burning like matchsticks in the face of the darkness

Apparently seeing ads while at the gym for Anna Paquin's WWII movie and the Wolverine: Origins movie gives me weird dreams.

I went to bed around 9pm last night and woke up this morning not long after I would be getting up for work -- which in this case meant I got about nine hours of sleep.  I got up and puttered for a bit and then went back to sleep for a bit and then got up and showered and stuff and after a bit took a sort of a nap.  I had plenty of time and should have done stuff like catch up on financial bookkeeping, but I was feeling tired/lazy and didn't want to do anything.  I am choosing to blame this on the letdown after having been strongly emotionally engaged for a week (I think I remember this from last time).  I did at least launder my sheets and do some online shopping looking for a simple small black backpack and the jeans I like, and I got to Harvard Square a little bit early to check out the Gap since they're having a cardholder's sale.

Allie and I met up around 2 and sat outside Crema Cafe for hours (it was ridiculously warm out) and then went questing for chocolate cupcakes, ultimately ending up at Finale where apparently they discourage ordering from the bakery case if you're sitting at a table so we ordered actual expensive plated deserts (I got the Apple a la Mode, which was good, but which I probably wouldn't get again).  We then did assorted grocery shops (I now know where the Whole Foods by Central Square is, and I also got to pick up stuff at Shaw's which I'd realized last night/this morning I should do but wasn't sure when I'd have time).

FCS UCC was watching Crash at 7pm tonight as part of their Sacred Conversations on Race series, and I was considering going, but when we got to Allie's apartment it was like ten of seven, and I opted to continue hanging out with her for another couple of hours.

I feel like there's nothing in my head about what's been going on in my life recently other than "Holy Week" and "so a friend of mine...," and it's nice that we can apparently spend seven hours together and just chat about this and that, drifting from topic to topic not getting exceptionally deep about any of them, and just enjoy each other's company.

Also, it is good to have friends who will threaten to punch people in the face on my behalf :)

This morning when I turned on the shower, I noticed there was something moving, like not just a clump of hair being moved around by the running water, but something moving of its own accord.  I put on my glasses and hey it was a really big multi-legged insect.  I let the water run until it was dead (which felt somewhat cruel, but no way I was squishing that myself) and then turned off the water and got a couple of papertowels and picked it up and dropped it into the wastebasket.  Oh, being a grownup.

I sat in on both of FUH's classes this morning (the first class he introduced me as his "extraordinarily competent and capable assistant"; the second class he neglected to introduce me, but I'm not fussed).  They did a version of the Win As Much As You Can exercise and then FUH talked about the Prisoner's Dilemma and Axelrod's work, and by the end of the second class I actually understood it (I'd read some about prisoner's dilemma and such before, but I hadn't really wrapped my head around it) and I have thoughts, but I seem to be in a period of not posting thinky stuff or substance.

At lunch today, I asked Greg if they were doing anything for Passover, and Laura asked what you do for Passover, and Greg's explanation didn't go how I would have done it, and I interrupted a little -- I think to help make it more comprehensible to the non-Jew -- and ended up taking over the explanation, which I'm fairly certain Greg was fine with.  (In retrospect I feel weirdly culturally appropriative.)  I said I like that Passover falls during Holy Week this year, and I rattled off various things about the Last Supper and Palm Sunday and the blood libel, and I love that Greg is interested in this even though the Christian history is not his history and he's not a religion geek like I am.  I boggle sometimes at what people don't know, though -- I mean, how can you grow up Catholic and look at me blankly when I say "the Exodus story"?  (It occurs to me now that if nothing else, haven't you seen The Ten Commandments?)  In the moment, though, I think I was really good at performing nonjudgmentalism.

P.S. Inclusivity ur doin it wrong? -- "Finale proudly introduces special bakery selections for Passover.  (These items are flourless or made with Matzoh cake flour; they are not Kosher.)"

Because I was at work at 8, I was gonna go to the gym at 4 (B had a meeting from 3:30-6) but B's meeting got canceled and I forgot about my plan to go to the gym until like 3:57 and even though B was in a different meeting which would likely last until the end of the day I felt kind of like I should stay in case stuff came up (I am lazy and avoidant, but also kind of committed) and then FUH came out gave me class-related tasks to do.  When he gave me the participation to input, he said that since I had attended the classes, if I noticed there was anyone who had spoken whom he hadn't marked, that would be incredibly valuable.  I had actually taken notes in the second class, so after I input all his participation marks I went back to my notes and wrote up the comments I had written down which hadn't gotten marked.  As I was finishing up, I realized it was like 5:03.  *shrug*  I feel like I spend so much time faffing about on the internet while I hang out at my desk waiting for someone to need me that I'm really not fussed about exact hours (and really, spending 3 hours sitting in class? it feels somehow like cheating that I get paid for that).

I've been emailing back and forth a bunch with L. and feeling on a really even keel, which I appreciate, especially since I find myself cranky with Someone.

I took the T with Allie this morning, and we caught up a bit, and at one point she asked, "So besides MuskratJamboree, how's life?"  As usual, I don't have an answer to that.  I know that I'm looking ahead to a lot of things and I should probably try to be better at being in the now -- and also observing Holy Week.

( gym )

This week, the pasta station has been rotated out for papusas.  Sigh.  The students come back next week (Registration/Orientation Tues-Thurs, class on Friday), so I'm hopeful that the Grille will reopen then as well.  (I had egg rolls from the International buffet -- China -- for lunch today.)

For dinner I made myself Annie's mac&cheese (shells, white cheddar) and a Quorn chik'n patty (in the toaster oven -- phear my classiness).

***

Saturday afternoon I was on facebook and saw that Ava was having a birthday "jamboree" at Zuzu that night.  I phoned her to get details (like time) and left a voicemail (what time? happy belated bday, so stoked to see you).  I called again at 8:30pm and 9:30pm, no answer.  I left her a facebook comment on Sunday saying I'd left her a voicemail to get details but she hadn't called me back so I was sorry I hadn't gotten to party with her and we should definitely hang out sometime.  She called me back this afternoon, apologetic (her ringer was set to some setting that meant she didn't hear it, and she ended up not getting out there until like 11 'cause of various shit), she felt really bad seeing my missed calls and stuff, and she couldn't talk for very long 'cause her phone battery was low, but I'm such a good friend and her schedule's really in flux but we should definitely make plans to have dinner sometime.

I flaked on ever claiming my free birthday dessert at Finale (even though Heather totally said she'd go with me! -- July was a busy month, shuddup), but one of the emails I got while I was away was:

We're having an end of summer celebration and you're invited. Chef Nicole Coady has created a refreshing new dessert we call the Coconut Caipirihna. It is a lime genoise cake with drunken pineapple and rich coconut crème ($8.95).

Because we value your loyalty, we have put a complimentary Coconut Caipirihna on your Sweet Rewards Card. You may redeem the dessert at any Finale location when you buy any other Plated Dessert (http://www.finaledesserts.com/menus-viewmenus.php) in the dining room on or before September 21st, 2008, the official last day of summer.

Actually, it occurs to me that co-worker!Katie's birthday is September 13 and I could offer to take her out to Finale (you have to buy a plated dessert to get the freebie, and I could just buy her a dessert as a birthday gift).

***

As usual, once you're aware of something, you notice it.  Our last full day in Venice, we went out to the island of Murano.  One of the Brenda Rickman Vantrease novels I read in Rome mentioned Murano glass, and then T Time in this morning's metro:

'Murano Glass' Exhibit
Through Sept. 12
Tomorrow-Saturday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.
Galleria Florentia
79 Newbury St., Boston
MBTA: Green Line to Copley
Free, [phone number redacted]
www.galleriaflorentia.com
More than 50 pieces of stunning Murano delights are on hand at this Newbury Street gallery which specializes in Italian pieces, both classical and modern. The centuries-old Murano process forges kaleidoscopic technicolor into its glass wonders. The Florentia has an array of pieces that break down into vases, planets, musical instruments décor, sea animals and Impressionist-inspired and more abstract works.

Friday

Prof.B. working from home is both good and bad.

I went to the gym after work.  Did a half-hour on the elliptical (interval program), pedaled backwards for second half.  (mile 1 - 11:17, mile 2 - 22:52)  Then I did a half hour on the rowing machine.

*

Mike&Meredith hosted a Game Night.  I only ever seem to be able to attend the ones they host :)

Michelle's been talking about how she read Anton LaVey's The Satanic Bible, and I'm starting to want to read it 'cause she talks about how LaVey is such a good writer.
Michelle recommended Elaine Pagels' The Origin of Satan to Sue.  Anyone have thoughts?  I remember being unimpressed by Beyond Belief: The Secret Gospel of Thomas, and I seem to recall that I've heard mixed things about Elaine Pagels.
She also explained the difference between a pentacle and a pentagram, which was news to me.

At one point during the night, Michelle said approvingly, "I'm getting my back rubbed by a cute girl."  (I was sitting behind her on a piano bench.)  She hadn't heard from her boyfriend since Tuesday and next time she talks to him she's gonna tell him: "There are plenty of people happy to take me off your hands, if calling me once a week is too back-breaking for you" and totally namedrop me :)

Michelle was telling me about this online survey that had as one of its questions: "Who would you HIGH-FIVE right now?"
She said she cracked up laughing, and thought of me.

At one point she said she (we?) needed to get psyched up... that the jazz music in the other room just wasn't doing it for her.  I knew what was coming, but when she busted out with, "Shot through the heart!" I  still nearly died laughing.  [ref.]

At one point, Sue asked, "Were you two separated at birth?"
I said normally Michelle prompts a lot of "This is my tolerant face" from me, but that we happened to be focusing on the stuff we mutually geek out about.

Michelle says next time we marathon HIMYM we're inviting Sue and Catherine.  I pointed out we're most of the way through S1; she said we'll start over, she's happy to rewatch.

We played Apples to Apples.
I got intense (Black Holes - Mike) and corrupt (My Love Life - Michelle).
The last hand we played before people had to start getting home (it was like midnight) was "spunky" and the final choices were "Rock & Roll" or "Girlfriends" -- my card and Trelawney's, respectively.  Trelawney enlisted peer pressure, and not actually wanting to be spunky, I was ok with forfeiting to her.

Saturday

I was gonna go to the gym but ended up sleeping for an eternity.  ::confused::

collegecate and I went to see Titus Andronicus, with dinner at Tamarind Bay beforehand, and dessert at Finale afterward.

I had Nezami Handi ("Mix Vegetables with spinach in almond sauce.")  It very much wasn't what I was expecting, but I liked it, and though I was surprised at the apparent small amount of food, I was full at the end.

Anyway, Titus Andronicus.  That was a very disturbing play.
Back when we watched The Cook, The Thief, His Wife, and Her Lover and Emma couldn't stomach it, I said, "But you love Titus," never having seen or read the play myself.  Now that I've seen it, I stand by that statement more strongly.
Also: there was a moment wherein a character gagged another by stuffing a piece of paper in his mouth.

Yeah, that a dessert place has a buy-one-get-one-free promotion with a production of Titus Andronicus is a bit disturbing :)  I'd actually never been to finale before.  I ordered a Manjari Mousse.  Not to die for, but that was okay.

The company that did Titus Andronicus... their 2007-2008 season is: Macbeth, Henry V, The Tempest, King John; and the coda to the 2006-2007 season is Love's Labour's Lost.
I am undecided.

Cate lives near Coolidge Corner.  Good to know for future midnight showings.  [midnight showings permalink]  I wouldn't have gone to the prom thing anyway -- though because '"Everything's funnier when seminarians do it," I will be at ANTS next Friday :)

Sunday

I dreamt that I happened to visit the library and I saw Terry in the old children's room with a young daughter.  Awake, I have decided this was Tallessyn's daughters, whom I see at Cambridge Welcoming every Sunday (especially since my dream self seemed to think Terry had two daughters) but it was very bizarre since that is not how he normally shows up in my dreams.

Last night I was telling Cate that I was considering taking an Intro to Islam course at the extension school next year.  However, trying to come up with a bibliography and thesis for my 15-page research paper for my Medieval Church class is making me wanna drop out of school.  I also dislike that I've been in a poor mood all day because of it.