I did my laundry today. I say this because this happens rarely enough that I feel it deserves mention on the site. And also because I lead an exciting life. Evidence of the frequency of my laundering comes from the proficiency of my executing the task. For instance, I wasted $1.50 and 30 minutes because I had put my clothes in the dryer instead of the washer. I only discovered my error when I went back down to throw in a pair of pants I had neglected. I poured detergent into the dryer and everything. Nothing screams productivity and efficiency like making sure your dirty clothes are completely dry before actually washing them.
If I was better at the cello, I'd have some sort of justification for my random acts of idiocy. It's becoming evident that I lack the genius to balance out the dumb. The News Archive | Email
Forgot to mention to Ottawa folk that we played the Mendelssohn Quintet in A major yesterday (Tuesday, June 28) at the National Arts Centre. To those of you who were in the area, wanted to see it, and liked the idea of it being a free concert, my apologies.
I bring this up because we had some friends take pictures at the concert and, though I still make an unnumerable amount of faces, they aren't nearly as bad as a solo recital. I saw some of the pictures yesterday and I looked remarkably sane. In one of them, I looked a little bit like a Dragonball character, but I blame it on the hair, and not my eyebrows steeped at 36 degree angles.
To those interested, I'll be playing a movement of the Chopin Sonata Thursday. Let me know if you're interested in seeing these faces for real. The News Archive | Email
Sun Chips are great! Whole grains and NO TRANS FAT. Judging by the large letter and bright yellow bordering on the package, FritoLay is very happy about this. I have no idea why and how this makes it healthy, but it's very convenient for me to believe them. It's that Win-Win situation not unlike discovering large doses of chocolate prevents cancer.
Loyal reader, Jenny of The Avocado, has relayed the information that the extra towel is for your hair. Susan from Ohio told me I'm a "heartless, inconsiderate vegeterien assaulter" for the comment about gravy being like liquified cow (of which, at this point, I'd like to point out that "vegetarian" is not spelled with four E's unless you're French). Daniel from Edmonton wrote to tell me his uncle is "enormously fat" and still uses only one towel.
This morning, I was on the run so I ate Snickers and a Coke Slurpee. I don't know how I justified this as a good idea in my mind. Later, though, there were some dire consequences that, without going into the details, were really gross.
Speaking of fresh produce, I really turned things around for dinner, eating at Cafe Nostalgica and arriving at the happy plateau of an avocado sandwich with a side of summer greens. This may be the biggest accomplishment today.
That and kicking everyone's butt at Foosball. I'm sure you've heard me say this before about other trivial, insignificant things, but I might just be a genius at table soccer. (It's good to have things to keep one's self-esteem buoyant.)
I just read the last News of the Day and realized how stupid it was. This one is not going to be any better, but I figure I'll write something and hope for the best anyway. There have been new developments in my life that give me little time to write and writing has become a little bit of a burden. (I can see this is going to be boring too.) Looking for balance right now in my life. (Oh man, it's getting worse.)
Some people have complained -- other than there being lack of updates in general -- that I haven't written anything of weight lately. I would like to refer you to deep writing through this link. The latest post is in Spanish. I'm not saying that everything I don't understand is 'deep'; after all, she translates it to English underneath. But Lynn's a dancer and if I could write about my art with as much poignant insight as her, I think I would be a better musician. Give her a read and let me know what you think. The News Archive | Email
I went to see a concert at the NAC tonight and met with my friend Lillian, who has such Ottawa savvy that I ended up getting two sandwiches at Marche (now called Richtree) in the mall for under five dollars. Richtree sells its uneaten 'to go' items for half-price after 8:45 pm. They also had fruit cups -- two for one -- and I bought two chocolate chip muffins for tomorrow's breakfast. I took a bunch of plastic forks while there, because I realize they are essential to my living here. Basically, I'm living in the New Residence at Ottawa University where I'm to fend for myself with a little under five hundred dollars for three weeks. We're told to try and eat "in" as much as possible, but with only a microwave, my options are fairly limited. As a result, I bought two Michelina dinners (do not get Salisbury Steak -- chicken parmigana is good, though), pizza pockets, and chicken fingers at the grocery store.
I bought toothpaste the other day. I got Colgate Sparkling White not because it was the cheapest one on the shelf, but because I like to nurse my own insecurities. I don't think any of us even believe this stuff works. I'm just thinking, by the small chance that it will work, I don't want to miss out. How important is having my teeth one shade whiter? All I know is that it couldn't hurt.
I guess it's "air your vanity at AdrianFung.com" week. I'm just thinking I have to brush my teeth anyway.
Look at me justifying which toothpaste I buy.
News of the Day: I'll be going to San Francisco this coming fall for further schooling. I'm excited about the teaching, and playing with members of my previous quartet. Plus there's always that great weather program. The News Archive | Email
I didn't sleep one second last night after midnight. It's now seven in the morning. Don't ask me why; ask my dumb brain. The good thing about being up all night is that you get to call your friends really early in the morning and piss them off. Like, I called Ep this morning in Toronto because I figured he'd be up for work anyway. "Uh.. Adrian? What.. Uh.. What time is it?" "It's seven in the morning!" I happily shout in the receiver. There's a pause. "Okay. Wh-what's up, man?"
"Nothing," I chirp. "I went out for a run at 5:30 am. Those are two things that I never do, let alone together."
Ep, says, with all the awkward grogginess of a friend who cares, "Oh. Hey, man, that's great. I'm -- Can you call me later?"
Leaving Vancouver tomorrow morning. It's been a lot of fun in the curious city of fog, sun, and rainy days. One last feast and bash before we leave: My Aunt Jennivine is making her esteemed steak and baked salmon. I think my entire stay in Vancouver has been defined by good eating. This afternoon, my family, Jer, and his sister, Valerie, went out to "high tea" called The Secret Garden. I'm normally not a tea drinker, but it was really good. They had these tiny sandwiches and desserts which I normally resent because of their cutesy size, but they were amazing. I was told by a Brit that British food involves, first and foremost, boiling the colour out of everything. Happy to report this is not the case for finger foods.
I head for Ottawa tomorrow. For all you Americans reading, Ottawa is the capital of Canada and is also not really -- technically speaking -- a city. It's more of a village, sprawled over an expanse of country humour and good intentions. The News Archive | Email
My sister is now officially married. I have sat here for fifteen minutes trying to compose the next sentence. But it's so surreal. A lot of people are writing in asking how the wedding went. I'm not sure how to even answer that. How does a wedding go bad? I figure if they signed the paper, it's a mission accomplished. I guess it would be bad if a passing plane accidentally drops fourteen tons of cargo on either the bride or groom right before the signing of the registry, rendering it impossible for them to be officially married, but that didn't happen.
I suppose the wedding itself went fine with little snag, and the food was good. I wasn't very coherent, though, while giving a speech during the banquet. I was nervous. I haven't been nervous in the recent past about speaking publicly, but my hands were shaking. This post is starting to look like my journal in fifth grade. It's been a blast so far, though, and I'm happier than I can say for my sister, and my new brother-in-law, Jeremy. The News Archive | Email
Momentous day: Tomorrow my sister is getting married. The reality of the situation didn't quite hit me until yesterday, during the wedding rehearsal, seeing her and Jeremy by the lake, holding hands, practising their vows. The feeling is, to borrow a packaged expression, beyond words.
Helping my sister write some thank-you cards yesterday, I accidentally wrote, "Please accept this gift as a token of our apprehension", instead of "appreciation". It would seem that whenever I lend a hand with intentions to help, I transform into this elephant trying to help a hen hatch eggs.
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