"Try one, try two...try all!"

I have finally learned that it is not a good idea to make bets with squirrelly little men named Plato.

The first instance involved guesstimating Dustin Hoffman's age. I stalked that man at MoMA! He doesn't look a day over 65!! But of course I was wrong, and ended up shelling out for ice cream.

Then last weekend, Plato and I were talking before I went to see Quantum of Solace. My Pop and brothers are obsessed with James Bond; because of them I know all sorts of lame trivia about Astin Martin DB5s and Walther PPKs. But I had to be all cocky and think that Goldfinger came before Dr. No! Of course not. So a few days later, Plato and I were off on the hour and forty minute walk to China Buffet("it's a beautiful day!", "we'll burn the calories that we're going to consume!"), and I was the one picking up the tab. Meh.

Now I'm sitting at home, nursing my throbbing foot-blister and helping Wiki make duct tape Moravian stars as thank-you gifts for the professors who wrote her reference letters for grad school.

Dance Pants Party!

There is no such thing as too much fun.

No One Knew Earl Grey Kept Such A Fine Herd of Angus?

from 1899 Nebraska Western News Democrat

I would like to know the story behind Mr. Patton branding teapots on all of his livestock. Maybe he just really loved tea. In that case, I would probably choose to brand my livestock with images of bicycles or Hostess snack cakes. Both of those might be pretty difficult, but that's OK because I don't have any livestock to brand anyway.

My Two Favorite Things = Music + Shame

So I just found out that my name in Elvish is "Bellethiel". I just had to tell the world. Thanks for posting that link, Ms. Angry Chicken :)
...

To address the ever-stylish Ambika's question from the last post: No, sadly my power outage was not the result of any wind storm. I say "sadly", because I would very much like to blame nature for my problems rather than my own stupidity. Apparently, after we moved into our apartment there was some, err, confusion as to who needed to pay the electric bill - "Landlady? Roommate? Me? How about....no one!" The bill did not get paid for two and a half months and the power was conveniently shut off on a Thursday night, when I would not be able to get to the electric...place(?) to pay the bill until Monday afternoon. But everything is fine now and I have learned some valuable lessons about communication and shady old landladies.

Moving on....

I spent my powerless Sunday with Wiki and family. We went to the house of her awesome grandma, LaVon(distinguished former Nebraska legislator, hey hey), who offerred Wiki any furniture she needed for her fancy new apartment. Let me tell you - her place was a treasure trove! I think it was Tommy who suggested starting an ebay store called "Grandma's Basement" and auctioning off her amazing stuff. Wiki picked out an ottoman, trundle bed(can you say "slumber party"?) and a hilariously opulent crystal and gold candy dish-thing. But we really hit the jackpot when we found this:

( ^ not exactly like mine, but close enough)

A legit melodica! And Grandma LaVon was nice enough to let me have it! Now Wiki and I are forming a ukelele/melodica ensemble and we plan to perform at open-mic night sometime in the near future. The potential playlist includes "YMCA", "Decatur" by Sufjan Stevens, a cover of a cover of "When You Were Mine" by Prince/Casiotone for the Painfully Alone, "My Humps" by Black-Eyed Peas(oh if only you knew how scandalized I was when that song came out and look at me now!), and last but not least, Daawuud is offering us four dollars to perform Meat Loaf's "I Would Do Anything For Love". This will be great since a) I want four dollars, and b) I have no shame!

I know you people out there have excellent taste in music - give us your suggestions for songs that would make for awesome covers!

:(

My roommate and I have been without power for four days now. Thanks to all of my buddies for the use of their refrigerators, computers, etc. Hopefully I can get things straightened out today so that I can take some pictures after work and show/tell you about my Sunday involving grandmas named LaVon, treasure trove basements, and free-reed instruments(!).

Taste of Russia

As I told Fish, "If I were Godzilla, I would eat these:"

St. Basil's - Moskva

Church On Spilled Blood - St. Petersburg

photos by Fish

Mm mm good!

When I Die I Will Become the Patron Saint of Baked Goods and Treadmills

If I have not already said, banana muffins are some of my favorite things to bake. Last night I ate an amount of banana muffins that I do not feel comfortable disclosing. Today I am buying a gym membership.

***

A couple of years ago Fish and I were baking muffins and we ran out of eggs. When we went next door to borrow some from a friend, his Arabic exchange student roommate answered the door.

"Can we borrow an egg?" I asked, trying not to do that thing where you talk to ESL people like they're deaf. Haani just smiled.
"An egg?" I said again, stupidly making an "O" with my fingers, like that was international sign language for "egg", baha! We eventually barged into their kitchen and took one out of the refrigerator ourselves.
"Can we have one?" Haani smiled and nodded.

Later, I returned to offer my thanks. "Do you want one?" I held out the pile of warm muffins. Haani took the plate from me and started to shut the door. "No!!!!" I shrieked, snatching them back. "Just one or two!"

I hope that he went home and told his friends that American women are pushy and manic, but excellent bakers. Haha!

***

Fish is now the unofficial Banana Muffin Ambassador to Russia. She tells me that banana bread/muffins are a rare thing over yonder. Good luck, Fish, as you spread the gospel of this caloric treat across foreign lands - I will continue the campaign on the domestic front until your return :D

#3 - Things I Want But Cannot Have

Finalement!

I got a card reader for my camera so I can finally post photos to my little heart's content. Let's get started by catching up on the Halloween festivities:

Miss Jojo as "Giant Domo"

Scrounging for domo-food...
Magnum Bre-I

(please note the hand drawn chest hair)
And for comparison: Eat your heart out, Tia Linda.

#57 On My List of Things I Want But Cannot Have

Sitting sadly in my grandma's dusty garage.

What It Is I Do