i had a fight with a walnut today

lucky, I won the fight. I stopped for a muffin on the way to work at a grocery store that lists all their ingredients (for this very reason!!). I double checked the list, I swear.. but when I called them up after eating the tiniest of bites, they told me walnuts were listed! Luckily I noticed right away, luckily Whole Foods was really good about it and want to meet with me, and luckily I was okay after taking a ton of benedryl.. rrrrr. nuts, you lost the fight again. [The pic is of my back after a skin prick allergy test (Dec 06). The giant hive is from a cashew, the 2nd largest hive is from a pecan and the hive on my shoulder is from an animal that goes meow]

This weekend Paul and I went with some of my coworkers to a Renaissance Fair. It was loads of fun. Paul and I were among the few "naked" people (not naked, naked - this wasn't in SF) since we didn't go in costume/garb. I drank some mead - beer made from honey (see picture). Paul put on a show for a large crowd since he was dragged out of the audience and it was extremely funny.. (see picture). And then he got in trouble - not to worry, I'm not married there just wasn't a "girlfriend" one :P (see picture). Also, a few random pictures ;)

My life is brilliant

I managed to pull off my biggest cooking accomplishment yet! Dobos Torta. Actually it turned out nothing like this picture - in reality, it looked really disgusting as there was a very thin layer of butter that settled on top. And mine was square and fairly lopsided but mmmm.... vgood. I've been wanting to try and pull it off since July and finally I did! Luckily, Paul's roommate wasn't as thrilled, otherwise he likely would have wolfed down the entire cake much like he did with 15 chocolate fudge cupcakes that I made in ONE night!!

I've pulled off and created some pretty amazing recipes lately - tonight we had fresh Ahi fish that I picked up from the Farmers Market with this wicked marinade that I threw together. Last week was meatloaf but super good meatloaf. I think next week I'll try carrot cake but the downside is I've seriously gained 10 pounds in the past month. And my hands reak of garlic and onion. The grocery bill hasn't been the prettiest either.

Friday night I went to a Crayfish party with Paul and his friends and an entire Scandinavian club at Stanford. I never realized Swedish people we so hot! We had lots of fun.. most of the crayfish were good, I say most since I opened a few with eggs and globby green stuff. The Sweds told me that finding eggs is good luck - much like getting poo'd on by a bird? Sounds awfully unlucky to me and pretty grody if you ask me (grody to the maximum).

Saturday night Paul and I had a group of friends over after we went for all you can eat pasta (of course we all ate enough to make us want to throw up).. We played old school Nintendo - Super Mario 3 drunk with no warping til world 7. Ah the nostalgia.. we were like kids in a candy store.

delayed reaction

I apologize for the delay in writing but I managed to forget my username and password.. it was probably in good timing too since most of the entries would likely have involved much ranting about work. Ah, I'm not so sure about this working world.

[I also changed the options so anyone can leave a comment now - please feel free to]

Fortunately I escaped to SF on Sunday albeit a persistant fever and head cold. Paul and I went back to the Exploritorium Science Museum to catch the other half that we missed when we last visited in July. There are a lot of cool contraptions, although mostly devoted to Physics (I started getting dizzy after seeing about the 40th circuit - even the water fountain was set up like one). Yet Paul was in love. Luckily I regained strength (and interest) when we hit the large Psychology section... ever drank out of a toliet? We also went back to the Wharf and ate some over priced crap (yes that's what it tasted like) and drove down Castro (gay/lesbian district), which was vcool... Paul and I have now hit the 3.5 yr mark - yikes & wow. And yeah, I'm feeling much better.

In news back in Calgary, my dad just completed an IRONMAN!! I'm so incredibly proud of him.. It hurts just imagining having to run, swim and bike for 13 hours and 53 minutes in one day!!

Been trying to do some soul searching lately.. still not sure what I want to do when I grow up, where I want to be, etc. I know everyone back home is starting back at school and I can't help but wonder what that experience must be like right now (don't know that I'm really ready for it) or how I could have helped if instead I took an adventure in Africa. Alas, I'm here and hopefully making a difference in some child's life and not just some corporations chequebook - 'cause I'm certainly not making much of a difference in mine. :P

Anyway, on with the pictures (if you haven't seen pictures of my place, let me know and I'll send you some)..
...Bubbles floating over dry ice...