I sense I have begun to develop a bit of an addiction lately. After pretty much never having used it before, I've tried it five or so times since I've been home and I even use it when I don't particularly need it. Of course, I'm talking about John Donahoe's company eBay.
It all started when I needed a new charger for my laptop after mine almost started a fire in Europe. Next, was the search for the now discontinued Polaroid film. Polaroids have become a novelty again, ironically, and economics 101 has correctly predicted that the dwindling supply of unused film now translates into ridiculous prices. some packs of film, i.e. 10 exposures, are going for $30. I ended up bidding on four packs of film with a camera included and I won, but at what cost? $80. So now I have 40 exposures of film that has expired a few months ago. We'll see how this all turns out. Then I found an awesome seersucker suit from J.Crew to wear to my friend Denton's Southern shindig wedding, but lost, and made up for it by buying a vintage polo. And capped it off recently by buying a ray-ban sunglasses case to replace the one I lost. So there you have it, my second most expensive "addiction", after alcoholism.
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Thursday, December 24, 2009
Dammit, and Unscathed
my documentary about Dartmouth Cross Country is apparently too long for youtube.
In other news, last weekend a glass pie plate exploded about two feet in front of me on the stove. Luckily the only injury was from when I stepped on a shard after I reflexively lifted my leg up in what I assume was a move to protect my gonads. The episode still has my mom, who was also in the kitchen at the time, freaked and she is now absurdly considering switching to metal pie plates as a result (just don't put a glass pie plate on an electric range that is still ON).
In other news, last weekend a glass pie plate exploded about two feet in front of me on the stove. Luckily the only injury was from when I stepped on a shard after I reflexively lifted my leg up in what I assume was a move to protect my gonads. The episode still has my mom, who was also in the kitchen at the time, freaked and she is now absurdly considering switching to metal pie plates as a result (just don't put a glass pie plate on an electric range that is still ON).
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Now I just need to fill the other 6 nights
My new friday night is Genna's Cocktail Lounge. Not that I haven't spend Fridays at Genna's before, but ever since my buddy JP moved away it's been just a little different. However, I've been the past three weeks and each time has been a success, even when I decide to just up and go by myself. It helps that I know one of the bartenders and my friend Brent works as a doorman/barback, but I've run into people I know from my past life each time I've been.
Blah blah blah, it's nice not to drink alone anymore.
In other news I feel like I'm playing Oregon Trail or something; I've been only mildly successful at fending off cougar attacks. She had a house. Wow.
Blah blah blah, it's nice not to drink alone anymore.
In other news I feel like I'm playing Oregon Trail or something; I've been only mildly successful at fending off cougar attacks. She had a house. Wow.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
A mini trip around the (cultures and cuisines of the) world
A few weekends ago I went on a whirlwind trip around the State Fair grounds convention hall, sampling food and shopping for purportedly authentic trinkets from around the world.
The occasion: the annual Holiday Folk Fair, made extra special by the fact that I hadn't been since I was in High School and it was my grandmother's 87th birthday.
This is a family tradition - my Grandma has been going for at least 30 years. It features food and shopping booths sponsored by ethnic group societies and such. Some groups present include the Bavarians, Czechs, Chinese, Egyptians, Thai, Native Americans and Mexicans.
The Folk Fair is a shell of its former self, many of the best food booths have disappeared (the old grannies are too old to cook anymore) or are catered instead of featuring homemade goods, but there is still tasty stuff to be found for adventurous eaters. Considering that half of my mom's family was there, it also helped that they serve 24 oz beers, with no apparent limit.
There was a cool photography exhibition, of astronomical effects as seen from Earth. I really liked how it showed how outer space looks from (and in relation to) vantage points here on earth. I also babysat my mom's cousin's kid Johnny. Johnny is about 4 or 5 but wicked smart. We tried playing chess and while it took some prodding to make him make legal moves, his understanding of some of the basic principles of the game was impressive.
The coolest thing was seeing some of the very things I had eaten in Europe during my trip. I could pronounce the names of the dishes at the Czech and Slovakian booths (but didn't eat them, since I'd had better not too long ago).
The occasion: the annual Holiday Folk Fair, made extra special by the fact that I hadn't been since I was in High School and it was my grandmother's 87th birthday.
This is a family tradition - my Grandma has been going for at least 30 years. It features food and shopping booths sponsored by ethnic group societies and such. Some groups present include the Bavarians, Czechs, Chinese, Egyptians, Thai, Native Americans and Mexicans.
The Folk Fair is a shell of its former self, many of the best food booths have disappeared (the old grannies are too old to cook anymore) or are catered instead of featuring homemade goods, but there is still tasty stuff to be found for adventurous eaters. Considering that half of my mom's family was there, it also helped that they serve 24 oz beers, with no apparent limit.
There was a cool photography exhibition, of astronomical effects as seen from Earth. I really liked how it showed how outer space looks from (and in relation to) vantage points here on earth. I also babysat my mom's cousin's kid Johnny. Johnny is about 4 or 5 but wicked smart. We tried playing chess and while it took some prodding to make him make legal moves, his understanding of some of the basic principles of the game was impressive.
The coolest thing was seeing some of the very things I had eaten in Europe during my trip. I could pronounce the names of the dishes at the Czech and Slovakian booths (but didn't eat them, since I'd had better not too long ago).
The next trip is scheduled
yes, I have only been back for a little over a month and my next trip is already being planned. A little bit different than the last one, and I may fit in another trip before then, but I will be going down to the dirty dirty South to Hotlanta in Summer of 2010. Why? Because my friend Dmoney is getting married. Hopefully there are lots of single bridesmaids.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Lost and Found
I'm bored so I'm making a catalog of all the things I lost and picked up while travelling.
Lost:
Dartmouth Baseball cap
smartwool socks
Ray Ban sunglasses case and lens cloth
A book on the European Southern Observatory
vintage plastic wayfarer sunglasses with neon-blue earpieces (I think)
Found:
"Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
30 Rock season 2 disc 2
I heart NY t-shirt (strangely not in NYC, but in London
a dozen beer mats of various brands
Lost:
Dartmouth Baseball cap
smartwool socks
Ray Ban sunglasses case and lens cloth
A book on the European Southern Observatory
vintage plastic wayfarer sunglasses with neon-blue earpieces (I think)
Found:
"Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
30 Rock season 2 disc 2
I heart NY t-shirt (strangely not in NYC, but in London
a dozen beer mats of various brands
Friday, November 6, 2009
Rock Bottom
I"m living at home again with my mom.
tonight I was sneezing up a storm because I kicked up a lot of dust putting my old stereo back together.
mom: are you ok?
me: yah, i'm fine
mom: you should take some benadryl, your cheeks look puffy
me: yah, I know, I will
mom:get some from the medecine closet
me: mom, I already have some.
mom: ok, just remember to take two, but only if they're 25 mg, if they're 50 mg only take one
later, as I'm watching 30 rock in my room around 10pm
mom (calling from downstairs): ANDY!
me: what?
mom: did you take the benadryl
me: yes. jesus.
mom: did you take two?
me:ma, for crying out loud, I"m 22.
mom: ok. you can take another dose in 4-6 hours.
me: ya, except I plan to be knocked out by then
me(to myself): f my life.
I feel like Michael Scott in the Office, because I've hung out wit my Grandmother twice in two days, and have only seen one friend, on one occasion.
tonight I was sneezing up a storm because I kicked up a lot of dust putting my old stereo back together.
mom: are you ok?
me: yah, i'm fine
mom: you should take some benadryl, your cheeks look puffy
me: yah, I know, I will
mom:get some from the medecine closet
me: mom, I already have some.
mom: ok, just remember to take two, but only if they're 25 mg, if they're 50 mg only take one
later, as I'm watching 30 rock in my room around 10pm
mom (calling from downstairs): ANDY!
me: what?
mom: did you take the benadryl
me: yes. jesus.
mom: did you take two?
me:ma, for crying out loud, I"m 22.
mom: ok. you can take another dose in 4-6 hours.
me: ya, except I plan to be knocked out by then
me(to myself): f my life.
I feel like Michael Scott in the Office, because I've hung out wit my Grandmother twice in two days, and have only seen one friend, on one occasion.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Getting to a home of sorts
I spent this past weekend on a whirlwind trip back to the alma mater, old Dartmouth College, for Homecoming weekend. For any of you not familiar with the concept, it is a special weekend designated for Alumni to return to campus. Dartmouth has a reputation of creating very involved and attached alumni, for better or for worse, so this weekend is generally a big deal.
I drove up with my friend Stu, with whom I'm staying in New York, and my friend Eric, a recent addition to my list of friends in the Big Apple. We all were in the same fraternity at Dartmouth, Sig Ep; Stu graduated in '08, while the E-Factor was a classmate of mine. We had a bit of an ordeal trying to find Stu's sister's car which was in White Plains (a train and bus ride north of the city) and navigating traffic in Connecticut, but we got to campus in time to get really drunk and go out. The night ended with me, Eric and Will '07 making food in the Sig Ep kitchen. The Factor and Will were frying hotdogs and I made the executive decision to make eggs, in the same pan as the hotdogs, naturally. I now have a new saying: too many drunk cooks make for a hilarious story. Stu however was determined for us not to be able to enjoy our creation, so he took it upon himself to ruin the food with any white, powdery substance he could find: Splenda, flour and salt all found their way onto our plates. Normally I welcome salt on my eggs, but when the salt to egg ratio is anywhere near one, I usually chalk it up in the loss column; however, I was determined, so I tried to offset the taste with parmesan cheese. As one might expect, this failed.
The notable (legitimate) event of the weekend was the banquet celebrating Sig Ep's 100th anniversary as an organization on the Dartmouth Campus. Not really too much to say about this, besides that drinking on someone else's tab is always nice and they had an amazing spread of hors d'oeuvres. I somehow found myself in a conversation with a few younger alumni who were maybe 26, that devolved into a discussion about the hors d'oeuvres at a recent party one of them had thrown. All I could think was that I really hoped I would not be in their shoes in four years time.
While I was having lunch with my friend Numra in London, I had told her about my plans to visit Dartmouth. She assured me that I would be disappointed and would see that the campus had completely moved on without me there and I would feel very strange being there. I agree that it felt strange, but for the opposite reason; I felt as if almost nothing had changed, and I had completely regressed into my old habits. The pattern of sweaty Chi Gam dance party followed by tomfoolery on friday and getting rid of hangover by hanging out at the cross country house only to find a regrettable hook up at Heorot on Saturday has been a tried and true method of wasting a weekend.
One more comment about friendship: I think that there are two moments you can have with your friends that are unbeatable. First is realizing that you have no idea exactly how or when you became friends with someone. The second is constantly being reminded of why you are friends with someone. Both of these happened this weekend, the second repeatedly, and this helped make it a great weekend. Lets just hope I don't over do it by going back next weekend, I kind of have to in order to make it back to Wisconsin as my flight goes out of Boston next Tuesday.
I drove up with my friend Stu, with whom I'm staying in New York, and my friend Eric, a recent addition to my list of friends in the Big Apple. We all were in the same fraternity at Dartmouth, Sig Ep; Stu graduated in '08, while the E-Factor was a classmate of mine. We had a bit of an ordeal trying to find Stu's sister's car which was in White Plains (a train and bus ride north of the city) and navigating traffic in Connecticut, but we got to campus in time to get really drunk and go out. The night ended with me, Eric and Will '07 making food in the Sig Ep kitchen. The Factor and Will were frying hotdogs and I made the executive decision to make eggs, in the same pan as the hotdogs, naturally. I now have a new saying: too many drunk cooks make for a hilarious story. Stu however was determined for us not to be able to enjoy our creation, so he took it upon himself to ruin the food with any white, powdery substance he could find: Splenda, flour and salt all found their way onto our plates. Normally I welcome salt on my eggs, but when the salt to egg ratio is anywhere near one, I usually chalk it up in the loss column; however, I was determined, so I tried to offset the taste with parmesan cheese. As one might expect, this failed.
The notable (legitimate) event of the weekend was the banquet celebrating Sig Ep's 100th anniversary as an organization on the Dartmouth Campus. Not really too much to say about this, besides that drinking on someone else's tab is always nice and they had an amazing spread of hors d'oeuvres. I somehow found myself in a conversation with a few younger alumni who were maybe 26, that devolved into a discussion about the hors d'oeuvres at a recent party one of them had thrown. All I could think was that I really hoped I would not be in their shoes in four years time.
While I was having lunch with my friend Numra in London, I had told her about my plans to visit Dartmouth. She assured me that I would be disappointed and would see that the campus had completely moved on without me there and I would feel very strange being there. I agree that it felt strange, but for the opposite reason; I felt as if almost nothing had changed, and I had completely regressed into my old habits. The pattern of sweaty Chi Gam dance party followed by tomfoolery on friday and getting rid of hangover by hanging out at the cross country house only to find a regrettable hook up at Heorot on Saturday has been a tried and true method of wasting a weekend.
One more comment about friendship: I think that there are two moments you can have with your friends that are unbeatable. First is realizing that you have no idea exactly how or when you became friends with someone. The second is constantly being reminded of why you are friends with someone. Both of these happened this weekend, the second repeatedly, and this helped make it a great weekend. Lets just hope I don't over do it by going back next weekend, I kind of have to in order to make it back to Wisconsin as my flight goes out of Boston next Tuesday.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
And then it ends....
On Monday I flew back to the US. London to Dublin, Dublin to NYC. So far the strangest thing to me is to have people that I know well to talk to on a regular basis (I'm staying with my friends Stu and Mike on the Upper East side for a bit.)
Before I left, I managed to get really smashed, decide I was too lazy to take advantage of my last shot at seeing a soccer match, piss off locals, get my brother so drunk he could barely stay awake on the busride to his friend's place, and be too hungover to go to Cambridge. On the plus side, I got to hang out with Numra, Scott and Tom, who I met in Prague, and introduce them to my brother. I also went to a baller, if not expensive, fish and chips place in London. The fish was so beautfully breaded, tender on the inside, yet crisp on the outside. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. I've decided I like vinegar with my "chips", but I will approach a "when in Rome" approach to french fry condiments, which means back to good old Heinz 57 here in the states. Vinegar on fried potatoes also applies to our chips, what the Brits call "crisps." Salt and vinegar is now officially my favorite flavor, followed by sour cream and onion, plain salted, and bbq.
Although I only spent a few hours in Dublin, I managed to get aquainted with a time honored Irish tradition - drinking. I made my first duty free purchase, two bottles of Irish Whiskey for 20 euro. They had a woman there with free samples from Ireland's purportedly "last independent distillery", and she convinced me to get two bottles instead of one. It's proven valuable, as drinks here in new york are really expensive, and the whiskey has a pretty good affect on me. I also managed to get a Guiness in the airport bar, I didn't need it, but I felt like it would be a shame not to have one. I got ripped off a little, but I suppose if they hadn't let me give them $9 for a 4.50 euro beer, I wouldn't have had it at all.
If anybody has been accustomed to reading this blog, fear not, I'm still technically travelling for two more weeks in the US, and I'll have a lot of summary kind of stuff when I get back to Wisconsin. Who knows, maybe I'll even keep it going for a bit, Madison can be strange as well.
Before I left, I managed to get really smashed, decide I was too lazy to take advantage of my last shot at seeing a soccer match, piss off locals, get my brother so drunk he could barely stay awake on the busride to his friend's place, and be too hungover to go to Cambridge. On the plus side, I got to hang out with Numra, Scott and Tom, who I met in Prague, and introduce them to my brother. I also went to a baller, if not expensive, fish and chips place in London. The fish was so beautfully breaded, tender on the inside, yet crisp on the outside. I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. I've decided I like vinegar with my "chips", but I will approach a "when in Rome" approach to french fry condiments, which means back to good old Heinz 57 here in the states. Vinegar on fried potatoes also applies to our chips, what the Brits call "crisps." Salt and vinegar is now officially my favorite flavor, followed by sour cream and onion, plain salted, and bbq.
Although I only spent a few hours in Dublin, I managed to get aquainted with a time honored Irish tradition - drinking. I made my first duty free purchase, two bottles of Irish Whiskey for 20 euro. They had a woman there with free samples from Ireland's purportedly "last independent distillery", and she convinced me to get two bottles instead of one. It's proven valuable, as drinks here in new york are really expensive, and the whiskey has a pretty good affect on me. I also managed to get a Guiness in the airport bar, I didn't need it, but I felt like it would be a shame not to have one. I got ripped off a little, but I suppose if they hadn't let me give them $9 for a 4.50 euro beer, I wouldn't have had it at all.
If anybody has been accustomed to reading this blog, fear not, I'm still technically travelling for two more weeks in the US, and I'll have a lot of summary kind of stuff when I get back to Wisconsin. Who knows, maybe I'll even keep it going for a bit, Madison can be strange as well.
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