Wednesday 23 September 2009

Grace, Inaction, Print and Four Pirogi's, Fried


The red numbers on the computer screen depressed me to the point of immobility, not that it's hard for me to not do anything or stay still, why it seems that it's my ultimate past time in this city, but my doubt in action bringing change kept me upright on my vanity stool.

Little moans and whines escaped me and drifted through the bedroom door, but my neighbour, Brooke, preoccupied with Germany and getting to it, did not react. I did not expect her too, nor did I want any sympathy, since when she see's red I am impatient and offer blunt advice, however that didn't stop the whines coming out anyway.

I lingered mostly in my bedroom, said goodbye to Brooke who was leaving about 3 or 4 hours early for her flight, and went back to being still, not asleep, just still.

Eventually, after 2 episodes of Glee had been watched and a sufficient amount of guilt had built up, I got ready, sucked up the queasy feeling that has been following me for some time (don't even say it, it's more emotional than physical) and headed to work... At four in the afternoon.

The walk was long and hot and I was dressed for Fall not the last breaths of Summer, my t-shirt was tight and made me feel self-conscious. I like wearing it, I just always feel self-conscious while wearing "statement" t-shirts.

I saw Jake leave the office in his black leather jacket and cigarette in hand, stalking through the crowd to his many things he has to do to be responsible and awesome. I like watching people I know from far away. It's like watching celebrities or theatre. They are often in your life, but at this moment, you are nothing but matter to them. I like that feeling. The world feels wider.

Work... Or The Desk I Sit At was okay. I went through emails and found myself once again on WhatTheBuck's channel page, I haven't been on one persons YouTube page so frequently since I up an got a boner for Natalie Tran. Don't worry, it's a distant boner. Very safe. A wee bit less creepy.

I also told David about my weekend which you can read about here (will link soon) and he told me about his; it involved praying and really good Mum-cooked food, the best kind. I'm hungry just thinking about it.

I alerted Molly during our pre-show phone call that I was wearing her gift tee "Internet Enthusiast" not in an attempt to frighten her but as the last clean tee I could wear. I liked what I was wearing and everything else was in messy piles or needed washing and v-neck tees aren't doing it for me at the moment. Molly thanked me for making her gift-tee a last resort and said she'd take a photo of it, but she didn't have a camera. I suggested she burn it into her retina... and then I went to pee.

I was a few minutes early than the time we said we'd meet which is always a victory for me. My feet were hurting so I left earlier so that I could walk slower. It was an interesting walk, a path I don't often take in that direction, however the many people walking the same way as me made me uncomfortable.

I greeted Molly and Luke and we went in, I had packed this shortbread from England that my Mum had sent me and a Sprite from the office fridge, and Molly had already bought me a diet Coke and Luke bought popcorn so we were doing very well.

Only once while watching the film, The September Issue, did I feel weird for eating so much while watching thin women dominate the world and even thinner women make it look good. Then a particularly charming model bit into what looked like some kind of chocolate and berry tart or pie, and I grabbed another handful of popcorn.

I've decided to never again review movies in my usual way of a few adjectives strung together. In public lately, unless moved by others to speak aka blatantly throwing my opinion on their unprotected ears, I have taken to saying even less; this film was: "Interesting" and the last film I saw, Paper Heart, was "Nice".

So next time I mention a film I'll try to discuss it in different ways. Look out for it...you.

The cinema at the Sunshine was more crowded than I thought it would be and a woman behind us started coughing in short bursts just as the film began. I am usually okay with noise in the theatre but the person in question was silent for the trailers and just seemed to start when the film did and was also right above me; It made me feel icky. I didn't do anything about it, though I did find my head instinctively whip to the side on one particular cough and I didn't want to look like that jerk that jerks their head around to somehow protest the noise, so I made my head whip to the other side so the woman didn't think I was trying to make a statement with my head. Then Luke coughed and I whispered loudly without thinking, " Don't you fucking start," ...I have very little grace.

Grace Coddington however, is amazing. Her ideas made me want to go online and buy the old September Issue in question and I was left with more respect for the whole creative side of fashion. I did understand, as much as an ignorant girl can, Anna Wintour's choices of what shouldn't appear in the issue, but seeing such lavish photos so neatly chopped without so much as a lament made me realize how tough a woman has to be in a fairly easy world. I mean, heck, (I said heck!) these women aren't explorer's or doctor's or activists but so good at Distraction. It's not a good thing either, but I think this race needs it for now.

Afterward we walked up to Veselka and Molly and I had pirogi's, which were good... "Not that I know what a good pirogi tastes like," says Luke.

A sucker for the power of suggestion, I went by the stuffed news agency on Avenue A and picked up two Vogue's and a New Yorker magazine, a publication I knew I would always enjoy and I did, I like the writers styles, the cartoons and the first few pages are already covered in red circles and underlines.

A new roommate comes today to replace Brooke, I have a lot to do to make room for her, I have been very messy this month.

I need to play Pretend again. That's the only way I can fool myself into thinking that even having so many possessions is a good thing.

*image used without permission from this awesome person*

Saturday 19 September 2009

Cups Of Tea and Empty Pockets

One's Cup of Tea...
  • black sequins (I know, I finally fell for the tricksy trendsetters)
  • chunky silver and yellow bracelets together (it looks surprisingly good)
  • oversize white cardigans (I'm spying on pieces designed by Inhabit, which mainly consists of sweaters and cardigans and the dreams of stay at home mum's, librarians and lonely window sills
I don't have any of these things, just so you know. I just like them.

I have $2.75 and I enjoy acting like the first person in the world to ever be low of money.

Honestly, dramatics aside, I don't find it depressing. I've been through this many times this year and at the end of last year for some time and I only found it frustrating when bills or bank fees or automatic payments came along, other than that, I enjoy searching for ways to stretch a dollar.

TIP:
  • The .99 cent 'eggs, toast and potato' meal and one of the Gray's Papaya (hot dog) places are really not worth it. I recommend spending a little extra and going to The Great Bagel Shop/Place where they have a dollar coffee and $2 egg on a roll or a bagel for .92 cents.
RECIPE:
  • My ideal cheapy dinner is my Shrimp-Flavoured Ramen Omelet. OH. EM. GEE. It's amazing. I'll post a picture of it later, but here's what you do!
  • Break up your Ramen, cover in water, and put in the microwave for 2 minutes.
  • Break 2 or 3 eggs into a cup, mix with a fork, add Shrimp flavouring (or any flavouring), mix and stir in pepper if you like.
  • Oil a frying pan well and set the heat to high, pour in the mix so that it fills the pan then...
  • Pour out the water using a colander (strainer) and toss around your noodles for a bit, then pour them onto one side of the omelet
  • Make sure you've nudged the sides of the omelet to keep it neat!
  • Then use the spatula to fold the omelet over the noodles and let heat for a little longer
  • And then wah-lah, whenever you think its cooked or your stomach grumbles louder, means it time to slide it on to a plate.
  • Add veges if you have them and then munch!
Sweet, ramen-y goodness!


Totals