Filed under: Day To Day Shit | Tags: I hate Dell, laptop trouble, shock anti-therapy, technical difficulties, whatthefuck
If you just so happen to be whatthefucked about my lack of internet activity lately (and if you haven’t noticed, kudos to you!), I have the story:
About a week and a half ago as I was watching the season premiere of Weeds online, my laptop shocked me. Not just one of those little zings you get from touching someone who has been rubbing a balloon all over themselves, but a full on zap. I saw the light, felt the pain, caught it’s scent, and was left with a physical mark of it on my hand (no worries, it’s all gone now (: ). I immediately hit the power button out of sheer terror and haven’t touched it since. My internet prowling has been limited to the occasional email check, web comic, and Facebook spree on my sister’s laptop and until I find a laptop on the street or I get over my fear of potentially being electrocuted that probably won’t change.
Right now there is no prospect of me getting a new laptop soon unless my parents decide that buying me a new car just wasn’t enough of a gift, or Idaho decides to boost minimum wage in September. Once I’m back to saving money next summer in grand old Oregon, I will most definitely be putting funds into a new spiffy laptop. Any brands you trust? I’m absolutely done with Dell, and remember, I’m a Simmer (:
I’m hoping for a Christmas miracle or some sexy benefactor to magically swoop on into my life, until then, this lady will be exceptionally sporadic in her posts,
Dacoda.
Filed under: Day To Day Shit, Loves and Inspirations | Tags: art, Bed Bath & Beyond, blogs, crafts, drawings, Hungarian football, lost moments, Meridian Idaho, missed connections, Sophie Blackall, thrift store finds
Have you ever checked out this site? It’s not nearly as popular as it should be. Reading through all the postings makes me lovesick and sets my heart all aflutter. If you think that’s perfectly lovely, then you will adore Sophie Blackall’s artistic renderings of such lost moments on her blog Missed Connections.
I experienced one myself this past Saturday while shopping for some wedding gifts with my sister:
I know, I know, I can’t draw to save my life. If only you knew how much time went into this :P
While shopping for yarn at a crafts store, I bumped into a display of fall-scented candles and it immediately set me to aching for autumn and cooler weather. I’m so excited, you really have no idea (:
A little while later I saw this:
And now I really want to make pretty pointless things with glass vases, sand, and random knick-knacks. Seriously.
I re-found this awesome t-shirt in my dresser last night before I fell into bed:
I am the thrift store queen.
That’s about all.
Tell me about your missed connections, hmm?
Dacoda.
Filed under: Day To Day Shit | Tags: Bravo, college, E!, employment, Flickr, fresh starts, Linfield, minimum wage, moving, Pizza Hut, Star Idaho, transferring, Victoria's Secret, VS Pink
In the past month…
I’ve Moved To A New Location
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I’m calling Star, Idaho home these days. Last night my sister and I went for a short 5 mile bicycle ride back behind our quaint little town. There’s a little duck family that hangs out around here, and a skunk that’s too cute for words! I would like to have one as a pet one day, if there were an ethical way to remove whatever gland produces the awful smell. Lately Liz and I have been watching a lot of Kourtney And Khloe Take Miami, Holly’s World, and The Real Housewives Of New Jersey. And guess what? I actually kind of enjoy it :P
Gotten A New Job Making Pizzas
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I’m working at my local Pizza Hut, about a mile away from where I live. It’s a change of pace from Subway and less frustrating. I’m still trying to get used to the drastic decrease from Oregon minimum wage at $8.40 an hour to Idaho’s current rate of $7.25.
Spent Way Too Much Money At Victoria’s Secret
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I’m so obsessed. After numerous pairs of panties and bras, cute new sweats, delicious perfume, and the promise of an adorable hoodie, I’m in love with the store, specifically the Pink line <3
And have decided to….
Apply To Transfer To Another School, Starting Fall 2011
I’m really looking into Linfield. I visited once a couple years ago and fell instantly. They seem to have a great Mass Communications program, and my dear friend Erin is going there. Perfect? I think so. Go there? Hit a lady up!
Mmmm, I love comfy new VS Pink sweats,
Dacoda.
Filed under: Day To Day Shit, Loves and Inspirations | Tags: antiques, apartment living, kitsch, moving, organization, practical yet cute, saucers, tea cups, thrifting
I’m obsessed with buying cute cheap things. They know me at antique stores and thrift shops. Number one thing I can’t resist: teacups and saucers. Back at home, nearly every surface in my room was littered with my findings, but in cramped quarters such as here in my new apartment, everything must have a purpose.
Say hello to my favorite little beauties who just became as practical as they are darling:
Don’t worry, I have more than enough cups to satisfy my caffeine addiction,
Dacoda.
Filed under: Day To Day Shit | Tags: Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding, baking, Boise Idaho, College of Western Idaho, desserts, moving, Star Idaho, TCBY, Texans
Hello! I just got back from Idaho today, and guess who forgot to pack Nikon ):
If I have yet to make mention of this, I’m moving to the Boise area next month. My sister (Also my new roommate! We have that sickeningly and annoyingly awesome sibling relationship where we’re completely different but still best friends) and I found the cutest little two-bedroom apartment in the teensy tiny town of Star. We went for a six mile walk Wednesday morning around our new neighborhood and beyond. Star is filled with rivers and tributaries, cute little goats, sheep, horses, and cows, and there is a mint field so very close to my apartment so it smells minty fresh constantly :3
I visited College of Western Idaho while I was there as well, bleh. But if you’re going, let’s meet (:
And I fell in love with TCBY, specifically the white chocolate mousse. And I found this awesome photo during a TCBY Flickr search:
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I met the sweetest, nicest couple Tuesday evening. Last year, Liz (my sister) acquired a job that involved hanging out and fulfilling the basic social needs of a man with Down’s syndrome. In the process, she has become close with the family, who hail from southern Texas bayou country. When Liz told them that she had family coming into town they insisted on inviting us over for dinner.
Over homemade lasagna and blueberry cream cheese pound cake, they told us of their move up to Idaho, suffering through their first cold winter, the experiences they’ve shared with their son, and such, all in the cutest Texan accents.
At the end of the evening, they extended the door that is always open to my sister to me as well, something I most likely will take advantage of, not only for the delicious food, but also for the wonderful company.
Right now as I type, I have some Apple Cinnamon Bread Pudding baking in the oven, and I am kind enough to share the recipe (:
Several slices of your choice of bread, enough to cover the bottom of a medium-sized shallow baking dish
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
1 apple, pared, cored, and sliced
1 tablespoon lemon juice
4 eggs
1/2 cup sugar
36 ounces evaporated milk
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 teaspoon grated lemon peel
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1. Butter the baking dish.
2. Place bread slices in the bottom of the dish, overlapping. Brush the bread with the melted butter.
3. Toss apple slices in lemon juice and scatter over the bread in the dish.
4. Beat eggs in large bowl until combined, then beat in sugar, evaporated milk, vanilla, lemon peel, and cinnamon. Pour mixture over bread and apples and press down to soak it in. Cover and let stand for 30 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
6. Bake for 40-50 minutes or until pudding is set. Knife inserted near center should come out clean. Sprinkle with sugar if desired, can be served warm or cold.
Enjoy!
Dacoda.
Filed under: Day To Day Shit | Tags: behavior, blue collar, communication, customer service, food industry, food service, guide, guidelines, respect, rules, servers, Subway
Have you ever been in a situation where you walk into a restaurant or store and you don’t know how to talk to your server? Or the girl behind the counter was super cute? Or maybe you’re just a dick and like belittling the people who handle your food and ultimately decide whether or not you’ll be shitting your pants for the next 24 hours?
The people you’re dealing with are taught the art of customer service. We are trained to serve you with a smile and be as polite as pie, along with dealing with unreasonable customers and giving you that free food you most definitely don’t deserve just because you didn’t get enough extra mayonnaise. We value our customers. At least, that’s what the word on the street is.
Here’s some tips and guidelines on appropriate relations with the crew behind the counter:
1. Don’t Recite Jingles From Our Commercials
Do you know how many times we’ve already heard that, today alone? Notice our tight smiles? Yeah, we’re mustering up all our will power in order to not jab a sharp object through your eye into your brain and leave you for dead. Don’t do it. We know the song, you’re not funny, and when you compliment us on our speed, know that we’re just trying to get your annoying ass out of there as fast as possible. We know you like your five dollar footlongs and the box that rocks, you don’t have to remind us.
2. Take Caution And Carefully Appraise Your Chances Before Hitting On Your Server
If you’re old/drunk/high/smelly/dirty/[list more unattractive first impression qualities here] just forfeit. If you come in everyday hitting on whoever helps you, know it’s a lost cause. If it’s a rush and you’re slowing the line down because you want to fit in some slick pickup lines, back the fuck off. If we give you any sort of discouraging sign, stop. If we act interested, by all means go ahead, otherwise, no. Just no.
3. Don’t Take Your Bad Day Out On Us
We weren’t the ones who told you that you have cancer, we weren’t the ones who gave you herpes, and we weren’t the ones who cut you off while driving. Leave the bitchiness and let it fester for those who deserve it. Jesus Christ, we are giving you food. We don’t like our job, but we’re still smiling. We don’t like you, but we keep the saliva in our mouths. How about some common courtesy?
4. Don’t Be Stupid
I can’t count how many times someone has asked me at the cash register “What? That’s seriously how much it costs?” Well… there’s a menu right behind me with all of our prices on it. So yeah, I’d say that it seriously costs that much. I’ve gotten into the habit of making an exaggerating gesture of turning my head towards the menu and not saying a word as they put two and two together and figure it out themselves. Don’t be pissy because you were ignorant.
5. Please Please Please Be Reasonable
Sometimes we can’t give you all the olives you want. We’re probably already being overly generous with them, considering that at Subway the is rule eight olives for a footlong. EIGHT. When was the last time I put only eight olives on a footlong? Oh, you know, never. Be happy you’re not being served by those rule nazis we call management.
Be nice, be respectful, and we’ll return the kindness.
Your beloved sandwich artist,
Dacoda.
Filed under: Day To Day Shit | Tags: Alex, birthday, Boise Idaho, cupcakes, homemade, Jackson, Katelin, Pendleton Oregon, photography, red velvet, Russia, Walla Walla Washington, wonderful days
Today is my birthday. Obviously. (:
If I had known how wonderful today was going to be, I would have brought along Nikon to be a part of it. A ton of thanks and happiness towards my dear friends Kate, Alex, Jack, and my family for working to make today such a special occasion for me, along with everyone who wished me a happy birthday.
Kate (who is the master of all sorts of homemade goodies) made some delicious cupcakes, entirely from scratch. The frosting is to die for, the perfect texture and creaminess makes all other frosting seem so generic and gross. Plus, the color was so pretty. I sincerely believe that she should take her skills and follow her heart to Russia and open the most adorable little cupcake shop.
Last night while making a quick stop after work with Jack at Wal-Mart to get my birthday tiara (which I wore all day), I was tricked into helping pick out the cake mix and frosting for the birthday cupcakes Alex was going to be making for me.
As an extra treat, Jack and Alex took me out for a splendid lunch at Great Pacific (a local favorite, stop by if you’re ever in Pendleton, Oregon!), where I was also treated to a free chocolate truffle for my birthday. I also received some lovely yellow lilies (one of my favorite colors and flowers!) from Jackson.
When I got home from lunch I noticed some cards that I hadn’t seen this morning before I left for school. Inside a card from my grandmother were three pictures she included of her, my grandfather, and my father back in 1965 when they went to the duck pond in Walla Walla, Washington when my father was only six months old. So cute and retro!
AND for the first time in my life, someone wrote on the windows of my car with glass chalk (:
Pictures below!
Did I mention the new car I got last week? And the results are in: I’m moving to Boise (:
If any Boise residents happen to trip upon this, hit me up! I’ll be needing a social life at some point once I arrive.
I’m off to get ready for my birthday dinner!
Love love love,
Dacoda
Filed under: Day To Day Shit | Tags: Beauty And The Beast, Beyonce, frustrations, Hellogoodbye, Ida Maria, inspirational messages, iPod, Joseph Arthur, Lady Gaga, Maurice, music, POM, POMx, Regina Spektor, ride the tiger meaning, Safeway, skankiness, Spoon, Stars, tea, The OC, The Postal Service, The Raconteurs
To Whom This May Concern At My Local Safeway,
I would really appreciate it if you would consistently place POMx tea in the same location. I only have a limited amount of lunchtime, and this snag almost prevented me from being able to further support your fine establishment by purchasing some of the most perfect slices of dried mango known to mankind. I would not like for this to happen again, and I do hope you wouldn’t want it to either.
Sincerely,
Dacoda.
Anyway (and by the way, POMx tea is so super delicious), I’m completely in love with Maurice. Maurice as in my 80gb Classic Video iPod. I had never formed a very serious relationship with him until recently when it hit me that he always knows exactly what I want. He matches my mood so perfectly during shuffle sessions as if he is my soul’s own personal disc jockey. Why the name Maurice? This is why:
You really only need to watch the first ten seconds. That’s the reason. Craaaaaaaazy old Mauriiiiice. And then I also made a cat on Sims (2) that was pretty much retarded and named him Maurice. The iPod was sure to follow in this trend. Isn’t he gorgeous?:
He is the main man in my life <3
On the subject of music, my current constant repeat artists are (no order of preference!):
Ida Maria
Spoon
Hellogoodbye
The Postal Service
Stars
The Raconteurs
Regina Spektor
And I shall treat you to a sampling. Since WordPress is lame and won’t let me embed playlists from ANYWHERE, follow the link, yeah? Riiiight here.
And this was an after-thought that I should have included, Honey And The Moon by Joseph Arthur. Die hard fans of The OC will recognize it from the pilot episode. It’s still one of the sweetest songs I’ve ever heard.
So I have this theory. Every girl is a bit skanky at some point, and regularly. Some just have better discretion that others. Some girls like to express their inner skank by grinding on some guy’s crotch at a party, but then others prefer to dance around half/completely naked in the privacy of their own homes. I’m part of the latter group. I’ll admit it, I listen to Lady Gaga. And contrary to what most may believe, I actually enjoy it. I’m not ashamed, I just like to have fun while showering and getting ready for my day. Lady Gaga and Beyonce have been longtime favorites while dancing in the shower, so you can imagine my delight at the advent of Video Phone and Telephone. Especially Telephone. :D
And it has come to my attention that a large amount of the hits my blog receives are from people searching for the meaning of Ride The Tiger. I got the name from the Dio song Holy Diver. My own meaning? It’s an inspirational message. Like when someone is dejected because everything keeps getting them down, I sometimes feel it’s necessary to give them something to make them smile and empower them. “Hey. Ride the tiger.” People usually don’t even ask what I mean by it since it’s implied by the context, but it has never failed to make anyone smile and brighten their day, if only for a moment.
Take control, ride the tiger,
Dacoda.
Filed under: Day To Day Shit | Tags: A Separate Piece, accessories, antiques, Aphrodite, books, clothes, coffee, Cub Scouts, Daniel Quinn, decor, dress, Isaac Asimov, Ishmael, John Knowles, library, Margery Sharp, Modest Mouse, mug, music, owls, photoshoot, Plato, retro, Salvation Army, shoes, shopping, The Brothers Grimm, The Foundation, The Gipsy In The Parlour, thrift shop, thrifting, vintage
I’m not sure if I’ve ever mentioned it before, but I am an avid raider of thrift shops. After a lovely morning of Mythology and Psychology, I visited my local Salvation Army thrift store. Probably one of the best raids I’ve had in a while. Today I found:
This Awesome Owl Wall-Hanging Duo
As if I don’t have enough things hanging on my walls already :P
I’m getting ready for decorating my new apartment this summer!
A Miniature Aphrodite Statue
It’s a little smudgy right now, but totally fixable. Everyone needs a little Aphrodite in their lives ;)
Some Killer Red Shoes
Just my size. According to the date tag, they’d been there for over a week! I can’t imagine so many people overlooking them.
Cub Scouts Neckerchief
How could I not get it?
This Lovely Apricot Dress
I’m hoping to incorporate this dress into a future photoshoot, something by a river with lots and lots of foliage.
And More Books To Add To My Own Personal Library
A rundown on the titles:
The Foundation Trilogy by Isaac Asimov
The Gipsy In The Parlour by Margery Sharp
The Republic of Plato
A Separate Piece by John Knowles
Ishmael by Daniel Quinn
I hope your day was as superb as mine! All filled with thriftiness, Modest Mouse, The Complete Fairy Tales of The Brothers Grimm, and getting my favorite mug back : D
I’ve had two teachers just this week tell me how much they want it. The teacher whose class I’d left it in yesterday claimed he almost considered taking it.
Tell everyone they’re looking really good today for me,
Dacoda.
Filed under: Day To Day Shit | Tags: Aastha, Danielle Corsetto, Deviant Art, Formspring, Girls With Slingshots, happiness, incence, Jeph Jacques, Karli, Katelin, peacock, photography, prom, Questionable Content, Satya, school, Song of India, Super Hit, that guy in the Allstate commercials, Web Comics
Besides (most likely) failing that Trigonometry test I took today, I’ve been wearing a smile. Why, you might ask? Because I:
Have $8 Worth of Delicious Incense
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Super Hit, Song Of India, and Aastha always tantalize the senses.
Read The Following Comic:
Girls With Slingshots, #424
This was an ‘Awhhhhhh :3′ moment, for sure. Danielle Corsetto’s web comic about a gaggle of luscious, quirky, and quick-witted ladies, their boys and some talking plants is so undeniably entertaining. My friend Karli suggested it to me months ago, and I just tripped over it again and I’m now in the long (yet hilarious) process of catching up. Jeph Jacques of Questionable Content has mentioned it before, so you know it must be good. Give it a read, yes?
Finally Uploaded Some New Photography
So go check it out and maybe leave some love? Link to my Deviant Art account is just to the left!
Isn’t Kate just so so so cute?!
Received The Best Compliment Ever
Someone left this on my Formspring:
“I’m a fan of your photography on DA, and I tend to read along your WordPress from time to time. I just wanted to let you know, you’ve been a big inspiration to me and I would like to thank you. So, thank you (:”
<3
And who else feels so comforted by the black man in the Allstate commercials? Because I totally am.
Oh! And I'm planning on getting into peacock mode for prom. I know, I know, it sounds crazy, but I'm a-plottin' and a-plannin' and I have high hopes (:
One month, five days to the big 1-8!
Dacoda.
