Venice is.... well, I Mean, It's VENICE!!

I don't often gush about how awesome my husband is, but I have to sometimes, and this is one of them. Last weekend, for Valentine's Day, he whisked me away to Venice for a long weekend. Yeah, that's right: VENICE!! He found an awesome hotel right on the Grand Canal. Our windows looked right out over it! It was amazing! We saw bus boats, police boats, laundry boats, grocery boats, taxi boats, construction boats, ambulance boats, fire boats, regular people boats (like it was there car), and even a FedEx boat. He had to practically pry me away from the windows because I was so entertained watching the regular everyday goings-on of the canal.

It was Carnivale and everyone was wearing masks and crazy costumes. People were decked out in the full 16th and 17th century regalia: wigs, hats, feathers, dresses (with the giant skirts & corsets); men in knickers, tights, and heels. We actually bought masks and wore them around to get in the spirit of things. It was so much fun.

Can I just say, too, that if you ever get to go to Venice, you must go see the Basilica di San Marco. The entire ceiling is gold mosaic - the ENTIRE ceiling of this huge church is tiny bits of glass covered in gold leaf mixed with different colored glass to creat beautiful pictures. It's mindboggling. They let you go up to the balcony so that you can see part of it up close, and then you can walk outside and look out over the piazza. So very cool.

We also climbed the bell tower, which was scary actually. I'm really afraid of heights, but I still climb a tall tower in every European city I go to: the Sagrada Familia in Barcelona, the Westerkirk in Amsterdam, the clocktower in Bruges, etc. This one, though, was really scary because when we were up there, the giant bell over our heads began to swing back and forth and then ring really loudly for like 2 minutes. It shook the whole thing and was so loud. I almost squatted into a fetal position, no joke. Once were back on solid ground (semi-solid, since Venice is sinking), my hubby pointed out how much the tower is leaning and that the foundation is crumbling. We then found out that it collapsed in 1902 without warning, was rebuilt with a wood foundation, the wood is now rotting, and they are trying desperately to fix this so that it doesn't collapse again. Good stuff.

The whole weekend was just really wonderful (the food was out of this world). I feel so lucky that we got to go and see this crazy awesome city. It was so exciting, in fact, that when we got home, we were both so worn out that we got sick! Oh, well, it was totally worth it.

Let's, see, what else is going on.... I'm quitting the gym because it's too far from my house, and I never go. I am now co-chairing the AWC group for gardening (we take care of the garden at the Ronald McDonald House), and I'm also assisting in the community outreach group. Oh, and I went with our NU friend to Laban and we gave each other class. That was hard because I had to come up with phrases right there to do, but fun, too, because we got to do the exercises and phrases that we wanted.

I suppose that's it for now; I hope all is well across the pond. Of course, I would know if only people would blog!!

sunday 2/15

so i FINALLY decided to start packing some boxes, but then i saw a really weird looking bug in the room where i wanted to pack, and it ruined the whole thing! now i can't go in there! i guess packing will have to wait another day.

things are good in montreal. me and will made cioppino (a tomato-based fish stew) for dinner last night, which was excellent. i also made a focaccia that didn't turn out that great since i only had regular flour (it tasted kind of like a big flat biscuit). i also probably did not let the dough rise long enough. and after that i was pretty pissed that weren't any valentine's day movies on. i can't believe that none of the networks were playing a valentine's movie on a saturday night for pete's sake! one movie channel was playing "fight club"...but that is not what i had in mind. someone should have been playing "when harry met sally" or "legends of the fall" -- i don't care what-- but no, it was all regularly scheduled programming.

ugh. i cannot stop thinking about that bug!

you guys might be interested to know that last week i tried a ZUMBA class. it was okay. for those who don't know, it is an aerobics class inspired by latin dancing. the teacher didn't give ANY verbal cues, so i was lucky i had dance experience and could pick it up and anticipate when she was going to change moves. every so often though, she would go "wooooo!" i think i'll go back, though.

i also rented a space this week at a studio so that i can get started on our project. STILL CAN'T STOP THINKING ABOUT THE BUG.

side note: why hasn't anyone written an entry about the fancy dance?

EDIT: will just got home and identified the bug as a FISH HOOK!!!!!!! i can't believe i wrote a whole entry about a horrifying bug that ended up being a fish hook.

Mac and Cheese is delicious!

I think you guys are just the crowd to appreciate this. I made the mac and cheese with leeks recipe from the latest issue of Bon Appetit two nights ago, and it is AWESOME! Better than T's, better than Hopleaf, better than, dare I say it, Kraft! (Though, perhaps not better than Mr. Howinkle's. Wink.) You should check it out. Also, sis, it tastes like Gma's because it is thickened with eggs and not roux.

Recipe:
1/4 cup butter
5 cups chopped leeks (white and light green parts only)
1/4 cup all purpose flour
3 1/2 cups whole milk
1 lb. extra sharp raw-milk cheddar (about 4 cups)
1 tbs. Dijon mustard
1 teaspoon hot pepper sauce
2 large eggs
1 lb. penne pasta (or whatever kind you want--I used elbow)

• Lightly butter 15x10x2-inch baking dish. Melt 1/4 cup butter in heavy large saucepan over medium heat. Add leeks; stir to coat. Cover saucepan and cook until leeks are tender, stirring occasionally, about 12 minutes (do not brown). Uncover saucepan; add flour. Stir 2 minutes. Add milk; bring to simmer, stirring often. Add cheese, mustard, and pepper sauce. Stir until cheese melts. Remove from heat. Season cheese sauce to taste with salt.
• Whisk eggs in medium bowl. Gradually whisk in 1 cup cheese sauce. Stir egg mixture into cheese sauce in saucepan.
• Meanwhile, cook pasta in large pot of boiling salted water until just tender but still firm to bite, stirring occasionally. Drain. Return to pot.
• Stir cheese sauce into pasta in pot. Transfer to prepared baking dish. DO AHEAD Can be made 2 hours ahead. Let stand at room temperature.
• Preheat oven to 400°F. Bake pasta until cheese sauce is bubbling around edges and some ends of pasta are golden brown, 25 to 30 minutes.
• Let stand 15 minutes. Serve hot.

Guatemala

I don't know if you guys all know this, but I got to spend the holidays in Guatemala, which, aside from the digestive issues, is AWESOME. We were there for my friends L & O's wedding on 12/28 and then for New Years. I'm definitely going to learn to speak Spanish and go back someday. Here are some pics. All of the Mayan kids there called me Barbie. I think "hippie travellin' Barbie" is a bit more accurate.

Snow, Class, and Whatnot

Well, as many of you may have heard, it snowed this week in London. Not a ton, but a decent amount. And guess what the city did? It stopped, and then waited for the snow to melt in its own sweet time. Stores were closed and public transportation was all wacky for several days. Being from the south, I understand that if a city isn't prepared for snow, it can really mess things up. But, I thought it snowed here; I thought London would have a better method than 'wait and see'. Oh, well. We got to have a few nice snow days where we cuddled inside and played in the snow in the park - which everyone in Clapham did. I've never seen so many people out playing, building snowmen, igloos, forts, and walls, and having huge 30 person snowball fights. I got hit by an errant snowball, but it was still fun.

In other news, we went to a soccer game last week, which was a lot of fun. The fans sing great songs like, "You're Getting Sacked in the Morning," and something like "When the Whites Come Marching, Oy, Oy, Oy!" (I feel I should mention that we went to a Fulham Football Club game, and they are the Whites, so we kept chanting, "Come on you Whites!" I thought it was kinda weird, especially since that chant sounded just like Sloth from Goonies saying "Hey you guys!").

Ahh, and now my big news: I finally went to class! Yay! I could hardly walk the next day! Yay! Actually, it was a lot of fun, and I didn't suck nearly as much as I thought I would. That was my biggest fear: that I would have lost my dancing abilities. And that I would seriously injure myself. Both, happily, did not come to pass. I went with our friend from NU who has just finished her PhD, and I think we're going to make a regular go of it on Mondays. BTW, she got an awesome job at U of Michigan as a Fellow in the Michigan Society of Fellows and Assistant Professor in the Dance and German Departments. I'm really excited for her, but sad that she'll be moving back to the US soon. Oh, well, at least we can start dancing together before she goes. Now I'll be ready for Agent Thumb's grand experiment and may even have someone to dance with. Booyah!

I know that I've done more since my last post, but I can't think of it. My husband is making me a full English breakfast, and the yummy smells are clouding my ability to think straight.

little idea

hey guys! i just had this funny little idea-- what if i posted some choreography and each of you did your interpretation of it, filmed it, and sent it to me? it would all be to the same piece of music, and i would try to make the written instructions as clear as possible. but you could do whatever interpretations you want-- costumes, number of dancers, the space you choose, even the style of dance (alexis, YES, you could do it on pointe, i knew you would ask. wait, does alexis even read this?).

actually, do you think it should all be to the same piece of music? or should we just have counts, and then we could create music for it afterward?

i'm not sure what we would do with it when we are done, but i think there could be a lot of cool options. we could make a film out of it, or even just have it on record so that the next time we're all together, we could put it together into a little live performance. it's kind of just a lame little composition 101 exercise, but it could be cool just for a start, to try out long distance collaboration and see what happens.

also, i think we should communicate over the blog if we have any questions during the process (assuming you guys want to do this). or would it be more fun to communicate privately, which would maybe allow for more variation in each final product? i am curious to hear your thoughts.

-thumbs

She Works Hard for the Money

That's right! I finally started working for real! Yay! I'm a substitute teaching assistant. I started today in a preschool; it was really intense. Lots and lots of children who spoke a ton of different languages (none of which was English). They were really cute, though, so it was fun. Tiring, but fun.

In other news, I went to the Opera on Friday. It was Turandot, and it was really cool. The music was great, but I especially enjoyed the scenery and costumes. And, then, there was the dancing. For the most part, it sucked. It was full of slow attitude promenades and grand plies in fourth. However, every now and then, they would throw in these great gestures and moves that totally reminded me of enfab. I wished that they would have run with that instead of psuedo Chinese dancing (the Opera took place in 17th century China, btw).

I got to take an indepth tour of Westminster Abbey. We got to hear behind the scenes stories about the lives of previous monarchs and their tombs. We also learned about the history of the Abbey (like why it's an abbey and not a cathedral - no bishop with his official cathedra/chair = no cathedral) Why do I love British History so? Wow, I'm sorta dorky, but we all knew that, didn't we.

I got my picture taken with President Obama THE REAL ONE!

more details when i get back to montreal

edit:
photo!

I Got My Picture Taken With President Obama!

OK, it was the wax President Obama at Madame Tussaud's, but he was incrediably life-like. Yesterday it was free for American citizens because they were unveiling his new figurine, so a friend of mine and I took advantage and went. The figures are creepily realistic. It was pretty cool, though..... I may have danced with the Michael Jackson figure.



Afterwards, we went to TGIFridays to celebrate and watch the inauguration on a live telecast. I looked for Agent Thumbs in the crowd, but I didn't see anyone that I knew. People were aplauding in the restaurant, though, and during the National Anthem, most people stood up and sang. It was kinda nice and patriotic even though were across the ocean.



So my big news is that I may have a job! Finally!! I had an interview with a company that contracts out teachers/teaching assistants. They called me yesterday and today for subbing, but I keep missing their calls because my phone doesn't get reception in buildings.... or in trains.... or outside.... or in my own house. I didn't get their texts/calls until late at night so I missed out on both. Well, actually, I may be able to work tomorrow, but I kinda already have lunch plans. I've gotten used to being unemployed and it may be hard to switch gears. I'm going to miss naps. Alot.

Thumbs - I'm thinking about you!

Is anyone else's thinking, holy cow Thumbs is in D.C. right now?!?!?!?! And the REASON she is in D.C. Holy cow!

Happy New President's Day.

p.s. I'm glued to the TV watching this ball.

OMG, is ballet.....dumb?

Hello friends. I had this thought the other night, and this is the only appropriate place to share it. After many many years of devotion, love, and dedication, I'm either going through a phase, or I've seen the light: ballet is kind of dumb. How could I never have thought this before?! I took class on Tuesday night, and it hit me like a wall. I was standing there waiting for the next barre combination, I think we were on frappe or something, and I saw everyone watching for the next combo, furiously marking the combo with their hands. That was it. Marking with the hands all of a sudden looked so incredibly dumb. Dancers standing around with both legs kinda turned out, shoulders slumped, their hands flailing about. And then I noticed that eager nodding of the head and wide eyed look that so many people had as they paid close attention to the instructions to REALLY work your turn out and to REALLY stretch your knees and to REALLY flatten yourself between a tiny tiny tiny hallway. I mean, do I need to REALLY be working any turnout at this point in my life? And I feel like such a cynic not playing into the, "Oh oh oh ok I understand your wise words regarding turnout teacher". I don't know. My New Year's resolution was to stop being such a kurmudgeon, but I slipped up.

wednesday night

hey all, thumbs here, getting ready to settle in for an evening of television. it's about -10 degrees outside (the high today was -5)... needless to say, i am not about to leave the house unless i have to. i will be watching american idol from 8-10, followed by top chef. and during the commercial breaks, i will be searching craigslist for furniture. it is my new obsession-- i figure, if you check often enough, you'll get the good deals before they're gone. i already scored a kickass persian rug that is a cerulean color with little elephant and camel shapes about. i guess you will all just have to come to montreal if you want to see it.

it looks like we will be going to DC next week for the inauguration-- i wanted to go anyway because i got tickets to the swearing-in and the staff ball for my work in MO, but as it happens, will's band was asked to play at the staff ball. isn't that a nice coincidence? now i HAVE to go. and i'm glad! and uh guess who else is playing the staff ball? jay-z. yeah, that's right. the mother effin' hova. i hope i get a glimpse of bey! but, more importantly, i hope i get a glimpse of B.O. he better be at least swing by to say hi. well, it'll be exciting no matter what. and crowds unlike i've ever seen before. i'm actually kind of nervous about that part!

OH MY GOD! i dont' know what this is a commercial for, but a woman dancing in a suit CLOVER LEAF TUNA is what it's for, a woman dancing in a suit in a subway car to the song "maniac" just did my dance! BT, you know the one-- the one that made me decide i loved to dance, as a child, in jazz class. she only does it once to the right and once to the left, but it is unmistakeable. be on the look out for this commercial!

whew. ANYWAY. i made a hilarious dinner tonight-- i scrambled some eggs with leftover black beans and peppers from a different dinner and ate it in a taco with yogurt and cilantro. it was good, i mean, but the eggs looked like grey sludge from being stirred and cooked with the black beans. big mistake! i guess no one's judging me on presentation, here, but it was pretty gross looking. but tasty. last night i made pork tenderloin with apples, onions, and fennel. and i also made homemade tagalongs recently. and last night, will made marshmallows.

all right. that is all i have for now.

agent thumbs

Bekarbee

We're back in the UK. yippee-skippy. Actually, it's not so bad. I got my fingerprints back from the FBI confirming my lack of a criminal record. Perhaps now I can get a job.... I didn't want to leave the US, though. It was awesome seeing the few people that I got to see during my brief visit. I miss you guys!

OK, now to a serious problem. Due to the large amount of pub food and chocolate that I eat now, my waist and booty no longer fit into the same size of pants. By this I mean, my thighs/butt will fit in to one size of pants, while my waist needs another size. I can't find a single pair of pants that fit me! In the past two weeks I've tried on over 30 pairs of pants - I'm not kidding! I've been counting! What's a girl to do (besides exercise and eat right, because I'll probably not do that....)?

Now, as for the title of this lame-o post: ATP, I think you know what it means. I'm starting book 4. For those of you keeping track of my hypothetical baby names, Bekarbee (pronounced bu-KAR-bi) may have kicked Vervarvine out of first place. It may be the best name I've heard ever!

Change one thing, change them all...

So I bet you all thought that when i suddenly up and moved away that would be the end and I'd settle down and all would be right with the world... but alas!  I have shocked you all.  Haha I'm moving... AGAIN... yes indeed this will be my 4th apartment in oh, 5 months... Me and... um, I don't know what to call him on here... any recommendations for appropriate blog nicknames? ATP??  Until then he'll just be "boy"

ANYWHO... we're moving to a super cute cottage in Berkeley.  It has a fireplace, our own backyard, a built-in fireplace/grill thingy... a galley kitchen with an antique stove... its really awesome.  Its basically a coach house so from the street it doesn't even seem like it exists.  ALSO... its basically centered between three amazing grocery stores (this shouldn't be as exciting as it is...)  So we're moving in like 3 weeks! yikes!

Also, since I last posted I got a job!  Hooooooray for employment.  I'm making breakfast pastries and I have to wake up at 3:15 am... but its a job that pays me monies... so I'm happy.

Hmmmmm... I guess that's it for now... until next time when I... well... at this rate who knows what will happen in a matter of weeks...

Superstars of Dance

Did anyone watch it?!?!!?!

Admittedly, I was extremely underwhelmed (except for the Shaolin monks who are ridiculous beyond belief. I want to be a kung fu monk so bad). The dancing is certainly not the best in the world. I cannot believe Pasha and what's her name, Anya?, are competing for Russia. I mean, they blew their chance on SYTYCD. If you're not America's Favorite Dancer, how do you expect to be The Best Dancer in the World???

In case you didn't watch, it is hosted by Michael Flatley (who was introduced as "the world's most popular dancer"..... whaaa???). He likes to keep no less than 3 of his shirt buttons unbuttoned at all times. The scoring is a joke- these panelists just throw out a random number- always between 7-10 it seems- and that's the score. I especially love the Chinese judge- Master Wang something from the Shaolin Temple. He doesn't say a word of English and just sits there harnessing his Qi until it's time for him to give a number. The US and Irish judges are total pervs and just give 10s to all the sexy dances. The South African dude keeps it pretty real though and told the Indian girls they weren't good enough for the show. There's only 2 female judges, and they don't seem too trustworthy. Also, the judge from Russia has the last name Smirnov. I mean, at least freaking Nigel isn't on it (though i'm almost positive he's a producer or something).

They didn't seem to take into account the difference between traditional cultural dance and just plain old technical virtuosity. It's hard to score some athletic Australian contemporary dance in jazz sneaks and knee pads against a traditional Chinese Ribbon Dance, right? I guess that's why the point system is so ludicrously archaeic. They just couldn't figure out how to actually score something so broad and totally random. It was entertaining enough for me to watch the whole 2 hours, but I certainly had higher hopes for a showcase of the world's greatest dance. Apparently, America's forms are pop-and-lock and super-dramatic cabaret-ballroom?? The Argentine Tango was amazing, and the gumboot dancing from South Africa was pretty tight, but basically the monks stole the show. Obviously.

I was sad to not be watching with all of you!! Hope you're all happy and healthy and joyfully getting back to the grind.

BT

keep it real 09

haaaay guys! happy 2009! here's another little photo entry for your viewing pleasure.
we begin with christmas in maine. this is a shot from inside the house of will and win making a snow...monster? snowgiant? whatever it is, it is ugly and made of snow and it melted within the hour. i believe i was prepping the butler baked apples at the time, and will and win were supposed to be clearing the snow off the deck (creative method-- ATP, would this be a 3 pointer in odyssey of the mind?)
this gives you an idea of the general scene on christmas day. you can see will on the left modeling his newsies cap and in the middle of trying on some new sweatpants. some of the favorite things i got: a SODA MAKER (carbonates your water!), some fancy patent leather shoes, a haitian table cloth, and a ginormous dance anthology.
here you can see the menorah that liza b gave me! we lit the candles for the remaining nights of the visit and i led everyone in the hannukah blessings.
AND...now we are on to new year's eve. keepin' it real with a double elimination rock paper scissors tournament. will's labor of love, the office score sheet.
the competition began on new year's eve. here, you can see ATP squaring off.
and, the competition continued on new years day. this is your author in the middle of losing a semi-finals match.

it was SO FUN to have mr. and mrs. ATP in montreal! if only i could have seen all of you. i hope everyone's starting off their 2009 nicely. will and i are starting our 2009 as potential homeowners. we put an offer in on a house yesterday! i'll keep you posted, but here is a photo of the house so that you can picture it while you send mind signals to the owners to accept our awesome lowball offer. happy great depression! miss you guys.