The Life And Times Of

Fast Asleep in Fifth...

Sun, 08 Oct 2006 03:06:45 GMT

I hate driving when I'm tired. I'm lucky that I've never lost complete control of the vehicle. Or, for that matter, hit something (or someone) in the road when my eyes shut.

That shit is scary.

Post Scriptus; I miss you all.

Breakfast Recipe # 1

Wed, 04 Oct 2006 12:42:46 GMT

Vegan Buckwheat Crepes

You will need: Buckwheat Pancake Mix (Ployes are available at most grocery stores and the like at health food stores); Vegetable Oil; Water; a skillet, hot plate, or otherwise flat bottom cooking pan; a spatula; a measuring cup; a whisk.

Ployes Buckwheat Pancake Mix 3/4 cup
Water 1 cup

The key to good crepes is all in the consistency of the Water to Buckwheat mixture. You want it to be thinner than pancake mix, but you also don't want it to be watery. Measure 1 cup of water into the measuring cup. With your whisk, slowly mix in the Ployes, checking the consistency ever now and again (don't just dump it all in at once, you may find you need less. Evening out the consistency by adding more water and mix just leaves you with way more crepe mix than you probably originally needed.) The mixture should hold to the whisk a little as you lift it out, and should run off pretty quickly. If it's moving slow like pancake mix, add a touch more water. If it's watery, add more Ployes. Common sense folks!

Set your stove to a good high heat. Pour in enough oil that it covers the pan as you move it around. Ideally, you want the oil to get really really hot before you cook anything in it. You can test this by putting a few drops of your mix in. If it quickly hardens and sizzles, you're ready to cook. Before you start in on your crepes, pour a mini pancake into the pan, maybe 3 or so inches wide. There's no need to worry about this one, it's your tester. You'll notice the top of the pancake filling with bubbles. Wait till it's almost entirely covered and bubbles, then flip it over. The real purpose of your tester is to soak up a lot of the oil that's in the pan, so if it's really really greasey, you're doing it right! Lift up the under part of the tester, or simply flip it over again...if it looks done, throw it on a plate. (You can soak up all the grease on the pancake with a napkin or paper towel, and it should taste just fine too)

Now, another thing to remember about crepes is to keep them thin. You can achieve this 2 ways, effectively. Pour you mixture right into the middle of the pan. With your spatula, very lightly spread the mixture around so that it is visibily getting thinner. OR, if you're using a pan with a handle, lift the pan just above the heat and tilt it slightly. Pour the mixture into the pan a tilt the pan in different directions so the crepe covers most, if not all of the flat surface area.

Just like your tester, bubbles are you sign to flip. There should be a LOT of bubbles on the top, not just on the sides, but in the middle too. If the edges are getting too dark too quickly, turn your heat down a little. Flip the crepe over when it looks ready and let the other side sizzle for a while. When both sides look uniformly cooked to a nice golden brown, and your crepe is thin and can be rolled up and folded, you're done!

Crepes are generally prepared rolled up into little tubes, but you can fold them however you'd like (use toothpicks to make them stay, they'll likely unroll themselves). Like pancakes, they are perfect with maple syrup; fruit, and/or some nice, vegan whipped creme.

Mange!

72 Hour Days...

Sun, 10 Sep 2006 03:03:05 GMT

This week has been busy. School has started and things are hectic. Books, homework, lectures, work, friends; I have very little time to breath. However, in a few weeks things should slow down a bit. I'll be settled into the college routine, and I won't be working Saturday nights into Sunday mornings anymore. I can finally start accomplishing things...hopefully. For now, sleep. I have work soon.

Love.

It's been a while...

Wed, 30 Aug 2006 18:51:21 GMT

This is my first post in a long time. My summer has been exhausting and hectic and I'm sorry to everyone that I didn't get to hang out with or get in touch with. I honestly think that once I start classes, things will slow down, as peculiar as that may sound.

My summer has been awesome. I accomplished a few things that made me very happy. First, a 20 foot cliff dive, successfully, that felt great; But of course I throw my back out on the 8 foot dive that followed. I spun fire for the first time in my life up at Burdock, which made me indescribably happy. I hope to be spinning fire for the rest of my life, if possible. I got into college. This is a huge accomplishment for those of you who are unaware of what little work I did in High School. I'm excited to be learning again. I'll be attending USM in...a few days...holy shit! I made 5 under Par in a round of disc golf, which rocks ass. And many other various crowning achievements that escape me at the moment.

My primary goal for Autumn and Winter will be: Dual-Citizenship with Canada, Learning fire eating, Dean's list, partaking in martial arts classes, writing more frequently (both music and freelance fiction), and again, many more that escape me at the moment.

I am going to make a conscious effort to update this frequently once again, when life takes the slow lane and eases on the brakes.

Love to all of you.

Long post...

Sun, 28 May 2006 04:08:59 GMT

Oh, where to start.

First, Movie Reviews:

DaVinci Code
One Thumb Up, Two Stars.
To start, I hated the book, so I didn't exactly enter the theater with high expectations. However, my expectations are always high for 'Big Budget Hollywood' Flicks, like this one. The movie was decent. I would have settled for seeing it on video though. Not something I would own either. Everything was very predictable, but I will admit that Dan Brown had some good theories and research going. All the actors did an okay job. Ian McKellen was by far the best. Retrospect: Unless you loved the book, wait for it on video, if at all.

The Notorious Betty Paige
One Thumb Up, Two and a Half Stars.
This movie was well done. It had a strange marriage of 'black and white' and 'color' that jumped back and forth with no real rhyme or reason. Overall it was entertaining enough to hold your interest; nudity was used sparingly and appropriately, and 'fopah's' were at a minimum. However, the movie ended abruptly (I won't tell you when, so as not to ruin it). I was told later that Betty Paige actually wished for people not to know anything about her or where she was or anything after when the movie leaves off, but you wouldn't know unless someone explained it to you outside of the movie. Retrospect: Worth seeing if you are interested in the life of Betty Paige, but expect it to end with no epilogue to speak of.

I visited Cathy at Lily Moon yesterday, and picked up the grinder at the Coffee Shop, or what's left of it (the coffee shop, not the grinder). It's unreal walking into that place and seeing everything dismantled, emptied, cleared out, taken down, boxed up, et cetera. I honestly did a cartoon style double take and had to stand there in awe for a few minutes before I could compose myself and remember why I was actually there. I miss that place. I miss the people. I miss almost everything about it.

However, I do enjoy my new job at Coffee By Design. I work full time now and I get good tips even though the pay is low, so it evens out to about $9 - $10 an hour if you factor in tips every day/night. It's much different from Lily's. Customer and co-workers...need I say more?

Anyway, this is a long post tonight, and I have work tomorrow morning, so I'm going to go shower and crawl into bed.

Bonne nuit mes amis.

Test your friends...

Thu, 25 May 2006 03:05:54 GMT

How to tell if someone is a movie lover or not...

Step 1. Ask them their top 5 favorite movie's of all time.

Step 2. If the question was answered quickly, question their choices.

Step 3. Assess the quality of their choices.
              If their answers consist of Hollywood junk such as;
              a) 'Alexander'
              b) 'Catwoman'
              c) 'Rollerball'
              d) Or any sequal to 'The Crow'
              You can safely conclude that the person in question is NOT a movie lover.

Step 4. If they answer slowly or think hard about the question at hand before answering
              they are likely avid movie watchers, and appreciate good cinema.

Step 5. If they tell you quickly that the question is almost impossible to answer, or present
               you with a detailed list of movies compiled after days/months/years of careful
               consideration, this person is indeed a movie lover.

Use this method enthusiastically to confirm who your real friends are.

Mon, 15 May 2006 16:54:02 GMT

I'm tall
You'll notice that first. I'm probably taller than most people you know (or don't), or I'm one of the tallest to say the least. Second, third and fourth, in no particular order, you may notice my lip piercing, tattoo [the visible one] and my wallet chain. Next, my hat. Clothing will probably come next, or the fact that I always have a five o'clock shadow. People notice outward appearances in certain orders based on factors of what attracts them and what's obvious or apparent. This is obvious, but sometimes not apparent.

I'll finish this thought later, I have to get to work.

Enjoy the sunshine today.

A Murmur...

Mon, 15 May 2006 02:47:16 GMT

Some days, time doesn't move as slowly as we wish.
Other days, seconds drag on for what may seem like centuries.
Appreciate the former, and take advantage of the latter.

Read a book.

Voldemort Can't Stop The Rock

Wed, 10 May 2006 18:57:56 GMT

Liz and I went and saw Harry and the Potters last night.
They definitely rocked the Portland Public Library.

Coffee By Design is fun. It's not nearly as busy as it was made out to be. Mister Bagel was definitely a more hectic job.

I'm in a strange mood right now.

It burns !

Mon, 08 May 2006 12:18:07 GMT

I've spent the last few days playing with my new toy.

Yesterday was an intense 4 hours of frisbee extravaganza. 2 hours playing ultimate frisbee, and another 2 playing disc golf. I got quite the sunburn, and hurt my thumb, but other than that, the day was a blast.

I have my orientation at Coffee By Design today at 12:00. According to Mary Allen it's just getting people aquianted with the business and watching "...a really awesome video!". I'm excited to be working again. This little vacation was nice, but I'd like to start making money again soon.

This summer I want to have a massive yard sale. My dad hates yard sales and thinks they're tacky, so I'll be selling anything he feels like throwing away too. Also, dumpstering stuff to sell is always fun. If anyone would like to join in on this potential yard sale, please do, it will be loads of fun, you can get rid of your crap, and make a few bucks for it.

Anyway, time for Aloe Vera and breakfast.

Have a good day comrades.

Sinus Pain

Fri, 05 May 2006 12:40:29 GMT

I just got out of the shower, and I think there was more blood than water at one point.
I never want to have anything in my nose cauterized. Ouch.

I've had a either a sinus infection or the flu for the past couple of days. Unfortunately, wheatever it is I have, I've given it to Sam. Bu that's how it always goes. We share everything. How sweet, right? I'm on antibiotics, phenylephrine for nasal decongestion, alka-seltzer, Emergen-C, ibuprofun, and these shower things that open up your sinuses. I hate being sick. I need a massage. As soon as I start my new job, I'm going to make an appointment with a massage therapist. That should be awesome.

I have another interview with Coffee By Design at 11:00 today, but I'm confident I have the job. Mary Allen e-mailed me yesterday to confirm and said ..."I'd like to get you on the calender as soon as possible." I don't know about you, but that sounds like a pretty sure thing to me.

I'm excited to be healthy again.

What the Fuck?

Tue, 02 May 2006 14:33:43 GMT

I have nothing relevent to post. I just thought this dismembered zombie octopus carrying zombies was interesting and needed to be shared.

Enjoy

Tue, 02 May 2006 01:23:03 GMT

WE REGRET TO INFORM YOU
THAT LILY'S COFFEE AND
TEA WILL BE CLOSING FOR
GOOD. THANK YOU TO
EVERYONE WHO SUPPORTED
US. WE LOVE YOU ALL.

signed,
        Nick, Cece
              & The Cyrs

   Or something to that effect. This is essentially what the sign on the door read, more or less, when I stopped in to pick up the rest of my equiptment. Or atleast this is what I would have put. There was also some subtext and postscript that I notcied driving up, but I forgot to read it when I got to the door. I assume a note to the artists who have their pieces displayed there. Cece did put my name first, which made me feel good. I'd spent more time in that place than any one person since it's inception a year and a half ago.   I'm sad to see it go, but I love new beginnings.

   I'm going to try to spend a lot less time doing useless shit. Writing in this journal, checking my e-mail, and occassionally chatting with someone for a valid purpose on AIM will be the only recreational use of this or any computer I have or use. No TV unless I'm eating in the kitchen; No searching eBay for useless crap; And no waiting for time to pass. I've felt dormant lately because of my actions, or lack there of, as it were. If you see me online and I don't have a legitimate excuse for being online, I want you to message me with this text, or something of the like: "Quit being a lazy asshole and do something constructive!".

   Please.

Farewell to my coffee shop customers, I will miss the bulk of you. <3

It finally came.

Sat, 29 Apr 2006 13:38:54 GMT

Dear Nicholas,
   Congratulations on your acceptance to the University of Southern Maine!

   I have my reasons for going to college. Actually, that was the topic of my thesis. If you have some hang-ups about my attending college, you can ask me personally why I applied. It's a thesis worth of explaination so I don't want to get into it right now.

   I need to get my Dual-Citizenship to Canada soon. More a want than a need, but I want it enough that I'll say I need it.

That is all for this morning.

A Good Day...

Sat, 29 Apr 2006 04:11:28 GMT

Tonight's Dumpster Finds:
1 Case of Odwalla Juice (PomaGrand is tasty)
3 Bars of Dagoba Equadorian Dark Chocolate 68%
1 8oz. Bag of Almonds
1 8oz. Bag of Assorted Nuts

   Tonight's haul wasn't bad. I haven't been dumpstering in a long time, and I'm really not sure why that is. Too many preoccupations I guess.   I love dark chocolate, and seeing those bars of delicious, brown heaven made my night that much better. Odwalla is normally a sure things, But other dumpsters are always a treasure hunt. (Vegans are hunters too).

2 haiku about the cleanliness of my cap

   I washed my black hat
   It was grey when I started
   Now it's back to black

   It took some scrubbing
   But now it's back from the dead
   Love my zombie hat

Lily's is going out of business. I may not have a job for a while. Or I may have a job right away. It would take any path really. I'm excited to start fresh though. I'll miss my coffee shop. I'll miss my customers. But I won't miss the stress.

Last day of work tomorrow, Must rest up. Goodnight my lovelies.

A New Beginning Again, Again...

Fri, 28 Apr 2006 02:39:38 GMT

A castle.
Breaking and entering.
3 friends (But not close friends).
Ghosts.
A group of people.
Yoga being done in 70's exercise garb.
A group of ~~people~~
ghosts doing yoga,
in 70's exercise garb.
An eerie child laughing.

    That's when I wake up. [Just when it started to get interesting]

    There's no water at my house right now. Our well pump died earlier. The only water I have left to brush my teeth is what fills half a glass from a late dinner. And somewhere on the other side of the planet, a Somolian child dying of thirst gives me the finger.

    "Poor you." he mutters angrily.

    The glass is half empty.

    I feel lazy lately. Moreso, unaccomplished. I feel as though there is a laundry list of things that I should be doing. That I want to be doing. That I have all the time in the world to do. And yet, nothing is actually getting done. ['Parallel Structure' - Check.] I may make a list.

    I may have a new job soon enough. Lily's has slowly been cutting my hours. In the last few weeks I have plunged from a full 40+ hour schedule, to a 21 hour schedule. Maybe they're trying to tell me something. Either way, I took the hint and submitted a resumé to Coffee By Design. The interview was promising and I may have a job in Portland in the weeks to follow. If not, I'm fucked. So if you know of a God that I'm unaware of, please pray to it. Unless said diety is against Same-Sex Marriage. In that case don't bother.

    If I could use a metaphor to describe myself at this very moment, I would use a sinking ship; I'm losing water fast. So I'm going to brush these ivory chompers before my mouth declares oral mutiny.

    Sleep well my children.