Remember this guy??
I have been adding him to almost all the models I've worked on since I created about him in 2009. He gets around!
Nobody has ever found him in a Revit model. He's tricky because he only shows up in a 3D view so it's unlikely that people will stumble on him.
Today my workmate D proudly announced, "I found the red guy!"
Blank stare from me. "No WAY!! Nobody has ever found him!!"
D continued, "I moved him."
Jabba, "Oh?"
D, "I put him in the toilet."
What a great way to start a Monday.
For all the times I've failed in the kitchen, I've had some amazing successes lately. Although, I must admit it's way more fun to blog about the mishaps.
My latest conquests involve cocktails and biscuits.
I found a recipe on Pinterest that looked easy and used simple ingredients which is a bonus. Ginger, lemon juice, honey and water. And vodka. Which we always seem to have around. The drink - absolutely perfect. Ginger Lemonade with Vodka. I'd like to try this one with bourbon.
Last weekend we tried another cocktail recipe. This one involved bourbon, ginger beer, maple syrup and lime juice. Holy crap. Pretty much anything that has ginger beer is a winner for me. I was having a crappy day too and this drink was just the ticket.....along with a tub of Haagen Daaz.
A couple weekends ago I woke up and announced 'I'm making biscuits for breakfast.' Brad was confused but stoked. I was feeling ambitious and I delivered! I used a recipe from my Joy the Baker cookbook and it was really, really easy and turned out incredible.
The way the cheese exploded out the sides? That totally worked for me.
These biscuits are the result of having butter around the house at all times, which is something I never used to do.
I don't think I've mentioned that I can make a kick-ass pizza. Crust from scratch of course. I can't remember what this one was, likely something with proscuitto. We have pizza a lot, I make a double batch of dough and freeze half for another time. This summer I want to make one with figs.
I have quit eating pizza in public due to the cookie monster factor.
This winter I made the ultimate item on my baking bucket list. Apple pie. It was soooooo easy and turned out just right. I want to work on my crust edges because I found this one a little thick but it's cool because it's "rustic". Right?!
On my radar now are yorkshire pudding, chai tea from scratch, peach frozen yogurt, pecan biscuits, cocktails with bitters, and a chocolate caramel tart that I've been salivating over for a month now.
I'll look back on all of this one day with fondness.
Right?
I had my braces adjusted and two extra brackets installed right on my very back teeth. At the time it wasn't a big deal at all compared to all the crap I had already gotten used to.
The next night I finished a grilled cheese sandwich and....oh. No more bracket on one side. Just a long pokey wire.
I guess I swallowed it, where else would it be?! They're bigger than the spacers but still not very big. Easily lost in yummy grilled cheese.
Covering the wire with dental wax was difficult, because there was no bracket to stick it on. Luckily I got it fixed the next day.
I had two blobs of wax on the new brackets all afternoon after it was fixed. I went home and ate dinner....oh. Forgot to take the wax out and it was gone.
My poor stomach.
My name is Jabba and I have a problem.
We have an entire bookcase devoted to books we own but haven't read yet. This thing is double stacked people. Double. Stacked.
Today I decided to go through my pile for real. Once everything is out of the bookcase it really puts it into perspective......
Don't get me wrong.....I'm not complaining. Being at the bottom of a mountain of unread books? This is cause for joy in my world. Sometimes it's a little daunting though....see that thing at the top? That's my Kobo. It has an additional 15 books on it I haven't read yet.
I watched a documentary the other night and part of it alarmed me. Carl Sagan said that if you read one book a week for your entire life you would read around 1000 books. One thousand?! That's NOTHING!!!
So I've donated 5 books from the year of madness and am planning to be more selective in the future.
I blame Russel's which is the best bookstore I've had the pleasure of shopping at. I would also like to blame my family who know me so well and give me Kobo gift cards.....which are one of my favourite things!!! Yay!!
Plus the book sale is coming....
(hyperventilating ensues)
I need your help. I'm going to show you "the books." What should I read first? What do you recommend? Should I get rid of anything cause it's too hyped up? Let's start with my Kobo:
Oh such anticipation! Diane Settererfield?! Good mysteries and suspense in there too.....
Here's the 'real pile'. The stack of pleasure and potential....so much good stuff.
There is only 1 book left over from the year of madness.
Maeve Binchy for beach reading, some classics I've always wanted to read, some award winners, short stories, non-fiction, questionable authors who I'm giving another chance, recommendations from others....oh it goes on and on.
It was my birthday about a week ago. I feel like a broken record but...I've been working late a lot and it was such a treat to leave work at 5pm...five. People, it was still light outside...what a concept.
First we walked over to my favourite book store where Brad announced that he would buy me anything I wanted. I kept my cool and only picked two books.
Then we decided to check out a relatively new restaurant that we had randomly read about somewhere.
I had the best soup ever that night. It was beer cheddar...but! They used applewood cheddar people.
There was also bourbon, wine, and salted caramel among other things. The night was complete except for the fact that I ate way too much and complained about it all the way home.
When we got home I had more presents waiting for me! Astronomy books, uplifting feel-good books, re-usable pastry bags and a gift certificate to my favourite yarn shop. My day was perfect.
I had also bought myself a gift - do you ever do that?
I stalked this ring on Etsy for over two years. It's so pretty and organic, every time I look at it it's different.
My walk to work is way longer than it used to be. It's great though - if I have a bad day it's all taken out on the sidewalk on my way home. The other night I stomped home after giving Revit the finger all week*, when I got here it was all forgotten.
Since we listen to music all day in the office, I'm tired of it by the time I leave for home.
So I've started listening to podcasts instead. I have three favourites right now.
1. Snap Judgement
On cold mornings I wrap myself up in Glynn Washington's voice and it warms me all the way to work. This podcast is very similar to This American Life but I like it more.
Under the Influence
Formerly known as Age of Persuasion, I love this guy! I've always been fascinated by marketing and he delivers. He explores all the nuances of advertising and you get so much history behind products and ads you heard growing up.
This American Life
Of course I indulge in this one because it's a classic. Good stories and I love never knowing what you're going to hear about.
What other podcasts do you guys recommend?
*Railings and stair detailing, need I say more?
My new office is downtown on one of the best shopping streets in Victoria. It's great, working downtown is fantastic and I really enjoy it.
Lately most of us have been putting in long hours. Usually by late afternoon we're getting ready for another few hours of work. Not necessarily getting ready to go home.
In the last week or so we have something new to contend with. This guy shows up around 4:30 every day and sets up outside, across the street from our office. He gets out an empty water cooler tank and starts drumming on it.
Understand - this guy is not talented. He's literally just banging on an empty water tank. The same simple rhythm...over and over and over. It's gotten to the point where he starts up and we all simultaneously groan/reach for our iPods/sigh/lay our heads on our desks and moan.
On Friday my workmate was taking a quick break, standing by the window. Quietly, he remarks "Drummer Boy has arrived."
The collective groans ensue.....
(pause)
"He has a new costume."
Sorry about another finger photo, but this is one is necessary.
We have had the weirdest weather over the last three days. It gets super stormy in the late afternoon, then rains and blows all night, clears up for most of the morning and starts all over again. I'm really getting into it.
So we've been going out for early walks and settling in to listen to the storms while watching some of the best documentaries I've ever seen. I took Friday off work so we've spent the last three days this way.
I've always been into astronomy. Always. When I was a kid I wanted to be an astronaut SO bad. When I was in high school I realized I suck as math....I mean....really suck at it. Although I was always good at physics, I think I got 100% on a test once.
This guy is the best, Brian Greene.
We've already watched The Elegant Universe and another doc on Fractals. Now we're halfway through The Fabric of the Cosmos. I'm planning on reading his books too. I love how theoretical physics and philosophy often mesh and I really love hearing all about quantum mechanics too.
This all started because....drum roll....there is actually something interesting coming on TV soon!!! A sequel to Cosmos, hosted by Neil deGrasse Tyson - another guy I really like.
I'm also reading a really interesting murder mystery - set in two cities that exist in parallel universes. Hell yes, bring it all on.
Oh books. I could go on....and on.
Every Last One - Anna Quindlen
I bought this last year at The Book Sale. I read a review that said something like 'she's a master of knitting people's lives together then slowly unraveling it'. Nicely said. Good book, tough subject but I'd read her again for sure.
The Beekeeper's Apprentice - Laurie R. King
I also bought this last year and was super stoked for it. It didn't quite deliver, but I think it's only because I hyped it up too much. That being said, I will definitely read the next one in the series.
The House at Riverton - Kate Morton
Okay. Seriously. This is the best book I read in 2013. So right up my alley, it was eerie. Downton Abby plus Gosford Park equals happy enthralled Jabba. Christielli, it's good. I have two more of her books on my shelf, I can't wait.
The Ice Limit - Douglas Preston & Lincoln Child
Gotta love it when your husband recommends a book he hasn't read and it turns out like this. When I'm on vacation I need something light but I don't go rom-com-light. I like a little mystery, maybe a courtroom drama, or....Something. Exactly. Like. This.
Total page turner, well written, well researched, interesting topic and the ending.....oh so good I threw the book at Brad and demanded he read it right then and there.
Silver Sparrow - Tayari Jones
Meh.
This afternoon we talked about the book sale. It's four months away. Such dorks.
Remember that time I told you I'm afraid of werewolves?
Well, the other night I had a bright idea. I was working late at the office and it was finally time to get out of there. So I started getting ready for my walk home. I had been listening to a podcast in the morning and was really looking forward to hearing the rest of it.
The problem was it was about haunted houses, ghosts, people getting possessed....you know - good stuff.
I pressed play and started out on my walk....
You have to know - I walk home almost every night but this evening was totally different. Plastic bags blowing around making creepy noises, rustling leaves everywhere, crazy shadows. Then this idiot rode her bike right by me on the sidewalk - she scared me so bad I almost peed my pants.
After that it was total chaos. I was half running, looking around for werewolves, scarf was flying, iPod bouncing around in my pocket maintaining the level of heebies I was experiencing...
Sigh.
The podcast wasn't even about werewolves. It was about some kid getting possessed at summer camp.
