Went paint-balling with my workplace yesterday. If we remove the bit where I got hit on the knuckles of my right hand the second time and getting hit on my head, I'd say I had fun. I couldn't close my right hand for over an hour afterwards. And I think the blow to the head may have caused a mild concussion. Both still hurt today; but the swelling has gone down. Another time, I'd wear gloves. And a helmet.

Today was a less violent day.

We went to the farmer's market, where in addition to a few other things I bought a few new basil plants. I repotted them today. Only one lone basil plant had survived. I rotated the box the basil plants are growing in to give it the best light. One of the strawberry plants was repotted. I still need another pot for the strawberry plant I am keeping inside.

I, being a big softie even for a plant I plan on eating, haven't been able to bring myself to throw out the excess lettuces, or plant them outside to be eaten by rabbits in their infancy. I moved some into pots that are probably too small; but better than leaving them in the trays they came in. I took the pot the very first plant we acquired (quite by unfortunate accident) had been in, and cleared out the dried brown remains of it and planted another three lettuces. I have tripled my lettuce capacity. There is still room for a few more pots; but I still haven't used even half the lettuce I bought.

Come on people, someone has to have balcony or a windowsill or unused flower bed! Please give these lettuces home! They are still growing despite their cramped quarters.

The really exciting news has been the arrival of the beets. Most of the seeds appear to have sprouted today. (At least, I think it is the beets, I have gotten a little confused about which pot was carrots and which was beets; but the little stems are purpley red.). All but one of the onions has come up. The radishes are being a little disappointing. After the first two, only one more has poked its head up. If no one else has shown up by next weekend, I think I'll reseed

In the meantime, I grow concerned for the carrots. I planted them before the beets, and the two seed packets say they have the same germination time. The thyme in the mixed herb box is also dying on me. I gave it some plant food (hopefully not too much) and extra water in case, being at the back of the box, it wasn't getting its fair share of the rain.

I ate raw rhubarb for the first time in close to decade tonight. It isn't the same though, to eat it all clean and trim from bundle. Eating wild rhubarb was one of those idyllic cornerstone memories of mid-childhood. I remembered being sufficiently small I'd have to brace myself to pull the stalk out, then cutting the tops and the slimy root off with a pocket knife, and brushing the dirt off before eating it, still slightly warm from the sun.

Backing up to Tuesday night, we went to bed early with the intention of getting up bright and early to start the day. Our first three days in New York have been very hot, but that night it cooled down. With a cool room to sleep in, the improved quality of sleep was too good to pass up, and we slept in until 10. A quick snack of nuts and fruit, and we were on out way.

Our fist stop was to the Brooklyn bridge which we walked across. I enjoy hearing about the engineering behind things far more than I should. The bridge reminded of the great hydro-dam tour of '05 with my mom. Of course, it goes without saying the view was excellent.

From the Manhattan side of our bridge we made our way up to the Doughnut Plant. I got a coconut creme donut, while alfy got a Valrhona chocolate one. We also got iced chai. We walked to a nearby park to enjoy them. Truly, I had never eaten a real doughnut before that day. Sweet but not cloying. Rich but not greasy. Authentic, rich flavours. The iced chai was also excellent.

This tramscendant experience at an end, we went geo-caching in Central Park. We managed to find find the first cache we searched for, and dispatched ourselves reasonably to avoid being seen by those not in on the game. But our luck did not hold. The next cache was hidden in a gazebo by Bow Bridge. We were not going to get 1 second alone with that cache, let alone enough time to log it. The third cache proved impossible for us to find; but lead us to something much better.

We found to white rats living in Central Park! White, pink eyed, rats, living amongst the rocks where the next cache was supposed to be found! Many pictures, and even some short videos were taken of this event.

Doubly defeated, we switched our geo-caching efforts to an extremely long offset cache that required us to visit every bridge and arch of note in the park (well, maybe we missed one or two; but 32 should cover most of them). We managed to make it to 19 of the 31 yesterday. Also, during our travels through the park, we met a raccoon in a tree! Well pleased with our progress we quit for the day and went in search of dinner.

By now, my decision to wear just shorts and t-shirt on what had been a rather cool day had grown regretful, so I bought a sweater to satisy my desire for warmth. Once I was no longer cold, I grew ambiguous towards my sweater, a feeling that has continued since.

Our travels brought us to little Korea. We choose a likely looking spot; but sadly were to be disappointed. This Korean food proved too authentic for us, I am afraid. I tried to like tongue, I really did; but I am still grossed out today thinking about it. I have seen what cows lick.

Leaving the restaurant, shamed by our incorrigible whiteness, we went to the top of the Empire State building.

Lights spread out as far as the eye could see. The outlines of familiar shapes from maps in orange on black. Streets like arteries of the city, pumping glowing points of life.

I should stop here really before embarrass myself further.

Our feet now completely in revolt, we descended into the subway system to make our way home. Some incident had delayed the train. When we arrived the station was crowded, and when the train arrived, it was packed. We were forced to wait for the next one. Which then decided not to come, leaving us to stand waiting for close to half an hour in Union station.

Who knew a train to Brooklyn would be that popular at 10:30pm?

By then time we got home, and planned our next day, it was too late to write about it. Today was so busy, the same thing has happened, so you'll have to wait again.

Today we spent most of the day in Bronx zoo. I discovered I loved Okapi very much. Giraffes are startling large. Aardvarks are very cute when digging. Spider monkeys are crazy. Gorillas are very chill, while Baboons act as if a fight will break out any minute. Tigers can be quite unimpressive. Andean condors are also startling large. Lemurs all look like they are all on drugs. Tamarins are inordinately cute, as are Pygmy Marmosets and Mongooses (who would be even cuter if we called them mongeese). African wild dogs are much less ugly than you have been led to believe. Lungfish are creepy.

I had chirashizushi, for the first time, at dinner.

Startling enough, my feet were less sore than before. I knew eventually all this walking would get me into to better shape, I just hadn't expected it to occur fast enough for me to benefit while on this trip.

We did laundry tonight. I prefer the laundromat here to the set up we have in our building.

Our feet and legs still not recovered from the day before, today was a shorter day, consisting mostly of exploring Manhattan. we bought towels at Macy's, since we neglected to bring them, and you can't dry your hair with a shirt. Macy's still has wooden elevators. We mostly browsed shops and observed people. We accidentally had a rather fancy and extremely tasty lunch of quesadilla and margaritas.  We hung out for awhile in a park with students so thick on the ground, there were no high quality  grassy sitting spots to be had.  We returned to the hostel to spend the afternoon in less active pursuits. For supper, we planned to go to a grocery store and then eat fruit and nuts and such in a park; but by the time we got our lethargic selves out of the grocery store, strawberries and grapes in hand, it was dark. So, we supped cross legged on our bunk bed.

I checked my marks on quest. Good news all around, I passed measure theory and did well enough that I will, just barely, graduate with distinction.

After breakfast in the hostel, our first act was to go purchase a lock for our room's locker so we wouldn't have to carry as much with us. With Spanish on most of the advertising posters, and as subtitles to all the signs and labels in the shop we were in, I venture the guess that we are perhaps in a Hispanic part of the city.

Most of the day was spent being very touristy. We went to Battery park to take the ferry out to Liberty Island to see the famous statue. While waiting in line for the ferry, we passed three musicians all playing inordinately cheerful Caribbean music. If this was not enough to make you smile, there was a man wearing a rainbow wig, a rainbow tie-dye shirt, who exhorted all who passed him to be happy and to enjoy the sunny day.

It was there that my first of two encounters with 'philosopher kid' occurred.

Behind me in line was a boy of about 8 years old, eating a sponge bob square pants ice cream treat of a somewhat frightening appearance. The rainbow man asked him how the sponge bob was, and received an unhesitating answer that it was tasty. When wished a happy life the boy returned wish. Rainbow man remarking on what a successful interaction it had been, and further exhorted the boy, that in addition to a happy life, that he should do something great with himself. Philosopher kid thanked rainbow man for his sound advice.

It was very hot today in New York. Our line to be processed through 'airport' like security moved along fairly rapidly. Shortly before we passed into the tent with the metal detectors and bomb sniffers, philosopher boy dropped his ice cream. "Oh well. It is not as if I am only going to eat one ice cream in my life". At this observation, I turned and remarked to him that he was the most philosophical kid I had ever encountered. He replied that he was also addicted to coffee.

The airport like security we passed through was unexpected. Alfy lost his multi-tool and pocket knife. They missed my multi-tool. Still in possession of one two inch multi-tool, our evil plier related schemes remained un-thwarted. Alfy's eee was also swabbed for volatile nitrogen compounds, in case it was an explosive.

The statue of liberty itself was both bigger and smaller than expected. I had been told it was smaller than you would think it was, and to a certain extent it was. Yet the engineering feat of building such a statue remained.

Yesterday, we tried HFC sweetened coke, and were appalled. Today we tried HFC sweetened fountain cola, and remained appalled.

The Sakura trees on Liberty island are in full bloom, gently raining pink blossoms. A most pleasant two minutes was spent lying in its shade.

Back on the ferry and onwards to Ellis island. The facility they used to process immigrants in has been restored and is a museum to, well, itself. I was not aware just how open the immigration policy of the US was until 1923.

Back at Battery park we headed for Chinatown on foot, passing the Bull of wall street on our way. We got lost finding Chinatown, then got lost in Chinatown. Then a bird pooped on me.

Why me? This is twice in a reasonably short period of time. What is that I do?

We tried to find little Italy; but the part of our map marked little Italy appeared to be a continuation of Chinatown. Now exhausted, we stumbled into a restaurant on the edge of Greenwich Village, and proceed to drink roughly a pitcher of water apiece over the course of our meal. Tired, sore, and I slightly sunburnt, we went back to our Hostel for an early night.

I found myself $0.38 short for a purchase at the CnD. Credit was spontaneously extended to me on the basis that I am in there so often. Last term I got offered a job.

I need to stop going there.

But I have my skim milk and my apple!

I had eggs and soldiers for breakfast, which made me very happy to have eaten my first actual meal since the 24th.

No ultrasound technicians are available until the 5th I found out today, which is very unhappy news. I am getting scared here, with a mysterious pain in my side, no plans for cure and only a theory of  why it might be hurting. I know I'll probably be fine; but not knowing what is wrong is starting to get to me. I made an appointment to see the doctor who saw me on the 24th (well, actually he heard about me, didn't come into to see me until that morning) for tomorrow. My mom is calling the clinic back though, and see if she can maybe get me in earlier.

My mom has the clinic staff's admiration because she has been paying to have my sister receive the Gardasil shot. Apparently the *grits teeth* perfectly nice, I am sure, people in charge of Alberta health have decided for entirely logical reasons not to cover a vaccination for cancer causing strands of HPV (seriously, other provinces are already, or are planning to start, giving the shot to all girls in middle school). Nice distraction from the pain right here is my anger at them for not covering it already.

All but one of my marks for term have come in. The latest one showed up this morning, and is so high, I have gone back to check twice already, since I keep thinking it must be an error.

I wrote my last midterm of the term this morning. Overall it is has been a good midterm season; but this last one was, as we say, sadtimes. I think I'll just scrape enough marks together to pass.

( Boring midterm run down...you have been warnedCollapse )

Any way, with the end of midterms, I get to turn my attention back to...assignments! I went to bed early last night, as in soon after I got home from my exam and was actually rested this morning.

My stores of homemade soup run low, hopefully I get to make some more this afternoon. I finished the last of the borscht for breakfast this morning. The herbs on the balcony are starting to the die off. Except for the rosemary, despite the first snow today, it still looked cheery and green under the ice. The green tomatoes I brought in have started to ripen on the counter. Today I am going to see if the peppers are fine still green.

I got some disturbing news from my mother. There has been a rather serious scandal in the *grits teeth* lovely small town where I went to high school. It appears health care workers at the local health center were reusing syringes.

http://www.globaltv.com/globaltv/bc/story.html?id=9e332f05-b037-46dd-832b-ef252262c98b

Seeing as I had my wisdom teeth out in two surgeries, one in the Summer of 2004 and the other in Summer of 2005, I guess I get to call the toll-free number and find out if I need to be tested.

This may mean no blood donation tonight.

Halloween party Friday night, trip to Guelph on Saturday....assuming I get OS finished....

EDIT: Canadian blood services has their shit together better than any of the other half dozen health organizations I just got through calling. Their response was to say that seeing as all my tests with them, in 2006, in 2007 and 2008, have come back negative, and the exposure was so long ago, I am as far as they concerned, just fine, and good to come in tonight.

More politics related news, entering the results into computers found that the conservatives had only won by 43 votes, so a recount has been ordered for my riding. Fingers crossed!

I did nothing yesterday, and it felt wonderful. I am unburnt-out again, and back to work. Exam schedule came out yesterday, doesn't look too bad for me, except for having an exam on the last day.

This morning we went to the market with K. and restrained ourselves admirably. Maple syrup and squash! Tonight I am going to make more borscht for a friend, and hopefully finish another assignment. I and Alfy have started watching the Big Bang theory and finding it very funny.

The balcony garden is dying, with only 2 of the tomatoes and 2 of the peppers having successfully ripened, we are thinking of brining the pepper plant in to give a fighting shot for the remaining peppers.

Plane tickets booked for home, leaving on the 21st, return on the 3rd. The upside this year is I can escape to Calgary with my sister if things get to tense. There is stuff and places in Calgary, right? Well, more places than Grande Prairie anyway..... And I'll bring my gps and get OSM traces for the entire town of Hanna. That should burn a whole day right there.

Really, you can make a snappy title out of "Blood and Any Random Noun". Food nouns, provided the food isn't, say, meaty, work especially well.

"Blood and Bagels"

"Blood and Gingerbread"

"Blood and Kraft Dinner"

"Blood and Mock Turtle Soup"

The possibilities are truly endless. Someone should write one of those ceaseless mystery novel series with these titles. I wonder if has already been done?

Anyway...

Today was pesto day. I harvested most of the basil from the balcony and with the magic of a food processors turned it into tasty, tasty pesto.

Today was blood day. I gave blood again. This time coming in at a new personal best of just under 7 minutes. We can thank Pallin. She came on the tv news just as I started and likely raised my blood pressure. By the time I was finished though, I had missed the 8:35 bus home, and there wasn't another for an hour. I ended up taking a bus to camps and walking the rest of the way, which given how light headed I was feeling by the end may not have been the best choice.