Three-day weekend!

Here's how our recent maxi-weekend went:

On Friday, I got a text from my beloved Alannah who was in town for work.   She wondered if we were available to jailbreak her for the evening.  Yeah, obviously!  We went to Mt. Fuji for supper and then to a party afterward.  Then we went back to my place and did stretches on the living room floor and drank peppermint tea like it wasn't weird. (ATM did not participate in this activity because he was busy being our personal DJ, hey!)  It was so much fun and it really made me look forward to her and Stella's visit in the coming weeks.  I'm going to narc on myself here:  I had one beer because the party was held in honor of an old friend who moved back from New Orleans.  I'd bought some Abita Ambers because I thought it'd be majorly rude if I didn't share one with him, BUT it turns out that he gave up alcohol for Lent, so there you go.  I also ate two candied pecans, but no one in their right mind would turn that down.

Bonito flakes doing their dance:

Alannah, friend of all felines:

On Saturday, I had to seriously dig deep to do anything because of the late hours I kept on Friday night.  I did manage to get some food with KMHD & Blair.  Our waitress told us that our parents should be proud of us for having such good manners, which is hella awesome to hear from a grown up.  :3  Later that night, we had our inaugural movie nacht at the Victory St. space.  We watched An American Werewolf in London.   I personally enjoyed the movie & had a lovely time. We could probably stand to have a better projector, but maybe we'll come across that in time?  Keep a lookout for future showings!  It's fun, free, and usually involves snacks.

Sunday, I had brunch with KMHD, Britt, and Blair at Taqueria Karina. Somehow, I managed to get around the Mexicoma and completed a lot of projects, all whilst watching hockey.  Made bread starter, got the heater repaired, repotted succulents:

Made Shibori style curtains:

I'm extremely pleased with the results, especially since I had no experience and it was my first go:

I had some extra cloth, so I got experimental.  There's room for improvement, but I'm really into cloth dyeing.  Blair + I spoke of taking a weekend to try all kinds of methods:

For Monday, Presidents' Day, ATM + I planned a 'enjoy your city' day instead of jetting off somewhere.  We got coffee, went thrift store shopping, had lunch at Big Orange, went to Fresh Market for clams, took a rainy day nap, baked bread, made pasta. 

 

After Big Orange, we waddled around a bit and discovered a new olive oil + balsamic vinegar shop in the Promenade called Strippaggio.  Got to taste so many of each!  It's so hard to beat a quality extra virgin oil.  We had to ask the owner how much a bottle of oil was no less than 5 times because we heard $16, but kept thinking he meant $60.  We ended up buying a bottle of each, as we were in the market, with minimum damage to the pocketbook.   I'm going to have to round up my gals and go for another tasting some time soon. 

We got the Hojiblanca Medium:

The aged strawberry vinegar is ACE:

A word of advice.  If you anticipate having a homemade pasta dinner, do not eat hamburgers for lunch followed up by an olive oil tasting.  It is total misery for your body.  The clam linguine was scrumptious and I truly regret that I wasn't even hungry for it.  I managed to at least taste it and a slice of bread that I baked, but it only made me feel more terrible.  An entire wasted meal.  SMH

We usually do so much over the weekend, that I'm exhausted by the time I return to work.

40 days

I'm not religious, but I'm going to loosely participate in Lent this year.  I like that there's an expiration date to that madness, you're not just going about it willy nilly.  In an effort to really hit where it hurts,  I'm giving up desserts and alcoholic beverages.  So far, it's been easy because I've managed to find loopholes (yogurt is not dessert, it's PART of my meal) and it's Day One.  I can totally see myself laying on the floor in fetal position in the near future, though.  Crying, wailing, gnashing my teeth, begging for mercy.  Should be fun.

Go Dougie! Go Dougie!

Heureux de mardi gras! + Chúc mừng năm mới!

Saturday:

Coveted Zulu beads:

Desi, our Mardi Gras King 2013:

Sunday:

tooth and nail

I had been feeling gloomy for about a month.  I figured the toxic mix of being sick, my Aunt's illness & subsequent passing, plus winter -- despite fighting SAD tooth and nail -- got the best of me.  Yesterday was the first day in awhile that I felt good.  I feel it all changed for the better when I started making plans with my family & friends.  Perhaps there is some correlation between my keeping busy & my cheerfulness contentment.  I don't know if that's healthy, but there it is.

I love everything about this video:

Here comes the weekend.  I've got grand ideas to make some curtains for the bedroom.  I've yet to find any that I like for purchase, so I'm going to give it an earnest DIY go by trying Shibori.  It's so visually appealing and gentle, perfect for sleeping chambers.

Photo credit: honestlywtf.com

Since we can't be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, I suppose the next best thing is to attend the SoMa Mardi Gras Parade.  

Photo: SoMa Mardi Gras Parade

I can't resist a marching band!  Maybe we can get some oysters on the half shell and poboys for supper? We missed the Randazzo's Kingcake deadline, so I will have to make my own.  The one I made last year was complete garbage, so this year, I'm just going to make my amazing cinnamon rolls, hide a trinket in it, and sprinkle the colored sugars on top.  Sorted.

On Sunday, we're headed to Bauxite for Tết celebrations.  It'll be the first time that I've seen my mum in a minute and I've got some hella meditating I'd like to try out.  Also, food.  Lots and lots of Vietnamese food.  Chúc mừng năm mới indeed.

In case it got lost in my last post, I highly recommend this blog called APRES SKI INSTRUCTOR.  I almost cannot stand how good it is.   

Today, I wondered if I carry too much stuff with me everywhere I go.

Photo by Brittany

#1 Gal

The phones don't always work in the canyon, the signal is either weak or non-existent.  Transmissions are spotty, as is the information that reaches us.

We know that Aunt Pati was put in or fell into a coma, but that she could still hear.  Her sister Marcie was on her way to the airport to pick up other relatives.  She called from the road and advised that we call the ranch and say some words to Pati, that they'd hold the receiver up to her ear.  

It's a difficult phone call to make, but I did not waver.  What I wanted to say was brief, not flowery or ridiculous.  There was plenty of time where I said nothing and just listened to her breathing apparatus.

It was my precious uncle, his voice so quiet and tinny, who eked out a 'thank you for calling,' that has sent me into this numb dream state that I'm in now.  I just don't know what to do for anybody and I feel completely useless to anyone.

I'm at work, I can't work.  So, I started reading this blog.  It has been a wonderful distraction and it's lovely.  I adore the way it's written and the subject matter is great.  It has helped me to be able to sit here all day.  I need my family so bad right now.

Later...  I just learned that my Aunt passed away yesterday, at sunset.  I'm told it was peaceful.  She was at home surrounded by family & friends.  

What a loss.  I'm so distraught, which I'm certain Pati would not approved of, but there it is.  Later days, Aunt Pati.

arrest myself

I'm really frustrated with my job.  It's not just the day-to-day annoyances; I would like to make more money so I can get more traveling in and work on our little house.  I have one of those weird state positions that is constantly being threatened with furloughs (but, not flat out eliminated -YET) and we haven't had a COLA raise in ages, so there's really no moving up.  There are future plans (not related to my job) in the works, but that is a slow-moving beast.  

In the meantime, as usual, I'll make do with what I've got, but my wanderlust is intense and eternal.  Making the house into a base of operations becomes more important.

We still don't have curtains in our bedroom.  We've lived in this house for three years, so it's time.

Anyway.  February is here.  We've got Lunar New Year, Mardi Gras, a visiting cousin, and a three -day weekend in view.  We were going to go see Tame Impala in OKC, but scrapped that in favor of possibly going to Chicago (again) to see Django Django (again) in March.  My love for them is REAL.

Still Ill

So, I've been infirm for the past...six nights now? I went to the doctor yesterday and learnt that I have a sinus infection.  I got a steroid shot in me bum (and some antibiotics) and have felt HUNKY DORY since, but am hoping that by the time it wears off, I've healed.  I am, of course, tired of being sick.  I get the blues and my mind wanders to dark, wintry places.  No mas.

Last Thursday, the evening I became ill, I learned that an old friend of mine had perished.  Mason was one that I was once close to, but we'd been reduced to "Hi, Mason" "Hi, AiLien" when we saw each other at parties or shows.  That night, I dreamt of him.  He was fine and weird as usual.  It is, in my opinion, the best and most comforting kind of dream to have of someone who has passed on to the other side.  Later days, Mason.

I'll be going to Colorado sooner than later to visit my aunt who is...well, she's dying.  I need to see her and tell her what a positive influence she's been on me, that I adore her, and will do my best to be good family to those she will be leaving behind.  I'll admit that I'm a bit scared.  As of right now, I don't know when I'll be going, but am prepared to leave at a moment's notice.

I finished Louise Erdrich's The Round House in three days.  The only way you'll know how good great it is is if you read it.  I'm going through an Erdrich revival of sorts.  She's a good storyteller.  When we were in Memphis last, I had the good fortune of finding a couple of her books in the dollar bin. 

Can you believe it is still January?

Class of '51:

These cats were hella vying for attention from ATM:

Guy & gals, let's talk.

Let's pretend that I clipped an article from page 13 of the current issue of the Arkansas Times for you to look at.  It's a piece on some bills that have been proposed by members of this 89th General Assembly.  I know you're real busy, but will you peep this?  It's pretty awful, so brace yourself, but you need to know.

Open publication - Free publishing - More culture

Frankly, I don't know what we should do.  Sadly, these people were elected in by voters.  We have never needed bold, progressive leaders and innovators so bad!  Art, too!  I think people just like to be safe in their opinions and jobs.  I get that.  But, we are being ushered back into gross times and are pretty much allowing it.  Sometimes, signing a petition and voting (and then Insta-ing the I VOTED sticker) isn't enough.  Is civil disobedience something that we will need to work towards? 

I recently read that the Sierra Club is reconsidering it's ban on civil disobedience regarding the B.C. pipelines.

“Governments on both sides of the border should take note … that the oldest and largest environmental organization in North America has become so concerned about the lack of action on climate change that it’s setting aside a long-held commitment to act only within the law,” declared a statement Wednesday by Sierra Club Canada. 

“Science, logic and huge public support for action have all been thwarted by the fossil fuel industry and governments that do their bidding. People of conscience have been left with nowhere else to turn.”

NPR's Melissa Block talks with Sierra Club's executive director about this issue.

The Sierra Club's position is one I relate to.

We live in a backwards copycat state that tries to introduce shit legislation that other state's shit legislators have already proposed (and most have been struck down) because they are so afeared of I-don't-even-know-what and it wastes so much time and money, it's embarrassing and hella frustrating.  Our need for innovation, art (and I don't mean no mustache print, UGH), and action is dire.  We shouldn't rely so heavily on the judicial system.

genus: schlumbergera

Photos by ATM

Look at where we are.

This week has been a real snooze.  'Tis the season where I transform into a hibernator and have the insatiable desire to eat rich foods and curl up under a pile of blankets and dream away.  It's a struggle to stay busy, but I've managed to do little things like bake bread, practice yoga at home, read, and get out of the house and do a little socializin'.  Even so. Yawn/stretch.  So sleepy.

Last Friday, I made ciabatta for the first time.  It's quite the process, but absolutely worth it.  Not exactly gorgeous, but wonderfully tasty.  I feel like I'm becoming a legit bread maker; I'll be making more ciabatta this eve for a fundraiser and for the house.  Best served directly out of oven with Irish butter + jam:

Went to LP's 3rd (!!!) birthday party Saturday last.  I adore this little gal.  Good party, too.  Pizza and ice cream cake!

Got my lamp in working order:

Destruction by Hurricanes AiLien + Brittany:

Proof of physical contact:

Bosc:

19 days later:

This is going to happen with some frequency at the Old Statehouse Museum.  Looking forward to the next one because it's a really good way to undo what the week has done to you: