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[ev4n]

What on earth is a frozen autumn still life? It's even worse in French! The pear Almondine sounds amazing.

yes, it make me chuckle.

[pwhodges]

Looks like I could only have had the third and seventh courses, but frankly I'm amazed it's that many!

They offered a vegetarian version (mentioned but not listed in the big menu we chose from); I guess that might have increased your options a bit (you can download it from their website).  They were very accommodating about making adjustments to remove individual items because of allergies, so that might have helped you too.  I'd guess that (with notice, perhaps) they might be prepared to knock up a fully vegan menu - at least for the six-course option (which I haven't mentioned).

[GarandMarine]

I just found out Niten Ichi-ryū is still an active school. I am now considering moving to Japan next year and asking the master to take me on as a student. I'd study Niten Ichi-ryū full time and work my ass off at odd jobs or whatever to keep myself fed and basically clothed outside the dojo. If you're not familiar, Niten Ichi-ryū in English, the "Two Heavens As One" or "Two Swords As One" school of Japanese swordsmanship is the school of Miyamoto Musashi, one of the greatest swordsmen to ever live and basically my idol.

Which tells you something about me considering I first read The Book of Five Rings at an age when Harry Potter was a big freaking deal and immediately considered a 17th century samurai my biggest hero and inspiration growing up. (Right up there with Chesty Puller, John Basilone and Carlos Hathcock)

So despite all that I still had no idea that Niten Ichi-ryū was still in active practice (12 generations of unbroken succession as of the current soke)

[Barmymoo]

If anyone ever gives me £300 which I am required to spend on a meal, I shall go there and see!

In mildly related news, my friends have decided that we are going to go to Frankie and Benny's for our "end of term" meal (I put it in quotations because we can't go on the last day of term because one girl is going on holiday, we can't go the day before because we're not all in the same town that day, we can't go the day before that because I have a cookery class... so we're going on the Monday of the last week ). Anyway. I just went to check on the website whether I can eat anything that they sell, and had to SIGN A DISCLAIMER before they would show me the allergy advice.

And the answer is, I can eat the breadsticks, the chips, the vegetable sides and the sorbet.

So, um, sorry friends. This isn't going to work for me.

[Lupercal]

Why on earth would you want to go to Frankie and Benny's? Sounds like you've dodged a bullet!

Although I'm becoming considered a 'food snob' among my friends because I'm starting to tire of chain restaurants like Nandos. ITS JUST CHICKEN!

[Barmymoo]

I have no idea, I didn't know what Frankie and Benny's was until I looked at their menu. I thought it was an Italian place.

[Welu]

I ate there yesterday and am going to eat there tomorrow. 

[Lupercal]

*sigh* maybe next time I want to eat out I can just chow down on my foot, as it'll probably already be in my mouth.

(Seriously working on this 'not trying to be a food snob' thing)

[lepetitfromage]

Has anyone else ever had a problem SO ridiculous that you've actually laughed at it?



I'm trying to log into my insurance's website. User ID, password, blah blah blah.
"There was no active user record found with the member id you entered."


Ok....let's see if I've got it wrong!



Go through process to recover user ID. Can not recover, must create a new one.
Create a new one. Log in with new one. 
"There was no active user record found with the member id you entered."


Hmmmm....



Call customer service.
They reset password on account. Enter new user ID and new password.
"There was no active user record found with the member id you entered."

 

[Barmymoo]

Yup, I spent all of last week in that state - I had five punctures in four days. By Thursday I was contemplating simply moving into Halfords permanently.

[Thrillho]

I cancelled my direct debit for XBox Live Gold because I was too lazy to actually ring the cunts up to cancel it. They sent me repeated emails demanding I log in and rectify it. I went to log in to 'rectify' it (find a way to cancel it without ringing them) and when I successfully logged in, they said they wanted to make sure I was me(???) and had sent an email to me that I had to click a link in to confirm I was me. Just from logging in 

So yeah I left that for about six months and they've finally given up trying to stop taking the payment and cancelled my Live Gold

THE SYSTEM WORKS

[Welu]

Home. So tired. Think I'm sick. Completely behind on college work. Totally worth it.

[Carl-E]

So.  We had our first snow (I know, this isn't the weather thread) on Tuesday. 

And the electric company cut us off.  My wife had neglected to tell me we were that far behind...  (she does the bills)

Two days of freezing weather with no power.  Now, in the past, I was able to fire up the old coal boiler that was left hooked into the system when they added the gas boiler (which needs power to run).  We'd at least have heat.  I went to the basement with a lantern, cleared the packing boxes away from the boiler, gathered the kindling...

And found that it had sprung a leak on the inside.  A little chunk of cast iron had popped out, and there's no way to repair it.  A slow drip, and I could have built a fire under it, but I had a feeling that doing so would only make it worse. 

The house got down to the low 50's the first night, and the mid 40's last night.  Power went back on today (handicapped exemption, needed a doctor's note, gives us 30 days to settle the bill). 

Aaaand... yeah, the leak got worse with heat and pressure.  I put the bucket with the hose attached off of the dehumidifier under it and ran the hose into the nearby sewer cleanout so the basement won't flood from the fairly constant stream.  Then went to see if it can be fixed (it's a 114 year old cast iron boiler,  said the plumbing supply guys), and if they have 3" fittings so I can disconnect it and bypass it (yes, they can be ordered, and they'll only cost an arm and half a leg). 

But we have heat, and the food in the fridge didn't spoil.  Except the ice cream, that didn't survive. 



Did I mention I have a bad head cold?  And that I'm selling the old ford Escort (1987, the only car I ever bought new) so I have garage space to fix the transmission in the Saturn?  What I get for junk value will cover the cost of a junker's transmission...

Did I mention I DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS!!!

 

[Patrick]

My singer Matt's grandma died on Sunday. He, my drummer Paul and I were taking a break from band practice to eat dinner with his family when the phone rang. Matt's mom answered (it was her mom) and we all knew by the way she said "Hello... What?!" that it was sad news. We obviously adjourned practice early, and Paul and I briefly deliberated with each other one-on-one as to whether or not we should leave to let the family spend time together to grieve privately, or stay and let our presence and our love be of comfort to them. We chose the latter, which proved to be the right decision.

Matt's family left the next morning at 5am to go to Utah for her service and asked me to housesit. Today, after they returned, Matt and his dad apologized for "not having actually asked, but instead told" me to housesit, which I don't remember happening, but it was kind of them to offer an apology even if it was totally unnecessary. It's the least I owe them, especially in a time like that. Anyway, I spent the week making sure the dogs and his brother's cat didn't all destroy the house or each other (and, of course, I also finished GTA:5). They were all darlings, but the dogs haven't yet learned that Miss Kitty is going to fuck them up if they're always up in her grill every time she walks into a room. They've all got scratches on their noses (this is how we learn!) and the cat's completely fine.

For Grandma June: I hardly knew you, but from our few meetings and from the family of yours who are very dear to me, you were a lovely, wonderful person. I'm going to miss your wit and smartassery when I hang out with the Gragg clan on the week of Thanksgiving when you would've been here to visit. <3

As for me, I'm fine. I just got hired at Bevmo after maaaaaaaaybe 10 minutes' worth of interviewing. I don't really have much else to report, aside from the usual "I miss Camille" and "I am really just kinda hangin in there and surviving" stuff.

[Patrick]

OH HEY SPEAKING OF CAMILLE GUESS WHO SHOWED UP IN TOWN TO SURPRISE ME

HOLYFUCKINSHIT I'LL SEE Y'ALL FUCKERS LATER

[GarandMarine]

Go West young man, haven't you been told, California Colorado's full of whiskey, women and gold...

So it's official. I confirmed I'll be classing up with my trade school next fall. I'mma going home! Even better news I talked to the gal I was likely going to be rooming with had I gone to school this fall and she despises her current roommate, and would be happy to replace current roommate with yours truly. Amusingly I thought I'd have to bribe her, instead she tried to bribe me "There's a ton of cute girls in my Pharamacology classes, I'll introduce you! I can bake!" meanwhile I'm like "I'll clean everything to white glove field day grade, I can cook!"

[Grognard]

If you go west, can I take the miniatures job?
you're making Buck$, right?

[GarandMarine]

Hah. bucks(cents symbol)

[Barmymoo]

Good GRIEF it is cold. I mean, it's not Norway-cold. But it's thank-goodness-I'm-home cold. Also it's really, really dark on the towpath even with a full moon and clear skies. When the moon wanes and the weather is cold enough for ice, I'm going to have to find a new route home.

In other related news I was at uni for over 11 hours today.

[ankhtahr]

I just came home from 10 hours at University. Yesterday I stayed for 19.

I wonder when I'll start to find time to sleep again.

[Thrillho]

Ah, yes, I remember the days of double-digits on campus. I miss those days actually. Third year was an amazing time in my life.

[Patrick]

Go West young man, haven't you been told, California Colorado's full of whiskey, women and gold...

I'm so glad I'm not the only one who recognizes that Toby Keith actually used to be good once. Also fuck the uploader for ruining it by adding the 'thank you' at the end, I thought it was through and then SUDDENLY, PENNYWHISTLES EVERYWHERE. hahaha.

Guys I can't begin to tell you how awesome it is to get to spend time with Camille after so many nights of phone calls whining at each other to "just come here already." I tried and failed and got really down on myself about it, and then she surprises me like this... you know those cliched images of a long-separated couple reunited at last, with the slo-mo running with the long embrace followed by a kiss? yeah that shit totally happened.

Thursday is going to suck ass, because that is when she leaves to go back to Tacoma. but we're lucky to have this visit, and she'll be back hopefully by New Year's. my birthday. happy birthday to me!

[GarandMarine]

I got to see Toby Keith and Trace Adkins live while they were still awesome. It was tits. Lots of cute ASU co-eds walking around. I got my ass grabbed a few times. *thumbs up*

[Barmymoo]

Argh I came home later than I'd planned because I was talking to someone, and then I started cooking a "quick" pasta sauce and stupidly poured in half a tin of water, and now the sauce is still really liquidy and I have to leave in ten minutes and it's not even cooked argh. If it somehow magically thickens up in the next five minutes I'll take dinner in my Thermos flask but otherwise... um... not sure.

Plus I have to pack for this weekend and prepare for tomorrow and I am tired and I really hope that I do finish babysitting at 9.45 like they said. The other family I sit for are usually at least an hour late home.

[The Seldom Killer]

If it's a tomato sauce then get some puree in there and reduce it until you really have to leave. If it's a cream sauce then mix some cornflour with some milk and slowly blend it in. Final option is to cook some pasta in the sauce to absorb some of the excess.

[Patrick]

I am very grateful for the fact that I've been able to spend time with Camille for the last few days, but it hurts knowing she's leaving again today. The good news is that it's only gonna be about 5 weeks til she's here and we don't have to say goodbye anymore.

I'm gonna cry so fucking hard when she has to go, though.

[Thrillho]

Pat, I know you know I mean this when I say it.

I know how you feel, and it's a punch in the nuts. I love you dude, and I feel your pain.

[calenlass]

LDRs suck, Patrick. I am sorry.



So I have been having problems with my hair. Not actual serious "it's falling out" kind of problems, but with the fact that my hair is pretty damn curly and seems to have been unhappy for months now. Trying to figure out what it needs is kind of a shot in the dark, especially when trying to take porousness, dryness, dew points, and product ingredients into account.

I've been making my own surfactant-free shampoo for more than a year now (a little baking soda, honey, and mostly of water), and it's been working relatively well. Bonus: I am broke and mostly jobless, and it is super cheap. But then I read a thing about how to actually clean your hair.

Most of it I had read before, because there are lots of articles and blog posts and forum threads about how commercial shampoos strip your hair (and paired commercial conditioners just coat the strands with silicones, which won't come off again without sulfate surfactants, so it's a great vicious cycle), and about how sudsing into a fantastic lather like in ads doesn't actually indicate cleaning power, and about how commercial shampoos don't actually do much cleaning on their own anyway because it's your scrubbing and massaging that does most of the work. But I guess no one actually ever specified an actual method for the scrubbing? Or I missed it. Anyway, scrubbing and massaging in little circles with the pads of your fingers for 2 or 3 minutes is more than I have ever done (and apparently more than most people do).

Anyway, I tried it this way, and suddenly everything that was wrong with my hair became magically clear! That is the good news. The bad news is that I guess the amount of baking soda I have been using is Way Too Fucking High, especially without a vinegar rinse to reset the pH every time, and my hair felt so stripped and squeaky that it was sticky. I felt so dumb for not figuring it out earlier, because I spent so much time trying to decide whether to go humectants or emollients and what new conditioners to try, when all I really needed was stuff I already have in storage. The good news is holy crap my hair is so much better today than it has been in so long, hooray!

Moral: Hair is acidic. Curly hair will never not need gobs of goopy moisturizing conditioner. The End

TLDR: Squeaky clean is not actually clean unless you are a floor or a kitchen sink. "Squeaky clean" skin will produce MORE oil and probably make your acne worse. "Squeaky clean" hair is actually damaged hair stripped of its natural protective oils and moisture. Don't do it!

[Thrillho]

I'm sorry to derail here but your avatar has a huge erect dick. I mean I thought I was the only one who posted on here with an erect dick?

[calenlass]

there was a juggalo version once, too, but photobucket decided that one violated their terms of use

[jwhouk]

I am very grateful for the fact that I've been able to spend time with Camille for the last few days, but it hurts knowing she's leaving again today. The good news is that it's only gonna be about 5 weeks til she's here and we don't have to say goodbye anymore.

I'm gonna cry so fucking hard when she has to go, though.

To paraphrase a song mentioned in-comic: "If you like it, put a ring on it."

[calenlass]

See, I only really know the refrain of that song (and "uh-uh-oh, uh-uh-oh"), but given that it's repeated so much, it just makes me think that "it" is either my hand, in which case that is a little creepy that you like my hand so much that you want to marry it, or it's me as an object that you want to put a ring on because you want to own it, like putting an xbox on layaway at Target.

[The Seldom Killer]

Oooh, you could totally have layaway ceremonies where the guy and the woman go to a chapel, the woman sits on a shelf while the guy hands the chaplain a wad of grubby fivers and promises he's so going to own her in a month or so.

[Patrick]

whiny sappy shit

To paraphrase a song mentioned in-comic: "If you like it, put a ring on it."

Worry not, I'm not gonna jump the gun on anything but I'm planning on being with her for a very, very long time.

Saying goodbye to Camille was just as hard as I anticipated and more, but she added a level of sweetness to it that softened the blow. Plus, we spent the afternoon in Berkeley with her brother and her roomie, and we went to a thrift store where she got a sweet corduroy blazer and I bought a kilt!

I think for me the best part of saying goodbye was when she came to visit me at the open mic I run at the coffee shop, and I'd talked all the participants into letting me interrupt their set whenever she showed up so I could sing to her. These two teenage girls (who were really fuckin talented, yesss) were the ones who I wound up interrupting, and they were hella sold on the idea already. Once I played my song ("Do You Want To Know A Secret?" by the Beatles), the whole back corner of the store was in tears, and the two girls told us, "We fucking love you two, thanks for letting us witness that." Poor Camille couldn't keep from crying and my heart melted straight to the floor. I'm sure the baristas enjoyed mopping that up later.

I can't wait til January.

[GarandMarine]

See, I only really know the refrain of that song (and "uh-uh-oh, uh-uh-oh"), but given that it's repeated so much, it just makes me think that "it" is either my hand, in which case that is a little creepy that you like my hand so much that you want to marry it, or it's me as an object that you want to put a ring on because you want to own it, like putting an xbox on layaway at Target.

Oooh, you could totally have layaway ceremonies where the guy and the woman go to a chapel, the woman sits on a shelf while the guy hands the chaplain a wad of grubby fivers and promises he's so going to own her in a month or so.

...funnily enough that is basically what an engagement ring is. It's a down payment... in a sense, more a value hedge against a woman's chastity.

Having proposed twice now, frankly the next time, (if there is one) I ain't getting hitched if she doesn't propose to me.

[Barmymoo]

I don't really get the concept of proposals, in the traditional "surprise! Here's a ring and a super-important question!" sense. It seems like the sort of thing that you should really discuss several times and agree mutually, not just one person going "oh hey, let's see if (s)he is in the mood to make a spontaneous and life-changing decision right this moment". I guess you could have the discussion, agree in theory and then have a proposal moment to tell your friends about but that seems kind of weird to me.

[lepetitfromage]

That's kind of what we did....we talked every once in a while about where we saw our relationship going and both knew that we were in it for the long haul. He said he was still worried I'd say no but my actual response was "of course!".


Re: "Single Ladies"......I fucking hate that song. Doesn't help that I find Beyonce to be one of the most irritating people on the planet. Everything after Destiny's Child just made me cringe.



And Patrick- that is SO awesome. Sounds like it was ripped right from the movies <3

[calenlass]

Yes.

...funnily enough that is basically what an engagement ring is. It's a down payment... in a sense, more a value hedge against a woman's chastity.

Yeah, I kind of prefer BDSM collaring ceremonies, because at least they're being honest about their objectification. I don't like engagement rings.

[The Seldom Killer]

There are two kinds of proposals that get made. The first is the one where a couple (or more for that matter) get to the point where a formalised partnership is the next logical step. It doesn't actually require any discussion. The question itself may come as a surprise, after all big, or sometimes small, romantic gestures tend to be better if the other party doesn't know they are coming. However, the end result shouldn't really be.
The second is the one where one party in the group feels that the relationship isn't sustaining or sufficient and needs an additional tangible element of commitment to improve itself. Sadly the latter, whilst perhaps often a more earnest and personally defining act, tends to hold a lower long-term success rate.

I like proposals. I like an exclusive romantic gesture that is personal and not linked to other arbitrary dates such as birthdays or christmas or anniversaries. I often see people say that their partner would love something and then, in the same sentence shelve it to be brought/organised for a birthday/christmas/anniversary. Why wait, they'll love it now and you'll love giving it to them. Love and romance are some of the few things where instant gratification isn't a bad thing.

[calenlass]

Sure, proposals are great. "Spend the rest of your life with me, baby" is sweet! I am not going to rain on anyone's romantic parade, because I like romance too. I just have strong feelings about wearing what used to be a representation of the dowry that was going to be used to pay it off, because I am worth more than 6 cattle and some dirt and trees. I also dislike that whole part of "traditional" weddings where someone gives the bride away, for the same reasons. No one will ever say that at my hypothetical wedding.

I suppose you can look at rings in a different way, too, and argue that they are round and unbroken to symbolize eternity and love and blah blah blah, and wearing one voluntarily as a sign that you lurve somebody that much, why not, but it still comes across more as "somebody called dibs on you like they might bagsie an ice cream cone so that no one else will take it".

[GarandMarine]

That's why my various ex-fiancees and I exchanged engagement rings instead of me just lobbing her a gem stone. As a symbol of our bond. Or at least mutual down payment

[GarandMarine]

Yes.

...funnily enough that is basically what an engagement ring is. It's a down payment... in a sense, more a value hedge against a woman's chastity.

Yeah, I kind of prefer BDSM collaring ceremonies, because at least they're being honest about their objectification. I don't like engagement rings.

I tend to do both. You don't get a collar from me unless I think you're worth a wedding band at some point.

[The Seldom Killer]

I am worth more than 6 cattle and some dirt and trees.

My wife's engagement ring cost £25.

[calenlass]

Yes, but that's ok because you exchanged rings, right? It's supposed to mean something different for you, so spending 3 months' salary or whatever it's supposed to be isn't a requirement

[pwhodges]

I don't really get the concept of proposals,

It's a formal expression of something that is probably already agreed, or at least needs to be before acceptance (a proposal is just that, of course); people like tradition. 

Another aspect of tradition which I went along with the first time round was asking her father for his daughter's hand; it sounds (and is) awfully sexist - but seen as a way to formalise an agreement between families (it's best if they cooperate, right?), and to avoid antagonising new-found close relatives, it doesn't need to be hypocritical.  However, if I'd asked my second father-in-law for his daughter's hand he would have replied "don't you want the rest of her then?", and she would have killed me.

[The Seldom Killer]

Yes, but that's ok because you exchanged rings, right?

No, I've never liked  jewellery, or indeed any other adornment like watches, bracelets, bands etc. and whatever so I didn't get any engagement things for me. However, it was what she wanted so we went and picked it out together. Alas it was a Blue John ring, a stone that is notably fragile and didn't even last a year and has since broken. We'll replace it at some point though.

I did relent and agree to a wedding ring and to this day is the only adornment I've worn for more than a couple of days. Actually the only other adornment like thing that I've worn for more than a day was the timing chip that I used for Paris-Brest-Paris in 2011. They have them made specifically with a logo on it and let you keep it as a souvenir at the end. I gave mine to my wife because she supported me all the way round and she now wears it like a piece of jewellery, especially on sporting events. That may be the favourite thing that I ever gave her as it was something that I could only earn, not buy.

[GarandMarine]

One thing I will take a stand against is diamonds. That tradition is stupid and completely fabricated by the De Beers group. Never mind the fact that the price of diamonds is wildly artifically inflated. Diamonds are common, why would you give a singular, extraordinary individual in your life something common? Wouldn't a gift that fits that individual be more appropriate? Or something that marks your relationship? For example my ex and I exchanged claddagh. We picked each other's out, hers was wavy and feminine (she was a weird combo of nature girl and girly girl) but solid enough to handle some work, where mine was a claddagh pattern carved into a solid titanium band. I work with my hands a lot.

Such things should have meaning I think. As should a proposal, the singular romantic moment is, or should be, the start of a conversation in my mind. If she says yes (or he, again it's my goal in life to find the kind of shield maiden who'll propose to me ) then that's gravy, but the conversations about how and what and why still need to happen. However as a singular expression of love, a declaration to want to remain with that one person till one remains in this place no more... I think that's okay.

Tis just me though.

[Thrillho]

Some days I still miss my wedding ring.

[GarandMarine]

On a related side note:

(click to show/hide)

That's one groom who isn't doing a last minute runner. Or else.

[jwhouk]

Given that I've lost one of the diamond "chips" in my wedding ring, I agree whole-heartedly about t the diamond thing.