Quote I liked

"It seems we are often willing to go to far greater lengths to avoid what makes us uncomfortable than to do what is responsible. The putting aside of superficial self-interest is implicit in any decision for the benefit of others."

(From an article about the use of slave labor in cacao farming,..can apply to many other things, no?)

Harrumph

Really unhappy with everything right now. Pretty sure I failed the CSET. Feeling like my life is purposeless and a waste of time.

Dunno what's wrong with me.

Peter Camejo died

And it sucks. He was awesome, and I voted for him twice.

I need a lot of sleep, cause I have a lot of dreams.

Who IS this dorkus?


Passed Pt 1 (of 3) of the CSET. And only didn't pass the 2nd by like 9 pts...and I didn't even study for that sucka mofo at all. I only have to retake the 2nd part and pass the third. I'm feeling it right now. I can do this.

Tim Wise is amazing

This is How Fascism Comes: Reflections on the Cost of Silence

Be a woman. Don't vote for McCain.

Life begins at rape...ask Mayor Sarah Palin

"Under Palin’s Administration, “Life Begins at Rape” for women unable to pay for their forensic evidence gathering. Justice is served to women who can afford it and denied for those who can’t. I live in Alaska-the wealthiest of the 50 states! Forcing rape victims to pay for their own forensic rape kits is something one would expect to find in a fundamentalist country overseas. I have outrage fatigue. I can’t decide which facet of this policy is more upsetting. Is it the denial of justice for the poor? Is it the punishment of women who had been raped? Is it the political policies of a woman so entrenched in the “Pro-Life” movement she would deny justice to a victim? This is not a “Pro-Life” policy. This is a “Pro-Rapist” policy, and forced pregnancy policy."

Economic bailout

So...I know fuckall about economics, but the way I see it...if we, the taxpayers, don't bail out the banks and insurance companies, the economy and the job market and the stock market, etc etc, are fucked...and if we do, the economy and the job market and the stock market, etc etc, are STILL fucked, AND we're paying for some asshole CEO driving a BMW who owns an umbrella stand made of Martha Stewart's vagina (thanks, Lewis Black) to have his company be made there there it's all better now.

Fuck it. Don't help them. Help the average American out instead of these jerks.

Good article.

Another great article

The Wife John McCain Callously Left Behind

Wow. That guy has no credibility AT ALL.

"But Ross Perot, who paid her medical bills all those years ago, now believes that both Carol McCain and the American people have been taken in by a man who is unusually slick and cruel – even by the standards of modern politics.

‘McCain is the classic opportunist. He’s always reaching for attention and glory,’ he said.

‘After he came home, Carol walked with a limp. So he threw her over for a poster girl with big money from Arizona. And the rest is history.’"

This Is Your Nation on White Privilege

Amazing piece by Tim Wise. Read!!

CSET pt 1 of 3 tomorrow

Yes, it's Meg flips out and stresses about even more tests for grad school time.

This one is the science CSET. The topics? Oh, ALL science, EVER, pretty much.

Bode well, this does not.

Today made like a vacuum and blew

We can't get cats, these cats we met and really love, because our rental company basically wants a $900 nonrefundable deposit. Despite our neighbors saying they didn't have to pay any fees.

I'm using my college education to answer phones, enter calls into a computer, and organize shelves.

Apparently the 'wee new city' feeling is wearing off, because between studying for this huge test that I HAVE to do well on, my knees hurting when I run, my computer overheating at the drop of a hat, this bullshit with our shitty scam artist rental company, working a job that requires using about .0009% of my brain (applied for 16 jobs and this was the only one that got back to me), being incredibly lonely, and now the cats, I just feel...I don't know. Useless and stupid and crappy and pathetic.

Kitten caboodle

So I think, after I get my next paycheck, John and I are going to adopt one, preferably two (sibling or bonded) kitties. We have a small place but we think the right kitties would like it. We have big windows with lots of hummingbirds and squirrels to watch.

Any advice for a possible new kitty owner?

Clusterfuck 2008

WOW. McCain's VP pick is fucking AWFUL. Horrible environmental record, doesn't give a fuck about women's rights, supports creationism, her stance on the war, wanting to allow drilling in the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge...what a horrible fucking human being. Like I needed another reason to NOT VOTE for McCain, that fucking turncoat traitor fuckface. Remember back in the day when you gave a shit about campaign finance reform and stuff, Johnny?

Some fun reading if you're bored at work.

If any of you vote for fucking McCain, I will drive to wherever you live and personally crush your kneecaps. It's because I care about you.

Also I got that job. I'm fucking SALARIED, bitches, and get bennies in 2 months. Taking the boy out on a date tonight, which means he better put out, haha.

Happy 3 day weekend everyone!

Another day

Applied for 16 jobs now. Had an interview yesterday, felt good about it, but I don't think I got it. Boo.

Feeling a bit despondent.

But, I just had a yummy yummy breakfast of chopped apple, peach, plum, blueberries, and banana with soy yogurt and some apple granola sprinkled on top. Yes, I eat granola. And tofu. And kale. And quinoa. And other stereotypical "hippie foods." Because they're TASTY and good for you, it's like everybody wins. I never would have guess a year and a half ago that tofu would be one of my top five favorite foods, but it is. So versatile, so easy to cook, so much cheaper than meat, and much healthier. You really can't go wrong. Unless you buy into the fear mongering about soy - soy is unhealthy? Have you looked at that Arby's shite you're eating? Soy destroys the rainforest? Where do you think that soy goes to, my tofu? 90% of the world's soy goes to feed animals - animals that people eat.



I digress...

Pimping my blog: The Sisters Vegan is the coolest ever.

Hurry up and give me a job, Leuts. I need to buy more green tea and hemp oil.

I'm not dead

Heaven


Herro everyone. (I say 'everyone' like anyone reads this.)

Getting settled into our new place in Berkeley. Our place is small, and pricey as fuck, and the management company blows. But we watch the sunset from our balcony while we eat dinner, we can see the San Francisco skyline at night from our bedroom window, and the kitchen is huge. The neighborhood is perfect, except there's not as many bars as I would like, haha. We have three grocery stores within walking distance, a small branch of the public library a block away, and are on three buslines. The best comic book store ever and a couple of used bookstores are within walking distance, as is BART and a bunch of great vegan restaurants, like Fellini and Cha-Ya and Cafe Gratitude. There's two great little parks right nearby, and we can get to the city in 25 minutes.

Watching a lot of movies: Goodbye Lenin!, Heat (both repeats for me). Saw The Godfather for the first time ever. Holy fuck that is the best movie ever made. Al Pacino is the shit. Godfather II and Casino are coming up next. Can you tell what kind of mood I've been in lately?

Been reading a little bit. Started and finished Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas by Hunter S. Thompson. Dunno why I had trouble with it in high school.

Cooking and baking a lot. Enjoyed a lurvely dinner of ginger-mango tofu (kicked up a bit with some red pepper flakes) over Israeli couscous, and am about to make braised figs with yogurt-agave-vanilla sauce for dessert, mmm. The figs get all caramelized and wonderful, I love it. They're my new favorite dessert.

Mom and the sis are coming down tomorrow, psyched to see them.

Job hunting. I have applied for 13 jobs, finally got an interview, it's Monday afternoon. Cross your fingers for me.

What's new with y'all?

Mulliganday

Between drama with parents and drama with the property company that manages our apartment and having the worst cramps ever and the job market in Berkeley sucking, I'm calling today a Mulligan.

Flickr

So I've run into Flickr's 200 pic limit for free accounts. If anyone wanted to upgrade me to a pro account I'll bake you a batch of cookies or five.

'Schland

I'm here, and alive, and jet-lagged beyond belief (it's 5:35am) but the internet is stupid and won't work on my computer. So I shan't be on for much other than checking email, unless I go to an internet cafe. Loves. If you want a postcard send me your address.

Ich fliege weg, im Flugzeug

Leaving for the 'schland tomorrow. I'll send out an email to let everyone know I'm not dead. Cross your fingers for me, I'm terrified of flying.

Edit: If anyone wants a postkarte, email me and I will deliver! :D

That's how you do it Holmes.

Finishing off the last semester of college with straight As. Boom bitch, that's just how I roll.

Everyone cross your fingers for me for the GRE tomorrow.

That

Pfffft.

I do not like snatchy ex-girlfriends who try to vaginablock. Get bent beeatch.

What the shirt says

Just finished my last final. The ceremony is on Saturday. Woo motherfuckin' hoo.

The girl who makes me laugh more than anyone else

My sister is adorable

The Failboat has sailed

96th percentile on the verbal...and 21st on the math.

I don't know why I bother breathing other SMART people's air. Surely they need it.

Preparing to get onboard the Failboat

GRE tomorrow. BOOOOOOOOO. My verbal scores are out of this world but the quantitative (the math) are still putting me in the 50-65 percentile. Which isn't horrible but c'mon folks.

This made me laugh, because that's pretty much what it's like.

Also my throat still hurts. BOOOOOOURNS.

Can't wait for this to be over.

Things to think about

Up late. Feel like I'm possibly becoming ill. Pondering my life, the people in it, my choices, the good and the bad. Wondering if I'm ever going to be happy with ANYTHING. Why do I think I even have a SHOT of getting into this Berkeley program? Am I fucking nuts? What the fuck is wrong with me? Am I just PMSing like crazy?

Am I ever going to figure this shit out?

Been vegan for 10 months now. Go me.

Worker dronez

Moral: ear bugs get into your brain through your ear and make you kill people, which makes you sad



Two and a half more weeks of classes. Then finals. Then Germany. Two huge projects due two weeks from today. Bit stressed. Feel like bursting into tears and/or hurling myself out of a window.

Thoughts on Buffy season 6

John is watching Season 6 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the first time, and I am rewatching it for the 3rd or 4th time. It's my favorite season because I want Spike to be my manbitch for forever an' ever, and it because it's definitely the darkest.

But I was struck this time by the contrast between this season and Season 5. The Big Bad in Season 6 is...three nerds who make Battlestar Galactica jokes, drive around in a van with a Star Wars theme horn and have vague plans of world domination? Joss Whedon is making fun of his own viewers (which is hilarious).

The real enemies are the characters themselves. Xander's waffling, Anya's return to being a demon, Willow's addiction, Spike's 'bad boy who is oh so lovely in bed but makes you an emotional wreck"-ness, Dawn's kleptomania, and Buffy's depression, not to mention Giles leaving. The only one who remains relatively stable through the whole thing is Tara. She's the adult, but as with the other nuturing, mother figure in the Buffyverse, she is not a permanent figure. In the end, the nerds are a secondary issue; the Big Bad is Willow, consumed with grief and dark magic, who confronts each of them with their respective weaknesses during the last two episodes.

It's sad, and painful, and dark, but because of that, it makes the characters so much more human. It takes them down a notch or two from their superhero-ness, and really enables the viewer to relate to them, especially for those of us in our early 20s who are starting to deal with everything that the 'real world' throws at us for the first time.

Bergfest

Halfway through the term exactly. Thank goodness.

I encourage everyone to read this: Top 10 Reasons Not to Eat Pigs, and not just because the picture of the baby piggies at the top of the page is one of the most adorable things I have ever seen. If you're interested, May 19th-25th is World Vegetarian Week. I encourage anyone willing to make a change in their lives (and those of the animals) AND who care about the environment and their health, to sign up for the Pledge to be Veg for 7 Days! thing that goveg.com is going. SETA recently did a Try Vegan Week! for Earth Week on campus, and 47 people signed up. It's just 7 days out of your lifetime, and during those seven days you can live more simply, conciously, and compassionately. And you know you have a vegan friend who is willing to send you information, recipes, or answer questions. :)

I leave you with a pic of me and Meredith at our Try Vegan Week table on Earth Day:





I made those signs. :3

Happy Vegetarianniversary to meee!

That's right folks. Today is ONE YEAR without ANY MEAT! I can't believe it. I am the last person who would ever go vegan, let alone vegetarian, and yet here I am, a year later, meat-free and loving life way more than I did before (and now with the added bonus of being dairy-free, but that year-mark isn't until July).

I am:

-Healthier
-More fun
-Way more passionate about life
-An amazing cook and baker
-Actively advocating for those whose voices are silenced
-More aware of MANY more social justice issues
-The owner of a palatte not smothered in cheese and fat, hiding all the amazing flavors of just FOOD
-More creative
-More concious
-...and enjoying living simply, compassionately, and joyfully.

To celebrate I indulged in alcomahols last night for my BFF Morgie-poo's birthday, and today I dropped $50 on stuff from Food Fight Vegan Grocery, including but not limited to Teese and a cute little cookbook called Rabbit Food.

Le Sigh

It seems like the stretch between February and the end of May is always the hardest part of the year for me. It's being exacerbated now by some of the side-effects of coming off the BC pill (moodswings, cramps, bloating, headaches, freaking BREAST TENDERNESS, which I've never had before, and no before you ask I'm not pregnant).

John is in Berkeley right now checking out the law school and such (he got accepted and they're throwing fat stacks of money at him, it's a sure-thing we're moving in August). I miss him a lot. It's a portent of how hard it's going to be while we're apart during my stint in D-land (which I bought my ticket for, incidentally: arriving in D-Land June 21 and coming home July 25). But then at least I'll be busy instead of bumming around my apartment while it pisses rain outside and I ignore the huge pile of dishes in my sink.

But all is not lost. I have Death at a Funeral on DVD, and I made GRUB sweet and sour tofu, and I have chocolate, and tomorrow (if the weather doesn't suck) after I do my homework I'm going to go down to the first farmer's market of the season.

Okonomiyaki discovery

Oh. my. GOD. I picked up Vegan Vittles by Jo Stepaniak at Smith Family Books today because I had a coupon for 20% used books (I picked up Vegan Italiano by Donna Klein as well), and it has a recipe for fucking OKONOMIYAKI, which ANY former or current Ranma 1/2 fan (read: überdork) knows is Ukyo's specialty and tastes like YUM. I can't wait to try this. I'm going to make it a little different than the recipe calls for, to try and replicate the way they make it in that little restaurant in Japantown in San Francisco, but yeah. OM NOM NOM.

Woo!

As of the past Wednesday, not only have I been vegan for 8 months, but I have not eaten any cows or pigs for a YEAR!!!!!

If you want to learn more about the meat industry and how cruel it is to animals, check out GoVeg.com, TryVeg.com, and Compassion Over Killing. For any of you folks in California who grew up with the 'happy cows' ads on TV, check out UnhappyCows.com. Or check out my and Kelly's blog at The Sisters Vegan.

He'll save children but not the British children

Washington in all his glory


So I got an IUD today. I was tired of the pill for many reasons, including the persistent headaches, the weight gain, the increase in PMS, the environmental problems, and the fact that the hormones in them are animal derived. An IUD is cheaper, more effective, and I don't have to even think about it. And it's good for TEN YEARS, woo!

Anyhoo. It hurt like a beeotch, but nothing I couldn't handle. If you've ever had horrible menstrual cramps, like the women in my family seem to do, that's what it seemed like except a little more intense.

I named it Washington, after this webcartoon. I figured if anyone's going to keep evil sperm out of my uterus, that motherfucker is.

Excerpt:
He’ll save children but not the British children
He had a pocket full of horses fucked the shit out of bears
He threw a knife into heaven
And could kill with a stare
He made love like an eagle falling out of the sky
Killed his sensei in a duel and he never said why
Washington
Washington
Twelve stories high made of radiation
The present beware
The future beware
He’s coming
He’s coming
He’s coming

California knows how to party

La Biota de California

Word, bitches. Finished finals last night, and I'm getting the fuck outta Dodge and going down south to spend some time with the fam fam.

Woo spring break!

Finals week aaaaaaahhhhhhhhh

There is not a language with sufficient depth to describe my lack of motivation right now, or the insane amount of work I should be doing: 1 paper and 3 final tests. "LAAAAAAAME" is about as describe-y as I'm gonna get right now.

I've been in the library for three hours, can you tell?

Oh, one other thing, I'm moving to Berkeley in August. That's pretty cool.

Another food meme

1. If you have to choose between locally grown or organic, which do you usually choose?
Both. I luckily live in an area where that's usually possible.

2. Favorite way to prepare potatoes:
Fried. Fries or hashbrowns XP I know, it's awful. I also like mashed and boiled.

3. Do you press your tofu before preparing/cooking it (if you eat soy)?
Yes, unless it's silken and going into baked stuff. :)

4. Name your favorite recipe that is a tradition in your family:
Hummingbird cake - so going to veganize it soon.

5. Any food allergies?
Nope.

6. When you want to go to a fancy dinner, where do you go?
Ratatouille or Bay Leaf!

7. When you have a cold, what do you crave?
Snuggles.

8. What kind of water do you drink? (Filtered, spring, tap, etc.)
Tap water.

9. Name a flavor of soda you'd love to see:
I don't drink much soda anymore. How about I just get a huge water tower full of Santa Cruz Raspberry Lemonade built near my house, just for me?

10. If the recipes you ate as a child were compiled into a cookbook, what would the title be?
Much Meatses. Oh And Pie.

11. If you were allowed to grow one food that can't grow in your climate, what would it be?
Mangos.

12. Favorite type of mushroom?
Crimini or portabellas.

13. Most frustrating part of your kitchen?
The crappy tiny range, and the fact that the cupboards above the fridge are ABOVE THE FRIDGE. Also no garbage disposal, yecch.

14. Last food you burned?
Oatmeal. Forgot about it while I was getting dressed for class.

15. Usual response to a veg*n's favorite question, "But where do you get your protein?":
Tofu, whole grains, and broccoli. Oh and YOUR MOM. Snap.

16. If you were baking your own birthday cake today, what flavor would it be?
Vanilla confetti! :D

17. Favorite brand of chocolate chips?
Ghiradelli.

18. You have $200 of your tax return reserved for Williams Sonoma - What do you buy?
A ricer, some Le Creuset stuff, a gnocchi board, two more sets of measuring cups and spoons, a wok, a tartpan, spices, a bundt pan, mini pie plates, more baking pans, I think I'm way over the $200 limit now LOL.

19. Do you plan your menus in advance? Any tips to share?
Not really. Usually I look and see what I have around the house and try to plan around stuff I already have on hand.

20. You have 3 minutes before you have to leave the house and you're starving- What do you eat?
A banana.

21. If Martha Stewart, Paula Deen, and Rachel Ray got into a fight, who would win and how?
Paula Deen - that bitch is fucking scary.

22. If you eat oatmeal, what do you add to it before serving?
Raisins, walnuts, chopped apple, flax seed, and cinnamon. Sometimes nutmeg too. MMMM. One of my favorite breakfasts.

23. If you got to travel to one country and learn all the traditional dishes there, where would you go (ignore commitments in your current place of residence)?
Thailand (sans meat/dairy of course)

24. Favorite late night snack?
Popcorn with nutritional yeast and tea or a beer.

25. Favorite springtime food?
Strawberries, asparagus.

26. Favorite food-related magazine?
I don't really read any.

27. Which do you prefer: shoyu, tamari, conventional soy sauce, or Bragg's Aminos?
Tamari, but Bragg's if I'm just eating plain rice. It's less powerful.

28. What vegetable or fruit do you dislike the most?
Eggplant.

29. Name a holiday food you look forward to all year long:
Pumpkin pie, om nom nom...

30. If you could convert anyone to veganism with your magic wand, who would you convert?
Everyone I know?

*Tag you're it! Kelly, Michelle, and anyone else who wants to!

Still sick (AND injured?)

So I'm still sick (yes it's been like three weeks now). I've been coughing uncontrollably for the last week, unable to sleep, and noticed that my right side right underneath my tit would hurt when I'd cough. Well it's gotten to the point where it feels like I've been kicked there by someone wearing heavy boots, and coughing and sneezing brings me close to tears. Even breathing isn't very much fun.

I think I have to admit defeat and go to the doctor on Monday and get antibiotics for whatever's keeping me full of nasty phlegm. I'm pretty sure I either cracked a rib or pulled a muscle from coughing so much. Either that or I have fucking tuberculosis.

Mehhhhh. And right before Dead Week too. :(

'schland

Um, wow.

So I'm going to Germany for 5 weeks or so at the end of June to participate in an archaeological field school in Sachsen-Anhalt near Leipzig.

Cool.

Still plague-y

I'm worse than I was yesterday. The only reason I'm up is because I have a lab I can't miss.

Fuck.

Run for the hills

I have the Black Death. No seriously, I'm watching my armpits for buboes, and hallucinating, and my neighbors have boarded up the place.

In other words I'm really fucking sick. I am skipping everything today and am laying in bed...doing HOMEWORK. I never relax, do I?

A little over a month until spring break and California!

I'm a badass (not really)

Eugene Weekly Feb 14th, 2008: It's Not Just a Café by Megan McClellan

Yeah motherfucker WHAT.

Very pleased.

What the fuck am I doing.

So after graduation, I:

-Move to Portland
-Move to San Francisco into a bigger apt. with Kelly
-Sell everything I own and move to Costa Rica and learn to surf with Toby
-Other shit that at this point I don't think is happening

What the fuck.

Love animals, don't eat them

Vegan bumper sticker that John's mom bought me a while ago. It was gorgeous here today, so I finally got a chance to put it on my car. My parents cringe whenever I stick yet another thing to my automobile, but I love it (I have this, a Rogue Nation bumper sticker, and a UO fighting duck).

John's mom told me about another great one that I really want to get: "Nature bats last." HA! Pretty much.

I'm off to make some hummus.

If it weren't for that horse, I wouldn't have spent that year in college

Why is it that an article in the Emerald about how anime is destroying children (and satire, at that) gets more outraged comments than the articles about relevent environmental and social issues? Good god. Maybe anime is destroying our children.

Cephalopod 4 life boyeeee

I'm not going to do very well on my invertebrate paleontology midterm today. I'm praying to PZ Myers for help, but seeing as how we're both atheists, I doubt that's going to help.

Geology field trip

This is me rapelling, also known as falling, but with a rope, down a steep slope into the cove where we went fossil hunting for the GEOL 431 field trip last month. I like the picture. :3 It makes me look adventurous. If you click on it you can go to Flickr and click 'all sizes,' you can see the largest size and really catch the terrified expression on my face. And the pretty rock stratification. :B

So tired

I want to do NOTHING. I have no drive to get anything done, despite the lab that's sitting unfinished on my floor, and the quiz I should be studying for, and the midterm and project looming for next week. I blame the weather. Stupid melatonin. I just want to go home and take a nap. Unfortunately I have two hours of class.

And I'm constantly HUNGRY. Chomp chomp chomping away. I try to stuff myself full of healthy stuff (going to the store to get some more apples tonight, so I can make the Goddess Garbanzo sandwich spread from ED&BV on the lovely whole wheat bread that John baked last night), but ehhhhh. It's HARD. All I want is carbs carbs carbs carbs.

Holy Cow meeting's at 5pm tomorrow in the Survival Center, if anyone's interested.

The Sisters Vegan

Kelly and I have a blog that's just launched. :) It's a joint vegan project! Check it out if you get bored:

http://sistersvegan.blogspot.com

Baking (not in the Eugene sense)

I didn't feel like doing homework this evening, so I baked the Lemon Poppy Seed Crackle Cookies from Dreena Burton's Eat, Drink, & Be Vegan!, which I got for Christmas. This past weekend was an ED&BV weekend, as I made three other recipes from this book, and boy, was I pleased.

The cookies, as you can see, turned out well, too, except I think I got a little ambitious with the lemon peel. I tend to try and get as much as I can from one lemon...the result being I think I can taste a little bit of the pith-y bitterness under the classic lemon and poppy seed combo. But ah well. If you eat them while you're slurping away on a mug of chamomile tea, as I did, they're fine.

It's just started snowing again. I'm not surprised, it was damn cold today. I am displeased, I only want it to snow if it's enough to close campus tomorrow. Here are some more snow pictures from Sunday's fantastic-ness:

View from the front door.


Awkward self-taken photo in which John looks amazing and I look bizarre.


Our first snowman; I named him Drunky. He is our hippie methhead Eugene themed snowman!


Our neighbors really got into it. And yes that's a beer can in the right snowman's 'hand'.


Our second snowman peers across the street in alarm at the scene!

It snowed yesterday.

I took a day off from homework and Holy Cow stuff (well, most of the day) and played in the snow with John. There were snowballs, and snowmen, and a long walk, and lentil-walnut burgers.

I've been insanely busy, hence the lack of update-y-ness. I've baked and cooked so many things I can't even remember them all. Lemon poppy seed muffins, lemon gem cupcakes, pad thai, bean & corn tortilla lasagna with avocado, crepes with fruit puree and celestial cream, chocolate chocolate chip walnut cookies, almond-quinoa muffins...the list goes on.

I'm currently trying to save the only vegetarian/vegan restaurant on campus. Join http://oregon.facebook.com/group.php?gid=8680109351 if you're interested in keeping a sustainable environmentally-friendly cafe alive and at UO.

School is going to drive me mad, I've decided.

Also I have a new job as a tutor for student athletes.

Tired.

Save the sealions

http://portland.indymedia.org/en/2008/01/371145.shtml?discuss

"The NOAA national marine fisheries service is about to decide whether to begin killing sea lions on the Columbia river. Some say the decision has already been made, and they are simply going through the motions (ala the FCC) of pretending we have a say in the matter. Perhaps. But this is the last chance to make any public comment about whether or not they should be allowed to kill sea lions on the Columbia river. Please take the moment or two that it will take, and make your voice heard. Tell them not to kill the sea lions."

Here's what I wrote:

"Sea lions have always been in the Columbia river, and so have salmon. Hmm...methinks it is not the sea lions fault, but rather overfishing, too much damming, and pollution. Maybe instead of killing innocent animals who have as much of a right to be there as the salmon (and us), we should look at our OWN environmental practices and think about changing our policies of over-commercialization and overfishing. Please remember that both killing sea lions AND fishing destroys animal lives and local ecosystems. Killing animals because of our own human negligence and selfishness would be a senseless and reprehensible tragedy.

Please just take a moment to really think about what I've said. No Oregonian would want this to happen."

Come on, Oregonians! Fire up those emails and at least let them know that we don't want this!

Happy birthday to me

So yeah. Pretty much worst birthday ever.

Fuck everyone.

2007 Summary Survey

1. What did you do in 2007 that you'd never done before?
Was single, then started a healthy relationship. Went to trivia night at the brewery. Went vegetarian, and then vegan. Worked at Safeway. Gave an academic talk at a conference. FINALLY dressed as a pirate for a party.

2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
I didn't get THAT fit or stop being negative about myself but I did spend more time with friends. I resolve this year I will (a) stay vegan and (b) be more financially responsible.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Not that I know of.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
Luckily no.

5. What countries did you visit?
Um, none. How sad.

6. What would you like to have in 2007 that you lacked in 2006?
More drive.

7. What date from 2007 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
September 13th. It was my last day at Safeway and I got to come home. I was euphoric.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Giving the talk at HBES 2007 and getting damn near a 4.0 GPA every year. Also, John.

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not thinking about my actions enough.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I got a couple yeast infections and UTIs but what else is new.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
VEGAN COOKBOOKS! And more baking stuff. And those comfy shorts. And beer.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
My sister, for becoming more amazing every day.
My parents, for supporting me.
John, for being sexcellent.
My friends, for lurving me.
Morgie-poo and Gillie-poo for being sehr toll!
Sorsha, for being cute!
The Vegan Freakies, for being there.
Bob and Jenna Torres, for helping me become vegan.
Isa Chandra Moskowitz, for making me a better cook and baker.

13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
My own.
My boss(es').
Several friends'.
Several boys'.
The asshole who shot Bhutto.
The government.
Non-vegans.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Groceries, beer, credit card debt...

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Coming home for breaks, getting a new job, doing a PLE with Emily and Dr. Frost, my talk at HBES, the weekend at the beach house with Morgie-poo and Gillie-poo, Trivia Night every Friday, Valentine's Day with Donny, going up to Portland numerous times to see friends.

16. What song will always remind you of 2007?
Soldier Boy - Soldier Boy, Big Girls Don'T Cry - Fergie, I'M Having a Good Time - Queen, Beyonce - Irreplaceable, anything by Fettes Brot or Wir Sind Helden.

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Happier. Much happier.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Thinner but still not as fit and strong as I want to be.
iii. richer or poorer?
Poorer...I spend too much money on foods. And stupid credit card!

18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Gone to Portland more often, just enjoyed things more...

19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Wasting my time.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
At my parents' place, as usual.

21. Did you fall in love in 2007?
Yes. John. :3

22. How many one-night stands?
None. Wow!

23. What was your favorite TV program?
The Office, House, American Idol. 24 sucked this season.

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Hate is a strong word but I really really really don't like a few people that I didn't hate last year, yeah.

25. What was the best book you read?
Diet for a New America by John Robbins.

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Debbie Rockt, Tegan & Sara, some soundtracks, Lil Wayne, I dunno. Didn't listen to a whole lot of new music.

27. What did you want and get?
I never know what I want, but I certainly did and did not get it.

28. What was your favorite film of this year?
Ummm....Knocked Up, The Departed, Pirates of the Caribbean 3, um...didn't see very many this year.

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I had a kickass party the week before, and on my birthday I drank whiskey with Erica and we did our ice cream birthday thing, which was awesome, and then Eldon took me to Lucky Noodle for dinner.

30.What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Not worrying so much. About EVERYTHING. Stress stress stress, that's all I do. I don't like it.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2006?
Yet another year's variation on jeans and a t-shirt, BUT with skirts thrown in. I finally found a pair of shorts I like. Course, they're men's shorts...

32. What kept you sane?
Exercising, friends, family, music, beer, chocolate, BAKING like a fiend, and lots and lots of rum.

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Jim from The Office.

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
People who don't give a shit about other people, is pretty much the nice way of saying FUCK the government.

35. Who did you miss?
Friends who moved.

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Morgie-poo and Gillie-poo.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2007:
People are dumb. Stand up for what you believe in.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Ich weiß nicht weiter
Ich weiß nicht, wo wir sind
Ich weiß nicht weiter
Von hier an blind
Von hier an blind
Von hier an"
-Von hier an blind, Wir Sind Helden