The Domestic Culinary Chainsaw

There are some appliances that are worth learning how to use. The funny thing is we know what they do and we have seen people use them. Yet it is like those infomercials; the tool looks easy to use, but there is more than meets the eye, so to speak.

Day 26: Appliance challenge of the day? The BLENDER

Now I know that the blender should be the easiest appliance to know how to use because it’s a matter of throwing food into it and pressing buttons to blend it. Yet like with most any gadget, there is an art to operating it so that it performs optimally. In this case, I was making mocktails, or rather, more like ice slushies. With a brand new blender and assumed knowledge of how it should work, I was ready to make some drinks. Little did I know that it would take several attempts before I would get anything that resembled or tasted like a mocktails (piña colada and strawberry daquiri flavored). First, the mix spilled out of the bottom of the blender. Then the main problem was getting all the ice, and not just the ones on the bottom, to blend. We also didn’t have measuring utensils to ensure I was putting the right amount of ice and mix into the blender.

But eventually I figured out the technique for getting all the ice crush (pressing pulse repeatedly before ice crushing). As for measurements, I winged that and creating a couple of cups to give to my guinea pig testers (my friends).

And voilà! I perfected the art to making some awesome ice slushies. Hmm, what should I blend next…

A Day in the Life of a Nightowl

People know that I generally don’t sleep. If I do, it’s at unconventional times and I sleep deeply (sometimes with an eye partially opened).

Day 16: Sleep from 6am-6pm

Bagel and Smile :)

As with any day, you get busy. And then you get hungry. For me, that is a very true fact. Today was like any ordinary day. School then work then running errands picking supplies up for an art project. At the end of the day, I was craving food and in the middle of figuring out where to eat among my other 3 companions I said to go to Peony which is sushi place that was nearby the shopping center we were at.

So this is a decent place for sushi (of course my opinion entirely). I like if because it offers the special of buy one sushi roll and get the other free. I appreciate a good bargain, especially for food.

I must have been particularly hungry or craving something really unhealthy. So I ordered the bagel roll (something I usually get) and the smile roll (something new). The important feature about both is that they are both fried. Mmm yumm (but oh so unhealthy). The thing is, I can eat a lot, but I have never been able to finish all the sushi i have been given for what they give, especially two fried rolls. Thus I made it a challenge to finish all my sushi. It was easy at first because I was really hungry. Yet halfway through, I was struggling and had to slow down. After a good while though, I was able to leave the restaurant without a takeout box I am no contestant for Man vs. Food, but gosh, that took some effort, will, and a love for eating.

Day 15: Finished 2 full rolls of sushi

Beyond listening…

Across the various planes of social/societal atmospheres, there dozens to millions of causes, philanthropies, charities, you-name-it. Many people have one or many that they are passionate about or dedicate themselves to because it is necessary for whole of mankind or they have a personal connection to it. I too am the same way. Although I find myself, like when I am watching infomercials, realizing there are so many things that need help, aid, funding, that it is almost overwhelming to choose just a couple to dedicate oneself to. Sometimes I wonder if it leaves some people being as apathetic as they are because there is just this overwhelming sense of helplessness. That’s just a thought.

Anyway, today I was walking on campus and everyday, you get bombarded by petitions or organizations that want your signature or donation and sometimes, when you are on the go – you gotta go. However this day was a little different. As I was leaving the dining hall with my lunch, I had eye-contact with a girl in a bright yellow shirt from her organization, Beyond Coal, and smiled at her just because I thought it would be nice and she took that as a welcome to smile back, walk toward me, and asked me about signing a petition. Usual first reaction:  *sigh – run*. But I didn’t. I have a friend who is actually in the organization so I thought I would be nice and chat. I actually do not know much about it. Anyway, we talked and she explained the issue and it was actually very interesting because it was local cause they were petitioning for, the removal of the Coal Plant in Chapel Hill, NC.

Then somehow, it lead to her asking if I wanted to volunteering. With my busy schedule, I would probably have said no, but I thought, “Why not?”. This would be something different, volunteering for something that was not necessarily something I knew about or care about, but something I could learn about and possibly gained a new perspective from a different cause ie. environment.

Day 14: Joined an organization (spontaneously) – Beyond Coal

If you don’t have an organization or cause you are dedicated to, look around, especially locally. There is someone who needs a helping hand, and not just an ear to listen. Don’t just shake your head in disbelief that bad things are happening, but get up and contribute a little to the bigger whole that is change.

With a click on the x…

It has been a busy day, one which I was afraid I was not going to find time to do anything worthwhile. I believe time is of the essence, fleeting, and valuable – and that many of the things that I wish to do I cannot do within a short amount of time. I am busy everyday with work, school, organizations, and my general social life that it is a whirlwind. Then there is Facebook, which I believe that many people my age, at least in the United States, spend more time than they should on this social networking site. For me, it is a communication tool, to rekindle or to make reconnections with people from the past and to keep up with those.

While perusing through Facebook, I realized that of my over 700 some friends, that some of them I just do not talk to, remember, or unsure why they were my “facebook friend”. An interesting thought that the option we put on facebook when we make a connection is “friend”. I guess that keeps it simple; prevents complications if there was specificity in describing the relationships between people – that gets complicated enough in real life. Thus, I decided to go through my whole list of “friends” and do some, expunging (too harsh? reevaluation of “friends” perhaps?) Eh.  The first time through, I eliminated about 40ish. For some reason, honestly, I thought this number to be too small so I went through the list a second time. I removed at least 55 people from the list within a number of minutes. Honestly, once I clicked on the ‘x’ next to a person’s name, I didn’t think twice, no regrets, and felt…relieved. Strange isn’t it? In fact it was slightly motivating. I am thinking that in about a year or two, especially after I graduate from college, the number of people I remove will increase. Of course, in about the same amount of time, I will meet new people.

Day 13: Expunged “friends” from Facebook

Thus is life; some people come and go – while some definitely come (to stay) and others just go. But after going through that list, you remember the past and present, a glimpse into the future. But most of all, you realize those that matter  to you and that an attempt past profile-stalking is necessary for a real relationship.

[Not] The Last March of the Ents

Today I let the weird and imaginative side of me run loose. I was walking through the upper quad of UNC campus and looking at the trees (I like trees alot). While looking at one tree, I saw a face – and so I walked through the whole quad looking at trees for their personality and taking pictures (sounds crazy doesn’t it?).  I just thought the idea that the tree had faces and personalities, like the Ents from Lord of the Rings (one of favorite sets of characters from the series). After taking some pictures, I used photoshop to enhance the features that looked like eyes, mouth etc only using the “Liquify” feature. It was easy and simple and made a much clearer view of the “faces” in the trees.

Day 12: Personifying trees through photo – like Ents!

The general idea of making inanimate objects seem alive is always an interesting concept – as a child you must amuse yourself with thoughts like this. Today’s project was carefree, fun, and a little something for me to do. Photoshop does wonders too. See the pictures below for a sample of what I did.  So let your imagination run free – just don’t start seeing faces in your ceiling (reference to the Haunting if you don’t know…).

Just do it!

Oh procrastination. It’s my parasite that won’t leave me.

I am a huge procrastinator, always have been, and still fighting it till today. Why haven’t I solved this problem? Part of it is because I think I do better under pressure – some of my best projects and papers have resulted from last minute efforts. But of course, it has hurt me in other ways – like with tests for example. As part of a new year, a new (and my last first day of school!), I figure I finish with a bang and break my bad habit. So instead of telling myself, “I can do it later” or “I still have 3 days left do it” or other catch phrases to convince myself to put something off, I followed the mantra of Nike “Just do it”.

Results? I got more done than usual and I accomplished things I should have done one or two months ago. Not only did I feel relieved, but I got things done! I’m not going into specifics about what I did because some of it is slightly embarrassing and deserving of a slap on the hand for procrastinating, but I hope this begins a new habit to have – and hopefully this will save me some of the anxiety and consequences for waiting last minute.

Day 11: No Procrastination

Ooo, a palm tree!

Ah, Florida. So after my arrival in Orlando, Florida, I saw so many palm trees (most I am aware have been planted there for the aesthetic purposes to please the touristic palate).  I just finally decided that I was intent on climbing a palm tree before I left. I didn’t get to do it right away. Everytime I saw one, I pondered the feasibility being able to climb it and then  imagined myself climbing it.  Some trees would require equipment, some would leave injuries, and some would just be funny to climb.  I’ve never really climbed trees before, so if I am going to climb one, let’s make it unconventional one (although I would have loved to have found a coconut tree to climb to grab a coconut – I heard it’s difficult haha).

I decided right last minute late at night before I had to leave for my flight home to climb one. I climbed one outside of the hotel (a) because it was nearby (b) it was late at night so it was dark and no one was really watching. I won’t lie, I didn’t try to climb to the top because I was trying to be quick about it, and it was freezing cold! But I scrambled my way on it so that I was not touching the ground. And success, I found myself clenching on to a palm tree in Florida in the freezing cold. (i’ll put pictures up later).

Day 10: Climb a palm tree

So take the time to find a tree and ask yourself “Do you mind if cling on to you?”

Palm Tree Loving in Florida

“Welcome to Steak ‘n Shake. May I take your order?”

It has been such a busy day being stuck literally all day in meetings. No fun at all. I didn’t even get a chance to have a full lunch (1 slice of pizza – that’s barely an appetizer). How should I treat myself after a long day? FOOD of course!

So my girls and I drove around, getting lost in the process and trying to meet up with people. We had decided on Chili’s, but the wait was an hour long. That was no good. So they proposed Steak ‘n Shake, and I have never been to one! I have heard good things about it, but never cared to venture out to one. Thus, we headed to one and wow, not bad at all!

Service was great; manager was polite and chatted with us about where we were from and such. Our server too was extremely polite and patient as I perused the menu carefully thinking about my appetite (and my wallet). I decided on a basic platter of a cheeseburger and fries, and a kids size strawberry milkshake. Now I don’t know if it was because I was just really hungry or the food was that amazing, but I gobbled all of it up – amazing! I even ate 2 of the girls things of fries and half of a friscoe melt (which is also delicious).  Everything was good; awesome service, atmosphere, and above all, the food!

Day 9: Steak ‘n Shake

Delicious. The end.

Take the time to go to a restaurant you haven’t been to. You never know what yummy surprises are in store, even if it is just a burger place.

Rule #32

Day 8: Enjoy the Little Things