My Durian Experience
mood: blah
It's not often that I can say that a fruit intrigues me.
I saw Anthony Bourdain tucking into one of these on No Reservations and thus began my fascination. I had to know. But how? It's true, I want need to visit Thailand. But given the current political climate and lack of money on my part, that's not going to happen anytime soon. Ditto Malaysia. So where does a landlocked Minnesotan get their hands on a durian?
United Noodles. Shangri-La of Asian groceries. Greatest grocery store ever. And what do I find in one of the freezer cases? Whole frozen durian. Frozen durian flesh. I couldn't believe my eyes. I picked up the de-husked version (seriously, how the hell was I going to get into that thing if I bought a whole one?) and brought it home to defrost.
By the time I got it home I could kind of, sort of smell something through the shrinkwrapped hard plastic box. And what I could smell wasn't good. Oh well, I was expecting this. When it was defrosted I braced myself and cut into the shrinkwrap. Not so bad. I opened the box. Wow. I can only describe it as skunk spray plus asshole plus raw onions wrapped in rotting meat. I was apprehensive. I was reconsidering my "I'll try anything once (except brains)" policy.
The flesh itself was wrapped tightly in more plastic wrap. That means it would probably smell worse when I unwrapped it. I steeled myself and unwrapped the log of fruit. I grabbed a fork and dug in. It was kind of custardy and stringy. It tasted nothing like it smelled, thankfully. It was kind of like bananas. And onions. In a good way. I think I would have liked the texture more if it was fresh. I could definitely tell that it had been frozen. It was kind of waterlogged. I'm not even going to try to describe the flavor more than I have here. It's something you need to experience for yourself.
Afterwords I had to light a scented candle and douse the whole house in Oust. Was it worth it? Sure! Will I try it again? Only if it's fresh.
PikaPikaChick on 10.27.07 @ 12:51 PM CST [
link]
Friday, October 19th
Friday again
music: Oprah
mood: mellow
Friday Fiver
1. What makes you feel exposed?
Any more than two people looking at me.
2. What do you have to force yourself to do?
Take a deep breath and try to take the attention off myself.
3. Where do you like to spend your time outdoors?
Anywhere outdoors in nature. I like beaches, jungles, forests, mountains, fields, deserts, whatever.
4. What surprises you?
My appetite.
5. Friday fill-in: Late at night I'm .
Sleeping badly.
*
Alt Friday Five
1. When you're feeling stuck on an issue in your life, do you prefer avoidance or immersion to deal with it?
Avoidance for a long time, then immersion.
2. Do you like to talk to friends and/or loved ones about issues that are up in your life?
No.
3. Do you have techniques that work best for dealing with this sort of thing?
I wish.
4. When you're working on something big, does it consume you to a degree that you can't think of anything else, or can you easily put it aside to focus on other things from time to time?
I think I have ADD sometimes. I need to jump around from topic to topic.
5. Can you tell right away when you've reached resolution on an issue, or does it take a while to sink in that you've found your solution?
It depends on the situation.
*
Friday Five
1. Name five favorite movies.
Metropolis
Fight Club
12 Monkeys
Natural Born Killers
Se7en
2. Name four areas of interest you became interested in after you were done with your formal education.
I never really completed my formal education, but....
Zookeeper
Real Estate Agent (the horror!)
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer
Chef
3. Name three things you would change about this world.
Peace
Human rights for ALL humans
Education
4. Name two of your favorite childhood toys.
My Legos and my Nintendo.
5. Name one person you could be handcuffed to for a full day.
My husband.
PikaPikaChick on 10.19.07 @ 04:51 PM CST [link]
On jerseys
music: Gnarls Barkley
mood: impatient
I have thus far remained silent on the topic of the new NHL jerseys because I was hoping they'd kinda just go away. I just read an article and a blog that have inspired me to speak out.
Simply put, these jerseys are horrifying. They look like they were designed by those two twits from What Not To Wear. I can't imagine actually skating in these things, or worse, fighting in them. They might as well throw in a gold lame tutu and a helmet-mounted tiara.
Yuck.
PikaPikaChick on 10.19.07 @ 12:26 PM CST [link]
Wednesday, October 17th
Do you have a Verizon cell phone?
mood: angry
Verizon Wireless: If you don’t opt out, we get to share your CPNI call data
Long story short: If you have a Verizon cell phone, call 1-800-333-9956 to "opt-out." There's absolutely no reason why you shouldn't do this.
Thanks to my brother for sending this little tidbit along.
PikaPikaChick on 10.17.07 @ 08:04 PM CST [link]
Life
music: Oprah
mood: everything
Bout on Saturday! Details here!
I have been battling 24-hour-a-day nausea for three weeks. I don't know why. Doctors are trying to figure it out. I'm sick of this.
This guy on Oprah is making me cry.
I've become one of those women who watch Oprah. WTF
Back to derby, I've been working really hard despite the stupid nausea/throwing up bullshit. I'm pissed because if it wasn't for this mystery illness I would be even faster and stronger right now. I'm feeling way faster than last year already and I'm loving it. My thighs are HUGE -- in a good way.
I'm so not used to having real health insurance. I'm finally going to be able to take care of my arthritis. Woo hoo! And get better contacts! Yay!
Bout on Saturday!
Bout on Saturday!
Bout on Saturday!
Bout on Saturday!
Bout on Saturday!
PikaPikaChick on 10.17.07 @ 04:43 PM CST [link]
Tuesday, October 16th
Break
I have nothing else to offer right now than this:
PikaPikaChick on 10.16.07 @ 12:41 PM CST [
link]
Saturday, October 13th
Things you didn't know about the US "system"
mood: disgusted
Conspiracy Of Silence
I want to smack that smug smile off that greasy prosecutor's face. You'll know the scene when you see it.
I'm trying to find some more recent information on what has become of this case.
The breakdown
Here's an excerpt from "The Franklin Cover-Up"
Here's some interesting related things concerning your current president
I have no words for the utter horror.
PikaPikaChick on 10.13.07 @ 09:46 PM CST [link]
???!
mood: horrified
WHAT THE FUCK?
They're kidding, right? This is a parody, right? Right?
PikaPikaChick on 10.13.07 @ 05:20 PM CST [link]
I got my derby tat!
mood: ecstatic
PikaPikaChick on 10.13.07 @ 10:29 AM CST [link]
Friday, October 12th
Some Friday stuff
mood: excited
Friday Fiver
1. What's your personal hell?
Strapped to a chair in front of a bookshelf full of encyclopedias. Someone comes along and starts slowly rearranging them. AAAAAUUUGGGHHHH!
2. Do you prefer brightly lit rooms or dim spaces?
If it's natural sunlight then I'm good with brightly lit rooms. Otherwise I do like dim spaces.
3. What's the weather like today?
Overcast, cold. It'll be like this for the next 6 months. Tell me again why I live in this godforsaken state?
4. Is it easy to be you?
Not really.
5. Friday fill-in:
My heaven is .
A gourmet kitchen will the finest ingredients at my disposal, scantily clad chicks hanging about and kissing, and a hockey game on TVs all around said kitchen.
---
Alt Friday Five
1. How do, did, or would you usually negotiate consent with a new sexual partner? Verbally or non-verbally? Ahead of time or in the moment? By waiting for them to take things to the next level and either agreeing or disagreeing -- or vice versa, by trying something and seeing if they stop you or not?
Completely in the moment. You just know when both parties are into it.
2. Has there ever been a time (or times) when someone did something sexual (anything from groping to sex, however you define that) to you without your consent? If so, tell us a bit about it.
Yes, I had an unexpected hand up my shirt. I was surprised but I wouldn't say I was angry or uncomfortable with it. Flattered, mostly.
3. Has there ever been a time (or times) when you did something sexual (anything from groping to sex, however you define that) with someone that you're not sure that they consented to (either not sure at the time, or realized later)? If so, tell us a bit about it.
No, but there was one time when we tried to get something going and he must have had some performance anxiety or something.
4. Do you have trouble saying no in sexual interactions? Why or why not?
It's not really an issue. I'm married. I take it whenever I can get it unless I'm extremely tired or there's alcohol involved. Then I have no trouble at all saying no.
5. Do you have trouble saying yes in sexual interactions? Why or why not?
I'm married. I'll take it whenever I can get it. :)
PikaPikaChick on 10.12.07 @ 09:13 AM CST [link]
Tuesday, October 2nd
For the record
mood: tired
5 Hour Energy doesn't do jack shit.
PikaPikaChick on 10.02.07 @ 04:40 PM CST [link]