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Friday at work was a No-Good Very Bad Day... but to make up for it, Rebecca had an awesome weekend! After temple services, I finally buckled down and made pecan pie muffins for my Torah study group. I watched X-Men 2 while they were baking, in celebration of the awesome trailer for X-Men: First Class that was just released. My cousin Matthew sent me a link to it on Facebook on Thursday night, and I must have watched it a hundred times since then! I used to love those movies. I saw both X-Men and X2 in theater, and they were probably the first fanfiction I ever read. (But of course the first fanfiction I ever wrote goes to NCIS.) But after the crap that was X3 and Origins: Wolverine, I thought the franchise could never redeem itself. But this new movie might just prove me wrong! The trailer looks so amazing. Cross your fingers that it'll live up.
Link: Trailer for X-Men: First Class.
Saturday got off to a rough start. I woke up very early after a disturbing dream in which me and all my friends from the temple were being rounded up by Nazis. It left me quite shaken, so I went into the living room and watched TV until I dozed off again. Then I got up at nine to head to Torah study. One man there, Si, has a deep gravelly voice like Johnny Cash, and I just love listening to him read. I think if he ever recorded an audiobook of reading the Torah, he could scare straight a lot of people. My muffins were a hit. I think either 1) the batch I made for Thanksgiving 2009 (the ones nobody ate) were just freak duds, 2) everyone except my relatives likes my muffins, or 3) they really do suck, and the folks at temple were just too polite to say anything. Or maybe I'm overthinking these muffins.
Link: Recipe for pecan pie muffins.
After Torah study, I went on a long, glorious bike ride all over the neighborhood. The weather was cool and sunny, the sun was shining, and Rebecca loved every minute of it. (It's hard to believe that there were icicles hanging off my car just two weeks ago!) It was the best sort of bike ride, ambling all over, listening to the same song over and over again -- this time it was "We Belong Together," from Toy Story 3. When I came home, I actually said to Sara, "I feel so fresh and alive!" (Even though I was probably all sweaty and smelly.) She had gotten a gift card to Chili's, so we went there for dinner that night. I usually always get the same dish there, but this time I tried something new, and it wasn't half-bad.
Link: "We Belong Together."
Today we all went over to Grandma's for spaghetti and birthday cake for Aunt Celeste. We stuffed our faces and talked about Stephen King books, and I took a few pictures. I've been fiddling with my camera a lot lately, trying to figure out how to keep the subject focused while blurring the background. I eventually realized that the trick to it is the zoom. It's difficult, because you have to adjust the zoom depending on how far the subject is from your lens, and how far the background is behind the subject. If I ever have kids (a mighty big if, I know), maybe I'll have gotten the hang of it by then. I just hope I'll have moved on from this old camera!
This was the best shot I could get today. Yes, I did edit it on the computer, and the contrast is too severe, but I still like it. Notice how the background behind Eva is slightly less focused than she is? Maybe one day I'll know how to make this happen without having to edit it. I still can't believe she's a teenager now!
After Grandma's, I went swinging in the park with Josh. We talked about NCIS, and he was confused when I told him I let my sister name my car Muse Watson, after the guy who plays Mike Franks.
I'm currently reading a collection of Stephen King's short stories that was lying around the house, so for the past few nights I was wide-awake at 2 a.m., jumping at the slightest noises. It didn't help that one night, there was rip-roaring cat fight (and I mean literally, two cats fighting) on the stairwell. I came out just in time to see Graycat and a stranger black-and-white cat running in different directions. There was a lot of ripped-out cat hair on the stairs, and I haven't seen Graycat since. I hope the poor thing is okay, and keeping warm.
I'll be going to three Thanksgiving dinners this year: work, Grandma's, and Mom's. I plan to cook some mashed potato dish (out of a box) for the dinner at work and green bean casserole (yummy!) for Grandma's. Grandma has been endlessly reminding me what ingredients I need and how much I should make; I told her that I've made green bean casserole before, but, well, she's 80 and forgets. My pecans pie muffins will make an appearence later in the later in the year, and I'm thinking about bringing some to temple for the next dinner/oneg.
HOORAY for me being OFF for Black Friday morning! I don't have go to work until that evening, so I'll get to miss most of the insanity. I'll also have to miss temple services that night, but that's a price I'm willing to pay.
Last Tuesday night, I worked a close and forgot my keys in my locker at work. Everybody else had already left by the time I realized it, including the manager on duty (and I'm pretty sure that any other manager wouldn't have left until after the associates). I had to use the plastic key in my wallet, which isn't even supposed to start the ignition, to drive home, and then stay at Mom's house until Sara woke up and unlocked our door. It actually wasn't that bad. Mom found this old comforter in a closet that was so warm and thick, and I loved it so much that she let me keep it. She said it was the comforter for my bed when we lived in Tarpartment, but I don't really remember. I also had a conversation with Ben, and he lent me two old movies (The Lady from Shanghai and My Man Godfrey). I had to go back to work the next day for my keys, and what makes it worse is that just a few weeks ago, I forgot my cell phone in my locker and had to go back for that, too! And before you can ask, "Wow, Rebecca, are you really that careless and forgetful?" Yes. Yes, I am.
My Thanksgiving dinners went well, both the one at work on Monday and the real one at Grandma's house on Thanksgiving. People liked my green bean casserole and pecan pie muffins, and I liked the green glop and pecan pie. Seriously, I could eat that stuff every damn day. But I'll whine and say that it did annoy me just a tad when I shelled the pecans and baked the muffins, and Sara got more compliments on the rolls she defrosted. My family will be lucky if they get my muffins again at Christmas.
Black Friday sucked. I had to be at work at seven that morning, and I stayed up too late the night before, even though I was lying in bed at a reasonable hour. (Lately every night has become a battle to fall asleep. Although that comforter is helping.) People who shop on Black Friday, especially those who get up early enough for the doorbusters, are sick and soulless. They are the entire reason for how empty, meaningless, and consumer-driven Christmastime, and our culture in general, have become. I saw the decline of humanity in the face of every customer I had that day. I am not kidding.
I love our new couch! (Oh, and it only took nearly every male relative who lives in the state to move it in.) I fell asleep on it last night while watching the commentary track The Goonies. I used to live and breathe that thing while I was in France. Whenever I had any downtime, or whenever I was working on my lessons in my room, I'd always put on that movie with the commentary track, and I fell asleep to it... well, not every night, but pretty close. I could probably recite that whole track from memory.
Rebecca's eye hurts!
Jan. 14th, 2009 10:13 pmGrandma gave me even more pecans, so I made a batch of pecan pie muffins all for me. That sounds very greedy, I know, but I made so many to give to other people at Thanksgiving and Christmas, it felt really good to make a batch just for me.
I watched The Golden Globes with Sara on Sunday night, although I'm not sure why. I think I had seen maybe two of the movies or TV shows that were nominated in any of the categories. I don't go to the movies often anymore, and when I do go, I certainly don't see the sort of movies that win awards. And I never watched much TV, and spending seven months in France away from all American TV virtually killed off what little interest I had left. I still enjoyed watching the ceremony, but for me, it was mostly about who wore what. And I can't wait to see the Oscars! I didn't get to see one second of them when I was in France last year, and I watched them in 2007 but felt guilty the whole time because I knew I should have been doing my French homework instead. I still remember that it was on Laubriet's god-awful analysis of Chef-d'oeuvre inconnu. How I hated it.
Yesterday I had a customer who was easily the meanest, rudest customer I have ever had at any job, ever. She yelled at me about everything that wasn't my fault, then complained to my manager about how rude and unhelpful I was. Fortunately, rather than make me apologize or some shit like that, my manager just felt sorry for me for having to deal with her, and after she left, everybody in the front end gathered around to talk about what a bitch she is. It was honestly unbelievable. But in a way, it's nice to get a super mean customer every now and then, because it makes you appreciate all the nice customers.
Yesterday I had tomato soup for the first time, and it was pretty good. Tonight Sara is making us spaghetti in her new crockpot, I'm going to try some as soon as I get off.
I had to work on Christmas Eve, which sucked, and I didn't get to spend much time at Grandma's house. (The title of this journal was what I wanted to say to our last few customers.) After I got off I took a batch of muffins to Teresa and spent the evening reading this amazing book called The Hunger Games. I literally have not been able to put it down since I started it, and if I finish it before the end of the year, which I'm sure I will, it's got a good shot at Best Overall in my Book Awards. (Although really, I haven't read a lot this year, and my Book Awards are going to be pretty shabby. I'm a bad English major.) It's very dark and disturbing, and it reminds me a bit of Shirley Jackson's The Lottery. Both made me wonder how the author ever imagined a society that was so barbaric, where humanity had become so completely inhumane. I've taken several creative writing courses, and I think of myself as a creative writer sometimes, but I could never think up something so dark.
Don't die of shock now, but on Christmas Eve night, Rebecca ... went to a Midnight Mass! I'm still surprised the cathedral didn't collapse when I walked in. Athena went with me; she's Mormon and hasn't attended a Mass for at least ten years, while I hadn't been to an English-language one since my Senior Farewell Mass in high schoool, back in 2003. This one was a little different and longer than a regular Mass, but I was surprised by how much came back to me. The cathedral was, as it always has been, intimidatingly beautiful, the smell of incense was intoxicating, and the music was outstanding. I heard a new song called "Noe, Noe" that I really loved.
Best of all, at the Mass there was a French bishop visiting from Paris! He said a blessing in French at the very end, and afterwards I had a short conversation with him in French. I was so nervous! I know that my French has rusted rapidly since I left the country, and talking with a native speaker on short notice was very scary. But he seemed impressed, told me my French was very good.
Today Sara and I slept in late, opened our presents, and ate a big brunch. I good quite a lot of good gifts this year; Sara gave three movies (Corrina, Corrina, The Secret Garden, and A Little Princess -- the 1995 version with Liesel Matthews, I already own the 1939 version with Shirley Temple, Teresa), two Barack Obama magnets, and a really nice 365-day calendar of France. One of my gifts for her was the exact same brand and style of calendar, only of Ireland instead of France, so that was a cool surprise.
We also invited Athena over for a big brunch of cinnamon rolls, scrambled eggs, sausage, bacon, and chocolate milk. We all ate until we were stuffed and have spent the rest of the day loafing around and being lazy. I'm going to try to convince Sara to watch one of the movies she gave me tonight, although I don't think she really wants to see them.
What is Rebecca thankful for? Her COUCH!
Nov. 27th, 2008 11:17 pmI've been meaning to post for a while, but I've had a busy week.
On Sunday, we finally got a couch! My aunt and uncle in a neighboring town had a couch that belonged to the aunt who died in 2004. They decided they no longer wanted it, so on Sunday afternoon, my uncle drove me out to their house and we loaded it into his truck. We drove back to my apartment, and my uncle and older brother managed to get it up the stairs and inside. I am so happy to have a real couch again! It is infinitely better than the "ghetto couch" that I made out of blankets and a sleeping bag. The only downside is that my aunt and uncle let their cats lie all over it, so it was covered in cat hair, which makes Rebecca wheeze. I washed the cushion covers and pillows, and I've been vacuuming it almost every day.
On Monday, I worked a ten-hour day. Not fun at all. I was supposed to work only nine hours, but I got confused about my schedule and stayed an extra hour. I didn't even realize until I got home and Sara asked me why I was so late getting off. Felt very stupid. None of my managers noticed because they expected me to know my own schedule. Sara says this means my store is poorly-run, but whatever. My store is more organized than hers.
On Tuesday, I worked nine hours and started baking as soon as I got home. I made two dozen pecan muffins for Thanksgiving.
On Wednesday, I went to my aunt's house and helped her make Green Glop – one of my very favorite holiday dishes/deserts. It's green Jell-O with marshmallows, whipped cream, and cottage cheese. I've eaten a big bowl of it almost every year for as long as I can remember, but I'd never made it myself before.
Thanksgiving was very fun this year. I spent it at Grandma's house, as always, and as always, there was a lot of relatives (Grandma, Carla, Celeste, Connie + Girls, Patrick + Family) and a lot of foods (turkey, rice dressing, cornbread dressing, green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, pecan pie, pumpkin pie). So Rebecca is a lucky girl – she had a lot of food to eat and a lot of people to share it with. Everybody liked her pecan pie muffins, and Obama won the election.
And Sable got a big bowl of turkey bones. :)
That title line is from All Summer Long, a song that's been stuck in my head all day. But I really like it, so I don't mind. And I've been grateful for the simple things in life lately, because Sara and I went shopping this weekend and I found a kit to make frozen bananas! I've been dying to try these for at least one year, maybe two, ever since I saw them on an episode of Unwrapped. That episode was on boardwalk foods, or something like that, so I was very disappointed, thinking I'd have to wait until I traveled to someplace with a beach boardwalk to try them. I nearly screamed when I found this frozen banana kit. I made them all last night, and they were very good (even Sara liked them). She ate one and I ate the rest, while we this exchange, verbatim: Sara: "Is it everything you dreamed it would be?" Me: "As a matter of fact, it is!" So dreams really do come true.
On the subject of good food, Grandma gave me a huge bag of shelled pecans! She bought them a while back, and she and Aunt Carla don't feeling like shelling them anymore. I'm going to use some of them (all the ones I don't eat -- I've already made myself sick once from eating too many) for my pecan muffins. I just wish that Marlene could have some. She loved the ones that I made in France so much that from now on I might always think of her when I have pecans. Maybe I'll find a way to send her some in Germany.
My Sable has been very clingy lately. Right now he's lying on the floor right next to the computer, rather than in his bed on the other side of the room. He also woke me up twice this morning (once around 2 am, once around 9:30) because he needed to be walked.
Today I saw a man with a hook for a hand. Really!
Rebecca can't keep her eyes open...
Dec. 19th, 2007 10:43 pmYesterday was Marlene’s birthday. She had wanted to something special, like for us to take a trip to Paris, but this week has been so hectic that we just had a little party in Marina and Mariana’s apartment. I baked a final batch of pecan muffins and made a card with Happy Birthday in German. (It’s Glücklicher Geburtstag, or something. I needed an entire sheet of paper to write it all.) Today Mariana, Marlene, Sara, and I were invited to eat lunch at Madame C’s house. Her house was lovely, and so was her food, but it lasted so long that it was why I couldn’t do my laundry. Luch started at 12:30, but it was almost 4:00 by the time we got back to the lycée, because lunch entailed a trip to a neighboring town and a walk through the woods. (I will explain more later. Much later.)
In the last two weeks, I have baked four dozen pecan pie muffins.
To celebrate the good news, I made a batch of pecan pie muffins with some of the pecans Grandma sent me. (Her box arrived on Wednesday. Thank you, Grandma!) Marlene told me once that she’s only eaten pecans a few times in her entire life, because they’re so rare and expensive in Germany – can you imagine? The muffins came out too moist, because I put in too much butter and not enough brown sugar. I worried it wasn’t my best batch, but I changed my mind after Marlene kept saying, “Rebecca, these are so good!” and Mariana and Marina wouldn’t stop exclaiming, “C’est géniale! Merci!” I think I’m going to use up the rest of the pecans making more muffins, because it actually felt good to share them with people. Maybe it’s true what they say about it’s better to give than receive. Who knew? I have enough pecans for at least two more batches, maybe three. I’ll probably give one batch to Nathalie and her family as a Christmas present, since she does so much for us.
If the weather is nice tomorrow, Heather and I are going into town to photograph all the Christmas decorations that are up now. I’ll put the pictures in with my Christmas presents when I send them home, which will probably be next week.
