Well, if there’s one thing it makes sense for me to blog about consistently, it’s probably food.

Today Ricky and Leah and I continued our summer of wholesome fun with strawberry picking at Linvilla Orchards. (Well, okay, so the previous day we bought a jug of gin.) Rather than eat my quart of strawberries all for dinner, I started scheming to prepare some kind of tart. This recipe and photo helped me settle on a custard tart, and I made the pastry cream (my first) before dinner, leaving it to cool in the refrigerator. After dinner I decided to bypass the usual fussy, rolled-out pastry crust for some sort of nut-based concoction, which I put together rather hastily while in a custard tart haze. When it came out of the oven, I saw that it wouldn’t do, and mashed it up, thinking I’d find some other use for cookie-like nut crust crumbs.

Looking at that, I decided to make individual strawberry custard cups with the crumbs on top. So Leah and Ricky came over for trashy tv and custard.

And later, I used the rest of the ingredients to make four more custard parfaits in my little glass yogurt jars.

Ta da, a blog post!

Well, I haven’t really pounced upon this return to blogging with quite the enthusiasm my previous announcement might have suggested. Nevertheless, here I am, and starting off with a mildly mundane post about myself. In later entries, however, you may anticipate musings on the universe and bread baking.

Since the academic calendar basically regulates my life, I might as well give a quick review of this semester’s courses.

It’s a good mix: In Human Skeletal Biology II, we are moving onto the post-cranial skeleton tomorrow, after a semester of the cranium and three weeks of teeth (yes). The most consistent feature of that class is that we eat Jelly Belly beans while examining the skele
tal material. Also on the physical/biological side of things is Behavioral Neuroscience with lab–the last effort towards fulfilling my lab science requirement. So far in the lab we have handled sheep brains, and I get a bit of a thrill out of finally examining just what goes inside those skulls I spent so much time with last semester (but smaller, less groovy, and more sheepy).

Hindi-Urdu is still what it is, a language I’ll probably never be fluent in. But I’ve become pretty fond of my handwriting in Urdu script, even if I can barely read it.

Then there is American Literature since 1945, with a great reading list including The Invisible Man, Lolita, On the Road… It’s good to have novels among my reading since going through them seems a lot more like leisure than theoretical treatises on world-systems theory or whatever.

Also, Ancient Empires–a comparative anthropology/history course on Rome, Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Inkas, the Mayans. So far, we’ve only done theory and Rome, but I’m enjoying the professor’s lectures and getting exposure to some more of the archaeologist types in the department.

And last of all, a swimming class, which Richard is also taking, and which is geared towards a level of beginner with far less experience than either of us have. I don’t know any proper strokes well enough for the Lap Swim class, and, anyway, it wouldn’t fit my schedule. It’s still fun to be in the water, even though half the class can consist of essentially jumping in place.

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Well, in Hindi there’s a pretty common construction that conveys “having [verb-ed]” more elegantly–or at least much more concisely–than in English, by adding kar to the verb stem. I read and write it so often that I’ve started forming some of my (English) thoughts with that “having.”

So: Having read this survey of my course roster, please prepare yourself for more profound discussions to come.

1) floss
2) offer the world a renewed window onto my experiences and insights (via blog)

I’ll only go into some detail on the second, for now. I think that resolving to write fairly interesting things without a deadline would be a good project for me in the coming semester. One of my intentions is that this might help me to keep or cultivate a writing style that is distinct from how I write academic papers. We’ll see how this goes; you (dear reader) could be getting anything from novel bits of literature, to photographs of bread, to, well, knock-knock jokes–if it comes to that.

(An interruption of your regularly scheduled nothing for reflections on the movie!)

Last night I saw An Inconvenient Truth in Bryn Mawr with an assortment of friends.
The movie is as engaging as it’s been hyped to be and showcases Al Gore more convincingly than any presidential debate managed to. Ricky and I were passing oh my gods and gasps back and forth during most of the threats and current realities illustrated in the presentation. (Along with, admittedly, an occasional raised eyebrow at the flashbacks to Gore before time wore on the charm of youthful features; and the expected laughter at his sardonic look at big interests’ egregious disregard.)

Throughout Gore’s concise and direct explainations, the global warming that I had duly recognized as bad for earth and bad for people began gaining substance as much more than an abstract concept. Even I, still able to put faith in a capable political figure, have given into the doubt encouraged by suggestions of natural cycles and inevitability, so well represented yet so poorly supported by truths. And often, once I do come to acknowledge some apparently terrible reality, it’s hampered by the feeling that there is not enough shared enthusiasm behind the issue to validate it: how can I decide what is wrong with the world, if the realization has not yet impressed itself so firmly in enough other minds?

So I sat in the theatre among an audience I was sure must all be as engrossed in the moment as I, regardless of whether they entered with skepticism, harboring a dedicated environmentalist streak, or just wondering what Al’s been up to. And in the movie itself, crowds looked up attentively to Gore’s flashy PowerPoint, and he offered the promise that at least a thousand such audiences worldwide have been recently privileged to this presentation.

Yes, scientists have long been aware of this; yes, the public has often brushed away the consequence of pollution for the convenience of traveling with kids and their soccer equipment. Everyone feels so connected to his or her own life that detached and abstruse problems can be easily ignored, but I think this movie has the potential to constitute an experience; not just a barrage of doom and numbers, but a personal appeal to pay attention. And could some kind of ideal mob mentality immerge, in which we can all band together to reduce, reuse, and recycle?

In any case, I looked desperately to the list of changes for us to make: use less hot water, drive efficient cars, etc. I don’t think it included a thing I haven’t heard, but perhaps shorter showers and bike rides can indeed make a difference on the right scale. If we seemingly insignificant people can so harshly dent the natural workings of the earth, shouldn’t widespread concerted efforts do something to restore the planet? (Aside: Maybe this could get more attention in America if marketed as a weight loss diet–ride a bike to save the planet and your waistline? Environmentalists Don’t Get Fat? …sorry)

I was thinking about the usual issue of transportation. I wish I’d had the perspective when buying my car to look for a hybrid (though they’re reportedly expensive) or at least something more efficient. I don’t know how much scorn I can have for the drivers of mammoth SUVs (except that they block my view) when my own car isn’t particularly good on this issue. I wasn’t very involved in choosing my car when we got it, but I suppose that my brother will buy a car at some point, and perhaps I can direct him towards something more friendly.

In brief closing: Do what you can to see this movie, or I’ll lend it to you once it’s on DVD. Offer to buy a conservative’s movie ticket (preferably one without much political power yet, as we’ve seen how efficiently they can ignore the problems). And I suppose I myself should take particular note of Gore’s advice not to move immediately from denial to despair, but to make a lengthy stop at the “do something about it” stage.

Saturday was one of my nicest days this semester, as I actually did little work and saw a lot of people. Richard and I met Monica, and eventually Risa and her boyfriend, because Monica wanted to take me to tea and brunch for my birthday (which, admittedly, was about 3.5 months ago, but I still appreciate a suprise birthday tea). We went to Alice’s Tea Cup, a really lovely and tiny tea shop that had all kinds of cute Alice in Wonderland/tea party decorations, as well as plenty of very good food. I get rather excited to eat tasty food outside of the dining hall. It was brunch, and I had poached eggs on scones with smoked salmon and rosemary hollendaise sauce, with roasted asparagus and pears, Alice’s tea, and a ginger cookie from Richard. I hope Monica doesn’t mind if I steal her giant photo of it:

After everyone wandered around Urban Outfitters for a bit, Richard and I went downtown to buy…my IPOD ahh!! So I now have a beautiful little white iPod, who is patiently awaiting a collection of music.

Next we met Ricky at the new Union Square Trader Joe’s. There was a line outside, but it wasn’t a very long wait, and the line to check out wrapped around the store but we picked up more food along the way. I bought avocados, cereal, a recycled toothbrush, and other good things. The three of us went back to Ricky’s dorm to hang out for a while and eventually went to dinner at a thai restaurant Ricky likes. So we had more yummy food (vegetables & chicken with peanut-coconut curry sauce), and Ricky and Richard each ordered a glass of wine effortlessly and without any ID. Though we know nothing about wine (despite having seen Sideways!), Richard and I liked the glass we shared. The restaurant felt very much like New York, with funny white chairs and lights and our table near the door on the street. That was all good, though, and fun.

But today: research, paper proposal and bibliography, blah blah, etc., laundry, and fun with new iPod.

Brianna told me I have Egyptian/Greecian feet. Olga was offended because apparently she has peasant feet. Brianna’s are Greecian, possibly with a little bit of peasant, but not as bad as the guy next to her in anatomy class.

Right now I’m sitting listening to Olga and Brianna talk back and forth in Brooklyn accents, which have been amusing since “dawg” and “tawking” slipped out of Olga. It’s like Carli’s “chawklet” issue. “What did your mutta tell you?” Brianna demands. I tried to join in on the teasing, but my “Is that a dawg? Oh my gawd.” accent just isn’t as good.
Tonight I went to a program planning meeting for a Human Rights major. It’s only six courses to make it a double major with another (eg Anthropology?). I would be all set with what classes I want to take next year, if only I could take about 12 overlapping courses and a couple of PE classes. Richard and I might take yoga together, but he’ll have to work on his stretching first.

I went to the aforementioned Lady Mendl’s tea on Sunday, and it was very enjoyable as expected. I talked to a CC girl from Tennessee. There was a big ordeal for me before based on the problem that the meeting time was moved from 3:15 to 3:45, but I didn’t know, and suspected this was some mean trick. The tiny sandwiches, multiple courses of dessert, and tea! were worth the trouble after all, though. I think I’ll have to hold high tea on my own in the future.

More elaborate and profound posts to come in the future, when I manage to get ahead of homework.

I’m writing this in the time before dinner. It’s the first week back from spring break (too short!) but I seem to be keeping up with my work, despite a week of neglecting it. I’ve already gotten a paper revised, a German essay written, a pile of reading done, and some other things. Of course, there’s a pesky Statistics exam tomorrow, but if I figure out what’s actually on it, that shouldn’t be so bad.

Break was quite relaxing without being boring, probably because Richard was there for me to entertain whenever he wasn’t playing Kingdom of Loathing. All of my friends were home by Friday, and during the week we saw Ally, Ricky, and Dave. I won a game of Monopoly against Richard, and nearly conquered another against other kids. We visited school twice–once to talk to Mrs. Wuetig (yay), and the next day to see Mr. Z, Connelly, and Mr. Hemphill, incidentally. I also did a little bit of cooking and remembered that I’ll have to practice before I end up in charge of feeding a hungry suite next year (if we can get it, crossed fingers, etc). I made a smoothie with yogurt that Richard didn’t like. Then on Saturday I came back to some sad-looking plants in my room, but Leo and Sprouty are much happier now with our company (…and water).
But the home friends fun isn’t over! When Leah and Carli visit us in New York on Thursday and Friday, we’ll have to show them all the fun things in the city; that is, of course, the carousel and museums and parks and dorm rooms… Probably not as much of a failed attempt at New York nightlife as when Ashley came a few months ago. On Sunday afternoon I’m going to high tea at Lady Mendl’s, the event I got through Barnard’s Urban New York program. I love free tea that would be expensive! Also, scones.

I haven’t posted anything in so long that I forgot my password and the whole interface of this posting thing changed while I wasn’t looking. But, you lucky kids, I’m writing tonight.

I can’t really cover everything that’s happened since, uh, November… Right now I’m at the start of a new semester, so sharing my schedule seems appropriate:

Cognitive Psychology lecture (9:10! am!)
Adv. German II: Austria and Vienna
American Women in the 20th Century
Intro to Statistics
Self Defense (PE)
First Year English: The Americas

It’s a nice set of classes, if still not quite focused on anything. Of course my plans for a major are still wavering around anthropology-history-psychology-linguistics (if even possible)… etc. I think I’m going to take two semesters of Environmental Science next year for my lab requirement, rather than worry about getting into two psychology labs sometime (there’s a lottery because there’s limited space).

I am enjoying Self Defense. Don’t tell Ally, but I probably couldn’t really kill anyone yet. I also can’t seem to throw off anyone who isn’t a girl, either, unless Richard lets me, which isn’t really fair because you can’t ask a bad guy attacker not to pull so hard on your wrist, please. But I get to be partners with Risa all the time and we have a nice time dancing around aggressively. I guess I’ve only had two or three real classes so far, so I have time to become a pain-inflicting-in-self-defense-only machine. Hey, eventually we get to stick fighting and ground grappling.

Last Friday we went to DDR club, where I actually tried (I think) two songs in front of strangers and acquaintances, in public. One of them was some kind of Disney version from 1998 or some time when graphics looked funny. I kind of failed the other one. Kind of entirely. But I might play again tonight since they’ll have DDR at this Columbia Glass House Rocks thing. So that’s my revolutionary dance (dance) progression update. Yes.

Hey, Saturday I might go ice skating at Wollman Rink in Central Park with people from my floor. Of course I can’t ice skate or anything, so I’m really going to pay $17 to fall down, outside, on the ice, wearing metal blades. It’s kind of Olympic, I think.

I was thinking about taking part in that homeless census thing this February, where you go around in a group counting and possibly talking to homeless people from 10:30pm-4:00am. It’s actually a Monday, and if you refer back to my schedule you’ll see I have to wake up in the actual, legitimate morning on Tuesdays, so I probably won’t after all. Maybe I will give money to that “pennies don’t hurt the brother” homeless guy outside the supermarket instead.
Oh yeah,

I just stole this photo from the internet, but I now have a lovely magic bean just like this one. It really has words on it, too. I think this is brilliant. I don’t know why I’m even in college when I could be growing magic beans for profit.

I’m sure more than this has happened since my last post nearly a month ago, but it’s hard to keep up.

On Friday I went with my friend Brianna to the American Museum of Natural History. It was great. She’s really into dinosaurs and bones and I like people (anthropology, of course), so we got to see both. We had actually wanted to see a Darwin exhibit, but apparently it doesn’t open till this Saturday, so we’ll go another time. I recommend this museum if you’re in New York; it’s a $10.50 recommended donation for students, but worth it (and you can give less if you must).

I would have taken more photos, but my battery ran out.

Ashley came to visit last weekend and stayed with Ricky. We were planning to go to the Museum of Modern Art, but it was a bit late by the time she arrived, so we hung out here, spent about 5 minutes in H&M (holiday crowds already!), then went downtown. There was also a failed excursion to a club; it failed because Ricky and I are into museums and homework more than dance clubs so we didn’t quite have the experience to do something more fun than buy cookies. We’ll work on it for next time. Anyway, I miss my littlest friend, but it will only be a week until I see her and everyone else again. We’ll be seeing RENT the movie, too!

Since I’m on the topic, home was looking very fallish two weeks ago.

More recently (ie tonight), I got Richard addicted to Kingdom of Loathing. It might have something to do with the awesome sabre toothed lime shirt I wore today.