Book Time April 29, 2008
Posted by smartblondece in books.1 comment so far
This may very well become a book blog. But this entry is going to focus on Elizabeth George.
Elizabeth George is best known for her Inspector Lynley series. Most are familiar with this series through the PBS Mystery! specials of the series (starring Nathanial Parker and Sharon Small). George is an American who can with amazing accuracy write about English culture and society. The main characters in the Lynley Series are (of course) Detective Inspector Thomas (Tommy) Lynley, DC Barbara Havers, Simon St James and his wife Deborah, and his assistant Lady Helen Clyde.
The first book starts with Lynley, the Eighth Earl of Asherton (don’t worry, it’s not just you, no one seems to know why he ever entered the police force), being partnered with the unpleasant Barbara Havers. She is angry, confrontational and working class but also too assertive and intelligent for her own good. Naturally she is displeased with being shuffled around the male dominated group of detectives at the Metropolitan Police, and this seems to be the worst assignment yet. Over the next few books the unlikely pair works out a partnership and a friendship as Barbara’s life seems to unravel and Tommy’s seems to come together.
Simon is an independent forensic scientist often hired by New Scotland Yard, and life long friend of Tommy (went to Eaton together), and is married to a photographer, and the daughter of his manservant, and about fifteen years his junior, Deborah. His assistant Helen Clyde is another long time friend, who more for something to do than need, assists Simon in his lab.
Like Barbara the reader steps into a group of characters with a fully formed history and the complexities that come with them. Over the first few books the reader collects the histories of the entire group. And of course in proper mystery fashion, just as everything seems to be going swimmingly (which of course is a relative term) it all falls apart.
I’ve become increasingly attached to the characters while finding the mysteries engaging and well written. Anyone who enjoys mystery, or English culture should enjoy this book.
Her latest installment is Careless in Red and is due for release on May 6, 2008.
In Fine Tradition April 28, 2008
Posted by smartblondece in Friends, Funny, What?!.1 comment so far
Today was my 21st birthday. It started last night at midnight with my sister, who has been waiting for me to turn 21for 3 years (and is probably more excited about the prospect of my legal ability to drink than I was), picked me up to go to all those bars. Yes, all those bars open past midnight on a Sunday. In some towns perhaps. Here? No. We went to the store and bought beer and watched The Soup and Grey’s Anatomy on her tivo. This morning I slept in, receiving calls at 6:45 and 7:30 from my mom and dad respectively singing me happy birthday. Because I slept in I missed my 8am class (conscious decision) and was up and in class for my 12 noon class. After class and returning to my apartment my friend Hillary and I went downtown to a pub in the hope that they would have outdoor seating, as the weather was amazing. Before she came I had a turkey and cheese sandwich. Once we got to the pub I had jalepeno poppers, because they are amazing and it is my birthday, and why not indulge? As well as a pint of Mirror Pond and a “birthday shot” a bizzare shot called bloody sack. I don’t particularly feel capable of recounting the makeup of this shot at this time.
After my afternoon wonderfulness I went and met a sorority sister for dinner and member ed. I don’t particularly like anywhere in the MU other than Pangea and Panda Express when Pangea is closed. So I had orange chicken. And hung out with Jill.
After Chapter a few of my sorority sisters and I decided to chill on over to McMennamin’s. I don’t know if you ever had their fries. Amazing. I’d already had dinner. So I decided on splitting fries and a rich dessert with Deanna. As well as having a Ruby. Stayed with Kristin and Hillary after all others left and had a Hammerhead (For those that don’t recognize Mirror Pond, Ruby and Hammerhead, these are all Pacific NW microbrews). I was feeling… full… and a little over indulged.
Here I must digress. If you read my earlier entries you will see I do not generally eat like…… like I am 350 lbs… It was my birthday. And I didn’t check my desire to indulge in fried, greasy foods… But my body is not used to such abuse. But I must also attest to my ability to hold my drink at least to a moderate level. When I drink slowly and chat with my friends I can consume 2 pints and only begin to feel the effects. My roomies can tell you it takes me well more to get properly drunk. I have never blacked out or vomited due to alcohol.
Combine the alcohol with the massive amounts of fried food. And my stomach wasn’t feeling particularly well. So I drank water. Hoping this would make me feel better. Such a bad idea. Let’s make the stomach a little fuller why don’t we.
Now in the US the 21st birthday marks the legal age to buy and consume alcohol. This combined with a slightly forbidden pleasure aspect of alcohol results in many 21 year olds spending their birthdays consuming alcohol in massive quantities, at very high rates. This results in many college students vomiting in many bar bathrooms.
About the time we are paying our check I begin to feel ill. I had eaten too much, drank too much (water and yummy microbrews). I figured I’d be good until I got home where I seriously considered eating my finger (to relieve the ill feeling not due to any weight issue, I assure all). But then I new I needed to at least go be near a toilet. So I get up, at which point Hillary and Kristin offer to go hold my hair or my jacket. I refuse. And as I am heading to the bathroom the waitress asks if the food was alright. I say it was, just the wrong combination. This brief pause was my big mistake. I make it just inside the bathroom doors when I am sick. All over the floor and into the sink. A sweet girl goes to the waitress to tell her for me that I’d been sick while I clean myself up.
Meanwhile our waitress goes to Kristin and Hillary to tell them that I’m being sick in the bathroom. They assure her that they know. She looks at them like they are freaks and the worlds worst friends. Let me explain a few things about my friends and me. We are there for each other. That is not the issue. But my hair was pinned back, I did not need someone to hold my hair. I do not need someone tending me as I lose my supper. And seeing as I was not drunk in the slightest, there is no danger of me passing out. So I hardly need tending.
I apologize to the poor waitress who comes to clean up my mess. I assure her I was not drunk just unwell. She seems to believe me as I am obviously still mostly sober, and not that deathly green color that accompanies alcohol poisoning. She does inform me however that I need to leave. Yeah… like I was hanging around.
So while I uphold the fine tradition of being sick on one’s 21st birthday, it seems to be in the tradition of the Ancient Romans more than the Americans.
A final note: I am mostly convinced that this episode was due to a poor choice in food, smelling to much fried foods and water and alcohol, but I am not willing to completely discount bad ranch dressing with the fries… probably would be feeling more ill though…
Phone Drama April 19, 2008
Posted by smartblondece in Uncategorized.add a comment
Tuesday I had some stuff at work until about 6:30. I left work. And I got on my bike and rode home. It takes 3 maybe 4 minutes. Get in the door, go to the bathroom and then I go to call my mom. I still haven’t gone past the first 10 feet or so of my studio. I cannot find my phone. I tear apart my room. I figure I set it down as I had retrieved my helmet from my work space, or left it in the conference room. No biggie. i go back the next morning and no phone. I go home later and search my room again. Still having not found the phone I go to the Sprint store here. I find out it is not a corporate store but a privately owned franchise. So I can a) pay $170 for a new phone b) find a phone on Craig’s List c) get my mom to go to a corporate store, use one of our replacements and get a phone for me. The third is not as easy as it sounds, that takes some negotiating, but we’ve had an account with them forever. Mom was successful, and sent my phone via FedEx. It arrived Friday morning. I was lucky enough to figure out how to get into my phone messaging (never did it from another phone before) and I left a message explaining my dilemma and telling people to email me. So I was without a phone for 3 days. I always have my cellphone with me. So to not have it with me was very strange. And since like many college students I have no land line. Oh so disconnected.
Sucess April 19, 2008
Posted by smartblondece in Uncategorized.add a comment
Monday I received some incredibly wonderful news. But before I give the wonderful news I must digress and return to an earlier entry. I mentioned my interview with Acme Construction Company… yeah didn’t get it. Anywho… Kept applying to internships that came my way.
As exciting as I thought the internship with Acme would be, I have always been interested in water. As Hillary (a sorority sister) put it, the real reason I broke up with my ex was because my heart belongs to Bernuolli. Water is becoming such a valuable resource, and clean drinking water is so vital. Many of our cities are facing degrading water systems, and I always found this field much more interesting than structural.
The day before I interviewed I was at OSU’s career fair. I briefly spoke to some people from Mid-Size Municipal Water (MSMW). I gave them my resume and went on my way. Just to give you an idea, I came with 6 or 7, and I ran out before the end. I didn’t expect much to come of it. A few weeks later, just after I found out I wasn’t getting the internship with Acme Construction Company, I received an announcement from MSMW. They were hiring interns for the summer. So as I was house-sitting I filled out an application, wrote a cover letter, and resubmitted my resume. Around the beginning of the month I was asked to schedule a phone interview. I interviewed but was somewhat uncertain. It is really hard to gauge peoples reactions when they are silently sitting on the other end of a phone. On top of it I had to do it while on campus, so I was in a group study room on the top floor of the library, praying I had good reception, and that I wasn’t talking to fast… which I do… a lot. And I was a little nervous about the 3 people interviewing me instead of the 1 I have always had in the past.
I was being interviewed for 3 internship positions. The first was in water distribution, the second in water quality, and the third was a more design based position. I knew as soon as I heard the description that I wanted the first one.
So they tell me they’ll get back to me by the 25th of April. And I was able to just let it go for the next two and a half weeks. But I didn’t have to wait that long. Monday I was in at the Beanery with Akhila, and my cell phone (that is another entry!) rang for an un-ID’d number. I answer it. I knew it had to be one of two. The first would be my ex. As he is in Germany he uses Skype to call me, which is an un-ID’d number, but we hadn’t talked on the phone since we broke up. But every time I get a call from MSMW it is un-ID’d. So I answer it and it is Terry, who led the group that interviewed me, and would be supervising the intern for the first position. The coffee shop was loud so I went outside. Terry told me that they wanted to offer me the Engineering Intern position. I accepted. And he asked me which intern position I would like. I told him, and I think he sounded pleased. I still don’t know, thanks to my phone drama, if that is the position I will have. Terry called on Friday, left a message and said he’d call me back next week or email me.
Here’s the thing. MSMW is in such a location that living at my parents home is impossible. And an apartment is going to take a good portion of my income (which I rather use to pay off some debt incurred while in England or save for school). But it is a reasonable distance from my grandma’s house. Actually MSMW is across the freeway from the high school that my mother went to (she didn’t go to the local high school). So it is an easy enough commute (even if I have to pay for the toll bridge). So summer at the farm… here I come!
I spoke to Dad about transportation. Should I buy a car it would take most of the money I could earn this summer, and then there is taking care of it for the next 2 years, while I am still at school. I responsibility I do not want or care for. Dad agreed to let me borrow the car for the summer. I have to pay for my gas, maintenance and insurance. But I think that is pretty good for the summer. I don’t have to pay rent, or buy a car.
Oh and my uncle has been with out anyone to mow the massive amount of grass for a couple years now. Every time we visit he pays my brother to mow the grass around the house, and down by the lake. I may be able get all my spending money just mowing grass on a ride on mower.
So I have an internship in the field I want to work in, a secondary source of income for spending money, a great place to live and a car. Now… if I could only make the term end tomorrow…
Never Lose Your Cell Phone April 16, 2008
Posted by smartblondece in What?!, blah.add a comment
Especially if it is your only phone.
What to do with an overly proud sister… you know who you are April 13, 2008
Posted by smartblondece in Funny.1 comment so far
Let’s say that one has a sister. This sister is in a situation that most would consider difficult, painful, and altogether one of the most unpleasant experiences possible, and all at an age that it is unusual to face this at. Now make this sister a very proud, independent individual. When this supposed sister is feeling especially unwell one has a series of options. Which option is best on any given day is as random as a dice roll…
1) Ask said sister how she is doing and what is up. This can illicit three responses:
a) She blatantly lies to you, and tells you that she is “great”. While this is a response she usually saves for the parentals, 800 miles away, you know it to be so, because, really, there are no “great” days.
b) She tells you exactly what last night was like, in dulled down detail. She spent the night on the bathroom floor like a drunken college student. While the latter part of this description would be accurate (college student) the former is not. When you offer to come over next time she feels like that she snaps at you, insisting she doesn’t need to be taken care of. Although most sane individuals beg to differ.
c) She gets mad at you for asking. At which point you ask about footy, and insist that you are an Arsenal fan (mortal sin) because she is in an argumentative mood and she can get out her anger without actually treading into any illness related areas.
2) You do not ask, instead you ask about the new illness inspired purchase. Result is universally:
a) “How dare you ask about my new Sony Bravia 46″ HDTV. Don’t you care about me? I mean, really, I’m your sister, you are supposed to care about me, not my new Sony Bravia 46″ HDTV.” Face it. There is no way to win this one.
3) Joke. Like option 1 this has 3 options
a) She is in a mood to joke, and you have a pleasant conversation about the humorous side of it all, all while making anyone in earshot incredibly uncomfortable.
b) She is in a lack luster mood. It doesn’t result in any anger, but it kinda fizzles and dies. Conversation becomes awkward.
c) She is angry. Run. Hide.
As you can see this can be a total crap shoot. When hormones, and states of feeling, can vary greatly within hours, one never quite knows what to do. So one tries to be patient, and dances to the mood, hoping for what is most likely given the day and time.
P.S. These are solely the humorous observations of one that loves a beloved sister. And are in no way meant to be a “poor me” sob fest.
I am obsessed April 6, 2008
Posted by smartblondece in What?!, blah.Tags: Megan Hilty, Obsessed, Shoshana Bean, Wicked
1 comment so far
This really is quite sad, but I have become obsessed with Wicked. It all started Spring Break. But I’ll go further back. The summer after my senior year of High School, my then best friend and I went to New York City. Her grandparents live in Brooklyn and we stayed with them for a week and took the subway into Manhattan nearly everyday. We decided that we wanted to try to see Wicked, but lacking a time machine or a butt-load of money we were left attempting to get tickets through the lottery, they were $50 tickets at the front. We never did get them. But bought the book, and read it on the plane. The next summer I was getting ready to go to England and Wicked came to Portland. I was going to be out of town during the performances (If I remember correctly we went to the Farm that week. And as I wouldn’t see any of my family for 9 months I needed to go). So I didn’t see it. But the following week was the Beaverton City Parade, and some woman by the name of Shoshana Bean was in it. We found out she had just played Elphaba in Wicked, and was from Beaverton.
Anyways jump to spring break. I had been hearing some of the songs from the musical and I had tried to fit together what I knew from the books with the songs and it wasn’t working so Kristin told me that she had downloaded a video of one of the performances of Wicked at the Gershwin. I watched. Then I listened to the music, and watched it again… you get the idea. It was Wicked Week! I friggin love that show. And I heard a rumor that it is coming back to Portland next March. Mommy is taking me, and Kristin will probably come. But I wish it ended there. If it ended there I might be considered sane. God help me.
No, as a few of you may have figured from my earlier entries, I get a little obsessed, a little singular. Anywho… I search on the internet for stuff… So I find out not only is Shoshana Bean from Portland she graduated from my High School. Her and Megan Hilty (From Bellevue, WA) were co-stars for about a year at the Gershwin, and actually requested that they get to perform the Pacific NW shows for the traveling show. And not only are they co-stars, they are friends, watching interviews or other performances they did, it is clear that they like each other and have a ton of fun together. I find lots of videos… I’m obsessed its bad. I am going cold turkey on the internet crud (Great, now Kristin is going to hold me to it…). But I still want a copy of the soundtrack from Kristin (*Cough*).
