I know Jesus. Literally (in the video).

Update @3:33pm: Listen to Because by the Beatles while looking out of your window. Perfect. (also, adding a tag for music, since I talk about it a far amount)

Update @4:39pm: I want to go to the Viennese Ball. Pretty dress, pretty shoes, ballroom dancing... yes please!

Speaking of such things, I'm thinking of cutting my hair.

What do you think of...

(courtesy of page 9 of January 2010 Anthropologie catalogue)

Text from (not) last night

(206): The moon looks like the grin from the cheshire cat :) thought You'd appreciate it

And it most definitely did :)

The wonders of caffeine

It's an amazing thing, coffee. I just had a lunch at Bytes: house salad with tuscan white bean soup. It was good, but as soon as I ate it, I felt myself slipping into food coma. (As a side note, I don't know why I'm so susceptible to it... it wasn't like I ate only carbs or something super sweet. I guess I associate sleepytime with eating. Sad.) I went back to the counter to order something that would perk me up, and I decided upon a single mocha. And what a delicious treat it is. It's not too sweet, not too coffee-y. This is bad. I can't like coffee too much. But, I instantly felt awake when I took my first sip. Really, really bad.

I'm now waiting for fiction writing in the undergraduate lounge of the English department. The chair I'm in is suuuper comfy, and I feel as though I could fall asleep in an instant, if only I could prop my feet up on the ottoman that the girl in front of me is currently hogging. I guess that's a good thing then.

Waiting for class, waiting for the caffeine to course through my veins and take effect.

I won't be home until late, unfortunately, as a meeting came up very last minute at dinner time. And I'm missing ribs. Sigh.

Speaking of food, Food Theatre? I don't know how I feel about this... I guess it'd make an impact on me, I just don't know how I feel about having a foot bath while eating. I'd really fall asleep, then.

And this...?

Then, six at a time, we were summoned from the table, this time to fulfill our roles in a course called Head in the Clouds. We were instructed to stick our heads into a large white overhead box stenciled (in Danish) “What fills you up.” Inside, a smiling woman in white, her head and arms also inside the box above us, lunged at us one by one and fed us cucumber sorbet, then lettuce dressed in wasabi vinaigrette. She blindfolded us with a chilled lemongrass-scented cloth, then sprayed limoncello in our mouths. It was completely bizarre, and it made total sense. Everyone came out laughing.

What...?

Soooo strange.

In other news, the shiba inu puppies are all lined up in a row, sleeping. Haha one just twitched. Aww, squirmies.

I WANT ONE... I want to curl up next to them and have nap time :)

Torrential downpour.

This weather is making it really hard for me to get out of bed, change into real clothes, and start my day.

I love rain, but I just want to stay inside and enjoy it.

Hot chocolate and cozy clothes? Yes please.

I feel like I should be putting on my snow pants.

Slogslogslog

I like that word. Slog. It's a very accurate term to describe my movement through the rain and puddles in my giant boots this morning.

I left the house 20 minutes early to walk all the way to the chemistry building. We had received an email from the Emergency Alert system at 8:15 this morning (I read it when I woke up) saying that power was out and that classes were to be held at the discretion of the instructor. I still walked the 20 minutes across campus to turn in my problem set that was due. Emergency lighting was on, a ton of soggy students, and no TA. Woohoo.

I still love the rain, although I argue that it would be much more enjoyable from the warmth of my bed, listening to it, as opposed to walking around in it, with an overheated torso swathed in a down jacket and increasingly rain sodden cords.

It's ok, I have a paisley umbrella.

Update @12:52 pm-- COACHELLA LINEUP 2010. My ears want.

Update @3:35 pm-- NEW PUPPY CAM!! MORE SHIBA INUS!!! The puppies squealed :)

Rain

Sometimes I like to think that the rain listens to me, and when I ask it to rain again, it does, whether it's five seconds later, five minutes later, or five hours later.

Like now, I just asked for rain because I didn't want to see the blue skies, and there's a beautiful downpour.

Silly silly me, I like the rain too much.

Update @4:21 pm: I meant to upload this picture I took last Thursday, two doves sitting on a wire in the dusk--

This American Life

Listening to podcasts and doing work. The most recent one, Somewhere Out There, is really interesting... description goes like this: "Of all the 6.5 billion people in the world, what are the odds that any two people are a real match? Stories from people who know they've beat the odds-- including two kids who travel halfway across the country to find each other."

Got back from Tahoe yesterday afternoon... skiing was great, and the worst injuries I got were not on the slopes, interestingly enough. I guess that's a good thing. But, it's good to be back on campus... my own bed, can get stuff done, sleep... ah.

An interesting article for you, using personality as a determinant for becoming a doctor.

In other news, it's a three-day weekend. I love winter quarter for this.

I woke up to pouring rain and couldn't fall back asleep again... a great alarm clock. It's supposed to rain for the next couple of days, which is great.

I don't think I mentioned

I'm absolutely in love with fiction writing. I think about it all the time. I think about stories that I could write, and how I actually look forward to doing the assignments.

I never really had this sort of "creative output" before... I guess music can count, but I'm still reading notes on a page that someone else put there for me. It's sort of like reading a book out loud. It's still creative to be able to give it your own interpretations, but you weren't the one that created it. There's something nice about generating. The novelty of it. I guess a blog isn't quite the same because I'm just putting down what I did that day.

Alright, enough of that. It's fish time. Writewritewrite. I'm wedded to my computer.

P.S. Not a random thought, just really, really yum: French toast!!

P.P.S. Yet another reason why Conan O'Brien is the best (warning, it's really really really cute): Puppies dressed as cats

Golden Slumbers

Is one of my new favorite songs. The Beatles. So good. I'm kind of sad that it's only 1:32 long.

Once there was a way to get back homeward
Once there was a way to get back home
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullabye

Golden slumbers fill your eyes
Smiles awake you when you rise
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullabye

Once there was a way to get back homeward
Once there was a way to get back home
Sleep pretty darling do not cry
And I will sing a lullabye

Today, the sky was spitting. Emily and I thought we could find a rainbow and ran outside during lunch since it looked really bright out and it was raining (or spitting), but we were sorely disappointed.

I trimmed back Gerbert, so now he only has fresh blooms on him! He's so beautiful! He's done nothing but grow and bloom since I got him early fall quarter... he still budding! I guess he likes it here with me :)

I'm going to start posting my work for fiction writing! (and I'm adding a label for post, called writing. Sooooo inventive :)) As a note, the stories I'll post may draw inspiration from my life or from those around me (or from no one I know at all).

The assignment for this week: Take one of the opening sentences we wrote for homework (Monday), and write the first two pages of a short story starting with this opening sentence.

The last kiss we had, it tasted like Cobb salad. …Sulphurous eggs, stinky cheese, and … meat. Chicken and bacon. It’s like insult to injury, he knows I don’t eat meat. Last time I checked, there’s also avocado and tomatoes on that salad.

He said it’s because I’m not from California that I’ve never eaten good produce before.

Right, anyway, so he goes on with that bullshit taught at puberty camp for boys. You’re too good for me… I feel like I can’t treat you the way you deserve… It’s not fair to you if I can’t match your feelings, the ones that I apparently had for him. It’s like, are you kidding me? HE’S the needy one who said he couldn’t sleep unless I was there. HE’S the one who started crying when we first thought we should see other people. Remember? It was that time…

Yeah, exactly. I was like we’re graduating, I don’t have a job in California, you would be the only reason I would go. Jesus, what a mistake.

Oh right, so we met at the Starbucks on the corner in the Valley. You know, the one at Ventura and that side street… I can’t remember the name of it now, but I go there at least once a week. So we meet up there, walk in, and go up to the counter. I guess we both realized we didn’t want anything, so we say sorry and walk away. Instead of settling down at one of the nice big armchairs by the window or even one of the tables with padded seats at the very least, he wants to go outside to sit at the hard metal tables and chairs on the sidewalk right next to traffic. We might as well be on Ventura Boulevard, you know what I mean? Oh, and before we sat down, that’s when he kissed me. Cobb salad! Ugh. So we’re sitting there, with the sun shining right into our eyes. Even though it’s like 50-something degrees here in the Valley, the sun was really warm: no clouds… most definitely the opposite of school. After he kissed me, he put his cold clammy hands on my arms and said it’s really nice to see you. Yeah, right.

Yeah, what a jerk. He’s always been that way, doing things and saying things that reflect the complete opposite of what he actually feels. And, surprise, surprise, true to character, he starts dribbling out that nonsense about how we shouldn’t see each other anymore and how we should grow more as individuals. And again, it wasn’t a surprise. If he didn’t do it, I would have. He looked so pathetic sitting there, with his cabled sweater drooping across his shoulders, his awful posture, his wrinkled dress shirt… He looked like he hadn’t slept in weeks. Bags under his eyes, that whole thing. I guess that makes sense considering I haven’t stayed over with him in about that long.

Well, I had things to do. I thought I would be tied to him coming over here to California: no friends, no family… no job… but then things worked out, and we fell apart. I guess that’s no surprise, really.

The people in my lab have been really nice! They’re all about our age, some have been graduated for a while… a nice range. They’ve already got me started on writing a grant, so I’ve been working on that non-stop, aside from the projects I’m running. Long hours. It’s gotta be finished by next week.

Oh, I’m still here at the Starbucks. He left after mumbling through his speech, and once I said ok, he got up and left.

Me? Yeah, I’m alright, thanks for asking.

I don’t know about him though, he seemed pretty bad off. The sun was in my eyes so it was kind of hard to see his face. As small as that table was, he managed to stay pretty far away. Maybe he was crying, I don’t know, but the traffic also didn’t really make it easy to hear him, all those cars, and the people, too.

Alright yeah, thanks. I should go too. We’ll talk later.

Sniff. Blow nose.

Sigh.

<3 Conan O'Brien!

NBC wants to push Conan O'Brien. I don't even watch it when at school, and this is sad to me.

Article here.

I'm giving my lecture on intelligence this afternoon. A bit of a sore throat will hopefully not complicate things.

I took a wonnnderful nap in between class and lunch. I love successful naps.

Sorry, my posts have been totally inconsequential. My brain sort of feels like that at the moment. I need an eye mask.

I need tea.

Bah.

Also, from Masbooty: the quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog.

Before I do a real post, something to keep you entertained:

A scary reality...

2nd week of the quarter...

Ahhhhhh silly biochem pset, making me litter my desk, floor and bag with eraser shavings. Making me spend all afternoon on it. Bah. Alpha helices... coiled coils... amino acids... so much.

Now I have to think of a place that I know really well and I have to describe it. Hmm. I'm thinking Sushi Ike. Yumm.

Then I need to practice my lecture on intelligence. I also need to read the assigned reading! Bad instructor?

Oooh, in happy news, I discovered a picture of my Mimi cat in my writing notebook where she's totoro-ing. She's in the sun, so rotund, eyes closed, enjoying herself. Looking at it makes me sleepy.

Mmmm doing laundry now. Makes me happy :)

Ooh I have a lot of food pictures to post... I'll do that soon (tonight? tomorrow? who knows... at some point it will be done!).

Sorry, very train of thought today... mind doesn't want to have to think in full sentences unless it's really necessary.

Last thought: MANAGER SELECTION WHAT. I HAVE HAD MY JOB FOR ONE QUARTER AND WE ALREADY HAVE TO START THINKING ABOUT PICKING THE NEXT GENERATION. SIGH x43958304958098. That's a lot of sighs. I like my room. and my job. and my house. I'll stay, thx.

Things to do.

--Get an eyemask. I'm going to get better sleep.

Just one thing.

Probably because I'm sleeeepy now that it comes to mind.

Went up to the city to see Timbo, saw Avatar before we headed out to Fresno.

Now in Fresno....

And it's bedtime.

Update:

Before I go to bed, another thing to do, is to go HERE.

Siiigh, things to dream about.

Doggies.

Today was a very doggie day. So many puppies! Doggies walking on paths, doggies walking through the quad, doggies running with their owners, doggies on leashes, doggies running free.

I want one.

WANT.

(from Andy)

A TOASTER.

It's BEAUUUTIFUL!!!

My fortunes

I like keeping fortunes from fortune cookies. Here are the ones I found in my wallet:

Your happiness is intertwined with your outlook on life

A pleasant surprise is in store for you soon

Relax and enjoy yourself

You are kind-hearted, hospitable, cheerful and well-liked

Happy New Year!

It's officially the first post of the new year!

I'm back on campus, and it's the first day of school... hard to believe how quickly 3 weeks of vacation passed by! As much as I loved break, it was nice to be back. I was so giddy to see my friends :)

Resolutions are still being sorted out for the new year, but there are a couple that I have in mind. Post to come on that.

It's a beautiful day out; my window is open, my blinds are all the way up! Going to enjoy the last bits of sunlight left for today and before I have to leave for my first class of the day. I feel like sort of a slacker since I think I'll only be taking 2 classes this quarter... but the rest of the units are filled with research (yay, fish!) and human biology "internship" (the neuro class I'm co-leading).

Just picked up my new planner for the year! Hopefully will keep me nice and organized (especially after mixing up days of a meeting... it's tomorrow, not today). I'm going to go play with it and personalize it :)

Update @8:47 pm-- I had Fiction Writing today and it's going to be a great class :)

Things we talked about in class were Hemingway's 6 word story, and 10 things that people tell you to do or not to do. His 6 word story (it has a conflict, development of a character, and a resolution): For sale: baby shoes, never worn. Mine: She said, "I know, I'm sorry."

Some of my 10 things:

Don't do anything stupid

Use in good health

Keep in touch

Lucky readers, you'll get to experience the class with me :)

Also, let's talk about how .... "particular" I am. I picked up new books from the bookstore for Fiction Writing just after class, and I was so happy about the fact that I'm getting BOOKS. Not textbooks. BOOKS. Books that I can give to other people to read. Books that I can read again for pleasure at some point in my life. Books that will *most likely* not have another edition made of it purely to put a new cover on it, switch a few chapters around, add a few sentences about new research in some areas and add $50 to the price. Anyway (moving on), my particularity comes from choosing the best copy of book there is. I picked through the pile that sat higher than my head to try and find the one in the best condition. I found them, thankfully. I went to a bookstore over break to get a few more books for entertainment purposes (The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo), and I had originally picked 5 books. Knowing that this was completely ridiculous (as I only had about 5 days left of break), I put some back. But the major criteria I used to select the two that I ended up with were that they were in Lauren-acceptable condition.

I also got a sketchbook as my writing notebook. Sigh, nice paper is so good. I'm always a little afraid to put the first marks on a new book/notebook/planner/paper, etc.

Update @9:52pm-- To help you get your fill of brains, an essay: The Battle of the Brain

Update @11:05pm-- My back is reminding me that I'm back at school. It doesn't like when I sit at my computer :( Ouch.