Coke Zero

Dear Coke Zero,

I can taste the difference. And unfortunately, in a taste-off battle between you and regular Coke, you lose every time.

Sincerely,
A concerned consumer

whats on my mind this week

1) A caper is a vegetable. The other day Devin and I were watching Top Chef and someone referred to a caper as a vegetable. And I turned to Devin and said "a caper is a vegetable?" and he said "yes, what did you think it was?" And I guess I had never really thought about it before. Because really - what else could a caper be?

2) The other day I was in the campus photocopy place and a young man (20 or so) asked for thirty colour copies of his resume. And I wanted to tell him that there was no earthly reason to have a resume that was in colour. And that, in fact, it made him look unprofessional. However, as it was clearly none of my business I said nothing.

3) I know that a lot of people are disappointed with how Canada is doing in the Olympics. And I know that I am sad that Canada has so far won no medals. And I read that countries like the US and Russia manage to convert international success into medals 60% of the time, and Canada is only able to do so 30% of the time. But at least as far as the pool is concerned, I am super proud of all the Canadian athletes. What more can you ask from your athletes than personal bests and national records.

4) However, the Olympics have preempted Coronation Street which does not make me happy :)

and while we're on the subject...

Tonight - I did something I didn't know I could do...

Something that other people do all the time, but I didn't know it was something I could do.

Tonight. At 24. For the first time in my entire life I successfully made an omelet. Yes - this might not seem like a big deal to some. In fact, it may seem like a really little deal, but I have never successfully made an omelet before. The last time I tried I was in second in year university and it did not go well. Since then everytime I have thought "should I make an omelet?" I get scared and go for scrabbled eggs.

But not tonight. No tonight I went for it! I conquered my fear of omelets! And it was a beauty - red pepper, feta, meat - and it was excellent, if I do say so myself. So now I can go on with my life, without this horrible secret hanging over me. I am now one step closer to grown-up independence.

Thing of the Week....

Vanilla Caramel Latte Ice Cream



"A sensual blend of our rich coffee ice cream and a fine caramel ripple swirled with vanilla ice cream to create a sophisticated flavour sure to please the discerning palate of coffee connoisseurs."

This is how ice cream is meant to be.

Christmas at the Office

Though I don't usually write about my job, for obvious reasons, tonight I am making an exception. Tonight was the annual, and my first, staff Christmas party for my office. We went out to a nice restaurant, sat in their "group area", had a lovely three course meal (actually two of my courses were almost not editable - but I digress), and then had a tacky gift exchange.

Out of 15 people I got to choose my gift second. It was a book (worthy of its own blog post) wrapped in many many layers of tissue which I took off and placed on the table. As I was showing everyone the book, someone says something about a fire. Yes folks - that's right - apparently in my haste to display my tacky gift I neglected to notice that the tissue paper was precariously close to the candle on the centre of the table. And by precariously close I mean all the tissue paper went up in flames.

I immediately stepped back from the fire while other people attempted to address the now leaping tissue paper flames, which were somewhat contained in the original (but cardboard) box. Several people attempted to smother the fire, but to no avail. And it was far too big to stamp out using one's foot. Finally, after one very long minute, several glasses of water were thrown on the fire and it was mercifully extinguished. Around this time the wait-staff began to come over, apparently the leaping flames had caught some of the other patrons eyes. Although by that time all that was left were the ashes floating through the air like snow and a pile of charred tissue paper.

Apparently that is the most excitement that the office christmas party dinner has seen in some years. And afterwards, everyone said they were glad that my hair didn't catch on fire.

So now, at every Christmas party for years to come, long after I have left this job, someone will say "remember the christmas party when Elizabeth started a fire". Rarely is one aware of the exact moment when they become part of office lore - but for me - without a doubt - it was tonight.

A Sampler of my Thoughts

1) On Sunday I went to Starbucks twice. Once alone and once with someone. Both times (at two seperate starbucks) they got my order wrong! The first time it was half-sweet instead of half caf (I sent that one back) and the second time it had light-whip instead of no whip. But I decided just to go ahead and have the whip cream :)

2) I was supposed to buy this afternoon. I have no milk. This means tomorrow I will not be able to have ceral for breakfast. So I will either have yogurt, or buy a muffin instead.

3) Now that I have a roommate - I find I am cleaning more than I ever did when I lived by myself. I don't know if this is because it's not only my "dirt" or because my roommate is not especially tidy/clean but it's kinda nice to look at something that is cleaner than it was 5 minutes previously because of your hard work. That being said - I still do not like cleaning and would love to live alone again to enjoy my own (and not someone else's) mess.

4) Tonight I need to iron. Ironing and cleaning floors are my two least favourite chores. Plus both my iron and my ironing board suck! so that makes it especially frustrating.

5) Someone should send me mail!

6) I have been trying to imagine having three children and I can't. I just can't. It's beyond my ability to imagine myself as the mother of three. I can imagine waking up tomorrow being the Prime Minisiter of Canada - but not a mother of three. So in conclusion - the more I think about it - the more impressed I am.

Discovered...

Today I discovered this cute little "food court" near my house. It's a stand alone building in neighbourhood near where I live where there is a thai restaurant, sushi restaurant, ethopian restaurant and a cafe. There is some seating inside and outside, though I am guessing that most of their business is take-away. It is very cute, and I don't know where else in victoria to get ethiopian food (it's not like I can't live without ethiopian food but I do like it, and it is always nice to have the option). Plus it means that I can get takeout food for dinner on those "non-cooking" nights. Tonight was a cooking night, and I made gnocci (pre-made) but I wasn't a big fan of it. It tasted weird. So I am thinking next time I buy a different type. I did however buy a nanimo bar this afternoon so I can have a special desert later!

Update: The nanimo bar from the cafe near where I live was not very good. Not very good at all. I was doubly disappointed with my evening meal. However, if that is the worst thing I have going right now I guess I am pretty well off.

All of my favourite things together in one place!

from Nepal to Victoria

Last night Devin and I went out for Nepalese food - and it was fabulous. Usually I make a reservation before we go out for dinner, but the last couple times I have done that the restaurant has been fairly empty, so I decided not to this time (just because). When we arrived it was less than half full - but then the hostess informed us that every table was reserved except for two! We ended up sitting next to another non-reservation couple who arrived about five minutes after us. They seemed to be on a second date - and all I remember from the conversation was the guy asking the girl what her mother did, the girl saying "nothing" and when asked to elborate the girl replied "nothing, she sits around smoking pot all day". Which, while perhaps sad, was amusing in the context of a second date conversation.

Now, I have to admit that I don't really know what "Nepalese food" consists of - but based on what we ordered, there are curries and lamb and chicken and dumplings involved. The restaurant was also fabulous - I am very big on "ambiance and atmosphere" and so both of those score major restaurant points with me. The service could have been better - but it wasn't horrible. And I would definetly go back! Except now I start thinking about the future and wonder "well, will I ever have a chance to go back?" but then I stop thinking those thoughts and remember that if I don't finish my thesis I might very well live here for the rest of my life as a destitute MA student. Okay. So maybe that's a little unlikely, but still!

It's a gorgeous day outside and it's currently around 11am - so I think that the next order of the day will be going outside and enjoying the weather!

I wanna be Izzy! (but for now I guess I will have to forgo the gorgeous looks, medical degree, $8.7mil and settle for the baking)

Yesterday I baked!

I tried two recipes from my "so you're in collge and you are an idiot and slowly straving to death and please for the love of god show me how to make something edible" cookbook*. I made nutty, toffee, chocolate square things and lemon bars. The former were fine but I do not think I would make them again. And the latter were quite good and I do think I would make them again. Also - my friend Amanda recommend epicurious.com for recipes and it's a pretty sweet website - so the next time I cook I think I will look there for inspiration.

*not really the title of the cookbook

yesterday

Yesterday I had a fabulous day.

1) went shopping with mom. Mom bought me clothes.
2) met my friend Tara. decided to go for lunch. as it was already 1:30 decided to get frozen yogurt to stave off pre-lunch hunger pains.
3) had lunch around 3 at a lovely little Thai restaurant. Only $8.
4) went to honest eds. I have never been there before. it's a toronto institution.
5) went out for coffee. split a piece of cheesecake and had some tea.
6) went shopping (well, browsing...)
7) had dinner (it's around 9pm now) at "fresh" a veggie restaurant. Only $9.
8) went out to a pub for some live music and pints
9) arrived home where Tara stayed the night
10) woke up and had orange juice, coffee, and banana bread with my parents and Tara
11) Tara left around 11am.

Seriously - A day filled with shopping, food, friends, and fun. All days should be so fabulous.

Happy New Years!

starbucks

i bought coffee an hour ago.

it's my wonderful thermos (that darling devin bought for me). That means that I can buy coffee when I'm out and drink it much later. And it's still hot! I also bought a starbucks cookie!!

then I went to the grocery store. I bought blueberries (yum!) and veggies for greek salad for dinner!

also. I love curling. CURLING!! I wanna curl all night long.... !