Tuesday, July 31, 2007

Because I REFUSE to do work...

Yeah, you know, you'd think with the two classes I have this semester and the midpoint that I have to do and preparing for directed study I wouldn't have the time to diddle around on the internet, making maps and diagrams showing where I spent my money today, but I do, why? Because all the time that I spent worrying about midpoint and one class is gone, directed studies is somewhat taken care of, so with the little worrying I'm doing for that second class, I've got lots of free time to do what I do best: Making useless diagrams for your viewing pleasure.

Shall we begin?

Below is a map of my travels for today. I took the 47 from 11th and Harrison to Van Ness and Geary, I then took the 38L from there to Geary and 33rd, at which point I transferred (after buying a cup of coffee and cookie, and invariably spilling coffee on myself) to the 18 that took me up to in front of the Legion of Honor Museum, where I had my figure drawing class today. After spending five hours at the museum, I walked down to Clement 33rd I caught the 2 down Clement to 6th, got off and walked around. First stopped at Kamei, then Schubert's Bakery and then Wing Lee Bakery (to see the bounty, scroll down). Then I walked to Geary and 3rd, caught the 38 back to Van Ness and O'Farrell and then took the 47 back to 11th and Harrison. Each of the little markers in the map below are points of transfers... Just because...

And now for the bounty that was bought today! Each item is listed below, add a little tax from Kamei, the grand total for today was $23.30. So Let me list where things were bought from, and then you can take your time looking at all these things... The tupperware, sponge holders and slotted frying spoon were from Kamei, a restaurant supply store that also has lots of other kitchen and plastic things that makes me feel like I'm back in Bangkok. Next was Schubert's Bakery, where the cakes and mousse were purchased, a cute little place, I really like the richness and cuteness of the store. And the last (purchase) stop was Wing Lee Bakery for some requisite pot stickers and spring rolls. Usually we get porridge and BBQ pork buns there, but I really wasn't in the mood for any of that today.
Other than that, not much interesting stuff happening, some drawing of Rodin sculptures and the museum and a few pictures of the misty morning on the flickr.

Monday, July 30, 2007

Toddy!

So today I was watering my Thai basil plant when I saw a cluster of purple leaves. Turns out, it's actually a flower! And when I was posting on flickr I decided to give my little plant a name. So everyone, meet Toddy, the Thai basil plant.



I got Toddy from Rainbow Grocery across the street as a little plantling, transferred him/her to a large beaker, and have been letting him/her grow ever since. He/she has survived one harvesting pretty well. I'm such a proud parent!

More Drawings...

And of course, more naked people! Figured drawing just wouldn't be the same if it wasn't for the naked people. Anyway, just two more, that's all... Both of them are four hour studies. I really should be working on my final. But I'm not.


Sunday, July 29, 2007

Projects!

So I've been feeling very "cluttered" lately. Just alot going on and alot of stuff in my room that I always see since I have open shelves. I usually get it to a state where I'm comfortable and then I have to add something else and then suddenly my room's super messy again (or maybe it's because I don't ever put anything away).

Anyway, I finally got around to thinking up a project that was feasible and I already had the materials so I didn't need to go buy anything. We had two 9' long 1"x4" planks. So I started measuring the wall above my desk and figured out that a 4' long shallow shelf would work, so I cut one plank twice with my roomate's circular saw and got his drill and started to work.

First figured out where I wanted it, levelled it and marked it. Then hammered a nail into the center to keep it up while I screwed in the ends. Then put the actual shelf part on and had to wrestle with the damn thing because the wood bowed up a little in the middle, so there was alot of screwing in, then unscrewing and then quickly screwing back in to get a flush joint. Unfortunately the joint still isn't flush to I hammered a nail into a gap as a shimmy until I get a small bracket to level out the shelf since it kind of tilts down towards the front.

The best part about this shelf is that it gets alot of the crap off my desk, so now I just have a pile of papers and my laptop.

Moo investigates.

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Avoiding *singsong* wooooork!

Ooooh I just realized that I made pizza yesterday and neglected to take pictures of it. I'm sure you feel the pain of missing out. TJ's dough again, TJ's sauce, mushrooms, peppers and tomatoes with (TJ's) salami and shredded mozzerella (TJ). Looking at that sentence it's almost like I have Trader Joe's tourettes. I guess I just buy alot from them, I mean, there's one by school and one not far from my house, at some point I'm'a get me some TJ's (woot). Anyway, I was actually in the store, debating on what type of mozzerella to get (grated, non-grated, light, fatty) and the usual pick is non-grated light because it's usually the cheapest, but lo and behold, I look at a pack of grated at it's 16oz. for $3.69!

Let me put this into context.

Usually, a bag of grated is 12oz. for 3.69, and a block of non-grated is 16 oz. for 3.69. Now does my cheese euphoria make sense?

No? Fine, we'll move onto a map.

So I was talking to Sarah (shout out) and she said she particularly likes the fact that I put maps on my site, not because I actually took the time to painstakingly create these maps, washing lots of time that I could be spending on homework down the loo, but because I actually thought to do the maps. Or something like that. Anyway, today I feel like I've had a productive day because:

1. I left the house before 1pm
2. I actually used my bike, helmet and lock
3. I didn't contribute smog to global warming AND saved money on not getting citycarshare (I know how eco-brained that sounded, but if you knew how cheap I am, you'd understand)

This is the aforementioned map. I went in a counterclockwise motion, from home to the post office, walked my bike to blockbuster (hence, no line), rode down the street and across to Bed Bath and Beyond, walked through the mini-mall paking lot onto the street and wee-wee-wee'd all the way back home. It was fun, a little nervewracking (cars can go really fast), but all in all, good, good, good.

Now to go eat some leftover pizza.

Thursday, July 26, 2007

Strawberry Ice Cream

Stheriousthly. Stho good.

Ha, numb tongue caused by the aforementioned deliciousness is so worth it. Actually I was eating chocolate ice cream out of the box, but it was one of those three-flavour ones, and it had some scraplings of the strawberry that I accidentally scooped with my spoon, and was hit by the dreamy wonder that is the pink creaminess. Okay, enough, I guess I've been watching Scrubs too much and have started blogging how J.D. talks, which some find obnoxious, some don't care about, and some are like me and find it deliriously hilarious.

But not as hilarious as Turk.

Sunday, July 22, 2007

Quiche-y

Usually the only reason I try a new recipe is to get rid of a mass quantity of an ingredient that I have that is verging on going bad, or I'm not going to eat that thing until it's already gone bad. That's usually how I end up making my awesome banana nut muffins (no need for modesty here).

So today's project was quiche, which came out great (pictured below....and on flickr....aaaand in my belly), got a nice basic quiche and added some ham and mushrooms, and switched swiss for goats cheese. I thought I was going to make just one quiche but the custard made for two and then some. Very tastey, recipe follows picture...


Ham and mushroom goat cheese

  • 2 10" unbaked pie shells
  • 1 tbsp. butter, softened
  • 3/4 cup broken up goat cheese
  • 1/3 cup parmesan cheese
  • 1 cup flour
  • 1/4 tsp. salt
  • 6 eggs
  • 1 pt. cream
  • 1/2 cup chopped sliced ham
  • 3 diced button mushrooms
  • Enough parmesan cheese to sprinkle on quiches
  • 2 tbsp. butter, melted & browned
  1. Spread butter on bottom of pie shells.
  2. Sprinkle ham and mushroom in bottom of pie shells.
  3. Sift dry ingredients.
  4. Add eggs and cream to dry ingredients and beat until mixed but not frothy.
  5. Stir in goat and parmesan cheese.
  6. Pour custard in pie shells. There will be enough left to fill a ramekin, either cook with mushroom and ham or plain.
  7. Bake at 450 degrees for 10 minutes.
  8. Reduce heat to 325 degrees and bake 25 minutes longer.
  9. Remove from oven and sprinkle with parmesan cheese and butter.
  10. Return to oven for 10 minutes or until a knife inserted in custard comes out clean.
  11. Let set 10 minutes before cutting into wedges to serve.

Ew....

Okay, so I don't drink to begin with, the last time I had a drink was a few weeks ago and it was a tiny one, before that, I can't even remember that far back. But yesterday I was faced with two people that reminded me so clearly of why I don't drink. Let me set the stage...

It's 11 PM, I'm standing in front of Golden Boy Pizza in North Beach waiting in line to get a slice since I'm dog-sitting around the corner. There's about seven people in front of me, we're spilling out the doorway of pizza place, waiting our turn, everyone giving each other their personal space when...dun-dun-dun!!!! The drunkard twins step up behind me. Now, if you want to drink to be drunk, that's fine by me, and if you want to make a complete fool of yourself, that's still fine by me, but when you invade my personal space, that is so not fine by me. Honestly, the whole time these two teetering drunkards were standing behind me, not five seconds went by that a breast, elbow, shoulder or some other appendage did not touch me.

I don't make it particularly known that I have personal space issues, and if I know you, or we've hung out, the issue dissapears, but if you're a complete stranger that I'm not even talking to, I have a 18 inch radius upon which I would rather you didn't encroach upon. But these girls were so wasted, I honestly don't think they knew what personal space was, intoxication is not an excuse in my book. On top of the space thing, they were also making complete fools of themselves. Maybe it's because I don't hang out with drinkers, and I'm usually not there when they get drunk, but I was just shaking my head in disbelief at the cartoon-drunkaness of these two. One of them was actually hiccuping, they were both teetering, with arms linked (of course) and kept talking about how "Steve, Steve is soooo in love with you....he...he's always TALKING about how he wants to sp-sp-spend the REST of his life with you..." Notice the caps? That's how they were talking, emphasising random words, stuttering. And on top of that, they were standing in line for pizza and eating sunflower seeds. Which would get stuck to their arms, and they wouldn't notice. Hmm.

Honestly, what's the point in drinking if you're going to get so drunk you're not going to remember what the hell you did? Seems like that would be bad since 1. You just spent money on alcohol that you don't remember consuming 2. You just wasted a night of your life because you don't remember what you did 3. You probably wasted that money you spend because you puked it all back up before you passed out. I still don't understand the puking thing. There was this girl in my freshman year of college that was my friend's roommate and she would "pre-party drink", which consisted of her going through a fourty of vodka before even leaving her house, wobbling to party and then not even going in because she felt sick. Then she would teeter home, vomit along the way, still be drunk so yell at the people with her, get practically naked in front of everyone in her aparment, and then pass out on the floor of her bedroom. And then she'd wake up angry the next day because she didn't know where her money and day went.

Good times.

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Wackolah

I was trying to think of a title, and that word popped in my head. I know it makes no sense, it's not meant to.


It's almost 11 and I'm tired, and about ready to go to sleep, but I figured I should write about what happened a week ago so that I don't completely forget to post about this milestone in my school career.

Plus I feel like I should do something productive with my day.

So Tuesday, July 10th, 2007 was my midpoint review. Big deal at AAU, it's when you stand in front a council to basically prove that you're worthy of starting your thesis and pitch your idea for your thesis and see if you get a yay, a sort-of yay or a nay. Right off the bat, I'll tell you that I got yay'ed, so I was (and still am) super jazzed about that. Basically when I went home for a month in May, I started researching for my thesis. I did the drawings of the site, and started writing what I could for my midpoint book (of which I had to submit six a week before my presentation). I got back to San Francisco, went to a meeting to sign up for my date and started powerhousing trying to finish, print and bind the books in time for my submission date. Luckily I went to school to print on a Saturday, thereby avoiding the whole "there's a shitload of people printing at the same time, how long is this going to take to get done???"

Fastforward to a day before my midpoint, I go to school to drop off boards from a class I did last summer, and wade through the boards that were in the Spring Show in May to find my projects from Spring. Then I go into my director's office to ask if she could request a computer projector for me, since my proposal was in powerpoint form. She lets me know that she has a concern about my project being to small, mainly, the initial site being too small.

Shitbuckets.

I already knew this might come up as a problem, and she's letting me know so that I can properly defend myself during the question and answer period, which as nice as it was, worried me like crazy. Onto the next day, go to my six hour drawing class hauling my laptop, dress, pantyhose, heels and makeup in a bag, haul that all again to a different building and start my set up. I have to pin all my boards to the wall, get dressed, get my make up on and set up my powerpoint. Got it all done with time to spare, and so spent half an hour wandering the hallways (in sneakers, I am not a fan of high heels and concrete), and then start my presentation. Which took longer than I thought. And then onto the question and answer section, which was haaaard. Then I left the room for the council to deliberate, which in my mind took forever since I had absolutely nothing to do out in the hallway, but in reality it was only fifteen minutes.

Then I was called back in, and told that even though they don't ever do this, I was going to be let into the discussion to hear all the new ideas that they have come up with for expansion of the project since the scope was too small, one small building working as a single business is simply not large enough for a true thesis. I agreed, they told me things, I explained some, and then FINALLY they told me that I passed (seriously though, did they have to drag that out until the end? I was dying.)

So now this is the project (taken from an e-mail I sent to some professors):
"The project was originally a small healing arts and meditation center in Bangkok, which would have been a conversion of a home into a commercial project to create a hub for the new age community in Bangkok that focused on the utilization of new age, Thai design as well as the use and promotion green and universal design. After much discussion with the midpoint review council, the project has been expanded to also include a satellite center somewhere else in Thailand, as well as prototypes for expansion into other countries such as Tokyo, Milan and San Francisco, with an emphasis on a smaller footprint, and the ability to insert the centers into skyscrapers to reuse space and reduce new construction. Another addition is also a prototype for a modular system, so franchisees can pick and choose what services and rooms they would like for their branch."

So I'll be having a fine and dandy time for the next year, and now you know what I started out with when I'm bitching and moaning every semester.

Nitey nite!

Tuesday, July 17, 2007

Biiiikram

Do you know what Bikram yoga is? Did you know there's tons all over the world? Including one in Thailand on Silom road. So what is it? Imagine doing yoga in hell. That's close enough.

They have a huge heater which they turn on before class begins, and you through a ton of yoga positions and basically realise that you have more sweat pores than you ever though possible. Honestly, a classmate told me about it and I was excited because my mom had completely hyped it up while I was in Thailand, but being a person that hasn't exercised in ages and hasn't done yoga in maybe ten years, I was definitely the definition of a Bikram n00b.

I have this weird thing where I can't drink water when I'm exercising because it makes me want to puke, but I was actually dripping sweat, so I figured I had to replenish. Bad idea, the combination of heat and water made me want to puke, I had to leave the room. Didn't end up puking but after almost ten minutes I went back in, and went slowly. Stand up, position, lie down, position, stand up, hands up, head back...oh oh why can't I see? A few seconds later I'm okay again, but going even slower. I realise I probably pushed myself much farther than I was supposed to, but I'm so weird in that I must be the best at everything. Unfortunately I was surrounded by yoga pros so I was lucky to even be called the worst.

I will probably go back again today. I guess I'm a sucker for punishment.

More stories later.

Monday, July 16, 2007

Maaaaan.....

So I'm basically backed up with stories to tell, so I guess I'll go through and tell them through a series of posts, instead of one huge long post. Unfortunately I'm in no mood to do long-haul typing. So this is just a warning, there are posts to come.

Peace.

Friday, July 06, 2007

Drawings...

So I've been in a figure drawing class for two and half weeks now, and I've got a few drawings under my belt, so I thought I'd share them with you! Be advised, we're only drawing nudies.

Four hour study
Sixty minute study


Warm up exercises


Three hour portraiture study

More Posting...

Today must be the day of posting, because I'm on a roll! I saw this video on the sfist and thought it was pretty damn humourous. "Never Visit Your New Girlfriend At Work" By Lev Yilman. Enjoy!

Frick Frack

Today I was riding the first of two buses to class at 7:30 in the morning when I realised how completely superficial and materialistic my last post was. Mostly because I saw someone with a Macy's bag and realised that there were a whole plethera of malls that I didn't hit yesterday, which is probably a good thing. It's so weird that sometimes I'm what I would classify as "normal" and other times I'm extremes of different personalities, e.g. yesterday when I thought that getting a big bag from a store because of a big purchase was tantamount to say, giving birth. Yeah. I'm good like that.

In other news, it was nice and sunny, a little less chilly than usual when I stepped out of my apartment this morning, so I decided not to take a coat with me, just me, my tank and an overshirt. Bad idea. If there's one thing I must pass on to the masses who read this blog (i.e. William), it's that it can be wonderfully sunny right outside my apartment, but it's fuck cold where my class is. I didn't notice until I was waiting for the 41 to go down Union, because especially on a day like today, I refuse to climb uphill for six blocks on Chestnut so I can be sweaty and stinky in time for class. I was most definitely freezing something off this morning, and when I finally got to the coffee shop across the street from school I ran in there, bounced from foot to foot waiting for my turn, ordered my coffee and welcomed it's warmth into my hands. I mean the coffee cup, not the coffee.

Another thing I noticed this morning (this is what happens when I wake up early, lots of noticings) is that the 41 is probably the preppiest and nicest smelling bus in the city (at least compared to the ones I've been on), I'm sure it's because it's filled with people going into the financial district, so they're all wearing suits, did their hair, showered this morning and probably put on some colonge/perfume. It's just weird when I'm used to seeing bum or tourist-filled MUNI buses and this is the one bus that's filled to the hilt with all the clean "business" people. The worst/best part was that the 41 goes up this big hill, and so the first few block eastbound are at a 45 degree angle, causing alot of shuffling because people can't quite keep their balance, so lots of clacking of the high heels and dress shoes, which I guess is a pain in the ass for them, but a little (just a teeny) bit funny for me, which I'm sure would not be the case had I been in the heels and not the super-traction sneakers I was in. Clickity clack!

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Foodsie!

So I have no pictures, just recollections of the past few days of food. Read if you wish, my camera has only just gotten back into commission after I have temporarily given up my search for a new 'un.

Yesterday began with toast, scrambled eggs and bacon. Picture this:
A slice of toasted sourdough, a layer of butter, a slathering of boysenberry jam, a layer of scrambled eggs, topped with bacon.

An orgasm in my mouth.

Luckily I only had one slice otherwise I would have completely O.D.'ed on my breakfast. I don't know what it is about the combination of sweet and salty that makes me go over the top. Like maple-roasted bacon. *Drool* And the popcorn in Thailand? Love it when they mix the sweet with the salty so I get a mouthful of each flavour.

Then Fog City Diner for dinner, an my verdict is: Eh.

Nothing special, honestly I would never go back there again, overpriced eatings, and being the cheapie I am, I'd rather eat some great Thai food rather than overpriced "decadent" food. Call me low-brow, I like being there.

Lunch today turned out to be spinach-ground beef spaghetti with a sprinkling of bacon. Lots of bacon grease makes for an extremely, but tastey lunch.

Between lunch and dinner, I pulled my strawberries (bought a day before yesterday) out of the back of the fridge and sliced a few up with yogurt, sat down to eat my afternoon snack and got an icicle between my molars. Oh wait, that was a frozen strawberry. I guess the back of the fridge is not the best place for liquid-based food. So the strawberries will be going bad soon, so I decide JAM! What better solution than a little bit of jam. Look online for a recipe and and find a super simple recipe that doesn't involve pectin and therefore does not involve me leaving the apartment. Strawberries, sugar and orange juice (what was supposed me lemon, but you know, citrus is citrus). Mix and boil, it is now sitting in a kern's jar in my fridge, with more of a preserve consistancy than jam, but I have tried it with my prized yogurt and am very much satisfied.

Dinner was a spread of ciabatta, crackers, salami, olive tapanade, avocado and goat cheese. Light, somewhat healthy and yum!

As for the retail therapy that happened yesterday...

I walked into Westfield with the thought that I would discover Bloomingdale's for the wonder of fashion that it is, and since I'm always seeing people with Bloomie's bags all over the place, I figure I must be able to find something I like there and can buy with good conscious (because I am still, that very, very frugal person). Well, the verdict was: NO. My goodness. I found one dress that I really liked there, and it was silk, beautiful and for $100 a good deal, but it was dry clean only, and I when I can catch myself, I don't buy clothes that I can't at least wash in a machine. Anyway, ditched Bloomies and started through the actual mall, I can't really even remember the stores I walked into. Anything that said SALE really. Ended up buying from Victoria Secret (had a $10 off coupon), Express and of course, MNG. Everytime someone that I knew saw the Express bag, they would exclaim "Man, I haven't been to Express in aaaages." Which I agree with, I hardly ever go in there because it's just too much of a hassle for nothing, but today I saw so many people with bags, I figure I should at least try it out. Got a cardigan for $10. And onto MNG's flagship in SF, walked though and found a black jacket that I loved, 50% off and just had to buy it, even though it was stifling outside, I just knew I had to.

Shopping was a success, I was happy with my big bags, got the retail therapy I needed, because there's few feelings better than having a big bag and showing your purchase off to others, so I am satisfied as far as purchasing goes, for at least a while.

Now that I have batteries for my camera, maybe I'll actually be able to post some pictures, I've been taking pictures of stuff I've seen on the street. Did I ever tell you about the time I saw a filleted salmon on the street? It must have either come from Chez Spencer or Nihon, but it was a full fish body-sans meat, in the gutter, on the street, across from my house. Well, let the adventuring begin.
Have you ever had a cat lie on your chest, you're petting her, and you get distracted by something and suddenly the cat is licking your face with the full on "things" on it's tongue up and it fucking hurts like someone dragging multiple needles on your face. That is me right now. Imagine "Oh Moo, you're such a cute little kitty...oh look, someone's talking about how P.Diddy broke up with Kim Por-OH FOR THE LOVE OF-WHAT is up with your tongue????"

Honestly, sometimes I wonder about our little SPCA kitteh.

Tuesday, July 03, 2007

Block Block Block Block....Block

I'm definitely having blogger's writer's block. I think of great things to write about, even funny phrases that I should use while I'm riding on the bus, but put me in front of a computer, and my brain gets wiped clean. I've only got two things to type about today, neither particularly exciting, and mostly two things that I just feel like getting off my chest.

1. I spelled definitely wrong for at least four years. I spelled it definately. Why did no one correct me?

2. I fucking HATE iPhone ads. They're killing me, that music, the mac obnoxiousness, the boop-boop "Oh, I'm so wonderful, I have touch screen technology" is driving me up the wall, especially since everyone and their mother's new source was reporting that even though the damn thing has all these different functions, each function is reduced by being in one small machine. And no, I'm not jealous, I do not want one.

Ugh, this kind of frustration deserves some retail therapy, shopping tomorrow, let's see how far I get.