I'm a Bee

Fable

We were herded into the basement. And then, we waited in the dark.  I shuffled uncomfortably.  We waited some more.  There were definitely sounds upstairs: A door opening... footsteps... voices...?

Um... I think she knows we're having a party for her.   
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"Don't worry about your problem. No matter what, it's someone's fetish..."

 

The big "SURPRISE" for Jenn's birthday party didn't quite materialise as planned (we stomped back up the stairs after deciding whatever the come-upstairs-now-to-surprise-Jenn cue was, it wasn't happening).  But what followed must have been what David planning had hoped for: 

- People dressed up on theme* and were mingling

- People were eating and drinking (themed drinks from Fable's Tavern)

- Games were played (kittens were spared)

- Self-proclaimed lesbian hermits came by for a visit (apparently making a circuit to see 20 different friends all in one day)

- Jenn demonstrated her dog and hermit crab (pet) whispering talents...

And then there was cake!

 

 

 

And presents. 

Happy Birthday, Jenn! 















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 * And off: I'd mistaken the "Fable" theme for any story with a morality tale, making Little Red Riding Hood a reasonable costume.  But actually, the theme was the video game.  Fortunately, when asked what my powers I had, I realised the the original inspiration for my costume was hardly defenseless. 

However, I think this guy (left) just wanted to wear his red suit.  (Thought admittedly, with his face completely covered, it is pretty creepy.)

Cirque du HH and Coconut

Training season has begun!

RSO Pumpkins

It's that time of year again!  People at work dress up and wear masks to compete for prizes by doing something interesting to a pumpkin with a knife (and a bunch of other tools).

 (Right: Cereal killer, Tamin, uses her weapons on the gourd.)

(Left: The IP Team takes a softer approach with pens.)

(Right: Monica's supervisory technique.)

(Below: This year's judges.)

(Further below: This year's top candidates... which all seem to have a work theme.)

 

 

Above: The winning carving with grand prize (a date with a hottie). 

A Spoonful of Sugar

Days away from the Night-We-Roam-for-Candy, The New York Times online asks "Is Candy Evil or Just Misunderstood?"  The article goes on to tell the birth of the blog Candy Professor, when writer Samira Kawash realised the love-hate relationship many have with candy. 

Which got me thinking about my relationship with candy (and sugar). 

The love part for me started early and it was easy: It was tasty, it was rare, it was a treat.  Not all created equal of course.  The free Chinese New Year sweets were no match for the fizzy Coke bottle gummies or sour cherry blasters that I would trade for with hard earned (or found) pennies and nickels (or the occasional found empty bottle).  Getting the latter felt like an accomplishment, a measure of success.  And so in the boom-time of Hallowe'en, I would carefully divide, ration, and squirrel away my loot so that I could have some in the future (cue Jeff's ribbing of some 5-year-old pieces of gum and chocolate bars...) 

My hate came later in the form of dieting.  Candy, and the sugar in them, were empty calories, and I avoided them along with fats.  I read and learned about spikes in blood sugar levels when carbohydrates were digested and absorbed, and the resulting dump of insulin into the blood stream converting it all to fat (and in my mind that meant getting fat)... Later it became an overall health issue (diabetes, immune response suppression...).  In summary: Candy became bad because it was full of sugar. 

Mom and Dad didn't seem to worry about the health effects of early-year treats beyond cavities, ruining my appetite for the next meal, and stomach aches from over indulging.  (Angela had other ideas.)  While my hate developed, Mom, still kept a fairly stable view to all this:

1. There are medicinal qualities to sugar.
2. Candy was a source sugar and could be used to help certain conditions. 

Thinking about it now, I don't completely disagree. 

The effects Mom talks about mainly combat Chinese medicine's condition of dryness*.  Honey in hot water, Chinese dessert soups with rock sugar... are all remedies to help reduce / relieve "dryness" symptoms of dry coughs and thirst. 

Now, how different is this from sucking on a throat lozenges (essentially a hard candy or lump of rock sugar)?  Take into account the placebo effect (the ultimate sugar pill justification), and these remedies seem just as good (and tastier) than some cough syrups (see efficacy in Cough Medicine).

A spoonful of sugar (in this case) is the medicine.  (But, in most cases, medicine is the best medicine.)

I think I'm finally in the (saner) grey zone between love and hate when it comes to candy and unnecessary sugar.  But we'll see where I'm at after a few of those Hallowe'en candy bars.

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* The others I'm more sceptical about include helping to alleviate mild allergic responses such as a itching in the mouth after eating something questionable (though a hard candy has reduced the complaints of my niece and nephew's in such situations...)... hm... unless this is somehow linked to immune response suppression...

Not in 30 years...

... has the first snow was a whole month after my (Chinese) birthday*.  Dad ends up calling Mom and Aunt 5 to tell them the news. 

My thoughts: It's a good thing the Pumpkin Ninja had a some help from friends this year and got things done before it all the snow hit.  Now... will it melt? 
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* Maybe because this is the first time since in 30 when the lunar calendar and Western calendar are aligned again in the same way. 

Feast!

French onion soup... 

... greek salad...

... dahl. 

Some lemonade. 

And then there was carrot pineapple cake!

But Rebecca was still hungry. 

 

Wednesdate at Daawat

I forgot my camera at work, so, made Paul promise not to do anything too awesome.

Our original plan was to go the AGA after dinner to see the latest exhibits, but curiosity took us in a different direction to Whyte Ave...  to see the huge new Shoppers Drug Mart.  Two levels!  And underground parking!  Crazy! 

Lingering a bit too long there meant, by the time we made it to Daawat for dinner, Paul was super hungry.  We sat down (me forgetting, again, how low the seats are) and got back up - deciding on quickest route for food to our bellies: the buffet. 

There were dishes I'd think I'd like try to make (Punjabi style dahl), and things that I liked a lot, but wouldn't likely be able to make (fried fish and eggplant "stirfry").  I wondered about the saffron rice... are those little chunks of bacon?  (My untrained mouth couldn't really taste a difference from regular rice.)

Tasty and plentiful as the meal was, I think I enjoyed our ala carte meal here much better.

The waitstaff, as with most buffets, kept offering to take away our plates.  I always thought this was because they wanted to clear the table (as a clutter table might seem as though they haven't been attentive enough), but Paul brought up a good point: Could it be they thought we would contaminate the buffet food if we were to use them again?

During the night's conversation, Paul also mentioned that he could hear something identifying from people who have English as first language, but come from an Asian background (almost a special kind of accent).  It's an interesting idea (we should try to test it!)... at least that's the reason, he explained, why he mistook my voice for another girl's when we were first dating. 

Back to Dance

TA training on the weekend had exactly what we needed: A review on how to teach.  Finally!  This was sorely lacking since my return and I think we (as a club) suffered for it.  It was fine to learn the moves and practice them, but there was a gap between doing something ourselves and then trying to get someone who has never done the move before to do the same (D&D never forgot this). 

Aside from the dancing, there was also business.  And... the numbers are not good.  At this point in time, we have lowest number of members to date (of any recorded year).  Someone also said we were the only university dance club to not be directly taught by professionals.  I wonder if this is true... and if that has an effect. 

It sad to see things go into decline, but there just seems to be so many factors.  More ballroom dance studios, other dance styles becoming more popular...

There was again the rehash of the two ideologies that divide us almost every year:
1. "The club is a social club" - We should emphasize fun.
2. "The club is about learning how to dance" (and is potential training ground for competitors) - We should focus on learning the steps and technique. 

Which will make people join again? 

The class I am assisting, seems to have one instructor in each camp.  Last night, my first class back, I was already fighting off urges of grabbing the mic. (Of note: We have a deaf student, who is learning through a sign language interpreter.)

It ended up being a very, very late night, when one of the instructors reviewed what was expected and asked questions on what can be improved... etc.  Helpful information, but really by 10:30 p.m., I just wanted to go home. 

Today, I feel pain, but at least I don't feel like a lump on a log.   Must schedule in extra stretches for the ankle.

Saturday: Ghost Banana and Bread Pudding

Adventure's End

6 a.m. - Awake! 

Sunrise over Las Vegas

Parting shot

A "swarm" of fish in Seattle airports proper foodcourt

Quieter, colder, flatter.  Home. 

Day 3: What the Duece... Happy to be Blue

After a pretzel and hotdog breakfast from New York, New York, we hopped "The Deuce" and headed downtown. 

This much older part of Vegas was the home to the original landmarks.  We visited The Freemont (St.) Experience, the Golden Nugget hotel, and Main street.  It all seemed rather deserted and the state of some of the buildings was rather sad compared to bright and shiny hotels we saw the night before. 

The neither the Golden Nugget or Main Street Station would be able to compete in modernity, but it they had their charms.

Stepping into the Golden Nugget felt like entering another world (planet).  

While Main Street Station, with it's intricate stained glass and dark wood was gorgeous in a old pub kind of way (well, as much as a casino can be).

 

(Right: Indeed.)

We head back to the main Strip and Emeril's for dinner.  The series of side dishes we ordered (garlic mashed potatoes, seafood chowder, and calamari) didn't make a balanced meal, but certainly a delicious one. 

We quickly ate and set off again.  Rushing and running to make it to the Venetian for our one major planned Las Vegas event (aside from W&W's wedding of course :P): The Blue Man Group!  

I knew very little about the troupe (aside from the few scenes in Arrested Development), but Paul had convinced me they would be awesome.  And they were. 

There was music, slapstick comedy, and lot of paint and goo (those in the first few rows were given garbagebag-ponchos to protect their clothes).  It was part rock concert / light show with silliness, surreal moments, and we might have even learned something... When streamers fell from the sky and the audience were asked to participate, it really felt as though we had plugged into something special.  I heard Paul laugh in what seemed like pure joy. 

After the show we had a chance to meet the Blue Man Group (including all the musicians).  Without being rushed now, we explored theatre a bit more.  And found walls of well known pieces of art visited by the Blue Man Group.  Their show is right there in the paintings. 

(Left: In the gift shop, Paul tries out a version of the pipe drums that was in the show.)  

The night was still (relatively) young, so we took a chance on the monorail and went on to explore the Luxor. 

Never would I have thought, we'd be so daring, but we even followed a real guest into the elevators to see if we could get to the top of the pyramid.  (Left: As far as we got.)

As cool as it was, I'm glad we didn't book our stay here - the elevator moved at an angle!  Yikes!