Ugh.

Reformatted the hard drive, reinstalled Windows, still getting the dreaded blue screen. Computer is at the doctor's. I can't even begin to describe the stomach ache I have.

My Computer Has A Vendetta Against Me

Okay, so the power jack of my laptop got fixed, and it was working fine yesterday, and now, it won't boot. I've tried bootable disks to no avail, safety mode won't work, I'm now doing diagnostic tests on it,... I swear to God, I'm this close to opening my window, and throwing the laptop down 3 storeys onto the concrete. It would be unlikely to work much worse than it is right now. I didn't know a computer had the power to make me cry.

Nothing Like Technology to Make One Blog

In the great computer saga of 06, my laptop is at the computer shop, getting a 200$ tune up for a loose power connector. Oh yeah, that's what it costs! I checked all around! I really hope the motherboard isn't cracked though because it would mean a new motherboard, which is like 1000$! Anyway, all this means the computer is out of commission till Thursday. Not too cool seeing as I need some programs on there to do data analysis. So it goes. Thank God for my brother's old desktop I borrowed a few weeks ago. It's coming in handy.

Life is expensive these days, at a moment when I'm broke. It figures.

I Swear My Computer Wants My Death...

Okay, so I fixed the software issue, but now, the power jack inside the laptop broke. Argh. That's something I reeeally can't fix myself. So I have to drag myself tomorrow, and get that fixed. Technology hates me.

Suck It, Spyware!

Wow, my post titles contain a lot of questionable words these last few days. Hmmm. So after spending the night trying to fix the stupid computer (I was up until 5 am), it still wasn't working. I called a service, and they could come to fix it tomorrow. I made an appointment, but decided to take another crack at the computer. I think I may just have fixed it. I think it was some spyware that was bogging the whole thing down. I'm not done yet, but keep your fingers crossed!

I had to post a link to the Onion article, because the psych student in me can't resist: Report: US May Have Been Abused During Formative Years. It is just a brilliant satire. They made the DSM-IV (the Bible of psych diagnoses in psych) the Democratic Symptoms Of Maltreatment handbook. They have so many great reports, but another one is Cost of Living Now Outweighs Benefits. Business rules applied to the extreme. Hee. Man, I love funny clever people. I need to marry one of those.

Karma is Being a Bitch!

After the great apartment drama, now, my computer has decided to die on me! I have a virus or something equally bitchy happening to it, and I can't seem to fix it since the computer is sooooo slow and crashes all the time. I've wasted the last 8+ hours trying to fix it. Sigh. More money I don't have to send the computer to the doctor. Kill me.

Some Kickass Links

Pandora: You give the site an artist or song title and it creates a whole station with songs similar in genre. This is so awesome to discover new music. I'm surprised I had never heard of this.

Shakespeare on Google: All of Shakespeare's plays available at your fingertips.

My Application for My New Place is In...

It's actually in the same building where I am currently living, on the same floor even. It's just 2 doors down. It should be as easy a move as they come...

It is pretty small (see left for floor plan and a pic of the living space. It is a junior 1 bedroom), but it will just be the cat and me so it should be fine for a year or two. It is big enough for visitors though. :) Anyone who wants to come visit will be welcomed with open arms since I won't have to feel bad about intruding on anyone else. Plus, they're renovating it before I move in (redoing the bathtub, varnishing the floors, repainting) so it will look good. I'm anxious about it all (I could have used some of your happy pills yesterday, Gina!) but so it goes.

Oh Dear...

In the ever-continuing saga with the roommate, when I said I was going to look at another apartment, she is like, "I know this is a bad time for you to move because you've got so much going on. You don't really have to if it doesn't work for you. It's up to you. It's the summer that is hardest because we're both home all the time." Man, I swear to God. She kills me. Last time we spoke, she asked me if I could put the cat at someone else's house or give her up, and when was I going to move. Now she's saying, oh no, you really shouldn't feel obligated to leave. Yeah, so you can bitch at me all the time? I don't think so. I guess guilt kicked in or something.

Not Much To Report Today...

Haven't heard back from the landlord about the apartment. I have been ignoring my roommate as much as possible. I made a wonderful dinner that consisted of chicken, zucchini, tomato, and oyster mushrooms marinated in an olive oil, lemon, and oregano marinade and baked for 40 minutes in the oven. Delicious.

I Thought Nothing Could Surprise Me About The Internet...

Yet, someone at a board I visit pointed something I did not know existed: Hitler Slashfic. I was aware that people wrote fan fiction about real people and found that unbelievably creepy, but this really takes the cake. I haven't looked at/read any of them (this is the kind of mental scarring I can do without), but the same person who pointed that out said there was a Hitler/Stephen Colbert fic in there. Brain...Cannot...Compute. Seriously? Romance stories about Hitler. It could be featured on the Colbert Report's segment: "That's The Craziest F%?&ing Thing I've Ever Seen". Some people REALLY REALLY need to redirect their writing energy to something else.

You Knew This Day Would Come...

So I'm in my room, working on my PC this afternoon. Roommie comes and leans in the doorway.
Roommie: What are your plans for September?
Me: Huuuuhhh, what do you mean?
Roommie: Well, were you planning on moving?
Me: Hmmm, not really. I haven't really thought about it. This has not really been a top priority for me.
Roommie: Well, I don't think I can take anymore of the cat. She woke me up against last night. (FYI, I was up until 6:30 am working, and the cat spent the night with me so yeah, not so much! She doesn't need to resort to lying to make her point.) I know it is a bad time for you with the thesis and teaching.
Me: Yeah.
Roommie: You don't have to move right now.
Me: Yeah. I had planned to move next summer, but I'll see. (Because I really want to live where I am a public nuisance.)
Roommie: Plus, I'd like to have a study.
Me: Okay.

Last thing I heard was that she was looking to buy a condo, and I was going to have the place for myself after she left. So yeah, this is something new! I guess I'll move. I'm broke right now but I think I'll take out a loan, and get myself my own place for peace and quiet, preferably in this building or close by.

The neighbour below keeps playing the same f&$?ing cords on his guitar over and over again, and my computer adapter keeps screwing up. I swear I'm about to have a mental breakdown.

Science and Food

Yeah baby. Two of my favourite things to talk about.

I'm reading an article in June edition of Scientific American called "The Science Behind Sudoku". It's fascinating to learn the history of it. It takes its roots from what used to be called Latin squares that date back to the Middle Ages, but Sudoku grids were created in their current form in 1979 by a man called Howard Garns. The article also explains some of the strategies to solve the problems, and the mathematical problems that have been posed by this game. Just fascinating. I highly recommend it.

Besides that, I did a bit of cooking over the weekend. Since my mom and dad were coming over on Saturday, I cleaned and scrubbed but I also made my blueberry-peach crisp, which all my roommates have loved over the years. My mom asked for a second serving so that's a good sign. I also made my tofu salad, which I just love to eat in the summer. It's easy to make, and very healthy. Here is the recipe for that:

Tofu Salad (from the Essential Vegetarian Cookbook)

Preparation time: 20 minutes plus 1 hour marinating

Serves 4.

Ingredients:

- 2 teaspoons of Thai sweet chilli sauce
- ½ teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- 2 teaspoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons oil
- 250 g (8 oz) firm tofu
- 105 g (3½ oz) snow peas, cut into 3 cm (1¼ inch) lengths
- 2 small carrots, cut into matchsticks
- 105 g (3½ oz) red cabbage, finely shredded
- 2 tablespoons crushed peanuts

Instructions:

1. Place the chilli sauce, ginger, garlic, soy sauce, and oil in a small screw-top jar and shake well. Cut tofu in 2 cm (3/4 inch) cubes. Place the tofu in a medium bowl, pour the marinade over and stir. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.

2. Place the snow peas in a small pan, pour boiling water over and leave to stand for 1 minute, then drain and plunge into iced water. Drain well.

3. Add snow peas, carrots, and cabbage to tofu and toss lightly to combine. Sprinkle with chopped peanuts, and serve immediately.

Finally, I wanted to praise a cookbook called Off The Shelf: Cooking from the Pantry by Donna Hay. It is a brilliant cookbook for quick recipes using what you have lying around the kitchen. I made this Shredded Chicken and Mint Noodle Salad a few weeks ago, which was just brilliant. I'll have to post the recipe too.

Chocolate Classes

There is this lovely small chocolate shop not too far from where I live, and I just discovered they offer classes on different topics pertaining to chocolate. How cool is that? I would love to learn how to make truffles and chocolate decorations. Plus, they have a chocolate and wine pairing seminar. Awesome. I would love to give that a try. I'm putting it on my blog so I don't forget about it. I'll have to try that some time next year.

Thursday Morning Blitz

Data analysis has picked up so I'm in a good mood today. I'm feeling physically tired because I've run/walked quite a bit in the last 2 days, but it feels nice. Plus, my parents are coming on Saturday so it will be nice to see them.

I got my invitation to a friend's wedding yesterday. I had been all excited about going but now that I'm looking at things such as the price of the plane ticket (it would be a 12-hour drive and I'm not sure I want to have to drive 12 hours and back in the span of 2 days) and hotel, I'm just not sure I can spare the expense. Plus, life is crazy busy this summer. On the other hand, I think it would be a shame if I missed out on this. I'm so happy she is getting married. I have to RSVP (which comes from the French "Réservez, s'il vous plaît.", meaning "Reserve, please.") by July 5th so I'll think about it.

In random news, it looks like Keanu Reeves wants to get married and have kids. I'll gladly volunteer for that job. ;)

Besides that, we are having fun here dealing with potential terrorism. It's not a surprise that sooner or later, that was going to happen. I'm glad our police and secret services have done a good job, although to think we are out in the clear would certainly be wishful thinking. I guess I'm not overly worried about it, because I think it is pointless to worry about something we have such little control over. I can only hope all these good people out there protecting us continue to do their job so efficiently.

Interesting Writing Blog

Jane Espenson, a TV writer who has worked on Buffy, Jake in Progress, Gilmore Girls, Firefly, and a bunch of others, has a blog that focuses on writing. Her June 4th entry about comedic and dramatic characters is particularly interesting. She uses examples from Arrested Development, The Office, and Seinfeld to make her point as to why comedic characters are unintentionally funny whereas dramatic characters are intentionally funny. Interesting stuff. As a whole though, I thought it might be a blog of interest to you, Gina. She deals with screenwriting, which is not necessarily your style, but from the few posts on her blog I've read, it seems interesting stuff.

Happy First Birthday, Blog!

I cannot believe it has been a year since I started this blog. I really didn't think I'd get into it but 185 posts later, I think I misunderestimated (mmm...nonsensical word!) its power. ;)

To celebrate, I thought it would be appropriate to post a sweet X-Files-themed video I found on (where else?)You Tube. It is set to the lovely song "We Belong Together" by Gavin de Graw. I thought it was very apropos since I meet so many of the people here through an X-Files board, and I think we all belong together. Hee. Okay, I'm done with the cheesy love fest, and I promise to bring back my sarcastic self pronto. ;)

On with the video:


I had to add one more video to my favourite TV UST relationship of the moment: Pam and Jim. It is really well done, I thought, and it is set to the song "These Walls" by Teddy Geiger (I totally bought his album today along with the green Weezer album and Back in Black by AC/DC. Yay for music store clearance sale!)

Blog Design & Television Critic Association Awards

I've played around with the layout of the blog because I just realized that it looked like crap on Mozilla (it had no left margin) while it looked perfectly fine on Explorer. It looks a bit better now, but it is still not perfect in Mozilla. I do hope it is easier to read if you are using a Mozilla browser.

On to awards I know nothing about! The Television Critics Association, appears to have been giving awards for the last 20 years! I saw on Office Tally that the Office had been nominated amongst others, but what really caught my eye was the category of Individual Achievement in Comedy. The nominees are Steve Carell ("The Office"), Stephen Colbert ("The Colbert Report"), Lauren Graham ("Gilmore Girls"), Jason Lee ("My Name Is Earl"), and Jon Stewart (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart"). Wow, this is like Sophie's Choice but four ways. ;) I could never pick who of Steve Carell, Stephen Colbert, Jon Stewart or Lauren Graham should win! So Gilmore Girls was not very good this year, but Lauren Graham has been recognized so little for her amazing acting on that show that she deserve to win for the whole run. The Colbert Report and The Office have both been so so so good. This is one tough category.

Jon, Steve, and Stephen were always so good, even together way back when:


For other readers who, unlike me, actually watch more than 3 programs on TV (for me, it's The Office, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show, and sometimes The Amazing Race, and that's it!), here are the rest of the nominations:

PROGRAM OF THE YEAR
"Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
"Lost" (ABC)
"The Office" (NBC)
"The Sopranos" (HBO)
"24" (Fox)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN COMEDY
"The Daily Show" (Comedy Central)
"Everybody Hates Chris" (UPN)
"My Name is Earl" (NBC)
"The Office" (NBC)
"Scrubs" (NBC)

OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
"Grey's Anatomy" (ABC)
"House" (Fox)
"Lost" (ABC)
"The Sopranos" (HBO)
"24" (Fox)

OUTSTANDING NEW PROGRAM OF THE YEAR:
"Big Love" (HBO)
"The Colbert Report" (Comedy Central)
"Everybody Hates Chris" (UPN)
"My Name Is Earl" (NBC)
"Prison Break" (Fox)

INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN DRAMA
Alan Alda ("West Wing")
James Gandolfini ("The Sopranos")
Hugh Laurie ("House")
Kiefer Sutherland ("24")
Kyra Sedgwick ("The Closer")

Discuss.

The Roommate Freak-Out of The Day

I've had a long day and little sleep to come home tonight to a roommate whining about being unable to sleep because the cat comes into her room. (By the way, I decided to take a nap in early evening only to be woken up by her cello playing so yeah.) I can understand if the cat is wailing and meowing that it would be disruptive but walking? I know she doesn't want the cat in her bedroom (reasonable), and I understand she needs her door open to enjoy the air conditioning (also perfectly normal), but what can I do? She wants me to constantly watch the cat, which I can't do. Cats are quiet so how am I to know what she is up to, and I'm not going to close my bedroom door to keep the cat in. I need AC too! Now, she thinks I should get a child proof fence so the cat can't go into her room, which is probably not a bad idea, but then, she shot down her own idea because she will have to take off the barrier every time she needs to get out of her room. Sigh. I can't wait to move to a place where a cat walking around is not a crime.