Random tidbits

[badseed1980]

1. I dreamed about my old job last night. I dreamed that I was there temporarily again, while still an MIT employee, to work on a project as a favor to them (though I don't know why I'd do that). My old boss was being worse than ever, and blaming me for things going wrong without even giving me a chance to open my mouth and explain that no, it was all RIGHT and he just didn't understand it. But I realized that I wasn't his employee anymore, and decided to go off on him. I laughed at him and told him he was an asshole with absolutely no idea how to manage people, and many other such things. It was extremely satisfying. I was still smirking this morning.

2. I am so damned bento-obsessed. Seriously. I can't wait to get my new box (it's shipping now), and am constantly thinking of new things to try. Today I have a stir-fry of bok choy, sugar snap peas, broccoli cole slaw mix, and red pepper, which is very colorful. That's one tier. The other is a bit of roasted butternut squash, topped with thin slices of pork tenderloin arranged in the shape of a rose, with a center of chili-garlic paste and leaves made of a sugar snap pea cut in half. It's only about 2.5-3 points, and I usually have more to eat than that, but I just couldn't think of anything else to add. So, I'll just have it with a couple multigrain crackers and my usual fruit (an apple today).

3. I'm going to visit my parents this weekend. It's my Memere's 80th birthday, and we're having a family party at my cousin's place. Oooh, I need to remember to pick her up a card and a Target gift card as a present. Memere and Pepere don't exactly have much money, and it'll be handy for them. Memere and Pepere are both working-class French Canadians (both born in the US). They've lived pretty much all their lives in a town that used to be pretty much a Canuck ghetto, practically, and is still heavily French-Canadian even now. Most people there spoke French as a first language even when my dad was a kid. Neither of them finished high school. Both worked in the mills all their lives. Memere's a little...dim. Sweet, but dim. She's been known to ask 50-something-year-old overweight women if they were pregnant. It's not old age, it's just Memere. But I don't think I've ever heard an unkind word out of her mouth. Pepere's a sharp one. He knows a lot about a lot of things. Many of those things include the natural world, especially local flora and fauna, and how to make and repair useful stuff of all kinds. My dad idolizes him, and they have a lot in common. My mother's parents are both dead. They were both older than my dad's, and in worse health. I'm glad Memere and Pepere are still around. They're great.

4. The materials for my conference presentation are due on March 15th. I'm a little frantic about it, but fortunately, I think we'll be OK. My coworker and I will get going on the PowerPoint on Monday. I didn't think I'd end up with 18 pages of info. Yay! Maybe we'll be able to fill up the entire presentation time slot after all.

Comments

[shadowcraftmage.livejournal.com]

How are bento boxes better then any old lunchbox?

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Well, "better" is such a subjective term, I can't really answer the question.

Why do *I* use a bento box instead of any old lunchbox? Well, primarily, the size is right for me. Bento boxes are smaller than your average grade-school kid's lunch box. Also, I like the goofy Japanese designs. And it's not just about the box itself, it's about how you put together the contents. The food in a bento box is usually arranged in an aesthetically pleasing way, instead of just, say, having a sandwich in plastic wrap or a ziploc bag with carrot sticks or something. Some people go absolutely nuts with decoration. I do less, but I still do some. Check out bentolunch for some examples of what people do. There's a good range there from "not very neat but at least somewhat colorful," through "great balance, symmetry, and some interesting shapes," all the way to, "OMG, that's a work of art!" For me, an attractive presentation makes food much more appetizing, and makes me more likely to be satisfied by my meal. This is important while I'm dieting, especially. Saying, "eh, that turkey sandwich I slapped together this morning doesn't sound as good as the lasagna they're serving in the cafe upstairs" isn't good for my diet. Saying, "Ooh, I have a flower made of pig and some colorful veggies to eat!" makes me not even think about the lasagna.

[shadowcraftmage.livejournal.com]

I think you've sold me on the concept. Not to get one myself so much, but at least I can see why you'd want one without having to squint and tilt my head sideways :-)

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I loved that one!

[badseed1980.livejournal.com]

Bwahahaha!

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/03/01/sending-your-video-c.html

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