Monday, January 23, 2012

the perks of reading

This weekend i read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, which inspired this blog.
Which i randomly picked up off of LK's bookshelf, and wasn't able to put down after. Apparently everyone read this book in high school except Lauren Pappas. But i read it now and am glad i did for many reasons, one of which is that it finally got me to put down the Game of Thrones series, which was sucking my life away. Those are the types of books that distract you from the real world, which you need sometimes. But Wallflower was more like the kind of book you read as you're living, and it gives you a different view about it. Like when Popou asked me to help him fix his VCR again today, and it's been getting to the point where i hate doing that, but then i thought, "well he's not always going to be around to ask me to do it, and then i'll miss it." and then i laughed at the situation, and realized i completely forgot to do it until a minute ago when he came in and was like, "so about that vcr..."   

Anyway it also made me feel nostalgic, which you need every once in a while. Which is why i got this other book by John Greene (apparently i'm only reading autographed copies these days):



Who also writes young adult books that are all pretty much the same story line with some different parts. But good reads none the less. I think John Greene lives a little too much in his high school days, though, because that's all he seems to right about. I think that's silly, because you can write in the same style, but not about high school. That's why every few books i change up my reading styles. Everything in moderation, like this lady told me a couple years ago when she was buying a ton of healthy food and then i wrang up a candy bar and she was like, "Well we all need a little sweet, or what's the point? Everything in moderation kiddo..." Which made me laugh, and then she started to walk away and loudly said, "Except sex! make sure you have plenty of that!" Which also made me laugh but also feel uncomfortable because she got to walk away after and i didn't. I like old people who just don't care anymore but are also not bitter about life. I hope one day i can be as cool and unyielding with my advice as that lady.

Anyway i think i like these books because there's still the hope of, "It'll all make sense when i grow up." But you know what? It doesn't usually. I think sometimes life is like walking through a dark room. Sometimes you know the room, sometimes you don't. You might get used to the dark, you might turn on nightlights as you go, but they can always burn out, and then you have to just keep going on bumping your way through it all, sometimes it becomes familiar, sometimes not. But sometimes, if you're really lucky, someone will have left a light on ahead to guide your way. These are the things i think about in Penn station waiting for the 1am train.

Anyway i think you should always be reading a book. Even if you don't get to pick it up for a while, it's pretty important. Like if you get depressed, or have a spare moment, or need to escape, or are even just bored. It'll always be there waiting for you, like your friends, except it's always on your schedule.

Sometimes after i've been doing a ton of stuff all weekend i just want to do nothing, read, and eat junkfood:


Then i buy all of this stuff, get home, and am like, "why did i buy this stuff? I don't want any of it." Then three days from now when i want a yodel my dad will have already eaten them all and be like, "Next time get Devil Dogs."

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Tomato Eggs!

 So i woke up and was like, i need to make breakfast: stat. So i holla'd at my girl over at Smitten Kitchen (i browsed the sight) and she was like, um duh. Jalapeno Cheddar Scones for starts, then top that shit off with some tomato eggs. And i was all, "bitch say what? tomato eggs?" And she was like, "word." So there you have it. Jalapeno Cheddar Scones:



like a dream! And eggs poached in a tomato sauce i didn't simmer long enough.



I guess this is a laid back version of shakshuka, an Israeli dish. Which i'm def gonna make sometime because it's spicier and has feta. Enough said.   


but they were still pretty eff'in good. She served them with sauteed spinach in garlic, which would have been delicious but i was fresh out. C'est la vie. Just do us all a favor, and when you poach your eggs be patient and make sure all the white stuff is cooked, because that raw shit is nasty. 

Saturday, January 14, 2012

61.

I'd just like to take moment for us to all recognize that i blew it. Ladies and Gentlemen, today is the one year and two day anniversary of I Like Making Things. Not only is it 2 days late, but i didn't even plan something to make, and let's be honest here, i missed an epic post.

But! no worries, no worries, because today's post is in fact #95, and i plan on doing something totally outrageously awesome for post #100... i'm just not sure what. Ideas?

Anyway by now you're probably thinking, why 61? Or you haven't looked at the title of this post and are thinking, 'what is she talking about?'

On January 8th my dear friend Eileen Specs turned 61 years old, so today me and Nanc took her out on the town... for tea. Sally Lunns, baby!

This is one of my favorite things on earth:






Strawberry scones with jam and clotted cream. AND Vanilla tea. No words.





Best friends! Eileen actually introduced my mom to my dad, so in i way i have to thank her for my existence. Also she's hilarious. She has to have knee surgery next month so she was asking my mom about this breath testing kit where you have to hold your breath for a long time so she could practice and would be able to do it after the anesthesia (which: oKay only person to ever practice that) and my mom's like, "it's not hard." and Eileen's like, "Easy for you to say, you were a swimmer. I practically drown myself in the shower." and we're like, "What?" and she's like, "Oh, i hold my breathe when i condition, but then i can't hold it long enough so i breath in through my nose and snort in a bunch of water." Just wonderful. I knew this girl in high school who would always have super red eyes when she got on the bus in the morning, and i'd be all, "Elise, were you crying?" and she was like, "No, i'm afraid i'll slip and crack my head on the faucet when i'm in the shower, so i don't close my eyes, ever." Talk about intense showers.

Then Eileen's like, "So after surgery i'll be considered a fall risk. Which i had to laugh at, because when haven't i been?" And then told us the story about how one time they gave her a cane for something, and instead of using the cane, she just carried it around with her, then one time tripped and was like, "What happened?" and realized that it got tangled in her legs, which is the opposite purpose of a cane. Then my mom told us of the time John (her hubby) tried to teach her how to ride a bike when they were 22, and how Eileen can now ride straight, but God help her if she tries to turn. I think everything about that story is adorable.

So after tea we went to some new age shop where they sell you crystals for certain powers, but advertised it as an art store. FAIL! They didn't even have any books by Starhawk (whom i've never read, but holds a small place my heart)!



What a gip. Nanc said they're trying too hard, agreed.

Last stop, Candy Barn:


Which apparently is now called, "Candy Shoppe" spelled in an attempt to be old fashioned kitsch like everything in Chester. Still just look at this place!


It's like being a kid in a candy store... clever.

Anyway we came home with a pretty good hall including most importantly candy watermelons and sour peaches.


And Eileen gave me a gift certificate for a massage, which i've never had before. Because oBviously everyone should give me things on their birthday, dUh.