Sunday, July 23, 2006
It is really fucking hot out. It is not a nice heat; it is one that is making me cranky and irritable. I don't want to touch anything or do anything or be anywhere other than a cold movie theatre with a pint of iced tea (or, if they'll let me, a stiff drink). Our Internet is slowslowslow and my hands smell inexplicably of wet dog. Mum is all shirty because she can't find her sewing scissors and blames other people, i.e. me or Boopsie. The way Boopsie spreads pizza sauce annoys me, because she uses little tentative "pit-pit-pit" movements of the spoon instead of just doing a couple of big swirls and having done with it. I haven't done any of the work reading I brought home for the weekend because we have been getting ready for the visit of the Belgian Delegation, commencing Wednesday. I'm even mad at myself for having wasted the entire summer hanging around at home instead of having fun with, you know, people my own age or, just maybe, getting my driver's. So I slept till noon and have felt all annoyed with everything since then. Even a good margarita at dinner didn't help much, because the blender started leaking as I was making them. Poot.
This is too bad, because this weekend had such promise. It started off Thursday, with Katie and I going to walk Megan, who is a very nice Labrador who belongs to a little old lady. Katie brought Gromit along. He is now four months old and is full of bens. We walked him four kilometres and ran almost four, and he was fine at the end. Impressive. After, we picked up Mike and Keith and swung by Timmy's for iced cappucinos. Most excellent. Friday Boopsie and I went to see My Super Ex-Girlfriend, which I give 3 stars. Two of these stars are for the sainted presence of Eddie Izzard ("not kill, 'neutralize'. This is Switzerland.") and one is for the use of a shark as a projectile. Saturday night we went over to Ho #2's house for dinner, and Pimp #2 (or Richard, whatever you prefer) and my dad had a good old talk about herbicides. I would like to voice at this point my approval of Richard. He seems like good quality, and is certainly very funny. So kudos to Ho #2 for a good selection. She herself is just fine, and seems to be settling into the summer job and the summer apartment very well (which is good since it's nearly August). She guided our discussion of race's existence as a biological or cultural concept -- cool stuff. And then we watched a gory movie, 28 Days Later: not actually terrifying, but sort of thought-provoking. The concept is good, but once they had revealed the "rage virus" disease and its effects on people, there were not really any new tricks up the sleeve, horror-wise. So instead it almost becomes a commentary on the horror of normal existence: the most revolting act of violence is not committed by an infected person, but by one of the uninfected, "good guy" protagonists. In case you haven't seen the movie, I'll just say this: this act involves eyeballs.
And then today has been oversleeping and tidying and crankiness. Blargh blargh augh. Goodnight.
This is too bad, because this weekend had such promise. It started off Thursday, with Katie and I going to walk Megan, who is a very nice Labrador who belongs to a little old lady. Katie brought Gromit along. He is now four months old and is full of bens. We walked him four kilometres and ran almost four, and he was fine at the end. Impressive. After, we picked up Mike and Keith and swung by Timmy's for iced cappucinos. Most excellent. Friday Boopsie and I went to see My Super Ex-Girlfriend, which I give 3 stars. Two of these stars are for the sainted presence of Eddie Izzard ("not kill, 'neutralize'. This is Switzerland.") and one is for the use of a shark as a projectile. Saturday night we went over to Ho #2's house for dinner, and Pimp #2 (or Richard, whatever you prefer) and my dad had a good old talk about herbicides. I would like to voice at this point my approval of Richard. He seems like good quality, and is certainly very funny. So kudos to Ho #2 for a good selection. She herself is just fine, and seems to be settling into the summer job and the summer apartment very well (which is good since it's nearly August). She guided our discussion of race's existence as a biological or cultural concept -- cool stuff. And then we watched a gory movie, 28 Days Later: not actually terrifying, but sort of thought-provoking. The concept is good, but once they had revealed the "rage virus" disease and its effects on people, there were not really any new tricks up the sleeve, horror-wise. So instead it almost becomes a commentary on the horror of normal existence: the most revolting act of violence is not committed by an infected person, but by one of the uninfected, "good guy" protagonists. In case you haven't seen the movie, I'll just say this: this act involves eyeballs.
And then today has been oversleeping and tidying and crankiness. Blargh blargh augh. Goodnight.
Saturday, July 15, 2006
One thing I forgot: I went to see Pirates on the opening night. MY GOD it was brilliant. I loved the Hamster Wheel of Death, the witchy woman, the way Barbossa was clearly dead at the end of the first film and yet!!!, the three-man every-man-for-himself swordfight, the kickassness and good sense of Elizabeth Swann, and... well, everything, really. Except the part where I didn't get to go with Bev and the rest of the gang, as I had promised for months.
Also, I totally called Cap'n Jack falling out of a coconut palm, as he did one of the fight scenes with rolling things (not every movie has a choice of these). My reasoning was that Keith Richards did it recently, Cap'n Jack is often near coconut palms, and the destinies of the two homunculi are inextricably bound. For every action by one, there is an equal and concordant reaction by the other. Thus is balance restored to the universe.
Also, I totally called Cap'n Jack falling out of a coconut palm, as he did one of the fight scenes with rolling things (not every movie has a choice of these). My reasoning was that Keith Richards did it recently, Cap'n Jack is often near coconut palms, and the destinies of the two homunculi are inextricably bound. For every action by one, there is an equal and concordant reaction by the other. Thus is balance restored to the universe.
No longer in paradise! We got back this afternoon. In the days of vacay since last I wrote, the Fightin' McClays have been busy. We attended 'Ulalena, which is a Hawaiian dance theatre show. It supported my idea that the Hawaiian pantheon is pretty groovy. They have a half-boar, half-man god! Who gets it on with the goddess responsible for the volcano, like, what an odd couple! And the island Maui is itself named for the trickster god who pulled the island out of the sea's depths with his magical fish hook. For truly, that is what was missing in my life: a magical fish hook.
Also missing was an evening watching VH1 and eating sushi with my sister, but I took care of that on Wednesday after a worthwhile trip to the Shops at Wailea, where I found a sale at Banana Republic and thus got to pick my own Christmas present. Dad was absent most of Wednesday, because he was off helicoptering around the west side of the island with his entomological cronies, looking for Miconia.
Thursday, we had our last dinner in Maui, at the Ma'alaea Grill. Ma'alaea is a small town in between Maui's two high areas, the West Maui Mountains and the dormant volcano Haleakala. It is a town blessed with constant gale-force winds, which I imagine make the new wind power installation on the ridge above the town very profitable. The restaurant was, happily, out of the wind, and the food was very good. Through the whole trip we ate vast quantities of seafood: shrimp, tuna/ahi, mahimahi, scallops, opah, ono, delicious delicious delicious fishes. There was tasty Mystery Fish in the fish tacos we ate for lunches, and there was fresh, garnet-coloured tuna in the sushi Boopsie and I bought. I also ordered clams and mussels once for dinner, but only because I'd forgotten I don't like them.
We saw vast quantities of seafood, too, if one is willing to consider beautiful and toxic reef fish as "food". Just on our last day of snorkelling at the Kamaole 2 Beach right across from the hotel we saw two cornetfish, an octopus, two cuttlefish, scads of Hawaiian sergeants, many humuhumunukunukuapua'a (a triggerfish), various parrotfish, Christmas wrasses, birdnose wrasses... oh, lists are boring. Suffice it to say that the reefs were varied and wonderful. The beach we went to in Wailea on Wednesday, however, was not such a hit: the coral seemed to be suffering from some kind of algal bloom or bleaching. Consequently, there weren't many fish about. I suspect that Josh, the rather dishy naturalist guide from our snorkel cruise, would be saddened. It was such a contrast from the healthier-looking reefs that we saw in other places. If you are planning a Maui trip, I cannot recommend the Kamaole beach parks and Honolua Bay highly enough for snorkelling, though who knows what those reefs will be like in a few years?
Friday we got in a full day, because our flight was not until early evening. We returned to Makawao and took full advantage of the many little shoppes there, and had some excellent sushi in one of the town's three restaurants. Then it was off to Kahului airport to go to Kona, then to Salt Lake, then to E-town. I learned a lesson on our trip back, and that lesson is this: never visit the Kona airport after dark. By day it would be very pleasant. It is a cute-sized airport, very small and open-air, with a little restaurant and a central square around which the nine gates are arrayed under Tiki hut awnings. Upon our arrival from Maui, though, a few things happened. First, the restaurant was closing: no actual food available, only sandwiches with no vegetables of any kind. Then the sun went down: inadequate lighting, cockroaches, and actual feral cats. Fighting feral cats. So that was interesting. But nothing bad went down aside from the desperate craving for fruit & veg, water, and fresh air that plane travel strikes into me. We are home safe and sound, all of our stuff is fine, and I'm tentatively OK with going back to work Monday. Euuu, work.
Just talked with Katherine on the phone for, like, forever. She assures me that my return to work will be triumphant. Also, we are concocting plans to be EU interns next summer. Because that would RAWK. Anyway, I'm out! Later, suckahs!
Also missing was an evening watching VH1 and eating sushi with my sister, but I took care of that on Wednesday after a worthwhile trip to the Shops at Wailea, where I found a sale at Banana Republic and thus got to pick my own Christmas present. Dad was absent most of Wednesday, because he was off helicoptering around the west side of the island with his entomological cronies, looking for Miconia.
Thursday, we had our last dinner in Maui, at the Ma'alaea Grill. Ma'alaea is a small town in between Maui's two high areas, the West Maui Mountains and the dormant volcano Haleakala. It is a town blessed with constant gale-force winds, which I imagine make the new wind power installation on the ridge above the town very profitable. The restaurant was, happily, out of the wind, and the food was very good. Through the whole trip we ate vast quantities of seafood: shrimp, tuna/ahi, mahimahi, scallops, opah, ono, delicious delicious delicious fishes. There was tasty Mystery Fish in the fish tacos we ate for lunches, and there was fresh, garnet-coloured tuna in the sushi Boopsie and I bought. I also ordered clams and mussels once for dinner, but only because I'd forgotten I don't like them.
We saw vast quantities of seafood, too, if one is willing to consider beautiful and toxic reef fish as "food". Just on our last day of snorkelling at the Kamaole 2 Beach right across from the hotel we saw two cornetfish, an octopus, two cuttlefish, scads of Hawaiian sergeants, many humuhumunukunukuapua'a (a triggerfish), various parrotfish, Christmas wrasses, birdnose wrasses... oh, lists are boring. Suffice it to say that the reefs were varied and wonderful. The beach we went to in Wailea on Wednesday, however, was not such a hit: the coral seemed to be suffering from some kind of algal bloom or bleaching. Consequently, there weren't many fish about. I suspect that Josh, the rather dishy naturalist guide from our snorkel cruise, would be saddened. It was such a contrast from the healthier-looking reefs that we saw in other places. If you are planning a Maui trip, I cannot recommend the Kamaole beach parks and Honolua Bay highly enough for snorkelling, though who knows what those reefs will be like in a few years?
Friday we got in a full day, because our flight was not until early evening. We returned to Makawao and took full advantage of the many little shoppes there, and had some excellent sushi in one of the town's three restaurants. Then it was off to Kahului airport to go to Kona, then to Salt Lake, then to E-town. I learned a lesson on our trip back, and that lesson is this: never visit the Kona airport after dark. By day it would be very pleasant. It is a cute-sized airport, very small and open-air, with a little restaurant and a central square around which the nine gates are arrayed under Tiki hut awnings. Upon our arrival from Maui, though, a few things happened. First, the restaurant was closing: no actual food available, only sandwiches with no vegetables of any kind. Then the sun went down: inadequate lighting, cockroaches, and actual feral cats. Fighting feral cats. So that was interesting. But nothing bad went down aside from the desperate craving for fruit & veg, water, and fresh air that plane travel strikes into me. We are home safe and sound, all of our stuff is fine, and I'm tentatively OK with going back to work Monday. Euuu, work.
Just talked with Katherine on the phone for, like, forever. She assures me that my return to work will be triumphant. Also, we are concocting plans to be EU interns next summer. Because that would RAWK. Anyway, I'm out! Later, suckahs!
Saturday, July 08, 2006
Missive From Paradise no. 2
First things first: registration went fine after all. I'm not taking interpretive dance, and all shall be well. Except I now have a 12-hour day of solid classes on Tuesdays because it was the only time I could take my required international studies course and both of the poli sci classes I wanted. Bitchin'.
Everyone continues to be Irish here. First the guy at the taco stand (delicious! Tacos, that is...), then the hostess at the Greek place, and today, one of my group's surfing instructors. Yes, that is correct: I have surfed and lived to tell of the nationality of my instructor. It was actually much easier than I thought, and I have some truly kickass photos in which the guy beside me on the wave nearly collides with me, then falls over himself. I'll put those up later, because they are just so special.
The past few days I've lost track of time, but we've been doing lots of stuff. Mum and Dad got trapped in a time-share presentation (ha-di-ha) while Boopsie and I trucked around Kaanapali. Long story. In the afternoon, we drove around the west side of the island. The road was terrifyingly narrow, but we lived. We snorkelled Honolua Bay (BEAUTIFUL!) and saw all kinds of fish. Anyway, I'm running out of Internet money here, so I've gotta go! Hang loose, folks. I can say that now because I am a surfer babe. BAHAHA.
First things first: registration went fine after all. I'm not taking interpretive dance, and all shall be well. Except I now have a 12-hour day of solid classes on Tuesdays because it was the only time I could take my required international studies course and both of the poli sci classes I wanted. Bitchin'.
Everyone continues to be Irish here. First the guy at the taco stand (delicious! Tacos, that is...), then the hostess at the Greek place, and today, one of my group's surfing instructors. Yes, that is correct: I have surfed and lived to tell of the nationality of my instructor. It was actually much easier than I thought, and I have some truly kickass photos in which the guy beside me on the wave nearly collides with me, then falls over himself. I'll put those up later, because they are just so special.
The past few days I've lost track of time, but we've been doing lots of stuff. Mum and Dad got trapped in a time-share presentation (ha-di-ha) while Boopsie and I trucked around Kaanapali. Long story. In the afternoon, we drove around the west side of the island. The road was terrifyingly narrow, but we lived. We snorkelled Honolua Bay (BEAUTIFUL!) and saw all kinds of fish. Anyway, I'm running out of Internet money here, so I've gotta go! Hang loose, folks. I can say that now because I am a surfer babe. BAHAHA.
Thursday, July 06, 2006
Missive From Island Paradise no. 1
Here I am! We arrived yesterday in the early afternoon and drove out to Kihei, which is touristy, touristy, touristy, but still rather lovely, and with excellent snorkelling right across the road from our condo. My vacation activities so far have consisted of: dinner at a taco place manned by an Irishman (but why?), a run this morning, snorkelling this morning-to-early-afternoon, and then a two-hour, passed-out-cold siesta. I am recovering from jet lag, you know. We didn't get our snorkel stuff until rather late this morning, but we still got a good run in and saw some lovely fish (pufferfish! Cool). Tomorrow we'll get out early, before the water gets choppy in the afternoon, and it will be even more fantastic. Maui is hot and humid and fabulous.
One thing that rendered today less-than-paradisical was a problem with my uni registration for the fall; they will process my cheque and I will register, but in the meantime I am shaking my fist at the school for not showing the hold on my account sooner and (as always) at myself for being really fucking stupid. If I wind up taking a class in basketweaving this year and not being able to graduate on time because I can't get classes, I have no-one but myself to blame, and yet I am not even surprised that I have done something dumbass involving deadlines yet again. This is a constant; Jessica will be really fucking stupid about something. As long as I'm not in charge of anything more than my own life I'm sure we can avoid nuclear winter. If I ever get my hands on launch codes, the jury's out on the survival of humanity.
And with that cheery thought, I'm going to go for a walk and then get some dinner at a Greek place with an Irish hostess. How do they all get here?
Here I am! We arrived yesterday in the early afternoon and drove out to Kihei, which is touristy, touristy, touristy, but still rather lovely, and with excellent snorkelling right across the road from our condo. My vacation activities so far have consisted of: dinner at a taco place manned by an Irishman (but why?), a run this morning, snorkelling this morning-to-early-afternoon, and then a two-hour, passed-out-cold siesta. I am recovering from jet lag, you know. We didn't get our snorkel stuff until rather late this morning, but we still got a good run in and saw some lovely fish (pufferfish! Cool). Tomorrow we'll get out early, before the water gets choppy in the afternoon, and it will be even more fantastic. Maui is hot and humid and fabulous.
One thing that rendered today less-than-paradisical was a problem with my uni registration for the fall; they will process my cheque and I will register, but in the meantime I am shaking my fist at the school for not showing the hold on my account sooner and (as always) at myself for being really fucking stupid. If I wind up taking a class in basketweaving this year and not being able to graduate on time because I can't get classes, I have no-one but myself to blame, and yet I am not even surprised that I have done something dumbass involving deadlines yet again. This is a constant; Jessica will be really fucking stupid about something. As long as I'm not in charge of anything more than my own life I'm sure we can avoid nuclear winter. If I ever get my hands on launch codes, the jury's out on the survival of humanity.
And with that cheery thought, I'm going to go for a walk and then get some dinner at a Greek place with an Irish hostess. How do they all get here?
Sunday, July 02, 2006
Here I am again, on the stage... Or not. It's looking like a busy weekend, for once, which makes me very happy. Tonight I'm going to Ho #2's familial home for dinner after not having seen her for about a month, and I finally get to meet her boyfriend (they've been dating for over a year, but he leaves town for work whenever I get back for the summer). Tomorrow I'm probably going to hang out with Heather, who is delightful.
Yesterday was Canada Day, so happy birthday Canada. To celebrate, Boopsie and I went to a showing of a movie about an all-American superhero invented (I believe) by a Canadian. We also listened to a marvy CBC special that reminded me of what incredible force Canada has had, and still has, as a producer of excellent popular music. Well done to the Red and White. I hope that it remains forever as inclusive, prosperous, and beautiful a place as it is now, and that its failings mend themselves with time. It is an experiment of a country, one in which I am proud to participate.
But I am leaving it Tuesday morning for a place that enjoys some things Canada mostly lacks: warm weather, macadamia nuts, good snorkelling, and tropical cloud forest. I'll be back all too soon, but who cares? Paradise forever would get tedious. For ten days, though, it will be divine. Tally ho!
Yesterday was Canada Day, so happy birthday Canada. To celebrate, Boopsie and I went to a showing of a movie about an all-American superhero invented (I believe) by a Canadian. We also listened to a marvy CBC special that reminded me of what incredible force Canada has had, and still has, as a producer of excellent popular music. Well done to the Red and White. I hope that it remains forever as inclusive, prosperous, and beautiful a place as it is now, and that its failings mend themselves with time. It is an experiment of a country, one in which I am proud to participate.
But I am leaving it Tuesday morning for a place that enjoys some things Canada mostly lacks: warm weather, macadamia nuts, good snorkelling, and tropical cloud forest. I'll be back all too soon, but who cares? Paradise forever would get tedious. For ten days, though, it will be divine. Tally ho!
