Carving pumpkins at Vivian's 2001 birthday party

Well, now I finally have time and brainpower enough to post the story of what happened at my friend Vivian's place in 2001. No, she doesn't have a space hopper, but she does have this big red bouncy ball. (no insinuations from the peanut gallery! :P) It's not quite a beach ball, but it is bigger than your average-sized beach ball. I don't know what to call it, but you can sit on it if you maintain your balance well enough. (not for me, in other words :P)

Anyways, Vivian had invited approximately 40 of our friends to her house for her birthday party: since her birthday is the day before Halloween, we decided to carve some pumpkins after eating dinner. When Vania sat on the red ball and almost promptly fell off, my brother laughed. Sarah decided to eat dinner while sitting on it, and my brother told her not to "pull a Vania." (you wouldn't want to fall off the ball while eating dinner, you know!) Later, my brother sat on it himself and purposely fell off. Vania laughed at him, so my brother had to tell her that he did it on purpose: "I always fall on purpose.. you must not know me very well, then!" I would have to agree, especially given that we've known Vania literally since she was a baby. (so we've known her for about 17 years now)

As for what we carved on the pumpkins?

* the words "Asian Sensation" (done by poking holes in the pumpkin to make the letters; Nathan's idea)
* the Canadian Tire symbol (at the time, Dianne worked at Canadian Tire)
* a camel (Nathan's idea.. he likes them)
* a chicken foot (At the time, a popular inside joke was that Eddie would one day open a restaurant devoted to soya sauce chicken foot-flavored Slurpees. The easy way would be by sticking a soya sauce chicken foot in the Slurpee. But the hard way involved actually making the Slurpee taste like soya sauce chicken foot!)
* a Powerpuff Girl (Vivian really likes them)

A note on the Powerpuff Girls thing: Dianne spent a good part of the evening taking off the clothes of a Powerpuff Girls doll that Vivian had lying around. Her excuse? "But it has clothes on underneath!" Very hilarious, and rather typically hyper Dianne. *laugh*

No, I don't want to talk with you simply because we're riding the same bus! / Meeting Nina's son

Note to my fellow transit riders: If someone is CLEARLY otherwise preoccupied (such as with READING A BOOK), you do NOT try engaging them in conversation! Just because I look up from my book to see where I am does NOT mean that I want to interact with people on the bus! I don't know what it is with stupid idiots these days, but I was unlucky enough to encounter one each on my rides to / from Metrotown. The girl on the way over to the mall noticed the book I was reading (the Book of Lists that Melissa's family got me for Christmas), and asked me about it from across the aisle. I ignored her, and then she hailed me at Starbucks in the mall from another table like we were the greatest of friends.... aiyoh!

Since Nina and I were sitting at one of the few tables there, I also ignored her and didn't suggest we move... luckily, she left soon afterwards. (Hello! I'm with SOMEONE ELSE having a tangerine frappuccino / chai latte! Obviously, I don't want to talk to others!) Then there was this old woman on the way home who wanted to know why I was playing with my hair... I contented myself with glaring at her and moving a few seats behind her so I wouldn't be bothered.

I'll post two more stories in their own posts tonight, one related and the other not. I just want to have them here in case the other place I put them shuts down or something. o_O


I just had to get that rant out of my system, heh. Aside from that, seeing Nina again was pretty good. I met her son Dylan, who was pretty cute and kinda shy. According to Nina, he'll warm up really well if he sees me a couple times more: maybe it's time to take her up on the invitation to come visit her place in Surrey, haha. I also met her mother when we were on the way to Starbucks to talk: she seems like a nice lady. (she hasn't been really out since a year ago because of Dylan's care, but now that his dad has him on Sundays from 10-5 and Wednesdays from 5-7, why not?) Nina and I talked about Terrence (from Singapore), Jon, Eric, and Steph teasing me about my upcoming birthday. At least I called Terry (Chung's friend) "old man" while giving him his birthday card yesterday, har har... the one and only time I'll get to do that!

Then we moved on to the topic of her ex, who seems out to get close to her again / doesn't understand joint custody agreements. Nina herself doesn't want to communicate with him (because of what he's done to her) except through writing, which is what the judge ordered and what she'll do. But he sent her a text message on her birthday, which she didn't like at all. Apparently, he also wants to take Dylan on overnighters before he's legally allowed to: he and her her brother Rick (who's the only one that will talk to him... their dad HATES him now!) spent half an hour arguing in her driveway once when he came to pick up the kid! Nina's family called her lawyer AND his lawyer, who upheld their position: he can't get her to pick up the kid / drop him off at his place! She wouldn't want to, anyhow... she won't worry about kidnapping, but knows it's a possibility which her family will fight for sure! Nina's just doing the access thing so that Dylan won't blame her when he's older for not having his father in his life: as long as he comes home happy and unhurt, that's all she cares about!

She's finished the first step in changing all her ID back to her maiden name, which reminds me that I need to renew my stuff too before my birthday! Nina asked when my birthday was, and remembered the surprise birthday party that my sister attempted to throw me in 2001. She thinks we ought to do something for my birthday, so we'll see. I told her where I was last night, and about Dragon Ball... the order number placards at Starbucks reminded me of the ones Dragon Ball has. She seems open to the idea of meeting my friends at church, though I'd never ask her to go against her culture! When I gave her the #18 Bathroom Reader, she seemed really happy to have it, and said that I didn't have to get her anything... but she did thank me again for calling to wish her a happy birthday! (hey, it's what I do!)

When I finally got home (getting off a 430 bus that I didn't need to get off in the first place since it changed to a 407), I had an MSN buzz from Candy. Wonder what she wants, but I'm not going to be too bothered by it, heh. Now I'm just talking to Corey and chilling... I called my parents just now, and they said they have to be at the hotel 15 minutes earlier tomorrow morning! Oh man... I seriously need my sleep, Bon's breakfast or not!!!

Laughable quotes from Bathroom Readers, Adelaide weekender, blog catch-up, blackened chicken salad

After successfully managing to catch up with everything (except journal comments, darn it!) in two hours or fewer, I am going to take a quick shower before I head to Metrotown on the bus to meet Nina. I've had some coffee, so I'm reasonably awake... I've also listened to some music, so it's all good. :D

Oh, and I also told Eric about the time that I hit Erika Fursevich over the head with a hockey stick. He was very surprised, but I thought he knew already! Let's just say that he doesn't think I should be given such a stick, particularly because they're much heavier than regular hockey sticks! ("That's like Marty McSorley with Donald Brashear, man! Suspension for life!" Heh, I was only suspended two days from Gr. 8 for that one... although her dad wanted to charge me, according to the (vice-) principal. Then the school called me up during that period to ask whether I was suspended or merely away... when I got back, my locker had been cleaned up as well. INVASION OF PRIVACY!!! Haha.

I forgot to mention this amusing exchange that I had on the way to Dragon Ball...

Eric: Go over to your parents' place while they're away on the Chinese bus tour. You can enjoy high-speed Internet!
Me: ... did you just say high-speed chicken?
Eric: *laughs* Uh, no... I said HIGH-SPEED INTERNET! I think you must have chicken on the brain, and not Dylan Lum or Eric Ho.
Me: ... sure, whatever you say. Chicken, yes... those guys, no.
(although that does remind me that I should update Eric Ho's blog for him about his birthday hangout, and link Nathan to it... maybe later!)

I need to find the page with quotes like these in one of my Bathroom Readers... for my own reference, of course. (5 computers as a world market?!)

Caught up on blogs: Jen has more stuff going on with a certain person, and wrote up her review of last week's potluck... good times, especially since she got a 23-cent raise because she's a fully-qualified barista now! (woo! take that, Starbucks!) Dave wonders what just happened with his life, but at least he can understand his computer. Steph says that Oct. 4 will be the end of her myopia... laser eye surgery, here she comes! Spoz has the normal weekender stuff going on in the Adelaide music scene: uni competitions, beer, crazy lunatics, someone throwing a cow heart onto a stack of beer glasses crashing toward the audience, tequila shots followed by tomato juice and tabasco, Kempy, stealing hats while the worse for wear from drinking, and more fun at the fast food place! Very interesting stuff, to be sure!


Applebee's Low-Fat Blackened Chicken Salad

Applebee's original Blackened Chicken Salad quickly became a favorite, encouraging this popular full-service chain to create a low-fat version of the delish dish. While most of the fat in the original comes from the tasty honey mustard dressing, this version creates a dressing that tastes just as good, yet has not a single gram of fat. Combine that with fresh lettuce, shredded carrot, a little egg white, non-fat shredded cheese, and a delicious Cajun spice blend which generously coats chicken seared in light butter then grilled, and you have a majorly munchable salad which is incredibly easy on the waistline. Who says you need gobs of fat to create a tasty meal?

Dressing
1/4 cup fat free mayonnaise
1/4 cup Grey Poupon Dijon mustard
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon prepared mustard
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/8 teaspoon paprika

Chicken Marinade
1 cup water
3 tablespoons lime juice
2 tablespoons soy sauce
1/2 tablespoon Worcestershire

Cajun Spice Blend
1/2 tablespoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon paprika
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
2 boneless, skinless chicken breast halves
2 tablespoons light butter

Salad
8 cups chopped iceberg lettuce
1/2 cup shredded red cabbage
1/2 cup shredded carrot
1/2 cup fat free shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup fat free shredded cheddar cheese
1 large tomato, diced
1 hardboiled egg white, diced

1. Make dressing by combining ingredients in a small bowl. Mix well by hand. Store in a covered container in the refrigerator until salad is ready.

2. Combine water, lime juice, soy sauce, and Worcestershire in a medium bowl, and stir. Add the chicken breasts to the marinade, cover bowl and keep in refrigerator for several hours. Overnight is even better.

3. When chicken is marinated, preheat a frying pan or skillet (an iron skillet, if you've got it) over medium / high heat. Also, preheat your barbecue grill to medium / high heat.

4. Combine the spices for the Cajun spice blend in a small bowl. Sprinkle a teaspoon of the spice blend over one side of each of the chicken breasts. Cover the entire surface of the chicken with spice.

5. Melt the butter in the hot pan, then sear the chicken breasts for 2-3 minutes on the side with the spices. While the first side cooks, sprinkle another teaspoon of spice over the top of each chicken breast, coating that side as you did the other. Flip the chicken over, and sear for another 2-3 minutes. The surface of the chicken will be coated with a charred, black layer of flavor. This is exactly what you are shooting for.

6. Finish the chicken off on your barbecue grill. Grill each breast on both sides for 2-3 minutes, or until they are done.

7. While the chicken is cooking, prepare the salads by splitting the lettuce between two large bowls. Toss in the red cabbage and carrots. Mix the cheeses together, then top the salads with the cheeses and hardboiled egg. Sprinkle the diced tomato on each salad.

8. Slice the chicken breast, across each breast in 1/2-inch-thick slices. Spread the chicken over the top of the salad and serve immediately with dressing on the side. Serves 2 as an entree.

Your Celebrity Boob Twin:

Angelina Jolie

Who's Your Celebrity Boob Twin?

Dreams with colorful playwheels, baby gifts, and Trine

I had a weird dream which involved my living in a rather large conference hall. There was an old lady who was behind me while we were walking down the stairs; since she was carrying several large colorful bowls, I offered to let her go in front of me. She did and thanked me for it, telling me to go back to my place and pick up the Richmond News that was in front of my screen door. So I did and put it behind my screen door so that nobody could touch it: the headline was about a new park in town.

When I went down the stairs again, there was a whole bunch of colorful playwheels to be used as a transportation method while people looked at all the huge overflowing displays! Baby food, chips, pudding snacks (which my mom stocked up on), baby shoes (my dad stocked up on those for some reason), mini water bottles (250mL instead of 500), books (which my brother went for), bike parts (Anthony and Phil went for those), baby bottles, etc. It was all very weird, especially when I saw my old Ferris / Palmer friend Trine Wildhagen and her mother. I had apparently sent her an email and told her to meet us in this huge room somewhere if she could find us, and she had.

She mentioned that she was living with David Soronow (another old Ferris / Palmer friend of mine) in Toronto because he'd broken up with a girlfriend and it was cheaper to share rent. My dad asked Trine's mom what her name was: Roxy! She looked like Shannon Norman's mom Alison, but Trine just looked like her 15-year-old self grown up a little. (they both wore green tops and had blond curly hair!) After that, Trine and I met up with David, Jon, Anthony, Phil, Megan, and a bunch of our other friends. We saw dolphins circling the water area in this room, so we decided to go relax on one of the floating circles in the water. I woke up soon afterwards, though! Got a YM buzz from Nina before 7:30 AM saying that she was sleeping when I called at 10:30 PM yesterday! Good thing I changed the time from 1 to 4 PM since I woke up at 12:15 (do I know myself, or what?), otherwise I wouldn't have a hope of making it on time at all! (all I have to do now is leave at 2:30-ish if I can stay awake... or maybe not even that, but we'll see with the Saturday bus schedules!)

"I *told* you that we were all related at church!"

Note: LJ Birthday Party blogquiz, by Lauren.


Despair... go forth and laugh! I've seen the artwork before, and love the humor!

I got to our meeting place before Eric did for once (here I thought I'd be late again!), and then decided to cackle at him all the way into Vancouver. We did talk about being crazy and the usual jokes before we got to church. I was hungry, so I went to have some Pho first. When I got back to the church, everyone was having fried chicken. My sister convinced me to have some raw carrots / cucumbers / cauliflower / cherry tomatoes. We even ate some of Eric's skin since he couldn't have it! (my sister was almost convinced that he'd go into anaphylactic shock over the fried chicken because of his health issues, heh)

During the course of dinner, Danielle learned that Rich and Karen Choo are related. Karen said something to Rich about how their mom thinks she's fat, and Danielle picked up on that: they have different fathers, but the same mother. A little bit later, she learned that Rich and Karen are related to Billy and Eddie... Rich and Karen's mom is Billy and Eddie's dad's sister. The things you learn! Steph also asked me whether I knew that it was Vanessa's boyfriend Pat's birthday today: yup, I did! Then I gave birthday cards to Erin... one for her, and one for her brother. (Darren's birthday is today too, as is Cindy and Fidela's... this is the birthday of a set of twins who used to go to our church too, Andrew and Brian)

Then we saw both Erin and Phil back from their respective trips. Erin will be going to L'Arche in Ottawa pretty soon to help with disabled people, too! I asked Jeremy about the dinner, and he confirmed. Jon said that there WAS no invitation: aiyoh! Steph says she loves Evites since you can tell WHO viewed it, and how many times it's been viewed by a specific person. I commented that we could have one of the dinners at my place, since it could fit 23 people. Sure, (almost) everything would have to be pre-cooked (I haven't used my oven lately, so I dunno whether it still works), but (Samurai) sushi would be a good choice! We'll see what happens with that... probably nothing, knowing certain people who are involved with this. :P

I passed some gum to Jon, but dropped it on the floor... Jeremy picked it up, though. Then Chung highlighted my contribution to the "church services" collage: "I find this one very interesting: the little things like picking up litter..." Oh man. I felt kinda weird about that! A while later, I went to use the church phone to see if I could contact Nina: the old one's been replaced by a larger one with huge buttons. You have to press "9," then the number you want to call... is this written anywhere on / near the phone?! No, of course not! Using that phone is NOT intuitive for me, heh. (you could try dialing the number without pressing "9," but then you get annoying beeping noises that sound like they come from a fax machine!)

After we all were educated on the new church building (reduced parking stalls! increased ceiling height! rooms for crying babies! a seven-million-dollar construction budget that we're going to stick with!), we had some popsicles and more food. I asked Dallas if he'd found a place yet and was in Richmond no longer: yup, and he'd moved two days ago to Oakridge. His room is pretty dark, though: apparently, you could go to sleep in the morning and not wake up because of the light! Ideal for me, but we later found out that the homestay place has a curfew: man, that sucks!

The "different" woman Teresa showed up, and she told Melia that she thought her boyfriend Angus was Jewish! (oh dear...) I went over to where Steph was telling Silvester, Mike, Citrus, Emily, and others about her laser eye surgery: it's not going to be $1650 per eye as was quoted to her at the first place she went. Instead, it'll be $2300-something for both... much better! (the surgeon is our former neighbors' father, and the consultant is their uncle... small world involving Jackie and Tracy Kirzner!) Of course, she did her part in finding out whether it was a scam or not: she put in the name of the place plus "scam" in Google. ;) Jeremy came up while she was telling us this, so I told him what was going on: he agreed that it was a sound policy! Mike twisted his ankle, so Emily was attempting to ice it: maybe his dad DOES have strong large hands, but they're unsure whether it would be a good idea to have him do something about it! (Citrus was going around with a video recorder later and getting people to say goodbye to Joe, so of course Mike had to highlight that on his farewell message!)

After we left the church (picking up some boxes of leftover fried chicken on the way... bad for Phil's high blood pressure!), a bunch of us went to Dragon Ball and watched / played Big Two. Jon remembered that I owed him a bubble tea from that karaoke thing, but maybe next time! (I have like $15 to last me till Wednesday!) We also read some magazines that they had after grabbing a table from people who were leaving: we're like vultures, man! I got the avocado-mango combo with coconut jelly (Jeremy's right: it IS good!), Jon got tofu-longan with half pearls / half coconut jelly / half the sugar, Dallas got honeydew (boring!), and Jeremy got kiwi with mango bits. Jon was disappointed when they didn't have any starfruit, and didn't know when they'd have it again! ("it's the best!") Phil talked about his church in Texas and BB guns, while my sister and I looked at the Chinese magazine and its ads. (Omega may be true love, but that ring looks UGLY! Let's not get into dots covering certain body parts, either!)

On the way home, Steph mentioned that she had to get up at 6:30 tomorrow because she's accompanying Mom on a Sears SuperSale trip at 7. Then she's going to Splashdown Park with the Timothy girls, since the Timothy guys are doing their camp this weekend. Jon's doing PNE work tomorrow, and I'm apparently still meeting Nina tomorrow at 4 at Metrotown. (she'd left me a YM buzz, which I got when I arrived home... that means I better sleep soon in order to be awake!) We made plans for a Bon's breakfast on Sunday morning after she drops our parents off at a hotel for a Chinese bus tour: it's going to be so EARLY (8:10 AM?!), and then we'll have a dinner which will go till late! Sometimes I wish we didn't go out so much on Fridays / Sundays now because I need time to update on Net stuff and to relax! But I guess it's okay as long as I get that time in, haha. I'm out too much and wish I could put in the proper time required to keep up with my online life!

Children, Australia, elevators, and so much more!

Thank goodness for autosaves, since my browser crashed when I was touching this one up! Now, to see if I can actually get the bus on time! (probably not, but it never hurts to try...)

Here's a 50-question survey from Amy, via Myspace bulletin:

1. What are your siblings' middle names? Chi Fung and Chi Ying.

2. Where is your dad right now? At church, working as the church administrator.

3. What was the last thing you said? "See you later."

4. What is something you've learned about yourself recently? That I can't enjoy other people's happiness.. not good.

5. What color is your watch? Brown with diamond-like bling.

6. What do you think of when you think of Australia? Spoz, Steve, Neo...

7. When was the last time you felt down? Last night.

8. Who is the last person you liked? No comment. :P

9. Are you close to your mom? Not really!

10. Where does your best friend work? If she's still working at the same place she was when she ended the friendship, Wonderbucks.

11. What's the craziest flavor of instant noodles you've ever come across? Chicken satay, pepper crab, and tom yam. Brilliant champion stuff!

12. Have you ever wanted to learn how to breakdance? No, because I have coordination / balance issues. :P

13. Do you like classic rock? Yes, it's great!

14. Do you have a roommate? Nope.

15. What color is your bedroom flooring? Tan-brown.

16. Do you have a chair in your room? Yup.

17. What time of day were you born? Around 9:30 PM.

18. Do you know anyone who is engaged? Not right now... they all got married.

19. What's your favorite number(s)? 12.

20. Do you know anyone named Laurie? No.

21. What color is your mom's hair? Black.

22. Do you have a dog? No.

23. Where did you live in 1987? Richmond.

24. What happened to you in 1993? Grade 11.

25. Does your first memory remind you of your dad? I guess so.

26. Do you remember singing any songs as a kid? Yeah.

27. When was the last time you went swimming? Quite some time ago.

28. Has your luggage ever gotten lost? No.

29. When was the last time you talked to one of your siblings? I talked to both of them last night.

30. Did you ever go to camp as a kid? Yeah... Camp Sasamat in the summer!

31. Do you play an instrument? Used to play piano and clarinet.

32. Have you ever thought it would be cool to smash a guitar? Yeah... my brother just did that over Summer Conference weekend. :D

33. Do you like fire? Yup, but not in the pyromaniac way.

34. Where is your best friend from? The Philippines.

35. Are you allergic to anything? Not that I know of.

36. When was the last time you cried? A few days ago, from yawning.

37. What kind of shampoo do you use? Lots of different kinds, but not all at once!

38. What happened to you in 1997? Besides EEA at Kwantlen and Peers Camp at Camp Sasamat through the Vancouver Neurological Centre, I'm not entirely sure! Peggy Ho Yuen (counsellor), Lauren Jernigan, Michael Wittman (in wheelchair and with little brother named Stefan), Catherine Morris, Jeff (Michael's helper who had diabetes), Sara Metcalf, Lynn Leong (social worker), Nina Sahota, Shannon Norman (in wheelchair), Yazmine Loquia, Fiona Gardner, Virginia (a WHITE girl with that name who was Shannon's helper), Larry Koopman (social worker), Reid Johnston (career counsellor), Glenn Miller, and I were all part of the Peers crew. The EEA crew included Paul Daigle, Rick Duck, David Betlem (who totally looked like Geddy Lee of Rush fame), Yolanta Cohen, Jannie Chow, Jennifer Lunot-Tucker, Collette Mansfield, and me. (but not Janet Dio, Tony Friesen, Caron Bernstein, Elizabeth Magee, Paul Grewal, and Suanne Kiges... they were part of the other hospital program in 1998)

39. Are you popular? Not in the least, but I guess reasonably so... I feel like a tagalong much of the time, however!

40. Did you take science all five years of high school? Well, I had to take Science in Grades 8 to 10... and I had to take a science elective (Chemistry) in Gr. 11. I stayed away from it in Gr. 12, so the short answer to this question is "no."

41. Do you like butterflies? They're all right, I guess. This question reminds me that I told someone I'd try to get butterfly stickers for her... I think it was little Rachel Tso from the toddler Sunday School.

42. What is the last book you read? Ann Rule's Worth More Dead, No, I am not morbid.

43. Do you like Coke or Pepsi more? Coke.

44. What is one thing you miss about your past? Eh, being able to interact with certain people.

45. Did you ever see the school nurse? Yeah, I did.

46. Have you ever wanted to be a teacher? Yeah, when I was a kid. Now, I don't know.

47. What is one thing you've learned about your life recently? That it can be very unpredictable.

48. Are you jealous of anyone? Yup, for sure.

49. Is anyone jealous of you? Not to my knowledge.

50. When was the last time you were in an elevator? Last week.

Fellowship transportation, Sunday dinner email, fall fashion, and change

Eric got on MSN this afternoon to ask how I'd like to get to Fellowship tonight. Uh-oh... he's going early for worship practice again and leaves at 6! From past experience with the Cambie / Jacombs thing, I'll have to leave at 5-ish if I want to have any hope of getting there around that time. (the Translink site says it takes 20 minutes, but I don't trust it now!) Looks like Pho for dinner tonight: sure, I could go to the "Church's Chicken and healthy stuff" dinner, but I don't feel like it.

Sex headaches... I always knew sex had side effects, but nothing like THIS! o_O

Steph forwarded me the email that Jon sent to her, Dallas, Jeremy, Eric, Nathan, Justin C., Bryant, Dawn, Jen, Alan ("aquan" is not "Aqua N."!), Christon, Kevin, Erin, Brian, Sean, Vivian, Andrew, Andrea, Citrus, Danielle, Justin L., Phil, and someone else I can't identify by their email address. I still don't know if I'm going or not because he didn't invite me. We'll see if I get an official invite or not. That's something I'm firm on. Brothers!

Hey folks. For those of you who are confused by the subject heading of this e-mail [Sunday dinners], here's the explanation. Starting this January while I was still in Toronto, my fellowship began meeting on Sundays to cook and eat dinner together (we went to Smokeless Joe on the other Sundays). It started out as something small and unofficial, but began taking a life of its own as more and more people joined in to leisurely talk and eat with each other, the result being not only a greater appreciation for food, but also greater depth of friendship and bonds within the fellowship. All in all, good, even great things, and I fondly look back on these parties as amongst the best memories I'll have of Toronto (I'm sure Dallas will agree with me on this). I've seen the "younger" members of Daniel Fellowship start this process as well, as they've hung out more often this summer, and I can see them becoming closer, which gives me great joy.

So we're going to try doing dinner parties in Vancouver. Don't worry if you can't make it this week, we'll be doing them more frequently, I'd say at least every other week. This week we'll be at Jeremy's, and he can comfortably seat 10-12 people. Let's say we'll start at around 6:30PM. Just let me know if you're coming. I'll send out an address and directions later on in the week.

The tentative menu:

Singapore Hainanese Chicken
Moutarde Mussels: A favorite of just about everyone who went to Smokeless Joe (say, about 2/3rds of my fellowship, or about 25 people)
Vegetable stir-fry of some sort
rice
Lamb (maybe): Dallas might attempt this
tea / cheese / beer / wine: Can't guarantee on the cheese or wine, but I know Jer has lots of tea and homebrew!!!

Menu might change depending on the whims of the cooks and the # of people attending.

Thanks again. If you're leaving town soon, it'd be great if you could drop by.

Jon

This Fall, You Should Wear a Wrap Dress

You've got the attitude to wear a body-hugging, slightly boyish dress like this one. Pair your wrap dress with some sexy heels to femme it up a bit.

What Fall Fashion Trend Should You Try?

I may have the attitude for this, but I don't have the BODY for it! o_O

You've Changed 60% in 10 Years

You've done a good job changing with the times, but deep down, you're still the same person. Your clothes, job, and friends may have changed some - but it hasn't changed you.

How Much Have You Changed in 10 Years?

Parental vacation plans / Being left out of the loop / Asian Chicken Salad

I called my mom earlier to see about their vacation plans: apparently, they're going to Yellowstone Park and Mount Rushmore, and will be gone a week in total. She wanted to get me some crosswords or word searches, but I already have a huge book of word searches. Even if I didn't, I think that type of gift from a trip is kinda lame. :P So then she said she'd get me a book on murders since I like that stuff: that's better. Then she brought up some "Sunday Dinner" thing that my brother's organizing, and that I didn't know about. ("But he told me your name when I asked who'd be there!") So then I called my sister: Apparently, the potluck at Jen's this past Sunday made such an impression on my brother that he decided that it would be good to do one every week at someone's place. According to my sister (who told Eric about the email I'd sent her involving death in the shower :P), the inaugural one is at Jeremy's this Sunday. (I'll talk to him tomorrow night, I guess) Then the next one is slated for his place since our parents won't be there.

How nice of my brother to say this when I called him to ask how he dared not to tell me anything: "I know you're free and not doing anything, so I don't need to bother you. I know you're coming anyhow. Besides, I don't have your up-to-date email address, only your Graffiti one... not sure if it's .com or .ca" Whatever! I like being in the loop, no matter what! (BS excuse, since he's been emailing me at that address for years now!) Then I said that if anyone surprised me for my birthday (which is on a Sunday), I'd kill them! Nobody can surprise him since he'd find out about it. Then I hung up on him before he could do the same to me because of my weird mishearing of "you're turning the big 3-0" as something about tartar sauce. (It's editing these recipes, I tell you! Should be done tonight before I go to bed, however...)

Eh, I think I'll talk to Jeremy tomorrow... then see how much of the six bottles of liquor Jon bought is for that thing. Stupid excuse... I should just not go (citing that as the reason why) and see how he reacts, haha. This is not good... I need my downtime! However, friend time is good too in a way. Eh, I guess I'll figure it out... brothers! *grumble*

Edit at 2:50 AM - I *finally* finished this MAJOR DAYS-LONG edit of a bunch of recipes! (I managed to shrink the 362-page document down to 218 pages! YAY, ME!)


Applebee's Low-Fat Asian Chicken Salad

As the seasons change, so does the menu at this popular 1064-unit casual restaurant chain. You'll find this item in the "Low-Fat and Fabulous" column during the summer months where it's been a favorite since 1997. As with any salad, the waistline violator is the traditionally fat-filled dressing that's drizzled in gobs over the top of very healthy greens (a tablespoon of dressing is usually around 10-12 grams of fat each).

So if we can just figure out a cool way to make the dressing fat-free, we're well on our way to making huge salads - four of them to be exact - with only 12 grams of fat on the entire plate. Most of those grams come from the chicken breast, while the crunchy chow mein noodles pick up the rest. Just be sure to plan ahead when you make this one. The chicken should marinate for a few hours if you want it to taste like the original. Get ready for some big, meal-size salads.

1 cup teriyaki marinade
4 chicken breast fillets

Fat-Free Asian Dressing
2 cups water
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3 tablespoons dry pectin
1 tablespoon white vinegar
1/2 teaspoon soy sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/4 teaspoon paprika

8 cups chopped romaine lettuce
8 cups chopped iceberg lettuce
3 cups shredded red cabbage
3 cups shredded green cabbage
2 cups shredded carrots
1 cup chopped green onion
1 1/3 cups crispy chow mein noodles

1. Combine teriyaki marinade and chicken breasts in a medium bowl or resealable plastic bag. Marinate chicken for 3-4 hours.
2. Prepare the dressing by combining all of the ingredients in a small saucepan over medium heat. Bring mixture to a rolling boil while stirring often with a whisk, then remove the pan from the heat to cool. When dressing has cooled, pour it into a covered container and chill.
3. When chicken breasts have marinated, preheat barbecue grill to high heat. Grill chicken for 3-4 minutes per side, or until done.
4. Combine the romaine and iceberg lettuce, red and green cabbage and 1 cup of shredded carrots in a large bowl with the dressing. Toss well.
5. Divide the tossed greens among four plates. Sprinkle 1/4 cup of green onions over each salad, followed by 1/3 cup of crispy chow mein noodles.
6. When the chicken breasts are done, slice each one, widthwise, into bite-size pieces. Sprinkle the sliced chicken breasts over each salad.
7. Place a 1/4 cup pile of shredded carrots in the center of each salad.

Nutrition Facts
Serving size - 1 salad
Total servings - 4
Fat (per serving) - 12g
Calories (per serving) - 575

Bananaberry Freeze / Freshman Year: The Survey

Applebee's Bananaberry Freeze

Ah, if only kitchen cloning was an exact science. While working on this one, I saw the same bartender make the drink two different ways on two different days. Only after a firm grilling did I get her admitting to her personal "improvement" to the chain's secret recipe. The official clone includes the ingredients found below. But if you want to add a little pineapple juice -- as some independent-thinking bartenders are apt to do -- you might discover you have indeed created a tastier version of this refreshing smoothie. On that day, the cloning gods shall be looking the other way. But, for heaven's sake, be sure your banana is soft and ripe. This is a detail the gods won't ignore.

1 10-ounce box frozen sweetened sliced strawberries, thawed
1/3 cup pina colada mix
2 cups ice
2 ripe bananas

Garnish
whipped cream
2 fresh strawberries

1. Use a blender to puree the entire contents of the thawed box of frozen strawberries.
2. Add 1/3 cup pina colada mix and 2 cups of ice to the blender.
3. Cut the end off the bananas -- set these pieces aside to use later as a garnish -- then put the bananas into the blender.
4. Blend on high speed until the ice is crushed and the drink is smooth. Pour into two tall stemmed glasses, such as daiquiri glasses.
5. Slice each strawberry halfway up through the middle and add one to the rim of each glass.
6. Cut each banana slice halfway through the middle and add one to the rim of each glass next to the strawberry. Top with whipped cream and serve with a straw. Makes 2 servings.


Here's a freshman year survey from Amy, via Myspace bulletin:

Try to remember your freshman year and answer the questions. :)

1. Who was your best friend? Didn't have one.

2. What kind of car did you want? Didn't care.

3. Where were you on Friday nights? Probably at home.

4. Were you a party animal? HAHAHA, yeah right!

5. Were you considered a flirt? See above.

6. Ever skip school? Maybe a couple of times.

7. Still attend that school? Nope!

8. Were you a nerd? Not really.

9. Did you get suspended / expelled? Yes... I was suspended for two days because I hit Erika Fursevich over the head with a field hockey stick. (the funniest part about that was when the school called me at home to see whether I was sick or suspended!)

10. Can you sing the Alma Mater? The what?!

11. Who were your favorite teachers? Mr. Fromager and Mr. Raddysh.

12. Favorite class: Band or English.

13. What was your school's full name? Robert C. Palmer Junior High School.

14. School mascot? Not sure we had one.

15. Did you go to Homecoming? N/A.

16. If you could go back to freshman year and do it over, would you? Not unless you paid me a lot of money!

17. What do you remember most about freshman year? Leanne Giroux bugging me all the time at lunch.

18. Favorite memory of your freshman year? Band class.

19. Were you ever beat up by an upperclassman? No, although the Grade 10s bugged me all the time.

20. Did you have a job your freshman year? No.

21. Who did you date? Nobody.

22. Where did you eat most often for lunch? In the halls.

23. Have you gained weight since then? Yes.

24. What did you do after school? Went home and watched TV with my sibs / Eric / whoever else was around. Ah, Saved By The Bell and Full House...

25. When are you supposed to graduate? HA, I DID THAT A LONG TIME AGO!

Wasting 44% of my summer, the quick and dirty career test, crappy greeting card I'll receive

Here's a survey / quiz post!

Let's see how much of your summer you wasted. Put an "X" if it applies to you.

[] went to your school for any reason
[] had a job
[x] read a book
[] looked through your homework from last year
[] babysat
total: 1

[x] went on Myspace
[] looked through your textbooks for next year
[x] woke up before 11 AM
[x] went to bed before 11 PM
[x] stayed in your house for 24 hours
total: 4

[] got sick
[] broke a bone
[] started studying for next year
[] went to Grandma's house
[] were involved in a summer club
total: 0

[x] did NOT go on vacation
[x] did NOT go to a festival
[x] did NOT go to a theme park (Six Flags, Disney World)
[x] did NOT go to a concert
[] did NOT hang out with your friends
total: 4

[x] did NOT go swimming in a pool
[] did NOT go to a party
[x] did NOT do anything for the 4th of July Canada Day
[] did NOT go to a lake
[] did NOT go to a BBQ
total: 2

TOTAL SCORE: 11

Multiply your total score by 4 to get your percentage. Repost this as "I wasted __% of my summer break." 44% here.

Your Career Personality: Flexible, Good-Natured, and Energetic

Your Ideal Careers: Actor Dog walker Elementary school teacher Fashion designer Interior decorator Fundraiser Musician Personal shopper Veterinarian Wedding planner

The Quick and Dirty Career Test

I miss you - please help me bust out of jail. Love, Marvin the Martian

'What crappy greeting card will you receive?' at QuizGalaxy.com

	You are 33% messed up. You are secretly messed up. Most people probably couldn't tell, but you are messed up beneath your calm appearance. You are likely to plan elaborate schemes and be the instigator in events - so you can keep your messed-up nature a secret.
'How messed up are you?' at QuizGalaxy.com

What ringtone suits your personality?

Mission Impossible

'What ringtone suits your personality?' at QuizGalaxy.com

	Your super-secret codename is: SEE ILL
	Your mission is... Rendez-Vous with Bond and kill him
'What is your codename and mission?' at QuizGalaxy.com

Using your mouth Your sexual hidden talent is your ability to use your mouth. You are incredibly sensual, a great kisser, and a seductive lover. You drive all of your partners crazy with your mouth. Take this quiz at QuizUniverse.com

Projectile Booty Nuggets, weed for little kids, parental vacation, Canada flags, robots, and ninjas

HAHAHAHA... I just heard about a band named Projectile Booty Nuggets! So hilarious! Such an awesome name! :D

Auntie Rebecca emailed us about the last summer Awana program. She made a typo that I thought was amusing: "this weed's program is especially important to attract them to continue to attend our church... there will be much more comers for this special weekend." I dunno about "comers," but okay... the typo's funny, if nothing else. :P (yes, the program is all about weed and how to give it to the little kids... well, no... I'm joking, since I don't advocate that at all, dude!)

My sister just emailed me to let me know that our parents will be on vacation this coming week... they're leaving on Sunday, but she doesn't know when they'll be back coz it doesn't affect her. She's going on the Mexico missions trip which starts next Friday (Aug. 25) and ends on the third of September (a Sunday). She has to drive them to the hotel they have be at on Sunday at 8 AM. I guess she isn't "sleeping in" on Sunday till the time when she has to get ready to be at church, heh. Apparently, the parents are joining another Chinese bus tour (hahaha): the bus will depart from Richmond and will cross the States until they arrive in Toronto and then they'll fly back. And here I thought my parents couldn't afford another vacation... oh well, at least I am informed!

Here are four pictures: the first one is a cool Canadian flag graphic that my friend Sarah G. (Tonks) has on her signature at a message board. The other three are three of Corey's kiddy pictures that he sent me over ICQ once. One is a self-designed Halloween "Robot of Death" costume, and the other two are of his Ninja costume. His classmate Brittany apparently liked the first one a lot, and he won a prize for it in class, heh.

Cool Canadian flag graphic:


Corey's self-designed "robot of death" costume, and Brittany:




Two ninjas:




Corey as a ninja:

Your Celebrity Baby Name Is...

Iris Rose

What's Your Celebrity Baby Name?

Zodiac qualities

I have no idea what half of this means and I don't really believe in astrology, but I thought these zodiac qualities would be good to just plonk in here. :D
Reminds me of the Zodiac Condoms post, too... hahaha. :D

ARIES

Ruler: Mars
Element: Fire
Mode: Cardinal
Pole: Positive
Third: Primordial
Half: Subjective

Unbridled expression of your inner nature; activity that is self-motivated, unaffected by others; new beginnings, the start of new cycles, birth; enthusiasm and vitality.

Aggressive, willful, powerful, assertive; enthusiastic about whatever interests you at the moment, focused in short bursts, unlikely to sustain interest in the long term; ego expression; adventurous, pioneering; Warrior-type energy; impatient with having to cooperate with others, works best alone or in leadership role; unconcerned with approval or acceptance; lacks persistence and stamina; honest and forthright, "what you see is what you get," not given to airs or pretenses; the first expression (or incarnation) of spirit within a new cycle on the physical plane.

************
TAURUS

Ruler: Venus
Element: Earth
Mode: Fixed
Pole: Negative
Third: Primordial
Half: Subjective

Grounding, bringing down to earth; constancy, steadiness, fixedness; spirit becoming embodied, entering matter, taking on a form; a vessel or container for spiritual forces.

Earthy, grounded, in touch with the body; sensual, pleasure seeking; stubborn, fixed, stands their ground; focuses and concentrates energy, gives it concrete expression, practical, provides stamina and persistence; slow, steady, methodical; fertile, productive; unreflective, content to simply be; spirit becoming involved with the material world.

************
GEMINI

Ruler: Mercury
Element: Air
Mode: Mutable
Pole: Positive
Third: Primordial
Half: Subjective

Curiosity, cleverness, skill, communication; making connections with surroundings, trying to "figure things out;" the first display of intelligence by embodied spirit.

Talkative ("a Gemini is born with a telephone in each hand!"), communicative, sociable; loves to interact with others (at least on a superficial level); unemotional, impersonal, ruled by "rationality;" requires great mental stimulation, curious to a fault; playful, the Trickster, the Devil's Advocate; changeable, inconstant, attention easily drifts to something new, seeks novelty.

************
CANCER

Ruler: Moon
Element: Water
Mode: Cardinal
Pole: Negative
Third: Primordial
Half: Subjective

Nurturing, support, belonging, emotional bonds; your roots, source, ground of your being; the unconscious, feelings, emotion; the Great Mother, Universal Womb; spirit's first emotional attachments to the world.

Mothering, emotional and physical nurturance; experiences and imprinting during infancy and childhood; family, ancestors, heritage, relationships to the past; belonging, feeling "at home;" maternal love, caring; feeling supported by the world, that your needs are provided for; insecurities and fears if your needs haven't been fulfilled; possessiveness, "twisted love," inability to nurture others are negative expressions

************
LEO

Ruler: Sun
Element: Fire
Mode: Fixed
Pole: Positive
Third: Individual
Half: Subjective

Spirit entering the realm of the individual person; ego development, setting yourself apart from the rest of the world, becoming your own person; self-expression, being true to your inner nature, acting from the heart; dawning awareness of self in relation to others.

Ego, self-centered, arrogant; fixed, stubborn, persistent; artistic or creative expression as a vehicle for revealing "who I am;" needs to be a center of attention, requires acknowledgment and approval, likes to be noticed and appreciated ("ego-strokes"); personal integrity, true to self, honorable, trustworthy; kingly, self-assured, confident.

************
VIRGO

Ruler: Mercury
Element: Earth
Mode: Mutable
Pole: Negative
Third: Individual
Half: Subjective

Embodiment of the individual in the world; problems of adjustment dealing with the world and others; perfection of your approach to life, development of mundane skills; ability to change to adapt to life better.

Service, helping, self-effacing; perfectionist, always seeking to improve, efficiency; practical, functional, interested in crafts and projects; true to self in a simple, unassuming manner; reacts to defeats and setbacks by pulling back and altering approach, lacks confidence in the face of opposition; lives up to duties and responsibilities; interested in maintaining the body as a fit vehicle; diet, exercise, herbs, etc.; aware of conflicts with others, of the give and take required by life.

************
LIBRA

Ruler: Venus
Element: Air
Mode: Cardinal
Pole: Positive
Third: Individual
Half: Objective

Spirit as individual entering into relationship with others; partnership, one-to-one relationships, meeting others as an equal, interdependency; encountering repressed parts of yourself through others (via projection); going beyond ego boundaries; peace, harmony, balance; social awareness.

Partners, marriage; learning how to get along peaceably with others, treating others as equals; "I vs. You," conflict, enemies; art, beauty, harmonious surroundings; distressed by stressful, inharmonious interactions; intimacy; people in counseling professions.

************
SCORPIO

Ruler: Pluto
Element: Water
Mode: Fixed
Pole: Negative
Third: Individual
Half: Objective

Transformation, change, ego-death, rebirth, transcendence; intense emotional involvement with the process of personal growth; movement from individual certainties to the "mysteries of life;" spirit breaking through the limitations of individual ego.

Intense, passionate, brooding, magnetic; stubborn, unyielding, driven by emotions; stands up for self, usually covertly, manipulates power; understands deeper layers of the psyche beyond the ego, unable to communicate this well leading to misunderstandings; intrigued by the "dark side" of life; the underground, people whose job involves going beneath surface appearances; sexuality, especially the transformative power of the orgasm; self-mastery, breaking free of illusory limitations, the Hero.

************
SAGITTARIUS

Ruler: Jupiter
Element: Fire
Mode: Mutable
Pole: Positive
Third: Universal
Half: Objective

Spirit moving beyond the realm of the individual into the world at large; becoming a member of a wider society; experiences that lead to consciousness expansion, being receptive to new points of view, wisdom, enlightenment; using your talents for the benefit of the greater whole.

Freedom loving, idealist, unfettered by "small thinking;" inspiration; religion, philosophy, the law; awareness of your connections to the rest of the world; can be distant from others, afraid to give up freedom, reluctant to be tied down; on the other hand, aware of the value of the social contract; enthusiastic, gregarious, generous; loves abstract, theoretical ideas, sees the big picture, ignores the details; in love with an ideal; foreign travel, liberating experiences.

************
CAPRICORN

Ruler: Saturn
Element: Earth
Mode: Cardinal
Pole: Negative
Third: Universal
Half: Objective

Spirit's attempt to bring about the perfect society, to create heaven on earth; making practical, efficient connections with others on the physical plane; ambitious, feels pride in accomplishments; concern with truth, reality, "hard facts;" relationship to authority.

Serious, determined, disciplined, focused; needs to play more; fathering, disciplining love; authority figures; seeks certainties in life, wants things "cast in concrete;" the Businessman, concerned with the practical relationships to support yourself within society; not interested in "blue sky" ideas, needs to bring theory into concrete reality; "knowing the rules and playing the game;" making a niche in the world.

************
AQUARIUS

Ruler: Uranus
Element: Air
Mode: Fixed
Pole: Positive
Third: Universal
Half: Objective

Spirit's attempt to create ideal relationships and organizations, based on freedom and cooperation between individuals; free-thinking, unorthodox, not shackled by outdated ideology; the perfection of society.

Even though ideas are often far-sighted, they can be held and expressed in rigid, dogmatic fashion (this is a fixed sign, after all!); "everyone should be free to be just like me!"; idealistic, Utopian; derives sense of identity from groups and their goals, tends to dominate them; impersonal thinking, detached from emotional considerations; produces "humanitarian without compassion;" friendships based on common goal.

************
PISCES

Ruler: Neptune
Element: Water
Mode: Mutable
Pole: Negative
Third: Universal
Half: Objective

Surrender to the universe, to higher goals; ego sacrifice; compassion and empathy, selfless work; seeing the unity of all things; the ends of cycles, forming "seeds" for the next cycle of growth; spirit as individual dissolving back into pure spirit.

Mysticism, escape into the One; sees the unity, fails to make "normal" distinctions, often weak ego; victim, martyr, servant; tends to escapism, fantasy, drugs (especially alcohol), religion; very receptive, sensitive, even psychic; co-dependency, care-taking; withdrawn from the world; release from the world

************


Thanks, Darren Lau...


JANUARY BABY
Pretty / handsome. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt. Sensitive. Down-to-earth. Stubborn. Repost this in five minutes, and you will meet someone new in eight days that will perfectly balance your personality.

FEBRUARY BABY
Abstract thoughts. Loves reality and abstract. Intelligent and clever. Changing personality. Attractive. Sexiest out of everyone. Temperamental. Quiet, shy, and humble. Honest and loyal. Determined to reach goals. Loves freedom. Rebellious when restricted. Loves aggressiveness. Too sensitive and easily hurt. Gets angry really easily, but does not show it. Dislikes unnecessary things. Loves making friends, but rarely shows it. Horny. Daring and stubborn. Ambitious. Realizing dreams and hopes. Sharp. Loves entertainment and leisure. Romantic on the inside, not outside. Superstitious and ludicrous. Spendthrift. Tries to learn to show emotions. Repost this in five minutes, and you will talk to someone new and realize that you are a perfect match.

MARCH BABY
Attractive personality. Sexy. Affectionate, shy, and reserved. Secretive. Naturally honest, generous, and sympathetic. Loves peace and serenity. Sensitive to others. Great kisser. Easily angered. Trustworthy. Appreciative and returns kindness. Hardly shows emotions. Tends to bottle up feelings. Observant and assesses others. If you repost this in the next five minutes, you will meet your new love in eight days.

APRIL BABY
Suave and compromising. Funny and humorous. Stubborn. Very talkative. Calm and cool. Kind and sympathetic. Concerned and detailed. Loyal. Does work well with others. Very confident. Sensitive. Positive Attitude. Thinking generous. Good memory. Clever and knowledgeable. Loves to look for information. Able to cheer everyone up and / or make them laugh. Able to motivate oneself and others. Understanding. Fun to be around. Outgoing. Hyper. Bubbly personality. Secretive. Boy / girl crazy. Loves sports, music, leisure, and traveling. Systematic. Hot, but has brains. If you repost this in five minutes, a cutie that's caught your eye will introduce themselves, and you will realize that you are very much alike in the next two days.

MAY BABY
Stubborn and hard-hearted. Strong-willed and highly motivated. Sharp thoughts. Easily angered. Attracts others and loves attention. Deep feelings. Beautiful physically and mentally. Firm standpoint. Needs no motivation. Shy towards opposite sex. Easily consoled. Systematic (left brain). Loves to dream. Strong clairvoyance. Understanding. Sickness usually in the ear and neck. Good imagination. Good physical. Weak breathing. Loves literature and the arts. Loves traveling. Dislike being at home. Restless. Not having many children. Hardworking. High-spirited. If you repost this in the next five minutes, you will become close to someone you do not speak to much in the next four days.

JUNE BABY
You've got the best personality, and are an absolute pleasure to be around. You love to make new friends and be outgoing. You are a great flirt, and more than likely have an a very attractive partner. a wicked hottie. It is also more than likely that you have a massive record collection. You have a great choice in films, and may one day become a famous actor / actress yourself - heck, you've got the looks for it!!! In the next six days, you will meet someone that may possibly become one of your closest friends if you repost this in five minutes.

JULY BABY
Fun to be with. Secretive. Difficult to fathom and to be understood. Quiet unless excited or tensed. Takes pride in oneself. Has reputation. Easily consoled. Honest. Concerned about people's feelings. Tactful. Friendly. Approachable. Emotional temperamental and unpredictable. Moody and easily hurt. Witty and sparkly. Spazzy at times. Not revengeful. Forgiving, but never forgets. Dislikes nonsensical and unnecessary things. Guides others physically and mentally. Sensitive and forms impressions carefully. Caring and loving. Treats others equally. Strong sense of sympathy. Wary and sharp. Judges people through observations. Hardworking. No difficulties in studying. Loves to be alone. Always broods about the past and the old friends. Waits for friends. Never looks for friends. Not aggressive unless provoked. Loves to be loved. Easily hurt, but takes long to recover. Repost this in the next five minutes, and your reputation will boost in some way in the next twelve days.

AUGUST BABY
Outgoing personality. Takes risks. Feeds on attention. No self-control. Kind-hearted. Self-confident. Loud and boisterous. VERY revengeful. Easy to get along with and talk to. Has an "everything's peachy" attitude. Likes talking and singing. Loves music. Daydreamer. Easily distracted. Hates not being trusted. BIG imagination. Loves to be loved. Hates studying. In need of "that someone." Longs for freedom. Rebellious when withheld or restricted. Lives by "no pain no gain" caring. Always a suspect. Playful. Mysterious. "Charming" or "beautiful" to everyone. Stubborn. Curious. Independent. Strong-willed. A fighter. Repost in five minutes, and you will meet the love of your life sometime next month.

SEPTEMBER BABY
Active and dynamic. Decisive and hasty, but tends to regret. Attractive and affectionate to oneself. Strong mentality. Loves attention. Diplomatic. Consoling, friendly, and solves people's problems. Brave and fearless. Adventurous. Loving and caring. Suave and generous. Usually, you have many friends. Enjoys to make love. Emotional. Stubborn. Hasty. Good memory. Moving, motivates oneself and others. Loves to travel and explore. Sometimes sexy in a way that only their lover can understand. If you do not repost this in the next five minutes, someone very close to you will become mad at you in the next eight days.

OCTOBER BABY
Loves to chat. Loves those who love them. Loves to takes things at the center. Inner and physical beauty. Lies, but doesn't pretend. Gets angry often. Treats friends importantly. Brave and fearless. Always making friends. Easily hurt, but recovers easily. Daydreamer. Opinionated. Does not care to control emotions. Unpredictable. Extremely smart, but definitely the hottest AND sexiest of them all. Repost this in five minutes, or you will not meet the love of your life for ten years.

NOVEMBER BABY
Trustworthy and loyal. Very passionate and dangerous. Wild at times. Knows how to have fun. Sexy and mysterious. Everyone is drawn towards your inner and outer beauty and independent personality. Playful, but secretive. Very emotional and temperamental sometimes. Meets new people easily, and very social in a group. Fearless and independent. Can hold their own. Stands out in a crowd. Essentially very smart. Usually, the greatest men are born in this month. If you ever begin a relationship with someone from this month, hold on to them because they're one of a kind. Repost in five minutes, and you will excel in a major event coming up sometime this month.

DECEMBER BABY
This straight-up means you are the most good-looking person possible... Better than all of these other months! Loyal and generous. Patriotic. Competitive in everything. Active in games and interactions. Impatient and hasty. Ambitious. Influential in organizations. Fun to be with. Easy to talk to, though hard to understand. Thinks far with vision, yet complicated to know. Easily influenced by kindness. Polite and soft-spoken. Has lots of ideas. Sensitive. Active mind. Hesitating, tends to delay. Choosy and always wants the best. Temperamental. Funny and humorous. Loves to joke. Good debating skills. Has that someone always on his / her mind. Talkative. Daydreamer. Friendly. Knows how to make friends. Abiding. Able to show character. One guy / girl kind of person. Loveable. Easily hurt. Prone to getting colds. Loves music. Pretty / handsome. Loves to dress up. Easily bored. Fussy. Seldom shows emotions. Takes time to recover when hurt.

Testimonials about me from various people / Indie and alcohol quizzes

LJ Testimonials: 16
GJ Testimonials: 24
Total Testimonials: 40

Here are testimonials that various LJ and GJ people have written about me:

LJ people (16)

1. Chris Hewitt (pianodude34): "In the love of meeting LiveJournal, I also became acquainted with a glowing_dragon. Her personification of the name "Tatiana" with "Wanderings" is sheer love. Her persistency of replying to comments is addicting, and altogether glowing_dragon is worthwhile." (April 5, 2005... Tuesday)

2. Andre (unsuspended): "Happy Birthday i??????? (Happy Birthday, Internet!)" (April 5, 2005... Tuesday)

3. Caitlin (harlicat): "glowing_dragon changed my life! Before I knew glowing_dragon, I was sad and alone. Now I am happy. Buy one today!" (April 5, 2005... Tuesday)

4. Ronnie R. (hopefulworeason): "glowing_dragon is as much fun as you can have with two bricks and a bag of sand!" (June 23, 2006... Tuesday)

5. Alex (indefinitetheca): "Because without the underscore, glowing_dragon would be pretty lame!" (June 23, 2006... Tuesday)

6. Alicia (dopshoppe): "glowing_dragon is so funky, her journal should come with a Speed Stick!" (June 23, 2006... Tuesday)

7. Jenna (atomic_goo): "When our grammar and spelling is off, glowing_dragon is always there to save the day." (June 23, 2006... Tuesday)

8. Jared Watts (smokedglass7429): "glowing_dragon has crabs... and clarified butter." (June 23, 2006... Tuesday)

9. Desiree (sunshine2607): "glowing_dragon rocks my bubble tea!" (June 23, 2006... Tuesday)

10. Janina Schmalfeldt (pinkfloyd63): "glowing_dragon always has the last word!!" (June 24, 2006... Saturday)

11. Chris Hoskins (dingo727): "glowing_dragon is the hottest LJer I've never seen a picture of." (June 24, 2006... Saturday)

12. Jasmine C. (surrey_sucks): "glowing_dragon is one of the most OCDL people I know!" (June 24, 2006... Saturday)

13. Jon (weatherguy80): "She is the queen of commenting." (June 24, 2006... Saturday)

14. Sara (axbesm_starr): "glowing_dragon is more fun than a barrel of monkeys *and* the best thing since sliced bread, all in one exciting package." (July 13, 2006... Thursday)

15. Billy Schmalfeldt (fdolarhyde13): "glowing_dragon cured me of my crabs!" (July 13, 2006... Thursday)

16. Matt To. (yaymatt): "You rock, and are definitely the queen of leaving comments. If you ever leave the beautiful confines of Vancouver (not that I know why you would) and are on this side of the Atlantic Ocean, let me know and we will go eat spätzli. (recipe in French) *spinhugs* xoxo" (November 28, 2006... Tuesday)


GJ people (24)

1. Emma (draugr): "Whee! This girl has the coolest icons I've ever seen. I mean, just look at her default icon. And plus, she is very sweet, and funny, and just all-around awesome. <33" (September 6, 2004... Monday)

2. Bob (urbad2): "A relatively new friend, but a doll! Talented, intelligent, loving, caring, humorous, just full of life. She has been a joy to know, and has become a wonderful friend." (September 28, 2004... Tuesday)

3. Ruben Fothergill-Brown (_manifesto): "Man. You're REALLY cool. And. I like you. And. Stuff." (October 17, 2004... Sunday)

4. Candy B. (xsimplyperfectx): "This girl rocks my socks... get to know her - you know you want to!" (December 19, 2004... Sunday)

5. Mary O'Malley (x0secrets0x): "You rock, I swear you make me feel good a lot. Thank you for being a good friend, honey." (December 24, 2004... Friday)

6. Cassie Needham (august_nbethany): "Testimonial #6! Wooo!! You rock, way to go!" (December 30, 2004... Thursday)

7. Billie E. (mrgrim): "This girl rocks. Plain and simple. If I didn't add her, I wouldn't be laughing as much about some things as I would be now that I have! ♥ <3333333 mrgrim" (January 7, 2005... Friday)

8. Nicole Mackowiak (yakusoku_shouri): "You have such a good heart and are always willing to help everyone out... Plus, you take so many quizzes, no one else has to look for them.. Thanks!!!~" (February 15, 2005... Tuesday)

9. Emma (sarcasm_): "I love you like a fat kid loves cake! ;*" (February 15, 2005... Tuesday)

10. Mareah (lies_that_lie): "Aw. I love her! She's sweet, smart, and funny. She listens and has such a big heart. Everyone should add her as their friend. :) ♥ Mareah" (March 13, 2005... Sunday)

11. Chris W. (garould): "Hilarious! A wonderful personality and I agree with another user, her icons definitely made me smile and laugh. I also applaud her for being able to cope with her CP. I love you!" (March 20, 2005... Sunday)

12. Jeremy S. (jremymb): "I love reading her entries. She is very entertaining and has a great personality. Reading her entries always keeps me up to date in current events and also quizzes. <33" (March 23, 2005... Wednesday)

13. Mareah (cuddles___): "She's cute and fun and knows how and when to listen. I love her so much! ♥ Mare" (April 10, 2005... Sunday)

14. Courtney R. (bjornskjold): "I love reading Leslie's (I hope I spelled that right!) journal. She has a great sense of humor and always has fun quizzes and stuff in her entries. Plus, she's a Virgo, which automatically makes her awesome." (April 30, 2005... Saturday)

15. Kyle Napier (oncewas): "Leslie is DEFINITELY cool as Hell and even though her entries are long as f*ck - they're definitely entertaining and mind-provoking, something definitely lost in society! Way to go! Everybody add her!" (June 15, 2005... Wednesday)

16. Tobi (candiies): "Leslie is really funny and awesome! Even though her entries are a little long, they are definitely worth reading! She's the best! ♥" (August 14, 2005... Sunday)

17. Carmen (female_anatomy): "You're a funny person with great entries. I'm glad I got to know you and am looking forward to knowing you more! ♥" (October 20, 2005... Thursday) (and then she took me off her friends list on May 1, 2006 [Monday] for no reason that I know of... go figure!)

18. Faye R. (im_just_a_girl): "Such a lovely, sweet person and great co-moderator with a really good, frequently updated journal too. I'm really glad to be her friend. xx" (February 12, 2006... Sunday)

19. Jade (itmakesmesick): "Your entries may be long, and there's lots of 'em! But they're all great and I enjoy reading them. And you find all the best surveys! I'm glad we are GJ friends. =]." (June 20, 2006... Tuesday)

20. Cat (falsemirrors): "I don't know you very well, but I already know that you rock. I love reading your journal, and you always have lots of quizzes to steal. I hope that I can get to know you better. ♥" (July 9, 2006... Sunday)

21. Kathy L. (kat15lee): "Her name says it all... she's a flamer, but a very entertaining one. Thank you for always replying to my comments. And I love reading your journals, they're a hoot!" (September 22, 2006... Friday)

22. Kaitlin O. (norsk): "The flammiest flam ever. [P.S. So sorry I like never comment on your entries at all. :x]" (October 31. 2006... Tuesday)

23. Billie E. (murse): "Leslie, dearest!!! I am so glad to have met you both in this website and outside it... we have some fun times and should go out more!! You're like the older sister I've never had, and you get me. Here's to more adventures! ♥ Billie" (November 18, 2006... Saturday)

24. Candy B. (candyxpants): "A wonderful Canadian gal! Lovely recipes, too! :)" (March 20, 2007... Tuesday)

---

RQ Testimonials: 49
Random_Musings Testimonials: 6
Total Testimonials: 55

Here are testimonials that various GJ people have written about my communities:

RQ 2

1. Marylynn R. (yinyangscurse): "A complete space hog in the friends page, and sometimes a bit drama queen-esque... but often entertaining, and sometimes even thought-provoking!" (July 23, 2004... Friday)

2. Angela (girlwiththehat): "I like questions. :)" (July 30, 2004... Friday)

3. Mia (miaroo324): "I love it... it's always updated and it's interesting. :)" (July 31, 2004... Saturday)

4. Kathy (zipzu): "Really nice to see what people will say." (August 1, 2004... Sunday)

5. Vicki (tigers_eye13): "This place is awesome! It's so great! I love it so damn much!" (August 4, 2004... Wednesday)

6. Kelly (blink_x_182): "A great community to ask stupid questions & get stupid answers. =) But it's an awesome community, nonetheless!" (August 4, 2004... Wednesday)

7. Whitney (whitnaaaaay): "Wow, I love this place... it's so fun just to answer random questions and get yours answered. :)" (August 5, 2004... Thursday)

8. Anasia (forever_unsaid): "This is one of the most interesting communities that's ever found me... you guys rock!" (August 11, 2004... Wednesday)

9. tinmanthegreat: "Prepare to have your questions answered!" (August 12, 2004... Thursday)

10. Mike D. (mrd488): "Awesome community. Very interesting, frequently updated!" (September 1, 2004... Wednesday)

11. Meg (magesticfaith): "I love Randomness, and I seem to get a lot of mental stimulation from all the random questions I get to think about and answer. This community is great!" (September 8, 2004... Wednesday)

12. Samantha (gettin_it_out): "This community is so much fun! You can ask the most random questions, and they always get answered! =] I love you guys!!" (September 11, 2004... Saturday)

13. Chicherina (chicherina): "Cool community... you should really join it. You get to ask all kinds of questions. Haha." (November 7, 2004... Sunday)

14. Mareah (lies_that_lie): "Very cool community. Any questions can be asked, and any questions can be added. Awesome job, guys! Mare" (November 21, 2004... Sunday)

15. Amy (dollyface): "Great time-waster, and mind-bender of a community. If you ever need to know something strange and bizarre, this place is a godsend." (December 5, 2004... Sunday)

16. Beverly (_tequilasunrise): "rq_version2 rocks my entire sock drawer." (December 7, 2004... Tuesday)

17. dead_letters: "Still not figured out how to post in it yet, but it seems great! x" (December 13, 2004... Monday)

18. Dana (candies2009): "I can't live a day without RQ2. It's awesome. Who needs friends when you have RQ? Dana" (December 31, 2004... Friday)

19. Shauna (morbid_otaku): "rq_version2 rox my sox! kick arse! \m/" (January 1, 2005... Saturday)

20. Amber (___amber): "<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<333333333 x 235583234" (January 9, 2005... Sunday)

21. Chastity (romanticidal): "Do random questions annoy you? *walks away* " (January 18, 2005... Tuesday)

22. Analiz (countrymusicrox): "this is a good community, keep asking questions" (February 25, 2005... Friday)

23. Tiffany (tifferz): "Great place to ask and answer any sort of questions. I ♥ this community." (April 5, 2005... Tuesday)

24. Liz (lizxo35): "OMG, I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY! YOU SHOULD SO JOIN!!! It's awesome how you can ask the most random questions, and get like a ton of answers! Some people are quite interesting, too. JOIN, PEOPLE!! <333" (April 11, 2005... Monday)

25. Mary W. (doyouloveme): "Basically, this community is like OMG the best!" (April 12, 2005... Tuesday)

26. Brittany (x_breakdown): "Much love to the mods! Love the random questions - they make me laugh. So keep asking, all you wonderful members... as will I! haha" (April 12, 2005... Tuesday)

27. akerlicious: "awesome community! ♥ ak" (April 30, 2005... Saturday)

28. nuclei: "This place's got all the answers, man. Really." (May 18, 2005... Wednesday)

29. Jessica (jessica218): "you guys are fricken sweet!!" (June 13, 2005... Monday)

30. Serena (phoenixxcore): "The most random community with the nicest random people around. :) random questions = love!" (June 25, 2005... Saturday)

31. anotherfable: "I have to say I am a very stubborn, odd person. But, at least here I can feel that someone agrees with me." (June 27, 2005... Monday)

32. Lindsay (cali_dreamin): "Gotta love it here. You should join now! :)" (July 19, 2005... Tuesday)

33. hits_ofsunshine: "This community is so much fun. I'm glad I found it! :)" (July 28, 2005... Thursday)

34. Desiree (arethekidssafe): " OMFG, this community has answered so many questions I have. I LOVE IT!!" (August 1, 2005... Monday)

35. Marie (_sweetmorphine): "RQ2 is like WHOA. There's always an interesting question. Never a dull moment. No holds barred. Some of the nicest, smartest, most fascinating people around. Nothing but love, randomness, and too much free time. LOVING IT! <3" (August 2, 2005... Tuesday)

36. Alex (_askingforit): "Takes up all my friends page. :P But it's a great community. There's always a question to answer, and any questions you have will be answered!" (August 11, 2005... Thursday)

37. Candace (limegreenangel1): "OMG, I LOVE THIS COMMUNITY SO MUCH! I CAN ASK WHATEVER, AND THERE'S ALWAYS SOMEONE TO ANSWER!" (September 5, 2005... Monday)

38. Jeni (killmelater): "Best mods and members on GJ." (September 7, 2005... Wednesday)

39. Lauren (loopylolly): "A friendly and close community. xx" (September 29, 2005... Thursday)

40. girrrlpleasedie: "Awesome community! So much fun! ♥" (October 15, 2005... Saturday)

41. Rinny (soylentgreen): "Best question community ever. The only reason I come to GJ." (November 4, 2005... Friday)

42. Mystique (trippin_breezy): "Constantly being updated, and always interesting. I love it!! :D" (November 12, 2005... Saturday)

43. migranes: "great advice, when i need it most. ♥" (November 21, 2005... Monday)

44. Abi (emo_snail): "00 random questions just got better" (December 2, 2005... Friday)

45. Sarah (danceswithwind): "Very useful, and totally awesome community ^_^ So join it =P " (January 3, 2006... Tuesday)

46. Margaret B. (biitchinbabi17): "This has to be the best community on GJ. It's very useful when you're confused about something. All you have to do is ask a question, and within at least an hour, you have your answer. You guys rock!" (April 17, 2006... Monday)

47. Jolene (fucksauce): "Best community ever! ♥ ♥" (July 31, 2006... Thursday)

48. Brittany M. (yourchemicals): "This place answers virtually EVERY question I ask, within the hour! :D It's amazing." (September 1, 2006... Friday)

49. Hayley R. (thesurgeon): "I've been a member of this community for longer than I care to remember (under many usernames ;D) There *is* a reason why I keep coming back, y'know?" (November 16, 2006... Thursday)


Random_Musings

1. Mandy (manda48): "Very cool community to just go and rant or rave about something random. What a great idea!! Being the random person that I am, I love it! Keep up the good work!! ~A <3" (September 23, 2004... Thursday)

2. Hope B. (wannabe_agent): "Random Musings!! w00t! It 0wnz you!!!" (October 19, 2004... Tuesday)

3. Brianna (thellort): "Wow, I think this community might be the best idea ever... Randomness is what I do best, it's great to meet other random people!" (June 24, 2005... Friday)

4. Aimee (harvest_falling): "Great site right here." (August 31, 2005... Wednesday)

5. Kaitlin O. (triptastic): "the place to put stuff people wouldn't normally think of, I suppose." (September 1, 2005... Thursday)

6. girrrlpleasedie: "great community ♥" (April 1, 2006... Saturday)

---

You Are 51% Indie

You're pretty indie, but you don't make a fuss letting everyone know. You just do what you like. You enjoy many types of things - from trendy to bizarre.

How Indie Are You?

You Are Beer!

You don't need to get totally wasted when you hit the bars. More of a social drinker, you just like to have fun with your friends. And as long as the beer keeps flowing, you're a happy camper. But don't mix things up: "Beer Before Liquor, Never Been Sicker!"

What Alcoholic Drink Are You?

Exclusive products / Toothbrushes / Applebee's Baked French Onion Soup

If I use that Shoppers coupon before August 31, I can get the exclusive products: Coast body wash / Method soap (that's what I saw at the townhouse, anyhow) / Life goat's milk soap. Sounds interesting... 1000 points isn't a bad thing, either. Maybe I'll do that next week or the week after! Yeah, I'm getting to be a consumer whore lately... especially since I wish I had enchiladas or quesadillas now, too! The toothbrush that Uncle Andrew gave me last week IS thin enough to reach my back teeth, but the bristle area is too small for my liking. Oh well, I guess I'll get used to it... or become thoroughly annoyed!

Applebee's Baked French Onion Soup

Don't even try to find this one on the menu at Applebee's because it isn't there, though it's the most popular soup served each day at this huge restaurant chain. This is the first of several big-time soup clones we'll unveil here in the next few weeks to help get you through the cold winter months. And they're all a cinch to make. Just be sure you have some oven-safe soup bowls for this one, since we'll have to broil it a bit before serving. Under the gooey melted Provolone of the original version you get from Applebee's is a unique round crouton that's made from bread similar to a hamburger bun. So that's exactly what we'll use in our clone.

3 tablespoons vegetable oil
6 medium white onions, sliced
8 cups beef broth (Swanson's is best)
1 cup water
2 1/2 teaspoons salt
1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
5 plain hamburger buns
10 slices Provolone cheese
10 teaspoons shredded Parmesan cheese

1. Add 3 tablespoons oil to a large soup pot or saucepan over medium / high heat. Add the sliced onions and sauté for 20 minutes until the onions begin to soften and start to become translucent. You don't want them to brown.

2. Add the beef broth, water, salt, garlic powder, and black pepper to the pan and bring mixture to a boil. When soup begins to boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes.

3. To make the croutons, cut off the top half of each top of the hamburger bun so that the bread is the same thickness as the bottom half of each bun. Throw the tops away. Now you should have 10 round pieces of bread -- 5 bottom buns, and 5 top buns with the tops cut off. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Place the bread in the oven directly on the rack and bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until each piece is golden brown and crispy. Set these croutons aside until you need them.

4. When the soup is done, spoon about 1 cup into an oven-safe bowl. Float a crouton on top of the soup, then place a slice of Provolone cheese on top of the crouton. Sprinkle 1/2 teaspoon of shredded Parmesan cheese over the Provolone.

5. Place the bowl into your oven set to high broil. Broil the soup for 5 to 6 minutes or until the cheese is melted and starting to brown (you may need to broil longer if you are making more than one bowl at a time). Sprinkle an additional 1/2 teaspoon of shredded Parmesan cheese over the top of the soup and serve. Repeat process to prepare remaining servings. Makes 10 servings.

Offline journals (Randal's pretty blue ocean!) / Typos and bad analogies / Plan changes

When I switch paper journals, I should make another one of these entries in LJ / GJ / Blogger!

Users on my LJ / GJ friends lists (past or present) who have been mentioned in my current offline journal (Randal's pretty blue ocean scene notebook) since mid-July 2006 till February 9, 2007:

Ben / Alyson Delgado (_brainsick_ / sufi87)
Steph Ng (canucks94)
Darren Morrison (dfrancis)
Chris Ho. (dingo727)
Corey Tap. (dwcorey)
Billy Schmalfeldt (fdolarhyde13)
Jim Anderson (harryroberts / rogermellie / kodyscott)
Jamie War. (jaebird)
Matt Ki. (jarethshair)
Eric Ho (lddude)
Farrah Fong (lilaznffairy421 / farrah)
Kaitlin Ol. (lordworm)
Billie Esma (mrgrim / murse)
Palmer Stevens (palmer_kun)
Jared Watts (smokedglass7429)
John Abbott (snooooopy)
Sara Wills (sparkle_bint)
Jasmine Cochlin (surrey_sucks)
Teunis P.

* plus a special mention of Ryan (museirain), because I talk to him all the time, heh


This morning in church, I noticed a very silly typo / error in one of the songs: Lord, You Have My Heat.

I got an email from Terry, who wants to know if I was there for the meeting about the barbecue after Fellowship: of *course* I was! Karen likes organization a bit too much, methinks. Simple things like organizing side dishes... are not quite so easy with her, heh. I agree with him that the barbecue is a good idea so we can get to know the other people more. Let's just hope we don't have too many leftovers next week, otherwise Karen will KNOW that her "false fears of leftovers" are indeed a true thing! (or we can hope for that anyhow, haha!)

Eric buzzed me on MSN about a change of plans: no longer Shanghai Wind for tonight, but some place at Aberdeen called Northern Delicacy instead. Okay, I can deal! He also asked me if I had Eddie's number: no. Then Jon buzzed me about the same thing... both these guys know I need to be picked up, in any event! Apparently, Shanghai Wind is booked solid until 8.


Got these "literary gems" from Jenn... they remind me of the Bulwer-Lytton Fiction Contest!

Every year, English teachers from across the country can submit their collections of actual analogies and metaphors found in high school essays. These excerpts are published each year to the amusement of teachers across the country. Here are last year's winners:

1. Her face was a perfect oval, like a circle that had its two sides gently compressed by a Thigh Master.

2. His thoughts tumbled in his head, making and breaking alliances like underpants in a dryer without Cling Free.

3. He spoke with the wisdom that can only come from experience, like a guy who went blind because he looked at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it and now goes around the country speaking at high schools about the dangers of looking at a solar eclipse without one of those boxes with a pinhole in it.

4. She grew on him like she was a colony of E. Coli, and he was room-temperature Canadian beef.

5. She had a deep, throaty, genuine laugh, like that sound a dog makes just before it throws up.

6. Her vocabulary was as bad as, like, whatever.

7. He was as tall as a six-foot, three-inch tree.

8. The revelation that his marriage of 30 years had disintegrated because of his wife's infidelity came as a rude shock, like a surcharge at a formerly surcharge-free ATM machine.

9. The little boat gently drifted across the pond exactly the way a bowling ball wouldn't.

10. McBride fell 12 stories, hitting the pavement like a Hefty bag filled with vegetable soup.

11. From the attic came an unearthly howl. The whole scene had an eerie, surreal quality, like when you're on vacation in another city and Jeopardy comes on at 7:00 p.m. instead 7:30.

12. Her hair glistened in the rain like a nose hair after a sneeze.

13. The hailstones leaped from the pavement, just like maggots when you fry them in hot grease.

14. Long separated by cruel fate, the star-crossed lovers raced across the grassy field toward each other like two freight trains, one having left Cleveland at 6:36 p.m. traveling at 55 mph, the other from Topeka at 4:19 p.m. at a speed of 35 mph.

15. They lived in a typical suburban neighborhood with picket fences that resembled Nancy Kerrigan's teeth.

16. John and Mary had never met. They were like two hummingbirds who had also never met.

17. He fell for her like his heart was a mob informant, and she was the East River .

18. Even in his last years, Granddad had a mind like a steel trap, only one that had been left out so long, it had rusted shut.

19. Shots rang out, as shots are wont to. (Almost Shakespearean.)

20. The plan was simple, like my brother-in-law Phil. But unlike Phil, this plan just might work.

21. The young fighter had a hungry look, the kind you get from not eating for a while.

22. He was as lame as a duck. Not the metaphorical lame duck, either, but a real duck that was actually lame, maybe from stepping on a land mine or something.

23. The ballerina rose gracefully en pointe and extended one slender leg behind her, like a dog at a fire hydrant.

24. It was an American tradition, like fathers chasing kids around with power tools.

25. He was deeply in love. When she spoke, he thought he heard bells, as if she were a garbage truck backing up.

Your Delias Jeans Are

Reese Low-rise Boot

What Delias Jeans Should You Wear?

You Are 80% Control Freak

You are a pretty major control freak, though you may not know it. While your confidence is inspiring, your bossy ways tend to scare people off.

Are You A Control Freak?

To a certain person that I used to know...

I'm done with you and your kind forever. You know how I know I'm over you? I saw TALLADEGA NIGHTS the other day with the guys, and I didn't even make the connection between the name of the main character's father and the name of your boyfriend... in fact, I didn't even think about that till just now while I was writing this! (although I do think of you on a very rare occasion, such as the time I saw a guy whose lips and glasses reminded me of you in the apartment elevator last week while I was going to the laundry room) I'm holding my head up and going into the light. Sure, I might not have a boyfriend, but you know what? You definitely weren't the right person for me anyhow.

As for my not wanting to get to know certain other people, that's because most normal people have this emotion built into them called JEALOUSY! Nobody wants to know the "competition," so to speak... even if they're just good female friends! I don't care how much you insisted that the girls weren't jealous of me at all. You think that I needed to change my world view or something (I'm too lazy to look at the comments you left me), but I think mine suffices just fine. Sure, I might want to do a little work in being more accommodating for certain other people's beliefs... but that won't be because of you, sweetheart. (note the sarcasm!) That's it... I'm done with you. Over and out.