I forgot that Nate bought a tofu maker awhile ago... maybe I mentioned that. I know what you're saying - who makes their own tofu? Apparently we do now. Anyways, this weekend we started the process of getting it ready to make tofu. That just involved soaking the tofu press in hot water with vinegar for awhile. The point is that I am taking pictures of the entire process so I can post it here whenever it's all done! And then maybe I can send it to the company and they can pay me to publish it as a step-by-step illustrated guide to tofu making! So, keep an eye out for that.

Posted by Julie at 01:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I would write all about what I did over the past 4 days, but that isn't very interesting. So, I'll just make a snappy bulleted list:

• Ate a veggie dog at D'S SIX PACKS AND DOGZ
• Played the lottery for the first time EVER! (the Powerball)... lost for the first time ever
• Went to the Carnegie Science Center
• Went out with Nate and his friend Mike and other people I never met before and will likely never see again
• Packed some stuff
• Watched the pilot episodes of Desperate Housewives and Grey's Anatomy
• Went for a walk

That was a real space saver! I'm so economical... always looking out for the best interest of the Internet.

Oh yeah - we also watched "Super Size Me." I didn't have much of an interest in seeing it for a long time, but I'm glad we watched it. I approved of it to the max. It had interviews with some people whose books I have read / plan on reading soon. I didn't really learn anything I didn't already know BUT! I enjoyed the part in the bonuses where he put some McDonald's fries in a jar and they didn't rot, mold, or otherwise change form whatsoever for like two weeks. That's totally grody, dudez and dudettez!

We also watched about 1/4 of "The Life Aquatic." Maybe I "don't get it" or maybe I just don't like "boring movies," but Nate and I both just kind of stared blankly the entire time and then finally turned it off. Is there something I'm missing? I think I have a pretty smart sense of humor people, and I found nothing funny or really even interesting about this movie.

Tomorrow we get the keys to our new apartment! I'm pumped. And... AND!!! The sun is out in Pittsburgh. Unfortunately I have class tonight, but I will maximize my sunlight exposure by eating both lunch and dinner outside.

Posted by Julie at 01:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

I enjoy seeing people in awkward moments. Especially when I was once in that same awkward moment. They're having one of those Pitt orientation sessions today and I got to spy some newbie freshmen picking up their official "Welcome to Pitt" size XXL t-shirts and stuff over at the union. I never got a t-shirt. I think the whole orientation process has formalized more and become a little more interesting since I started. For example, I heard that they go to the Waterfront and stuff and learn how to use the buses. I think at my orientation session, there was a game of "Singled Out" and maybe a half-assed volleyball game that only the orientation workers participated in. I also noticed that every kid that went by was there with his or her parents. Maybe they encourage families to get involved with the process now or something, but I also don't remember that from when I was a freshmen. The point of the experience is to explore and meet new people and become familiar with your surroundings... kind of hard to do that with your dorky mom and her fanny pack tagging along. Then again, I guess it would have been nice if my mom had been more involved in me leaving for college, rather than yelling "Good riddance" and slamming the door as I left. And don't say it didn't happen! 'Cause it did.

This weekend is Memorial Day weekend. I have no "Memorial Day" plans. I don't think the weather is going to be that spectacular anyways (it is Pittsburgh, after all). Nate sent me a list of 6 or 7 things we could do, including a picnic, the Carnegie Science Center, and filibustering. I vote for filibustering! There also might be a trip to the famed "D's SIX PACKS AND DOGZ" tonight.

I bought "Don't Eat This Book" by Morgan Spurlock today (creator of Supersize Me):

I think I'll give Supersize Me a rent this weekend. Followed by a heaping portion of McDonald's food! Just kidding... McDonald's is foul. And the one in Oakland isn't even fit for hobos to eat at.

Posted by Julie at 01:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

If you haven't seen last night's season finales of Lost or Alias, you probably shouldn't read ahead. That is, if you plan on watching them. And if you don't care, this entry will mean nothing to you.

First off, Lost. I have to say, despite Nate's (and the rest of the Internet's) bitching about the unanswered questions, I thought this was a great episode. Apparently Nate has never seen a J.J. Abrams season finale (will Felicity choose Ben or Noel? Tune in in 300 years to find out!), because he's all about the cliffhangers baby. The scariest scene was with the "others" (or are they) on the boat. *shudder* I am never going out on a raft in the middle of the ocean at night time again! I saved this episode on Tivo so I can go back and review everything the nutjob forum posters at TelevisionWithoutPity have picked up on.

The unanswered questions for me (besides the obvious - what's in the hatch?) are why did Ethan try to kidnap Claire and her baby when it was really Walt that they wanted the whole time? Or did they not know that Walt was the demon-seed they were really looking for? Was Ethan even down with these new freaky dudes? Also, I too (like some of the TWoP posters) immediately thought that the people on the "Others" boat looked like some of the castaways, namely Charlie, Sawyer, and Shannon, but after reviewing that scene, I changed my mind.

And Alias. Totally meaningless episode up until the last 60 seconds. Hot stuff! I guess this at least gives me a reason to attempt to watch next season even though it is going to be up against Survivor. I think Alias needs a whole lot less missions and more storylines. I hate that it is turning into a show like Law & Order or ER, where yes, there is a story going on with the characters, but the casual viewer can also tune in every week to just see the mission if they want and still "enjoy" the show (even though the missions on Alias are my least favorite part). WHO IS MICHAEL VAUGHN? Dun dun dun. What new Derevko sisters will they pull out of their ass for next season? I'm hoping someone awesome (and of course, totally unlikely) steps in to play the newest long lost sister. How about Fairuza Balk as Melina Derevko? Come on, she's creepy and weird enough:

In TV-unrelated news, I'm going to renew my license today! I'm so excited for the new license format with the "mini me" picture in the corner.

Posted by Julie at 02:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I kind of hate that commercial with Susan Sarandon and Julianne Moore where they are putting on the makeup that covers up old people wrinkles or something. They are just laughing away putting on their make-up. I don't know why I hate it. Also, Julianne Moore is like 15 years younger than Susan Sarandon, so what is she using old people make-up for anyways?

I called off work today because I've felt like the walking dead for the last week or so. I'm not sick or anything, but I think I'm just behind on my relaxation quota or something. I feel great right now! I'd make a great housewife. Today I went to Whole Foods and bought some stuff and I worked on a paper for school and now I'm watching Martha Stewart! This is the life, my friends. THIS IS THE LIFE. Martha Stewart just told me that i can give my grapefruit rinds to the chickens! I would have never even known had I not taken the day off. I KNEW THERE WAS A REASON.

Ken Jennings blew up on my TV last night... not literally. He actually came in THIRD on the show, but I think it is all part of his evil plan because it is a three day competition. I read today that he is getting his own quiz show on Comedy Central. That's totally hot. Who would have known that a Mormon with his head full of insane amounts of well-rounded knowledge would be so enthralling?

We're moving soon... and we did finally hire a mover to do the work for us. I'm pumped. Although I don't know what the proper "etiquette" is on moving day. Do I just stand there tapping my feet pointing at things? Should I help (yeah right)? Do I just make myself invisible? And are we supposed to tip them? We're already giving them a decent amount of cash... I don't think they need to be tipped.

Posted by Julie at 02:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

A veggie quesadilla from Baja Fresh has over 1200 calories! They must be injecting 100% calorie goo into them or something. That's nasty dude. I didn't eat there recently or anything, but now I NEVER WILL AGAIN.

Posted by Julie at 03:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

TONIGHT!

Posted by Julie at 10:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

So I heard today that in the fall, Alias is going to be up against Survivor on Thursdays at 8pm. What kind of crap is that? I'll tell you what it is - goodbye Alias! I've watched that damn show from the beginning and this is the kind of respect I get? The show is in the crapper anyways... at least I know that Survivor will always be there, up to season 112.

(PS. If I had the ability to make my TiVo record two shows at once, I wouldn't be complaining, but UNTIL THAT TECHNOLOGY IS FREELY AVAILABLE, ALIAS IS DEAD TO ME.)

Posted by Julie at 02:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I got my vote on this morning... did you know Peduto is the only mayoral candidate with instant messenger icons on his page???(ok, so I didn't check the other guys' pages, but I think I can be pretty safe assuming this...)

A vote for Peduto is a vote for Instant Messenger!

Posted by Julie at 08:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Here is the scenario. The website still wasn't working to set up my disconnect online, so I called Verizon during my lunch break. I was pleased to find out that they had an automated system for turning your phone off, so I wouldn't have to talk to any pushy Verizon employees. Unfortunately, halfway through the "system," it said, "We're sorry, we have to transfer you to a real person now" or something. Gah! I actually hung up at that point and tried again, but same deal. So I was forced to talk to Bitchy McStupidFace. Here is how the conversation went.

Me: I'd like to shut off my phone in June.
Lady: Ok, can I have your phone number? (and this is after I had to enter my number 3 times already in the "automated" system)
Me: *my number*
Lady: Can I ask why you are turning it off? Are you moving?
Me: Yes, I'm moving and I no longer need a land line.
Lady: Well, MA'AM, did you know that 911 calls can't be tracked to cell phones? What if your phone dies and you have no other phone? What if you have company over and you leave them and they are left there with no phone? Wouldn't you like to keep the land line for emergencies?
Me: No thanks. (it's not like we ever have company anyways. and if we did, we wouldn't leave them there alone TO DIE WITH NO 911 SERVICE.)
Lady: But MA'AM! (rattles off more about 911... and hey, I've seen Alias, they can figure out what grave you are buried in alive when your cell phone is on, so don't give me that 'we can't track cell phones business)
Me: No thanks.
Lady: Well, can I have another number to contact you at in case we need to call you?
Me: Sure (gives her my cell phone number)
Lady: Oh, is that your cell phone number?
Me: Yes.
Lady: Are you on it now?
Me: Yes.
Lady: I CAN'T HEAR YOU MA'AM, YOU'RE BREAKING UP. IT MUST BE YOUR CELL PHONE. COULD YOU REPEAT THAT?
Me: Yes.
Lady: YEAH, I HOPE YOU AREN'T IN YOUR NEW PLACE BECAUSE YOU DEFINITELY AREN'T GETTING A GOOD SIGNAL ON YOUR CELL PHONE.
Me: *makes stabbing face* (and I wasn't in my new place, and I had full bars on my phone and had just gotten off the phone with Comcast with no problems)

Anyways, this continued for awhile, and she finally got all my info and set up my disconnect date. Thanks for officially pissing me off for the 100th time Verizon. You better hope 911 calls can be tracked from call centers because I'm sending out a hitman.

Posted by Julie at 01:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Do you have any idea how hard I try to not interface with any operators at Verizon? I try a lot. I finally found a place on their website where you can submit to have your phone disconnected online, but of course when you click Submit it says, "We're sorry, this option is not available at this time, please call your local office," or something. Hate! It's all a scam so they can try and talk me into keeping something I don't want.

Anyways, an eventful weekend is behind me. Friday after work, Nate, Jess, and I ate at D'S SIX PACKS AND DOGZ where we saw none other than the famous Dave and Dave!

They weren't filming anything... they were just eating dinner. We didn't say anything to them even though we were 2 inches away from the taller Dave in the "beer cave." We were just too star struck I guess.

Saturday, we went to Kristy's wedding and felt like we were understudies for people in a musical who suddenly all knew the same song and dance (aka a Catholic wedding ceremony). It was interesting, though. They should have signs like an "APPLAUSE" sign up at the alter that say when to stand up, sit down, etc. Congrats to Kristy and Josh - good luck to you both!

Sunday, Nate was SUPPOSED to go pants shopping, but I let him off the hook so we could pack a little and go grocery shopping instead. But he's going sometime this week! Definitely. Someone should paypal him some money so he doesn't cry about spending like 40 bucks on a pair of pants that he'll wear until the last two threads are holding them together.

Last night was also the Survivor finale... no big surprises there. The next one is going to be in Guatemala where they are supposedly living in a "real" Mayan ruin. Great. First they destroy the Amazon, now they are destroying ancient artifacts? It's all in the name of good, reality TV, my friends.

Posted by Julie at 11:21 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I just wanted to inform everyone that Nate updated his page today with like a bajillion posts!

Posted by Julie at 12:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Nate claims that on his way to work this morning, he saw a guy in a convertible next to him with a real squirrel on the dashboard. Somehow I doubt this claim, but I guess I wasn't there. If he sees it again, I will believe him. A quote from Nate - "it was sort of like it was standing on something below the edge of the dash. It kind of looked like the groundhog driving in Groundhog day, but smaller and on the passenger side."

EB Games is now dead to me because even though Donkey Konga 2 was supposedly released yesterday, they won't have it until tomorrow. GRR. I want to get my bongo action on! At least the guy in the store was kind enough to assist me today... usually when I walk in they just ignore me because I'm a girrrrl. The Video Game Center fat guy is still also dead to me for offending me one too many times. "So, I guess this game is a present for someone, huh?" BECAUSE I COULDN'T POSSIBLY BE BUYING ANYTHING FOR MYSELF.

Yesterday we did have our date in the park with Baba D's food. It ruled! A couple walking their dog passed through, and the dog wasn't on a leash and trotted right up to us like he knew us or something. It was kind of funny. He had this big dopey grin on his face. It would be nice to be able to take a dog to the park sometime to play instead of having to walk in circles around the Strip District and then stick them back in a kennel at the end. I don't know if Nate and I would ever adopt a dog, but if we did, I would feel weird about feeding him meat since I don't support that myself. I've read arguments for and against vegetarian dogs, so who knows.

Tonight is the finale of The Amazing Race! Ahh!! Will Rob and "Amba" win? Will the other contestants attack them if they do? I hope so.

Posted by Julie at 01:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Would you like to help Nate and me move on June 10th? We will provide snacks and stuff. Unfortunately, we have to move on a weekday due to constraints from both our current place and new place, so that might put a damper on things. Let me know by replying to this message ASAP! But don't flood the servers, people!

This weekend was excellent weather-wise. Friday, Nate and I went to a Katz happy hour where there was free food and beer. Apparently that isn't enough to make people emerge from their caves, because there weren't that many people there. Oh well, more pizza for me. Saturday, his parents came down and we went to the Frick Art and Historical shack and took the tour of Clayton and checked out the art museum and car shack. We also ate dinner at Aladdin's that night, which I recommend all day long! I had a Baba Falafel Rolled Pita, and Nate got to experience the falafel-goodness. He also approves. We also went to see Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, which I liked. It wasn't too long nor did it make me want to fall asleep, both of which are criteria a movie needs to pass before getting my rubber stamp of approval. Sunday, we took the incline up to Mt. Washington and ate at a restaurant with zero vegetarian options, but they whipped us up a shrimpless-Shrimp Napoli dish that was ok.

Tonight Nate and I have a play date to eat yet more falafel and play frisbee! Today's letter of the day is "F."

Last night I watched "Dawn Anna" on Lifetime. I didn't know what it was about beforehand, but it ended up being about this woman with some brain illness and then her kid got shot in Columbine. Yeah, I wasn't expecting that. Apparently it was a true story which is maybe why it didn't seem to "flow" all that well. If my life was made into a movie, it would be an immediate sensation, starting with my ascent into the world of spelling bee champion-dom and ending with me writing this very entry.

I watched Grey's Anatomy again last night even though I have declared it dead to me for 2 weeks in a row. I think I would like the show much better if half the characters were burned up and replaced by cooler actors with less annoying facial expressions. We need less of Sandra Oh's "I'm dying" stare (like below, except think more death):

And definitely less Ellen Pompeo:

AHH!!!

Posted by Julie at 02:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

I think it is dumb that people think restaurants and bars will go out of business if smoking is banned there... don't they realize that when you quit smoking, you eat a lot more? Their business will double! I'm going to open a restaurant that caters to new non-smokers only... I'll make millions, I tell ya!

Posted by Julie at 04:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In a stroke of sheer stupidity, I broke the TiVo remote last night and today I had to pay an uncool amount of money to have one shipped overnight. BUT IT'S IMPORTANT. We can't use the TiVo at all without the remote. It should be in tomorrow, but that means we will have to watch "Survivor" and "The Apprentice" live tonight. Ahh! My skin is shriveling at the idea. But I'll get through it. I LIVED FOR 20 HOWEVER MANY YEARS WITHOUT TIVO, AND BY GOSH, I CAN GET THROUGH ONE MORE NIGHT WITHOUT IT. If I keep repeating that, maybe I will eventually believe it.

In better news, I got a B+ in Finance! There must have been one hell of a damn curve in that class, but I surely am not complaining. And just think, if I had participated even one time, I might have an A right now. But those are all pipe dreams. I got an A in Database Management though, so I am the Supreme Being of Smartness!

Nate's parents are swooping into town this weekend... I am hoping to "swoop" by Aladdin's Eatery to sample some of their fine dining at some point. I always wanted to go there and I read a review of it in the Pitt News the other day, so now the deal is sealed. My favorite part of the review was this line:
"Katherine, the vegetarian, proves that she's OK with eating fish by devouring her Tuna Salad Pocket ($5.75)."
Ha! People never cease to make me want to slam my head in a desk drawer. I guess as long as you pay under 6 dollars for dead animals, then you are still a vegetarian.

A few weekends ago when I was trying to get rid of excess stuff in the apartment, I found my old non-digital camera. I was going to get rid of it because I haven't used it in years and I have no reason to use it anymore (I'm sure my mom is having a panic attack right now at the thought that I might have thrown away something with a resell value of $1.75). Anyways, then I noticed it still had a roll of film in it with like 14 pictures left, and it got me to wondering what could the other pictures be of. My 12th birthday party? My first communion? The time my mom and I held hands and skipped stones down at "the crick?" Then I remembered that none of those things ever happened. I tried to take a few pictures with it, but after the second shot, I got some weird error and the film stopped advancing. So, that's that. Into the dumpster you go.

Has anyone ever sold any clothes at that Avalon place in Oakland? Or any other decent clothes-buyer-backer place? I have some clothes in good condition that either don't fit or just don't "jive" with me anymore that I think I might as well try and sell before giving up and donating 3 tons of stuff to Goodwill.

Posted by Julie at 12:30 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)