Tolerance

It's a virtue. Like patience, right? One of those things that I've been working on my whole life.

And yet I've discovered that working with the public five days a week is strangely changing my personality. My capacity for fools is probably about the same, but I can be at least surface-level polite for a longer period of time with those I face across the counter. So that's a plus.

However, now when I have time off I don't want to deal with idiots. At all. And thus my social tolerance has dwindled; I can't stand people who puff themselves up on the first meeting much like a bird in a nature episode. I see your plumage. And your disdain that I work in a coffeeshop instead of a dot com, a non-profit, anything else a trendy liberal arts graduate should be doing in this oh-so-trendy city.

Perhaps it's the cliche that rubs them the wrong way.

I take insult perhaps too quickly, am too harsh in my judgments when we start hanging out. But then again, if who you really are doesn't impress people, why bother trying to change? Sorry, I know the answer to that question - I think I'm suffering from a venue issue. That those who travel seem to do it on trust funds and look at me oddly when I talk about struggling through moving to the US in a period of crisis.

Will just keep keeping on. And hopefully get more phone calls at the right time so I can duck socializing that isn't actually an obligation. Perhaps I need to hide in the woods...

Sunday musings

I'm thrilled because I've procured a ticket home to Indiana for a bit over a week in April (huzzah frequent flyer miles coming in handy for once) AND filed my taxes in the same evening. A burst of productivity to counterbalance the general feeling of blah that working early Sunday morning often brings on (along with naps... those are generally good though).

My sister Cassie just left from spending her spring break here - it was a grand old time, lots and lots of walking around the city (unsurprising I know) and she got to meet some of my friends, eat delicious food, and get a little tan. What more do you need? We spent Friday wandering Berkeley, meeting up with Sally before taking naps on the campus lawn in the sun. Spring must be here.

Yesterday after running to the airport I came out of the BART to find a bunch of police facing off with anti-war protesters - heavy. And disturbing way to come home. Luckily there was an incredible dinner at Cortez to look forward to in the evening; the chef is a regular at Peet's and it was a lovely, delicious time with lots of small plates and bubbles to go with. Who knew that jasmine ice cream 1) was a good idea and 2) went so well with mint-chocolate lava cake? I do now! It was also grand to spend time with all housemates as well as the lovely Maren as we nibbled our way through seemingly countless dishes. I'll be going back for sure.

Things just got to keep getting better. Right?

March??!??!

How does time go so quickly? It all blurs together when you wake up repeatedly at early o'clock I suppose...

There's not been too much to report though, shameful at that sounds. Enjoying the library and reading through the Termeraire books since there are 2 new ones since I first read them (Sarah and Mike are also devouring them). Dragons with moral dilemmas. Excellent.

Tutoring is proving to be an adventure as I remember how recessive genes work and how to simplify equations - I have decided that I can do anything a high school freshman do, though I need to review at times. It shocks me that students often don't have textbooks but only can use them in class - makes looking things up difficult. Coffee has given me health insurance (woo!); I'm looking to get new glasses soon too...

Lots of minutiae. But decent, especially since Mike and I did a 20 mile bike ride yesterday along the water - gorgeous though lots of wind. My legs were protesting this morning about going up hills again. But it felt so darn good.

And now Cassie is coming for a week! I'll post adventures soon!

Internet! Roommate! Chicken Feet!

Ummm, we moved. You knew that, right? Basically successfully though there are still boxes lingering. Need to figure out more heating a place where the heater is in a silly place, doesn't move air, and the power surges if you use space heaters. Though we now have a key to get into the fuse box, that's yet another thrill.

Also exciting was that we finally found a roommate - Nic (for Nicole) is hilarious, lived in London and loves tea, bakes yummy things and works at a design firm with an incredible job title I can't remember off the top of my head. We like her; she came over to meet the landlady and everyone ended up hanging out, eating nachos and telling stories. Definitely a good start.

Barb told me to post this last bit - we've been experimenting with soups and slow cooked food since Mike got a crock pot. At the market yesterday found free-range organic stew chickens for $5, thought we'd make stock. Picked one up and some other yummy things, went to look at incredible Asian art, and then came home. Mike took a nap and I started onions, opened the plastic bag with the chicken (can you feel the tension build?) so I could chop it up for the stew pot.

And there, naked and floppy, were chicken feet! YIKES! I just couldn't deal with their paleness, so I closed up the bag, put it in the fridge and made a cup of tea. Mike had no interest in dealing with it so I sent Sarah a text saying we'd, ummm, need her help majorly. When she came home, tired and worn from work, she laughed at us and then proceeded to pull out the bird only to discover it still had its head attached too! It was a mini horror movie as she deconstructed the bird, and now we have stock.

I did read a lot in the River Cottage Meat Book and learned why buying industrial chicken is pretty gross. As well as how to make stock, his take on pot-au-feu, and some delicious sounding lamb dishes.... Good things to do as the rain begins to actually fall (finally). And it keeps us warm, yes? Huzzah for gas stoves!