FLOWERS, FILM AND FOOD PHILOSOPHY
When it rains it pours around here, and I'm mirroring that weather pattern with my blogging. None for two weeks and then three in one day! Pace yourself if you like, I must write when my brain's working that way.
I linked to my friend Zeynep's blog before when she posted about our first political movie night. This time, it's because she's bothered to take pictures of Cardiff flowers this week. See them here:
http://butterfly-x.blogspot.com
Also, if you go down a post or two, there are pictures of our class celebrating our regeneration presentations. There's a shot of me with my new Northern Irish friend. He's a riot and he's off to Zanzibar working on some education project with his NGO this week. I'm hoping I'll someday get to work with him on something in Belize, another of their focus areas.
Even further down in her blog, Zeynep talks about our film night when we watched The Interpreter. (Yes, it was a drama, not particularly educational film night, but we were in the end of a hard semester and wanted some entertainment.) I happen to disagree about the performances of Sean Penn and Nicole Kidman, but wanted to mention that Zeynep made us a turkish dinner of "ripped stomach" and shepard's salad. I hadn't eaten beef in years, except for a taste here and there, having lost the taste for it after mostly going over to white meat (with a bacon exception) for so long. But when she pulled out the minced beef (hamburger meat to us Americans), I decided to just shut my mouth and eat it. "ripped stomach" is basically stuffed eggplant with yogurt sauce and I might just have to make it for you some time. It was truly amazing food.
Note about food:
I've never been too dogmatic about my eating habits, and mostly stay with birds and fish because I prefer them, but having reminded myself recently of the amount of land resources, water and energy that goes into most meat production compared to grain and vegetable based diets, I have a renewed commitment to eating in ways that are sustainable for the environment. What this boils down to is that I think I am now a "conscientious carnivore." I eat meat, but not frequently, and when I do, I buy locally raised, organically fed, free range animals whenever possible. And I try to buy fish that is certified from sustainable fisheries. Yep, it is more expensive, but I figure I make up for that by eating it so much less frequently. A pot of lentils, some veggie burritos and a stir fry and I've earned a plump juicy roast chicken from that cool guy at the farmer's market who talks so fast I can't understand him. Jason is cooking one now. Also Welsh lamb is a local specialty, generally sustainably farmed and good for the local rural economy, so it's practically my duty to eat some now and then. Mmmm. I bet welsh lamb would be good in ripped stomach. If you come visit me I'll give it a shot!
Sunday, April 30, 2006
Oh yeah, Endgame
Forgot to tell you about our trip to see Endgame. It was as bleak and depressing as can be expected from a Beckett play. And, generally, I loved it. Peter Dinklage was a bit stilted in his delivery, which was terribly disappointing, but not enough to kill the overall vibe. The old crank, Hamm, was horrible and hateful but somehow sympathetic, telling stories to convince himself of the good he's done in his clearly nearly over life. He keeps his ancient parents in garbage cans and the actor playing Nell, his mum, was charming and elegant and wistful. Then she dies. The world is ending (has ended?) and we are all pathetic. Good stuff.
One suggestion: Never eat lunch at the Barbican Theatre cafe. It was unpleasant and not cheap and made Jason very sick the next day. But ethiopian dinner up near King's Cross was delicious.
Forgot to tell you about our trip to see Endgame. It was as bleak and depressing as can be expected from a Beckett play. And, generally, I loved it. Peter Dinklage was a bit stilted in his delivery, which was terribly disappointing, but not enough to kill the overall vibe. The old crank, Hamm, was horrible and hateful but somehow sympathetic, telling stories to convince himself of the good he's done in his clearly nearly over life. He keeps his ancient parents in garbage cans and the actor playing Nell, his mum, was charming and elegant and wistful. Then she dies. The world is ending (has ended?) and we are all pathetic. Good stuff.
One suggestion: Never eat lunch at the Barbican Theatre cafe. It was unpleasant and not cheap and made Jason very sick the next day. But ethiopian dinner up near King's Cross was delicious.
So. Very. Tired.
I'm exhausted. All this week. Possibly anxiety induced. We have been keeping regular sleeping and waking hours for weeks and it has worked beautifully for accomplishing an impressive amount of reading and research and maintaining an even keel on emotions and moods and even making my headaches and health more manageable.
But as soon as I had deadlines, I couldn't sleep and also had to get up earlier due to some last-minute crammed in make-up lectures and pre-presentation rehearsal sessions, etc. So, this past week: tired and headachy and generally angsty. I brought it on myself in a way, by having coffee in the evening on Tuesday. But who knew it would keep me up til three and have days-long ripple effects? Well, any reasonable person, you might say. But that's not me.
At this point, I'm one presentation and an environmental law problem question (about pollution control laws and nuisance claims) into my coursework. This week, I'm to give a presentation on social partnership (wage and tax agreements) between unions, business, and government in Ireland during the "Celtic Tiger" economic boom of the 1990s through to the current situation. Interesting to research, but not groundbreaking. Since the presentation was originally scheduled for last Wednesday and I didn't get the memo that it had been moved, I'm pretty well prepared for it and took the opportunity to review my project with my professor, who didn't toss me out on my ear for being a loser, so it'll probably go okay.
This week, no official deadlines, but some self-created ones designed to smooth the way for next week, when I have two due, and the week after, when there are three. Then some studying for an environmental law exam and I'm home free.
Then it's on to the dissertation, which I'm excited about and terrified of. It's due by September 15th and is my sole academic responsibility over the summer. Yikes. I've meant to tell you all about it, and just haven't mustered the energy. I promise to do so soon, so check back.
Today, Jason and I went to the Farmer's Market and walked home the long way, through the park. It really is beautiful here right now. So many trees in bloom and several varieties of delicate sage green fuzzy leaved trees, alongside occasional alarmingly colorful arrangements of tulips and something highly sneeze-inducing. We didn't have the camera, so I can't show it to you. Sorry. Maybe I'll take some shots of the lilac and three tulips and hundreds of humongous dandelions in our back garden soon instead.
Judging from the hullaballoo outside our window each morning, I'd say there are some baby birds around. The cat wanders through and the birds spend half an hour shrieking and bobbing around to distract him. Must have babies around somewhere. I can't remember the specifics, but it calls to mind some vague memory of a cartoon character (maybe a bird?) who kind of runs back and forth frantically and wide-eyed, making a panicked racket about every little thing. Any guesses as to what my half-baked memory is trying to recall?
Sorry for the randomness, just wanted to put up some kind of update.
I'm exhausted. All this week. Possibly anxiety induced. We have been keeping regular sleeping and waking hours for weeks and it has worked beautifully for accomplishing an impressive amount of reading and research and maintaining an even keel on emotions and moods and even making my headaches and health more manageable.
But as soon as I had deadlines, I couldn't sleep and also had to get up earlier due to some last-minute crammed in make-up lectures and pre-presentation rehearsal sessions, etc. So, this past week: tired and headachy and generally angsty. I brought it on myself in a way, by having coffee in the evening on Tuesday. But who knew it would keep me up til three and have days-long ripple effects? Well, any reasonable person, you might say. But that's not me.
At this point, I'm one presentation and an environmental law problem question (about pollution control laws and nuisance claims) into my coursework. This week, I'm to give a presentation on social partnership (wage and tax agreements) between unions, business, and government in Ireland during the "Celtic Tiger" economic boom of the 1990s through to the current situation. Interesting to research, but not groundbreaking. Since the presentation was originally scheduled for last Wednesday and I didn't get the memo that it had been moved, I'm pretty well prepared for it and took the opportunity to review my project with my professor, who didn't toss me out on my ear for being a loser, so it'll probably go okay.
This week, no official deadlines, but some self-created ones designed to smooth the way for next week, when I have two due, and the week after, when there are three. Then some studying for an environmental law exam and I'm home free.
Then it's on to the dissertation, which I'm excited about and terrified of. It's due by September 15th and is my sole academic responsibility over the summer. Yikes. I've meant to tell you all about it, and just haven't mustered the energy. I promise to do so soon, so check back.
Today, Jason and I went to the Farmer's Market and walked home the long way, through the park. It really is beautiful here right now. So many trees in bloom and several varieties of delicate sage green fuzzy leaved trees, alongside occasional alarmingly colorful arrangements of tulips and something highly sneeze-inducing. We didn't have the camera, so I can't show it to you. Sorry. Maybe I'll take some shots of the lilac and three tulips and hundreds of humongous dandelions in our back garden soon instead.
Judging from the hullaballoo outside our window each morning, I'd say there are some baby birds around. The cat wanders through and the birds spend half an hour shrieking and bobbing around to distract him. Must have babies around somewhere. I can't remember the specifics, but it calls to mind some vague memory of a cartoon character (maybe a bird?) who kind of runs back and forth frantically and wide-eyed, making a panicked racket about every little thing. Any guesses as to what my half-baked memory is trying to recall?
Sorry for the randomness, just wanted to put up some kind of update.
Friday, April 21, 2006
HIGHBROW STUDY BREAK
I'd love to write and fill y'all in on the thrills and chills of Corey Jo's visit, and the two days later short jaunt back to London to have dinner with Sara and Peter (who just got back from an incredible honeymoon in the Far East and India), but I'm afraid these past two weeks and the next few are that time when I have assignments due two per week and am finalizing my dissertation plans. That means I'm plumb tuckered (as my elementary school friend Sherry used to say, much to my mom's amusement). More accurately, it means that I feel like I shouldn't take the time out of all my reading and writing and thinking hard to update everyone. But it makes me sad, because I want to tell stories and show pictures and get comments.
Alas, I really can't spend the time on blogging. Maybe I'll try to give quick tidbits here and there in the next week or two.
For now, the news is that the train company has been having a super-duper sale this month and tickets to London are CHEAP! So, in addition to bargain trips with Corey and again to see Sara and Peter, we're going back tomorrow, for the afternoon/evening. Why are we doing that when I have 6 essays and two presentations to do? Well, because Peter Dinklage (of The Station Agent fame) is a wonderful actor and Samuel Beckett is one of my favorite playwrights and Endgame is playing in London for the Beckett Centenary Festival. (The same production was in Dublin, but we missed that run, and we would have had to fly to get there anyway, or spend like 2 days on trains and ferries.)
Endgame!! with Peter Dinklage!! Yep. It's gonna be great. Sorry you can't be there, Internet.
Then we're gonna have cheap Ethiopian food and ride the train home again.
Tell me Beckett doesn't have the best creases of any man, ever.
I'd love to write and fill y'all in on the thrills and chills of Corey Jo's visit, and the two days later short jaunt back to London to have dinner with Sara and Peter (who just got back from an incredible honeymoon in the Far East and India), but I'm afraid these past two weeks and the next few are that time when I have assignments due two per week and am finalizing my dissertation plans. That means I'm plumb tuckered (as my elementary school friend Sherry used to say, much to my mom's amusement). More accurately, it means that I feel like I shouldn't take the time out of all my reading and writing and thinking hard to update everyone. But it makes me sad, because I want to tell stories and show pictures and get comments.
Alas, I really can't spend the time on blogging. Maybe I'll try to give quick tidbits here and there in the next week or two.
For now, the news is that the train company has been having a super-duper sale this month and tickets to London are CHEAP! So, in addition to bargain trips with Corey and again to see Sara and Peter, we're going back tomorrow, for the afternoon/evening. Why are we doing that when I have 6 essays and two presentations to do? Well, because Peter Dinklage (of The Station Agent fame) is a wonderful actor and Samuel Beckett is one of my favorite playwrights and Endgame is playing in London for the Beckett Centenary Festival. (The same production was in Dublin, but we missed that run, and we would have had to fly to get there anyway, or spend like 2 days on trains and ferries.)
Endgame!! with Peter Dinklage!! Yep. It's gonna be great. Sorry you can't be there, Internet.
Then we're gonna have cheap Ethiopian food and ride the train home again.
Tell me Beckett doesn't have the best creases of any man, ever.
Friday, April 14, 2006
JUST BECAUSE THE SKY TURNED FROM GRAY INTO BLUE
Remember from art history or cultural history or something or other way back when, when they taught you about memento mori? My memory is that they are basically still life paintings with lots of death imagery and symbols of death built in, meant to remind you of your mortality.
Well, this is my memento viva--reminder of life--for this fine Good Friday. Hot cross buns from the alley bakery, flowers stolen over back garden walls on my way home and a couple of mementos from recent visits with beloved friends.
P.S. Hot cross buns are a Good Friday tradition here in my temporary homeland. Interesting history, as have many things, I suppose. Unclear what is historical and what legendary, but here goes: Originally a pagan pastry, meant to symbolize four moon phases, the Church coopted them into its religious tradition when converting the good people over to their way of thinking. I also read that Elizabeth I tried to outlaw them [why?!?] but gave in and let people eat them, but only on Easter and some other special occasions. Whatever. I don't pretend to understand the number of strange little historical tidbits I'm picking up.
Remember from art history or cultural history or something or other way back when, when they taught you about memento mori? My memory is that they are basically still life paintings with lots of death imagery and symbols of death built in, meant to remind you of your mortality.
Well, this is my memento viva--reminder of life--for this fine Good Friday. Hot cross buns from the alley bakery, flowers stolen over back garden walls on my way home and a couple of mementos from recent visits with beloved friends.
P.S. Hot cross buns are a Good Friday tradition here in my temporary homeland. Interesting history, as have many things, I suppose. Unclear what is historical and what legendary, but here goes: Originally a pagan pastry, meant to symbolize four moon phases, the Church coopted them into its religious tradition when converting the good people over to their way of thinking. I also read that Elizabeth I tried to outlaw them [why?!?] but gave in and let people eat them, but only on Easter and some other special occasions. Whatever. I don't pretend to understand the number of strange little historical tidbits I'm picking up.
Saturday, April 01, 2006
FINALLY HERE
Corey Jo is arriving tonight! I'm so excited I can barely stand it. She claims she's happy to hang out and drink whisky and do lots of nothing, but I also hope we can come up with something cool to show her. We're in Cardiff through Wednesday, then a couple of days in London. We'll probably go look at a castle or two, or visit Tintern Abbey or Bath. But yeah, I don't really care what we do, I'm just so glad to see her.
I just hope it's not an April Fool's Joke.
Corey Jo is arriving tonight! I'm so excited I can barely stand it. She claims she's happy to hang out and drink whisky and do lots of nothing, but I also hope we can come up with something cool to show her. We're in Cardiff through Wednesday, then a couple of days in London. We'll probably go look at a castle or two, or visit Tintern Abbey or Bath. But yeah, I don't really care what we do, I'm just so glad to see her.
I just hope it's not an April Fool's Joke.
FILM SOCIETY PUBLICITY
We finally had a full-on well-attended film night. I won't describe it because my friend Zeynep made a mini-slide show about it on her blog. You can see it here:
http://butterfly-x.blogspot.com/2006/03/political-movie-society-presents.html
She's also got pictures of Cardiff and things there, so take a look around. Some of it's in Turkish.
We owe Mr. Dietz a debt of gratitude for reminding me about Battle of Algiers.
We finally had a full-on well-attended film night. I won't describe it because my friend Zeynep made a mini-slide show about it on her blog. You can see it here:
http://butterfly-x.blogspot.com/2006/03/political-movie-society-presents.html
She's also got pictures of Cardiff and things there, so take a look around. Some of it's in Turkish.
We owe Mr. Dietz a debt of gratitude for reminding me about Battle of Algiers.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)