Becoming a Sweathog

The short of it is that I had a concussion and haven't felt like posting. Instead, I've spent the past few days watching things like this: Zombie Bratz eating Soylent Barbies.

Ah, takes me back to my kid days.

Man, I hope my brain recovers.

Con te partiro paesi che non ho mai veduto e vissuto con te

Ciao.

I spent the night in Italy, well pseudo-Italia anyway. Actually, Italy is the place I miss the most from my travels. I miss the language, the people, the beauty. I dated someone whose family was from Italy. He sometimes reads this blog (Ciao, Samuzzo), and while I miss having him in my life as a friend, I also miss the inclusion of Italy in my life, even if in bits and pieces. I was learning Italian pretty heavily at the time, and I gave it up since I moved from Chicago, but maybe I'll take it up again. Yeah, right, I'll do that in between 50 page articles on information processing simulation programs. Sigh. One day I'll have my life back.

It's a Wednesday night in Lubbock with no students in sight because they are all on real vacations, not imaginary ones. The traffic lights are all on blink mode, which is just odd. The place is a ghost town, really. I actually like Lubbock better this way, except for the fact that nothing is freaking open. Then again, these aren't spring break hours. Everything always closes at 9, but I am just always working late or home studying so I never noticed before.

Anyway, back to my trip. I decided to let my Botticelli curls down, which I don't do often. I feel exposed with my hair down, and since straight hair seems to be forever "in," I feel very self conscious about it. But it seemed that tonight was a night for curly locks, and I let them fall as they wished, spilling over my shoulders in wild abandon. I then slipped into a little empire waisted sundress and relished the 70 degree weather. I headed to my favorite little shopping area, which is a renovated apartment complex turned boutique quadrangle. No one was around, so it was very, very weird shopping. Everyone was staring at me greedily, so I gave up and went into the little wine cafe, not Italian but whatever. I probably should've ordered an Italian wine, but instead, I got an overpriced but good Argentenian malbec and a shiraz with a rather unfortunate name (Lengs and Cooter) and chatted up the staff since NO ONE was in the place. The chefs were bored and began having an Iron Chef contest, and guess who was the judge? That's right, yours truly. Yummers! Truly, it was hard to decide: Pumpkin and blackberry empanada with a pineapple wasabi (the secret ingredient) cream sauce or a pumpkin, pineapple, blackberry creme brulee with a hint of wasabi. The creme brulee was the better flavored of the two, but the presentation was lacking, and he didn't have a torch to caramelize the sugar. I scolded him for his lack of MacGyver culinary skills and awarded the prize to the empanada, which was unbelievably tasty. They tried to throw away the remains, but I asked them to leave them there. Hey, I'm not a real judge. I'm a hungry grad student who needs some free food, damnit.

Sadly, they had no coffee, so I tried to go to my favorite little place which was closed, as were all the other coffee shops in town. So I headed home in my gilded carriage, turned on some Bocelli and made a homemade cappuccino. And now I'm exhausted. Buon notte.

Strollin'

It's gorgeous outside, so I decided to stay in Lbb a little longer. The skies are perfect, which reminds me that I plan to take my invisible jet out this evening. I walked to a different park this time and played on the swings a bit, jumping off at the end like I used to do as a kid. I think people thought I was a little mad.

Tonight will be Italy. I don't think I'll be dining out this evening. It's cheaper to eat at home, and I make much better Italian than I would get out here in the 'bock. I do plan to hang out in my favorite little shopping center. It reminds me of Venice, minus the canals, of course.
More to come.

Oh Cranky Girl

Ireland was fun. I actually convinced a friend to go with me, and St. P is always much better with 2. The Texas Irishman was different but entertaining, and we enjoyed some Guinness. They were out of all things Paddy, however--no shepherd's pie, no more corned beef and cabbage. Apparently, they weren't expecting a "crowd" (in total, there were about 30 people there, if that), so they sold out of food and only had one waitress working the room. Needless to say, it took an hour and 10 min to get our beer and an order of salsa (which went well with Tejas Go Braugh).

Ah well, we took lots of pics, and my toes were slammin', except for the mud I walked through on the way to the restaurant. Apparently, I didn't get all of it off, as you can see from the picture.

Tejas Go Braugh

These seems to be my only Irish option for the evening.

Yi, er, san

I left my invisible plane in the hangar yesterday and decided to beam myself to Beijing instead. All went well, so I suppose the little kinks were worked out of the transporter. Hung out at a little 2 chair restaurant, ordered in Mandarin (I've got the food down really well), and enjoyed some tea. Sadly, they had no jiao zi (dumplings) nor does anyone else in Lubbock, so I couldn't satisfy my craving for some. I did find some at the Asian Mart along with some Jasmine tea and other necessities, and then headed to the park to study my Chinese, which has been something I've neglected since starting this PhD.

After the park, I took a regular plane home and spent the rest of the evening listening to Patti Smith and my curmudgeon mix on my ipod. Oh, and I watched Castle. Love me some Nathan Fillion.

Today, as expected, I'm headed to Ireland. Report to come.

Laissez un bon temps rouler

Hopped on my magic invisible jet (yes, in imagination vacations you can have an invisible jet!) and headed to NOLA last night. Sadly, despite the amazing invisible jet, it was very hard to keep duping myself into believing I was actually in New Orleans because Lubbock is so dreadfully LAME! I went to the cajun restaurant, ordered a hurricane (they were out) and boudin (they were out). Decided on gumbo and new potatoes. Having grown up on the Gulf Coast, I am picky about my gumbo, so the roux was a little too thick for my taste. Plus, the shrimp was canned, and the roux had tilapia in it, which was a mite disturbing. The new potatoes were actually a new potato served whole on a plate with no seasoning. What made the place worse was the obnoxious college kids who were pissed off that they were working there instead of going to Florida. Oh and that the place, like everything else in Lbb, closes at 6 on Sundays. Side story--when I asked for the boudin, the waiter actually looked at me with this obnoxious look of disdain and disgust and said, "Um, this is totally not boudin season. It's like oysters, you know? We don't have oysters either because it is not the season. Gah." He really said Gah. How in the hell does boudin have its own season? It's pig! Do pigs have a season? Figures. I've been going mostly vegetarian lately, so maybe this was my hint to stay that way. Damnit, though, because I loves me some boudin.

So I leave and hit the only place open on Sunday, a shady little place called The Lone Star Oyster Bar or O-Bar to the locals. I figure oysters are NOLAish, so I stop there. And it was providence! Ended up talking to a guy for 6 hours, debating nature vs nurture, quantum mechanics and alternate universes, Shakespeare vs Marlowe, the evolution of the theatre, intubation techniques, hockey... Wow, a wonderful evening with a new well-read friend in the medical profession. We have plans to see a play sometime this week.

And that, my friends, was NOLA. I'm thinking of China tonight. Keep you posted.

Spring has sprung,

the grass is riz, robins are twittering, and love is in the air. I just took a long walk in the neighborhood park since the sun is finally out and we're at about 50. Actually, there are two parks. One is more family oriented, and the other one has a 3 mile jogging track and just miles of open grass for frisbee, soccer, etc. I decided to walk today. Walking tends to clear my head more than running, usually because I'm too focused on breathing properly (exercise induced asthma) when running. So I enjoyed my little walk, and it reminded me of why I spend the extra money to live in the only liberal part of town.

Love was everywhere--couples on picnics, pigeons twitterpating, a college couple making out in a tree, a college couple giving each other head on a park bench while an older man wearing nothing but a speedo and jogging shoes says to me, "Um, are they doing what I think they are doing?" Another older couple walking their dogs in the park. Ah, love everywhere!

And so I decided that my imagination vacation should take me to NOLA tonight. Off I go to Jazz Kitchen. It's not indigenous, but it'll have to do.

I need Vault just re-reading it

Glinda--

I just had to search your blog to figure out what happened to us this night. Oh man. Remember Dave? My head hurts just thinking about it.

False Start

So this is the part of Imagination Vacation where I sleep for about 10 hours straight without waking up even to pee. And then I get up and eat some eggs. Then I watch Harry Potter and fall asleep in the middle of it for about 5 hours. I then wake up, go to the grocery store, come home and make some 3 bean chili, eat some pie (for Pi day), and then watch The Police on PBS while drinking OJ mixed with ginger ale.

I think I'm gonna go back to sleep. Maybe IV starts tomorrow, or perhaps this is travel day. yeah, that's it. I'm on an airplane sleeping, except that I don't sleep on planes so that doesn't work. Whatever. Sleepytime.

Spring Break-ish

Finally, I made it up the hill and over. It's all a sledding whirlwind of assignments on the other side, so I think I'll take a week to just sit on top of the hill a bit--perhaps to recline on top.

I've got a lot due post spring break and have two conferences to attend, so I have to get much done in the next few weeks. My friend, D, is going back to her lovely island home (yes, she's from the southern Carrib), and everyone else is gone somewhere spectacular and warm, so I'll be here in Ltown freezing in the sleet. Not to worry, my friends. I have an imagination vacation planned, and it will be so much more fun than beaches, white sand, crystal blue water...

Yeah, ok. It will. I promise. I'm going to make a list of places I wish I was for SB, and then I'm going to incorporate similar elements from what the wonderful town of Lubbock has to offer. You know, for Paris day, I'll head to the local French cafe (yes, there is one), sip some wine and read a good book all day and then come home and watch Charade or something.

Stay tuned for my adventures!

That explains why I only have time to post this quiz

You Are Running on 80% Adrenaline

Your Adrenaline Level: Borderline Dangerous You're running around so fast, you don't realize how quickly life is passing you by. While you may be getting a lot done, you're on the go lifestyle is probably wearing you out.

Are You Running on Adrenaline?

Ok, no really

I'm trying to do this whole introspective thing and be less critical and yada yada. So really, do the rainbows and sunshine thing (keeping in mind they were not sarcastic) make your ass twitch or is it just me?

Grumble

I think that subconsciously I want to sabotage my academic career and get the fuck out of Dodge. I lost a very important paper today and had to go to confession. Sadly, I was not absolved of my sin (no matter how many times I recited Hail Erikson), and now my prof hates me. Thank God evals were last week.

did I mention I'm sleep deprived? It's another long night ahead, too.

Oh, and then, to top it off with sugar coated cherries and syrup, I get a series of emails from people in my program bc I'm on some godforsaken distribution list. Obviously, they weren't talking about me. Here are some excerpts:

"Way to be positive ladies! you're awesome! I just want to give you a big bear hug and sprinkle you with... sprinkles! Kisses and Hugs all around! Love ya more than rainbows!" [mind you, this was one email]

" love you guys more than homemade sugar-free cookies with splenda frosting!!"

There were more about puppies and cupcakes and sunshine. God bless 'em. I had no real response. what do I say? Love you more than this assload of work I'm doing bc I actually give a shit about this program and don't plan to skate by on tears and plagiarism?

Sigh, perhaps I'm being too harsh. Perhaps I'm jealous because I want to feel the love of kittens and jujubees. Maybe I'm on my way to becoming the cantankerous old woman at the end of the street who picks bugs out of her hair. Maybe I'm there already.

Do you think I'd be blissful if I thought things like this? Really. I ask this as a true question with no sarcasm attached. I'm actually fairly happy with my life. I'd be happier out of Lubbock, but that's beside the point. I am average happy, not jujubee happy but you know, content. Would I just be as high as a crack whore in vegas (perhaps that wasn't the best analogy) if I had the capacity to say things like that in all seriousness? I just can't fathom it.

I really would try, but it just wouldn't come out right because I just don't feel that way. Maybe my heart is 3 sizes too small. Hmmph.

If I could do it with a straight face

I would so lobby for us to present our dissertaton research in this format.

Is it just me, or did Marty the Landlord do it first?

Checking off my list

I never thought it would happen, but I actually formulated my zombie escape plan tonight, checking #5 off of my list and answering a question on my midterm. Yes, my friends, I am a badass.