summercomfort (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
summercomfort) wrote2005-08-06 02:33 am
summercomfort) wrote2005-08-06 02:33 am
(no subject)
Man... Chicago. It seemed so foreign when I first went there, but now I find myself attached in various ways. The city, the people, the atmosphere. And not just to the friends there. I find myself saying "pop" and "bubble tea" and missing Joy Yee's and the neighborhood and the accent that I can never quite catch. Today I was in Stanford at a jazz thing and ... it was weird, man. College vibes, but not *my* college, y'know? Not as sunny as here, but a more vibrant color and geekier people. I wonder, when people ask me where I'm from, should I say Chicago or Palo Alto? I guess it's currently about even.
But yeah, the jazz thing was quite cool. Only thing was that I've decided I can't sit in auditoriums to listen to music. I need to be doing something, like sitting back and sipping something. :D
I also got a backpack today. (Cat, Alexis, stop the snickering. It was a functional bag that had laptop section included! for $20!) I also visited old lady today, which was fun, if short. Also translated the next bit of the Wig Saga for Kelly. (Which, incidentally, involves another nasty person and another threaten of lawsuit, but not at all related to me). All in all a good day.
Man, wish I can dance like the people on tv. Or at least not feel like a fool. :D
But yeah, the jazz thing was quite cool. Only thing was that I've decided I can't sit in auditoriums to listen to music. I need to be doing something, like sitting back and sipping something. :D
I also got a backpack today. (Cat, Alexis, stop the snickering. It was a functional bag that had laptop section included! for $20!) I also visited old lady today, which was fun, if short. Also translated the next bit of the Wig Saga for Kelly. (Which, incidentally, involves another nasty person and another threaten of lawsuit, but not at all related to me). All in all a good day.
Man, wish I can dance like the people on tv. Or at least not feel like a fool. :D
no subject
Dancing is good. And whatever my problems with it, Chicago is infinitely cooler than Stanford.
Bags of our lives
Larger-size:
1) Samsonite New Jack:
pros: larger than the other bags, has built-in lappy space, and lots of pockets of different sizes. i.e. good for days when need to carry many many books, or when need to bring lappy + other stuff to library. Should also be good for groceries
cons: bulky for low-maintenance-class days
overall: large sleek backpack
Normal-size:
1) the red yakpak backpack:
pros: light but can hold enough. Open front for easy back-handed stashing. Pen-holder place dangles conveniently
cons: only one front pocket, can't hold more than 4" width
overall: good daily use light-weight backpack
2) the black drugstore.com drawstring backpack (the reason I have so much soap):
pros: there's this nifty zipper thing on the back. Also waterproof
cons: wimpy straps makes carrying anything remotely heavy painful
overall: crappy, will never use again. At least I got some good soap
3) the lavender anime club backpack:
pros: has ample front pocket for the holding of discs and remotes.
cons: is lavendar. (Although that pretty much ensures its status as the anime club backpack.
overall: it's lavender, it was $5, 'nuff said
4) UofC saddlebag:
pros: saddlebag = convenient side loading
cons: cover flap tends to flap and make noise b/c velcro no longer functional. Penholder has holes at bottom due to overuse. Also makes noisy entrance when trying to sneak into class late and open bag and take out notes
overall: has been phased out since receiving red yakpak:)
5) ebags lappy bag:
pros: perfect size for lappy, cushioned and water-proof outside. Small and compact, fits inside red yakpak, but also has detachable shoulder strap for carrying alone
cons: can only fit lappy. Fitting battery stuff = a stretch. Fitting additional notebook = maybe.
overall: Good lappy bag
Smaller bags:
1) black small backpack:
pros: fits sketchbook, lightweight and sleek.
cons: backpack + small = cannot reach backhanded, also worries of someone stealing from it without me noticing because so light. Also, cannot fit full size paper.
overall: is good for trips into the city
2) gray messenger bag:
pros: can fit whole sheet of paper, front pocket=good. Conveys different tone than small black one
cons: not remotely waterproof. Also nothing fully closed tight, so greater chance of loss. (have already lost eraser)
overall: good alternative to small black
Puny
1) the yellow-ish shoulder purse thing
pros: standard girl thing, has zipper, fits most carry-alongs
cons: not too hot about the color. Also, have yet to develop upper arm muscles for carrying
overall: only small bag I have right now.
2) the small blue shoulder bag
pros: lots of small places to tuck things away!
cons: kinda plasticky-looking. Not big issue, though. (Just not something to take to opera with)
overall: dunno where it is. Ran off to Bay Area before had chance to comb your room for it. ^^;;
So really, there's not that many bags that I actually use:
For carrying large amounts of stuff: new Samsonite
For daily use: red yakpak
For light use: gray saddlebag
For "I'm wearing a dress and have no pockets" use: black backpack/blue shoulder bag when hanging with friends, the yellow purse when meeting adults
For lappy-specific occasions: lappy bag
Okay, I guess bags are just my womanly accessory of choice!
Re: Bags of our lives
...argh..
Although actually I was just bemoaning the fact that my israeli air force bag, although awesome, does not have little pockets in it to store, say, first aid supplies or my passport.
Re: Bags of our lives
no subject
And, to be fair, I should note that I have three messenger bags, a large shoulder bag, a chibi shoulder bag, a duffle bag, and a luggage set I got for graduation. Still, I have nothing on you. Have you considered talking to someone to discover the root of your compulsive bag-collecting? Were you bag-deprived as a child, perhaps?
no subject
Well, you know how I feel about bags, so I'm always up for more. But right now I'm really dying for your pie crust recipe. :D
no subject
Pate Brisee
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar (omit for savory pies, of course)
1/2 pound cold butter cut into small pieces
1/4 cup ice water
Chill all ingredients.
Put flour, salt and sugar in food processor bowl (yay, Cuisinart!). Process until dry ingredients are lightly mixed. Add butter pieces and process for 10 seconds, so that the bits of butter in the flour look like coarse corn meal. While processing, add ice water (not the ice, though), drip by drip (like titration!) until the dough holds together but isn't sticky. Process only until the dough holds together, because if it's over processed the pastry will be tough. Test dough by squeezing a small amount together, and add more water if it gets crumbly. Flatten and wrap with plastic wrap, then return to fridge. Let chill for at least 1 hour.
If you don't have a food processor, you can mix the ingredients by hand using the following method: Place chilled dry ingredients in a non-plastic bowl that you've left in the freezer for a while. Do the initial mixing with a pastry blender if you have one, or a pair of butter knives left in the freezer for a while. Once it's too fine for the knives but not like cornmeal, stick the bowl back in the freezer until everything is cold again. Then wash your hands in the coldest water you can stand, dry them, pull the bowl out and mix everything up by hand.
no subject
that's 1 stick of butter? or 2? I'm always so confused...