Day 317 | Tuesday, November 10 | 2009

Darling Girl...

I got my Spanish paper back today (and got an A+ -- woohoo!) I wasn't expecting a good grade because the professor stormed out of the room about a half hour into class because he was upset that we hadn't prepared for class. It was a very dramatic moment (not unlike the time he did the same thing last fall) and I thought he was going to go to his office to immediately and angrily grade our essays. I suppose he wasn't that angry after all.

Vegan cooking was tonight and it was delicious -- breakfast for dinner night! Tofu scrambler, oatmeal and raisins, fruit salad, and potatoes. The potatoes were the most delicious part of it and the drink was really good too (although I couldn't tell exactly what it was).

I feel like things are going to be okay with the quarter (I had been freaking out a little bit in the past couple of days).

Everything will be fine with the music part of things too. I realize that one of my handicaps is distortional thinking -- my feelings overcome me to the point where I cannot see things too clearly. This is a common emotional problem with everyone. And I want to say, too, that I am grateful for my past experiences -- both the good and the bad -- because they have been mostly enjoyable and have taught me so much. I love everyone that has been a part of my life and I can only hope that they love me back.

Day 303 | Tuesday, October 27 | 2009

Yellow...

The leaves are going one by one. Another portraiture of the fall colors. Yellow this time. Today has been a nice day -- classes were not too bad, I went swimming a little after lunch time and Vegan Cooking Workshop tonight was pretty awesome. It was mexican food night and it all tasted amazing. It might have been one of the best, if not the best, meal that VCW has ever had. Really. One would think that Boaz had never left...

This week is going to be exciting / busy. I have a test on Friday, teaching on Friday, and then Halloween is this weekend. Caitlin will be on duty pretty much all weekend but that won't stop me from spending some time with her.

Day 282 | Tuesday, October 6 | 2009

My Tomato-Nosed Pup...

Today was the first time that I have really ever done yoga. This morning, Boaz taught me some basic exercises and I must say that it was fantastic. I am really eager to learn more from him and to get in a regular routine. Although I think it was really difficult to maneuver and focus on my breathing, I felt extremely relaxed after all of it and could feel the immediate physical benefit with my eyes closed on the floor.

Other than yoga, today was pretty great. I had lunch with Caitlin when I took this picture of her holding a cherry tomato as her nose. She looks so cute! The rest of the day was somewhat uneventful -- more class, tutoring, and then Vegan cooking. Tonight at vegan cooking we made 'American' food -- bbq-marinated tofu, coleslaw, among other things. It was really good! I take that back. Vegan cooking was eventful and delicious.

Day 63 | Tuesday, March 3 | 2009

Pierogi...

Alas, I am caught up on my sleep and I am back at it.  I did not get some of my papers in on time to my professors on Monday so I am trying to finish the rest right now.  I probably should have turned them in already today but by this point I am just trying to aim for quality completion.

I realized today that I leave in three weeks for Ecuador.  This seems really unreal.  What's going to seem even more unreal with be the actual day -- March 24 -- that I actually do leave to Ecuador.  I still have a various list of items that I need to realize still but it's getting closer.  I still need to find out about malaria pills, complete some formalized membership canceling (cancel my cable service, clean out my locker at the gym, etc.), get my belongings together, read a book and write a report for my field study, read two books (or at least get started) and plan my independent study, purchase an external hard drive, and get well acquainted with my portable digital recorder.

Because I have been so busy, I have forgotten to mention that my Nagra ARES-MII came in the mail this past Friday!  I am really excited about it all.  It came well equipped with a USB 2.0 input cord, a shock-resistant stereo (cardioid) condenser microphone, a mono (omni) condenser cap, two wind guards, a XLR adaptable input cord, a protective case, and a cool wrist sling.  I have used it already just minimally but it sounds great.  Also, my 10' mono hydrophone came in the mail on Friday too.  This is basically a microphone that can record SPL movements underwater.  This will be especially useful when I am collecting data from some of the Ecuadorian water sheds -- rivers, streams, waterfalls, etc.  I am so excited!

Today has been a pretty good day, all in all.  Caitlin and I went to vegan cooking and it was delicious.  It was great to hang out with Larry and Annie too.  I feel like the setup for vegan cooking is not fair sometimes, because I feel like sitting down and talking with a lot of people.  I really wanted to hang out and talk to Leslie, Jamie, Ellen, and Clare but the seating was all cramped and space is just limited in that room.  The food, though, was great.  It was all Ukrainian style food -- pierogi (mashed potatoes inside a noodle-like shell), salad, rice-stuffed cabbage wraps, this really great beet-based soup, a delicious dessert (I don't remember what it was), and a neat lavender-tasting drink.  I got a picture of the cooks making the pierogies in the kitchen (above) before they were done.

Great day!

Day 37 | Friday, February 6 | 2009

Boaz...

This morning I spent a couple hours helping prepare and cook food with Boaz Ramos (pictured) and several other wonderful people.  These people help cook and serve Vegan food twice a week on Tuesday nights and on Friday afternoons.  The Tuesday night Vegan cooking is called Vegan Cooking Workshop and then the Friday afternoon event is called Starving Artist's Lunch.  Caitlin and I usually attend both of these events pretty much every week and it has been nice on a lot of levels.  The food is always fresh, healthy, and ... vegan!  

Vegan food entails that none of the base ingredients are made from or come from animals.  Everything is usually soy based and there is never meat, milk, or egg-related ingredients either. I myself have dabbled with veganism but it was too hard for me to maintain. My attempt at Veganism is a whole different story altogether but I generally do find peace in having a combinational diet.  At least for now...  Maybe one day I will eat a vegan diet but I have come to think that that will probably not happen.  Maybe not at least until I have my own place or house.  We'll see.

Anyways, it was really nice to help make food and the people there were very friendly.  So far, today has been a good day!

Another good and funny thing that happened today was that I got a special video recording from Caitlin's dog, Penny.  Here is the special message below:

As you can see, Penny is very adorable in a number of ways.  She might be the canine form of perfection.  However, I do believe she is misguided in being in love with me.  On numerous occasions, she has professed her love for me, despite the fact that it is an impossible love -- especially because I am happily dating her "sister" Caitlin.  Additionally, I think she is overlooking someone too.  She is overlooking someone who deeply loves her.  His name is Riley Remnant and he is Rem and Amanda's dog.  Similarly, he made a video recording to profess his love too.  Riley's video: