Things I Like

1.  Nuances

Because nuances are subtle and I am not.

2.  Starbucks

Because Tim Hortons coffee always ends up spilling: on my car dash, my pants and my the seat of my car.  Plus, I have never figured out the optimal (creamer:sugar): coffee ratio.

3.  Fishing

I mentioned that I loved fishing and was invited on a fishing trip.  I should have mentioned that I love the idea of fishing.  I've never really caught a fish in my whole life.

4.  Trips

I love getting ready for a trip just as much as I love going on trips.  I love running around getting things ready and daydreaming about what I think my trip will be like.  I don't have high expectations of the city of Flin Flon, so I'm sure I'll be pleasantly surprised.

5.  Babies

I love when parents dress their babies in Build a Bear Shorts.

Complete with tail hole.

What do you love?

~b~

I Dream in Escher

I've always wanted to create a dreams category on my blog and write posts of my dreams, but I have been hesitant because it seems popular to approach the interpretations and the symbolism of dreams in a mystical way.

I often remember my dreams and they are usually vivid and filled with detail.  For example, I don't just dream that I am in a subway station, I dream that I am in the metro in Montreal, with a polished concrete floor that is littered with garbage -flattened fountain drinks, gum wrappers and stains.

I think the best way that I can describe my dreams is to say I dream in Escher.  M.C. Escher was a Dutch artist who is known for his drawings of impossible reality.  He also incorporated alot of mathematical relationships into his drawings, especially symmetry groups.

Escher's Symmetry Work 22

Except I don't dream of symmetry, I dream of chemistry.  Like trying to solve quantitative analysis problems by watching electrospray ionization occur and then trying to figure out the concentration of the analyte in the injection volume.  Correctly solving this problem is tied with getting a job in Mongolia.  This is a classic example of what happens to me when I have to write an exam.   I must have been thinking about solving a chemistry problem I had been working on before I went to bed.  I just wish my brain would stop working on problems while I'm not conscious, because a mish mash of mass spec theory, quantitative analysis, and trying to figure out if I should apply for another job opportunity all at the same time, isn't so helpful to me when I'm asleep.

Escher's Relativity

A lot of my dreams this year have involved themes of walking on unconventional paths.  Often I'm hesitant to start walking, but I do, only to get to a certain point where I can't continue so I turn around and retrace my route back.

A classic example of this path dream is the one where I follow an wooden boardwalk.  It is painted brown and follows the tree line at the edge of a clearing.  I begin walking on the boardwalk, but soon, the boardwalk changes in elevation and like a kids playground, I have to climb up and over and back down again to continue.  Eventually I get to a point where the ground is saturated with water and I can feel the boardwalk stick to the ground with each step that I take.  Water starts lapping over the boards, which now leads straight into a pond, so I turn around and head back.

I have also dreamt I was in the synchrotron leading a small cow by a rope around the outer edge.  The cow had withered legs and we were walking on industrial metal flooring.  When I reached the far side, I decide that rather than walk the entire way around, I should just turn back the way I came.  Except now, the flooring had fallen away in sections and it becomes difficult leading the gimpy cow and trying to step on places where the metal flooring still exists.

I can see why so many people get carried away with dream interpretation.  I'm sure I could come up with a variety of plausible correlations between these "path" dreams of mine and everything that is going on right now.  But really, I think my dreams are just a result of my frustrated "creative imagination".  Plus, why bother trying to figure out deeper meanings - its like my own personal commercial free television every night.

~b~

Silver Spoon

I was asked to photograph a staff party next month in exchange for a ticket to the Silver Spoon Dinner.  And so with a little trepidation, I said yes.

The Silver Spoon Dinner is an Annual Woman's Event that raises funds for Interval House and The Crisis Nursery in Saskatoon.  

I thought the teeny weeny spoons were so adorable.  I also loved the warmed nuts that were served as the event began.  


The dinner was a wonderful evening where I enjoyed seeing many gorgeous dresses, shoes and purses, perusing the silent auction items and meeting Caroline Rhea (Biggest Loser Host, Aunt on Sabrina the Teenage Witch).

I also enjoyed the champaign, martinis and of course, red wine.  The food was delicious: 

Romaine Bouquet with Sugared Pecans, Berries and Balsamic Tangerine Vinaigrette.  


Those sugared pecans are definitely on my list of things to make in my kitchen.  

Lemon Mint Sorbet.  

I guess the lemon mint sorbet is served to "cleanse your palette".  The first bite was very minty, but each bite became more and more enjoyable.  I especially loved the Cosmopolitans and Los Arboles Malbec Wine (shown in the background).  

Pomegranate Glazed Chicken Breast stuffed with Asparagus, Brie and Cream Cheese.  

I don't even know how to begin describing this chicken.  Any chicken stuffed with cheese will make me happy!

Coffee and Bailey's


Sometime during the evening I helped my friend make the winning bids on a Cruise for Two, and an aerial flight over Saskatoon.  I've very helpful that way - helping others spend their money on a good cause.  


We also ran into Caroline Rhea and she stood for a photo with us.  I asked some girls to take a picture with my phone and they ended up taking four or five videos instead.  They took forever trying to get a picture of us, but Caroline was so gracious in waiting until the "picture" was taken.  I was stuck in the middle with my arm around Caroline, so we could all squeeze into the picture.  I feel like I know her so well now.  

Spun sugar Basket filled with Carmine Jewel Cherry Cheesecake, Fresh Seasonal Berries with Edible Flower Petals

The big name to describe the dessert is kind of ridiculous, but I loved the plating of the food.  The black splotch on the top of the dessert said: Silver Spoon Dinner and the raspberries and blueberries made me excited for summer.  

The guest speaker that night was Caroline Rhea.  And I have to say: she was funny, very funny. It was the perfect way to finish off such a fabulous evening.  

With a ticket price of $150 it is very unlikely I'll be going to this event again.  I hope I get some great shots at the staff party, and maybe, just maybe, I'll be invited back again next year.  Because, well, those warmed nuts were just amazing.  

~b~

Australian Burger

After writing this post I realized that it's pretty lame and pointless.  But it's my blog and I'm posting it anyway.  Feel free to stop reading and go to a better site.  It won't hurt my feelings, I promise, because I won't even know.

My co-workers and I often walk over to Innovation Place at lunchtime to eat at the Atrium Cafe.  This week they were featuring an Australian Burger:

Its basically a cheeseburger that is topped with pickled beets and pineapple.  I'm not a big fan of pickled anything, but I thought I'd give this burger a try.  

After eating I thought: Meh.  At least I tried it.

And that was the Australian Burger.

~b~

TV

After I bought the iPhones and started paying for 2 cellphone bills with 2 data packages I decided to "do away" with cable.  I've been pretty happy with my decision, for the most part.

Now, "doing away" with cable, doesn't mean I don't watch TV, it just means I won't pay to watch TV.  This means that I will sometimes watch TV at my mothers house, so I can say that:  Yes, I did see Troy at the end of the EH, OH Canada Go Commercial.  I  will also watch shows from DVD's, like Lost, 30 Rock, and How I Met Your Mother.  Lately, I've been watching shows online: The Amazing Race, The Mentalist, and America's Next Top Model.

One of the ways I have simplified my life is to only buy black ankle socks.  In theory, this means no sorting and matching of socks required.  (In actuality, I still match my black socks based on thickness and the type of elasticy edge.)

I didn't really think that watching TV had any type of influence on my thinking, until this morning when I was getting ready for the day.  This morning I had thrown my clothes on my bed, ready for me to put on.  And when I got out of the shower, I looked at the socks I had randomly thrown on the bed, waiting for my selection.  And I thought:  4 black socks are lying before me, but only two can be put on . . .

You can watch the elimination ceremony of America's Next Top Model HERE.

~b~

Enough of the food posts already

Sorry, I get carried away sometimes.

This beautiful weather has caused me to put down the oven mitts and pick up my Nikon.

I took four hundred and some pictures the other day.  Mostly of dogs, horses, fences, Max's tongue, one very cute little girl, oh, and Max and his tongue.

I think I deleted about three hundred and some.  But I did manage to get a few pictures which I liked.

This one was my favorite:

~b~

Kijiji

Thing #1

The atrocious spelling:

I'm convinced that anyone using this resume writing sercice, I mean sercvice will indeed grab the attention of the busy recruiters and make you stand out.

I'm convinced that anyone using this resume writing sercice, I mean sercvice will indeed grab the attention of the busy recruiters and make you stand out.

Thing #2

When people post ridiculous creative ads like this one:

The ad is pretty long and if you read it to the end the guy throws in free MC Hammer pants.  Now that's incentive.  You can read the rest of the ad HERE.

~b~