Yes, I'm bilingual and I can flip back and forth quickly.
Yes, I'm also bilingual when it comes to the metric system and other systems used here in the US. I cannot flip back and forth as easily though. I usually do pretty good with feet, inches and miles. Not so good with temperatures.
Which is why when I check the weather I usually am thankful that you can swith from "Fahrenheit" to "Celsius".
Today, I was checking the weather for Saturday's rugby tournament. The site allowed me to switch between "English" and "Metric"
WHAT?!
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
no good dead goes unpunished...
Have you ever tried to bring groveries home in 6 different grocery bags on a bike?
Even if you haven't - this probably sounds like a frustrating idea at best and a dangerous one at it's worst (who would want their eggs, cereal and whatnot spread across the highway?).
Unfortunately, while this seems obvious to you, my dear reader, at this very moment, you would be surprised how difficult it is for me to explain this concept at the cash register, with some trigger happy bag packer/cashier trying to pack you groceries.
Even though every grocery store encouraged you to go green in some way or the other involving buying bags that can be re-used, they are VERY confused (EVERY time) you bring your own bags and/or state that you would like to pack your own bags. Even when I say - oh, I'm gonna pack it all into backpack, I'm on my bike (*gesture toward helmet in one hand*). It never really makes any sense to them.
So, I quickly resorted to using the self-check out. That way I can pack my own bags. I'm actually quite good at it - but I always mess up when there's somebody standing right behind me tapping their foot. I've even figured out how to deal with the whole you can't put your bag/backpack and/or helmet on the counter because then the machine always tells you need to scan your purchase...
The other day, I was picking up a few stuff on my way back home. Just as I was wandering up to the register a happy, smiling, bubbly woman pulled up in her gorcery cart full of several already scanned and packed bags and being in a happy oh-the-sun-is-shining-and-i'm-riding-my-bike-with-the-wind-in-my-back-mooed (and I suppose also because deep, deep down in the depths of my heart I'm a good person) I said, oh sure, go ahead.
She whizzed through like a pro - and I started scanning my stuff. Out of the corner of my mind I saw her packing up her groceries at the end of the belt and thought to myself, oh, that's odd.
Then just as I was scanning my card, the happy bubbly woman waved at me, pointed at the bags she had so friendly packed for me and said: "Happy Thanksgiving".
Happy Thanksgiving indeed. So thankful for the holiday spirit - you know helping people, accidentally foiling their plans that kind of stuff.
The Holiday Season is on.
Even if you haven't - this probably sounds like a frustrating idea at best and a dangerous one at it's worst (who would want their eggs, cereal and whatnot spread across the highway?).
Unfortunately, while this seems obvious to you, my dear reader, at this very moment, you would be surprised how difficult it is for me to explain this concept at the cash register, with some trigger happy bag packer/cashier trying to pack you groceries.
Even though every grocery store encouraged you to go green in some way or the other involving buying bags that can be re-used, they are VERY confused (EVERY time) you bring your own bags and/or state that you would like to pack your own bags. Even when I say - oh, I'm gonna pack it all into backpack, I'm on my bike (*gesture toward helmet in one hand*). It never really makes any sense to them.
So, I quickly resorted to using the self-check out. That way I can pack my own bags. I'm actually quite good at it - but I always mess up when there's somebody standing right behind me tapping their foot. I've even figured out how to deal with the whole you can't put your bag/backpack and/or helmet on the counter because then the machine always tells you need to scan your purchase...
The other day, I was picking up a few stuff on my way back home. Just as I was wandering up to the register a happy, smiling, bubbly woman pulled up in her gorcery cart full of several already scanned and packed bags and being in a happy oh-the-sun-is-shining-and-i'm-riding-my-bike-with-the-wind-in-my-back-mooed (and I suppose also because deep, deep down in the depths of my heart I'm a good person) I said, oh sure, go ahead.
She whizzed through like a pro - and I started scanning my stuff. Out of the corner of my mind I saw her packing up her groceries at the end of the belt and thought to myself, oh, that's odd.
Then just as I was scanning my card, the happy bubbly woman waved at me, pointed at the bags she had so friendly packed for me and said: "Happy Thanksgiving".
Happy Thanksgiving indeed. So thankful for the holiday spirit - you know helping people, accidentally foiling their plans that kind of stuff.
The Holiday Season is on.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
The Case of the Missing Tea bag...
Avid readers of "on the road with Pierre and Murphy" may remember several incidents involving food vanishing from the fridge from the kitchen in my old student housing. And how I could tolerate many things - except people taking my cucumbers. And stealing my milk. Back then, there were 28 suspects - the 27 people you lived with and had a key to the kitchen and yourself (the famous - I couldn't have eaten the whole bar of chocolate-phenomena).
Now I live with 5 other people. That definitely limits the pool of suspects should anything vanish from the fridge - actually at least one of them has her own fridge having moved from one of the undergrad dorms that don't have a kitchen. I don't mind if somebody "steals" a sip of my milk for their coffee/tea (by the way, between the five of us we cover every kind of milk from colored what no fat - no milk - no taste as I like to call it, to "real" milk).
I do mind if somebody declares my milk "empty" and throws it out late nigh/early in the morning even though I purposely left juuuust enough milk in there for my breakfast tea. But that's beside the point.
I have had a nagging feeling that somebody, SOMEBODY, somebody you see has secretly been using my sugar. I realize this could fall under the "I can't believe I ate all that chocolate"-phenomena, but the longer this has been going on, the more sure I am getting about it. And nobody else has a sugar pot (or a sugar bag) and everyone drinks tea and/or coffee. I suppose I can live with this... even though at some point the sugar thief should feel bad about it and refill my pot.
I also mind when somebody steals my cocoa. I know this onefor a fact. Because I bought cocoa to bake and then didn't use it for a week and when I went to bake something chocolatey for the firfirst time, somebody had already opened it. Thought it's quite confusing how that person knew it was there... they would have had to work their way through the entire cupboard as it was in the back right corner.
I ran into one of my suit-mates when I came home from practice ones to find her violently stiring her pasta. I made a typical "Shannon-comment" not realizing she was actually violently sitrring - turns out she was a bit upset, because somebody had used up her jar of tomato sauce. I understand, that one might accidently use the wrong jar. I'm the only one who spices her own sauce, everyone else uses the pre-made kind.
Yes, I am getting to the missing tea bag. So there is something weird going on and probably at some point I'll get annoyed enough to figure out what is going on and confront my room mates. But here is what just happened - and I really, really cannot come up with a good way of explaining this one.
I went to the kitchen area to make a cup of tea and prepare a bowl of cereal (preparing a bowl of cereal is an art to itself). According to my usual procedure, while I boiled water I prepared my cereal (except the milk, I don't like soggy cereal), added milk, sugar and a tea bag to my mug and when the water had come to a rolling boil I poured it into my mug. Then, I went to my room to quickly check my email while my tea was steeping.
I got distracted for about 5 minutes and then said to myself: Shannon, you should probably go add milk to your cereal and pull that tea bag out of you mug.
So I went back to the kitchen.
And there no longer was a tea bag in my mug.
I'm serious.
And I KNOW I didn't take it out earlier. I am POSITIVELY SURE about this. I can tell
a) by the color of my tea - it wasn't a very strong tea, and I like my tea strong
b) the tea bag was not in the trash or in my tea bag storage place
c) even I wouldn't have taken out my tea bag and then gone to check my email while I waited for it to steep.
So, really?! Seriously?! Steal somebodies tea bag out of their mug?
I would say somebody is trying to mess with me. But I don't know any of my room mates well enough to have offended them/incited them to start stealing my tea bags. I also don't know any of them well enough for them to start pulling pranks. I think I know them well enough to know they're not the kind of people to pull pranks.
And so for once, I have no plausible theory to explain what's going on...
But I'll come up with something.
I'm sure.
Now I live with 5 other people. That definitely limits the pool of suspects should anything vanish from the fridge - actually at least one of them has her own fridge having moved from one of the undergrad dorms that don't have a kitchen. I don't mind if somebody "steals" a sip of my milk for their coffee/tea (by the way, between the five of us we cover every kind of milk from colored what no fat - no milk - no taste as I like to call it, to "real" milk).
I do mind if somebody declares my milk "empty" and throws it out late nigh/early in the morning even though I purposely left juuuust enough milk in there for my breakfast tea. But that's beside the point.
I have had a nagging feeling that somebody, SOMEBODY, somebody you see has secretly been using my sugar. I realize this could fall under the "I can't believe I ate all that chocolate"-phenomena, but the longer this has been going on, the more sure I am getting about it. And nobody else has a sugar pot (or a sugar bag) and everyone drinks tea and/or coffee. I suppose I can live with this... even though at some point the sugar thief should feel bad about it and refill my pot.
I also mind when somebody steals my cocoa. I know this onefor a fact. Because I bought cocoa to bake and then didn't use it for a week and when I went to bake something chocolatey for the firfirst time, somebody had already opened it. Thought it's quite confusing how that person knew it was there... they would have had to work their way through the entire cupboard as it was in the back right corner.
I ran into one of my suit-mates when I came home from practice ones to find her violently stiring her pasta. I made a typical "Shannon-comment" not realizing she was actually violently sitrring - turns out she was a bit upset, because somebody had used up her jar of tomato sauce. I understand, that one might accidently use the wrong jar. I'm the only one who spices her own sauce, everyone else uses the pre-made kind.
Yes, I am getting to the missing tea bag. So there is something weird going on and probably at some point I'll get annoyed enough to figure out what is going on and confront my room mates. But here is what just happened - and I really, really cannot come up with a good way of explaining this one.
I went to the kitchen area to make a cup of tea and prepare a bowl of cereal (preparing a bowl of cereal is an art to itself). According to my usual procedure, while I boiled water I prepared my cereal (except the milk, I don't like soggy cereal), added milk, sugar and a tea bag to my mug and when the water had come to a rolling boil I poured it into my mug. Then, I went to my room to quickly check my email while my tea was steeping.
I got distracted for about 5 minutes and then said to myself: Shannon, you should probably go add milk to your cereal and pull that tea bag out of you mug.
So I went back to the kitchen.
And there no longer was a tea bag in my mug.
I'm serious.
And I KNOW I didn't take it out earlier. I am POSITIVELY SURE about this. I can tell
a) by the color of my tea - it wasn't a very strong tea, and I like my tea strong
b) the tea bag was not in the trash or in my tea bag storage place
c) even I wouldn't have taken out my tea bag and then gone to check my email while I waited for it to steep.
So, really?! Seriously?! Steal somebodies tea bag out of their mug?
I would say somebody is trying to mess with me. But I don't know any of my room mates well enough to have offended them/incited them to start stealing my tea bags. I also don't know any of them well enough for them to start pulling pranks. I think I know them well enough to know they're not the kind of people to pull pranks.
And so for once, I have no plausible theory to explain what's going on...
But I'll come up with something.
I'm sure.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Biiiiiiiiiirdbrains. All of them.
This morning I made it to class just as the lecturer spoke his first word.
I'm never late.
I believe in being on time.
I grew up in a household where when my Dad said we were leaving for our family vacation at 4:30am - we were rolling down the driveway at 4:30am.
I not only believe on being on time - I believe in being prepared to be on time.
My Dad instituted "shoe time" at our household. 10 minutes before we were planning to leave, my Dad yelled: "Shoooooooooooooooooe time" at the bottom of the stairs. That way, we were ready to leave on time.
I make an effort to be on time.
And I take all kind of things into consideration. If class starts at 8:30, I generally make it there two or three minutes early, to settle down, take of my sweatshirt (/shoes in the summer), get out my tea and notebook... and then we'll be ready to go.
So. I calculate for the fact might chain might jump off, I might get stuck behind a school bus, I might forger to pack my tea and need to go back into my room (it is early), trees might have fallen the night before (this has proven to be a regularly occurring incident... a very adventerous one at times), red lights, green lights other lights, surprisingly having to go to the bathroom,... the usual.
But I found out that even though I do account for "traffic issues", it is kinda difficult to account for birdbrains on the loose. Expect the unexpected. And since its unexpected... I can't account for it. Which is why I was late (by my count) for class.
I'm not sure why people think it's a good idea to say a 5minute good bye in the middle of the bike path right on the spot were there is less space anywhere because that's were the stairs and the bus stop and a sign (in the middle of the bike path - honestly, what were they thinking?!) are. Or why people think that walking with four people next to each other across both lanes who can see me coming for several minutes don't feel the need to move. The "oh. right, there's for of us and one of you - if you move, it's not gonna make a difference" expression just isn't funny anymore after a while. I'm starting to feel the need to ask which one of them wants to be hit, because coming to a screeching full stop in front of one of them just isn't scaring them anymore. And why is it, cars don't seem to feel the need to stop at crossways even though there are signs that it's "THE LAW" as soon as they are at on the outskirts of campus? Why is it that early morning (and other time of day) runners insist on running in the middle of the bike path so you can't pass on either side, with their ipod blaring music so loud that all ringing, yelling and flapping of arms will just not get their attention? Why do we not only have the worst bike racks ever on this campus and they are mounted in the worst places ever and it's really, really difficult to lock a bike to them.
And the whole "red lights are optional" thing, as well as the fact that I've come to the conclusion that I'm not actually doing anything wrong when car drivers honk at me. They just don't approve of cyclists.
And so I wonder, how much time should I account for because of birdbrain-ness?
I'm never late.
I believe in being on time.
I grew up in a household where when my Dad said we were leaving for our family vacation at 4:30am - we were rolling down the driveway at 4:30am.
I not only believe on being on time - I believe in being prepared to be on time.
My Dad instituted "shoe time" at our household. 10 minutes before we were planning to leave, my Dad yelled: "Shoooooooooooooooooe time" at the bottom of the stairs. That way, we were ready to leave on time.
I make an effort to be on time.
And I take all kind of things into consideration. If class starts at 8:30, I generally make it there two or three minutes early, to settle down, take of my sweatshirt (/shoes in the summer), get out my tea and notebook... and then we'll be ready to go.
So. I calculate for the fact might chain might jump off, I might get stuck behind a school bus, I might forger to pack my tea and need to go back into my room (it is early), trees might have fallen the night before (this has proven to be a regularly occurring incident... a very adventerous one at times), red lights, green lights other lights, surprisingly having to go to the bathroom,... the usual.
But I found out that even though I do account for "traffic issues", it is kinda difficult to account for birdbrains on the loose. Expect the unexpected. And since its unexpected... I can't account for it. Which is why I was late (by my count) for class.
I'm not sure why people think it's a good idea to say a 5minute good bye in the middle of the bike path right on the spot were there is less space anywhere because that's were the stairs and the bus stop and a sign (in the middle of the bike path - honestly, what were they thinking?!) are. Or why people think that walking with four people next to each other across both lanes who can see me coming for several minutes don't feel the need to move. The "oh. right, there's for of us and one of you - if you move, it's not gonna make a difference" expression just isn't funny anymore after a while. I'm starting to feel the need to ask which one of them wants to be hit, because coming to a screeching full stop in front of one of them just isn't scaring them anymore. And why is it, cars don't seem to feel the need to stop at crossways even though there are signs that it's "THE LAW" as soon as they are at on the outskirts of campus? Why is it that early morning (and other time of day) runners insist on running in the middle of the bike path so you can't pass on either side, with their ipod blaring music so loud that all ringing, yelling and flapping of arms will just not get their attention? Why do we not only have the worst bike racks ever on this campus and they are mounted in the worst places ever and it's really, really difficult to lock a bike to them.
And the whole "red lights are optional" thing, as well as the fact that I've come to the conclusion that I'm not actually doing anything wrong when car drivers honk at me. They just don't approve of cyclists.
And so I wonder, how much time should I account for because of birdbrain-ness?
Sunday, November 8, 2009
It's all part of my master plan...
Several years ago, when I started university - I realized that I was a few years older than most of the people who were starting with me and there this age difference was visible in certain behaviors and conversation topics. Things like the fact, that I was no longer interested in the fact that my math teacher didn't give me the grade I deserved, not having my parents watching my every move wasn't news etc. and certain other things that fall under what I like to call the Disney Principle.
Disney Principle? Funny you should ask.... back in the day when Disney movies (the cartoon ones) were still good (the classics so to say), if you were a kid, you watched them. You loved them and you talked about them with your friends. Then you get to certain age (teenage give or take) and it's just no longer cool. And once you get through this (yes, I'll openly admit, I never really went through that stage), you start watching them again, and you love them, and you see a completely new side to them, and you openly admit you watch them. At this age you also begin playing with clay again (in class) etc.
Anyway, as I realized that I had reached a certain age. I decided that it was time I was going to start acting my age: No more driving shopping carts across parking lots that go downhill, getting into cars that have come to a rolling stop, wearing shorts and sandals in the snow and all of that.
A few days ago, I was telling somebody about my time in university and some of the stunts we pulled in the lab. And I realized that somehow, my early twenties didn't really work out that way: I came up with the rolling chair through the lab race, I entertained the lab during chemistry labs, explained the bacteria identification methods as: "what's green and yellow and turns pink when you add an acid?" Again, I have decided that it is time to act my age. For real this time.
Sliding down the handrail in the sports complex displaying an excellent and technique, sending most of the girls rugby team into giggling fits and moments of awe? All part of my masterplan.
Rollerblading through the lecture halls? Definitely part of my master plan!
Using the handles on the handbag of the person in front of me during our weekly seminar (the one were all faculty and students are supposed to be there) as "hoops" to shoot pens through?
You got it.
It's all part of my masterplan!
Disney Principle? Funny you should ask.... back in the day when Disney movies (the cartoon ones) were still good (the classics so to say), if you were a kid, you watched them. You loved them and you talked about them with your friends. Then you get to certain age (teenage give or take) and it's just no longer cool. And once you get through this (yes, I'll openly admit, I never really went through that stage), you start watching them again, and you love them, and you see a completely new side to them, and you openly admit you watch them. At this age you also begin playing with clay again (in class) etc.
Anyway, as I realized that I had reached a certain age. I decided that it was time I was going to start acting my age: No more driving shopping carts across parking lots that go downhill, getting into cars that have come to a rolling stop, wearing shorts and sandals in the snow and all of that.
A few days ago, I was telling somebody about my time in university and some of the stunts we pulled in the lab. And I realized that somehow, my early twenties didn't really work out that way: I came up with the rolling chair through the lab race, I entertained the lab during chemistry labs, explained the bacteria identification methods as: "what's green and yellow and turns pink when you add an acid?" Again, I have decided that it is time to act my age. For real this time.
Sliding down the handrail in the sports complex displaying an excellent and technique, sending most of the girls rugby team into giggling fits and moments of awe? All part of my masterplan.
Rollerblading through the lecture halls? Definitely part of my master plan!
Using the handles on the handbag of the person in front of me during our weekly seminar (the one were all faculty and students are supposed to be there) as "hoops" to shoot pens through?
You got it.
It's all part of my masterplan!
Thursday, November 5, 2009
under the weather ... (2)
Yes, the weather. This one actually is about the weather!
I didn't realize how much I take fall for granted until I saw one of my classmates was basically hopping up and down with joy and excitement about how beautiful the trees are.
They are. I took a minute or two to look around and enjoy the fall season... wonderful colors, sunshine, the smell of things changing and then, before I knew it the sun was gone and was caught in the rain. Which can also be quite beautiful, but usually more so, once you're out of the rain and snuggled up with a hot cup of tea and a good book (or in my case, a sub-stack of my main stack).
Unfortunately, the constant change in weather from rainy and cold, to warm and muggy, to beautiful, beautiful sunshine, in addition to intense brain exercises and lots of rugby, frequently leaves me really, really tired - on the plus, I actually sleep at night (once I get to bed). The downside... sometimes I sleep in class. Just kidding, I'm relaxing my brain, and it SOAKS up information like mad. I'm serious. I not only have amazing notes from classes I don't remember being in, I also know things I don't remember ever having heard.
Possibly, I am playing to much rugby, at one point I had played every day for four weeks straight. On the other hand, the rugby field is were all the interesting stuff happens. For example, the other day we finally settled the age old question: If a tree falls in the woods, and nobody is there to witness it - does it make a sound?
We have some pretty big gusts of wind come though (courtesy of the fall weather, you see, despite the fact that I am seemingly rambling - I am still on topic) and as we were innocently kicking the balls, all of the sudden *crack* and ....... *CRASH* and this huge tree on the side of the rec fields fell. And at the same moment the two of us facing the woods said: "Oh X@!%#@ (inset whatever you think rugby players say in a moment of surprise) did you see that?" While the other two swung their heads around and said: "Oh @#@#!!! did you hear that? What was that?!". I hope that answers your question - if you had that question. If you didn't, should it come up, now you now.
The next day, I found out that that hadn't been the only gust of wind and not the only falling tree. It was one of those sunny fall days and as I rounded one corner, I was momentarily blinded by the sun and I didn't see that one big branch that hadn't been cleared (yet) and before I knew it, I felt it! Big time! OUCH. I made it to class just on time, by then the shock had worn off and it REALLY hurt - at least I had no problems staying awake in class. And I had quite the leg egg.
The reason I almost didn't make it to class on time was that the friendly long island tree people were busy clearing out all the falling trees. With cherry pickers. And big saw.
Which reminds me (last rambled thought for today). WHY are they called cherry pickers?! I have seen people do a LOT of things with cherry pickers. But never, ever have I seen anyone actually pick cherries.
There you go.
I didn't realize how much I take fall for granted until I saw one of my classmates was basically hopping up and down with joy and excitement about how beautiful the trees are.
They are. I took a minute or two to look around and enjoy the fall season... wonderful colors, sunshine, the smell of things changing and then, before I knew it the sun was gone and was caught in the rain. Which can also be quite beautiful, but usually more so, once you're out of the rain and snuggled up with a hot cup of tea and a good book (or in my case, a sub-stack of my main stack).
Unfortunately, the constant change in weather from rainy and cold, to warm and muggy, to beautiful, beautiful sunshine, in addition to intense brain exercises and lots of rugby, frequently leaves me really, really tired - on the plus, I actually sleep at night (once I get to bed). The downside... sometimes I sleep in class. Just kidding, I'm relaxing my brain, and it SOAKS up information like mad. I'm serious. I not only have amazing notes from classes I don't remember being in, I also know things I don't remember ever having heard.
Possibly, I am playing to much rugby, at one point I had played every day for four weeks straight. On the other hand, the rugby field is were all the interesting stuff happens. For example, the other day we finally settled the age old question: If a tree falls in the woods, and nobody is there to witness it - does it make a sound?
We have some pretty big gusts of wind come though (courtesy of the fall weather, you see, despite the fact that I am seemingly rambling - I am still on topic) and as we were innocently kicking the balls, all of the sudden *crack* and ....... *CRASH* and this huge tree on the side of the rec fields fell. And at the same moment the two of us facing the woods said: "Oh X@!%#@ (inset whatever you think rugby players say in a moment of surprise) did you see that?" While the other two swung their heads around and said: "Oh @#@#!!! did you hear that? What was that?!". I hope that answers your question - if you had that question. If you didn't, should it come up, now you now.
The next day, I found out that that hadn't been the only gust of wind and not the only falling tree. It was one of those sunny fall days and as I rounded one corner, I was momentarily blinded by the sun and I didn't see that one big branch that hadn't been cleared (yet) and before I knew it, I felt it! Big time! OUCH. I made it to class just on time, by then the shock had worn off and it REALLY hurt - at least I had no problems staying awake in class. And I had quite the leg egg.
The reason I almost didn't make it to class on time was that the friendly long island tree people were busy clearing out all the falling trees. With cherry pickers. And big saw.
Which reminds me (last rambled thought for today). WHY are they called cherry pickers?! I have seen people do a LOT of things with cherry pickers. But never, ever have I seen anyone actually pick cherries.
There you go.
under the weather...
I'm still here. Still kicking and fighting and digging my way through the never ending stack of papers that need to be read, information that needs to find its way into my head and homeworks that need to be graded. Though in my defense, the "to be graded stack" does get cleared quite quickly once I sit down and do it (usually with something yummy baking in the oven) - but I am pretty sure that I have seen that stack get bigger while I am working my through it. I'm pretty sure they multiply. They also mess with my head. I'm pretty sure I FELT a few of my brain cells falter and die the other day. It not only has to do with the repetitiveness of reading the same (wrong) thing over and over and OVER again... It also has to do with the fact that in our day and age essays can be submitted electronically - five minutes before the deadline. Writing under pressure and with a deadline takes on a new meaning and trust me, those essays usually are not a pretty sight. And unfortunately, I drop in my level of argument and expression - and it starts getting really, really difficult to bring out a coherent, stringent somewhat intelligent sentence. Which has made some of my study sessions quite entertaining.
For everyone else.
But I guess, that just means I'm still entertaining.
For everyone else.
But I guess, that just means I'm still entertaining.
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