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Serpent Shopping and munching
08/09/2004 08:10 pmIzzie slinks in after a long day lurking.
This lazy serpent did not go to her managerial accounting class this morning but did finally make it to that doctor's appointment. Last week the Iz had to cancel due to the unexpected arrival of the Dursleys on the Izzie doorstep. Iz will have to return on Friday to get the results of some blood tests that the Doc did today. Also got a prescription for some antibiotics for that nasty sore throat that Iz still has two months after catching that evil 'elephant' bug at work.
After the doctor's, next stop was a quick peek over at Izzie's usual spot in the Min to catch up on Cyberian stuff. For some inexplicable reason, Live Journal always seems to be a hopeless case at lunch time. It's slower than a drunken snail if not popping up with those pathetic 404 messages. It's not just here at the Ministry labs but nearly everywhere at that time of day that it takes ages to do anything over there. Iz just got pissed off and left but not before finally managing to print some stupid Goblin things from online about coffee.
Next stop was reading the papers and going back to the lair for lunchie munchies and to catch up on nonexistent snail mail.
The good news was that the Izzie silver sickles arrived in the bank account last night which was pretty quick considering it was Monday that they got the request. So next decision was whether or not to be a good serpent and go to the 5pm managerial accounting lecture that is a repeat of the one that the Iz should have gone to this morning (this is normally NOT an option as Izzie works on Wednesday evenings) or to go into downtown Dursleyville and visit that very cute bear shop to pick up Dolores's little pink sister. (Iz has been invited to a housewarming party next month by her pink partner in crime at that public speaking group and figures that instead of a Gargoyle, Iz can get Alex the ultimate in home protection from mischievous magic makers)
The other temptation was a very wierd Greek grocery store that sells oodles of things that you cannot get elsewhere. Most of the stuff is in big sacks or boxes and you just get what you need. They used to be famous for weighing and adding up customers baskets - not only remembering the price of each thing for the scales but also adding up the whole list without using tills or even calculators - and they nearly always got it right. But the introduction of the goods and services tax in 2000 saw an end to that ancient tradition. Since not everything was subject to the tax, it was all a bit too complicated.
There was a notice in the window about an up and coming Greek festival with music and munchies which just happens to be on the same day as the house warming party. Most convenient indeed.
So after stocking up on linseed, sesame seeds, brown rice, very smelly purple garlic and Turkish bread, Iz then left and pottered off to the Hari Krishna joint next door that have cheapie take aways between 5 and 6pm. Sometimes their stuff is yummie and sometimes it's just plain crappy but at least Iz knows that it's always kosher
No pakoras or dhal today, just some fairly boring vegie stew with tofu and some horrid dumplings that must have been made with potatoes. They looked like felafels on steroids but that was where the similarity ended. As far as Izzie is concerned, potatoes are to be mashed with lots of onions and butter, deep fried as chips or as tasty little roesti or kartoffelpuffer (German/Swiss potato cake thingies) or made into potato salad. Anything else such as gnocchi or any incarnation resembling dumplings in any shape or form are to be avoided at all costs as they are just so gluggy and tasteless. Especially as the Hari Krishnas do not believe in using garlic or onions in any of their cooking.
En route to this bizarre Bazaar, Iz passed the geekish Supernova bookstore which was where she got the US version of the first 3 Potters. Got the sudden inspiration of looking for a book that the Cocytusian Cat was absolutely drooling about. Lots of Neil Gaiman or some Jennings guy who Iz has never heard of but nothing by Jane Jensen at all. Or so Iz thought. Was just about to walk out the door and seen it among all the newbies and special selections rather than in the Alphabetical section as Iz assumed it would be.
Was so excited and delighted until discovering that not only was it a hardback but damnd spanking new (much of their stuff is preloved) and the princely sum of 30 silver sickles. Iz had no idea that it wasn't some ancient text but just published only last year. Dear me. Looks like we will have to make do with a samizdat version.*Iz slinks off to consult the Oracle*
But taking a quick peek inside, Iz notices that there is credits for quotes from various books with intriguing titles like "The Seven Mysteries of Life" and "The evolution of evil" That one does sound rather like the most fascinating "The Lucifer Principle" that Iz read nearly 10 years ago. Since "Seven Mysteries" comes with a commendation from one of Izzie's favorite eccentric Buckminster Fuller, that is just the excuse she needs to slink off to the library in search of this most intriguing title. The pictures from Amazon.com just add to the mystery and magic.
On the subject of magic - must really get around to yesterday's adventures with smells and bells. A one hour visit to the belltower turned into a whole three hours. Iz had never expected the bell ringers to stay that long at all. It really is a most amazing experience to be on the same level as the bells themselves and to watch them swinging backwards and forwards like a pendulum on their ropes and pulleys. The largest bell of all weighs a mere 1500kg and the smallest are around 240kg or so.
Apparently on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, they have demonstrations where the public can actually go into the bell ringers room and have a go - under strict supervision of course with some of the smaller bells. Normally you can only see the bell ringers through one way tinted glass on the next floor. Iz spent some time watching the folks pulling their ropes but watching the bells themselves was much more interesting. But to actually learn proper bell ringing - ringing the changes and all the complicated arty farty stuff requires a whole 6 months of practising. And the buggers are damned heavy to get going too.
One of the ringers was talking to us yesterday and telling us how one onlooker kept insisting on how easy it looks and anyone could do that and what a load of rubbish it is needing 6 months to learn and she wants a turn right now etc etc. The lady told us that if they had actually let this silly smart arse on the ropes she could have quite easily hanged herself. Yesss. They did look uncannily noose shaped, the bits of the rope that the ringers kept in their hands.
So it looks like the Iz will have to pay one day to get to play with the ropes. Or if she had gotten there a bit earlier than 11.30 when the official ringing began, they were apparently doing demonstrations yesterday too. Never mind. One of the Izzie's friendseses is actually a bell ringer at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. The tour guide told us that St Pat's went and added another few bells to their collection shortly after this place opened so that they could keep their claim to having the biggest set in the world with 19 bells. There is 18 in the bell tower.
Iz must say that she is fascinated by folks who have such strange, unusual and peculiar hobbies. There is something so romantic and magical about good old fashioned bells - especially lots of them all pealing at once. It is an incredibly joyous and powerful sound.
This lazy serpent did not go to her managerial accounting class this morning but did finally make it to that doctor's appointment. Last week the Iz had to cancel due to the unexpected arrival of the Dursleys on the Izzie doorstep. Iz will have to return on Friday to get the results of some blood tests that the Doc did today. Also got a prescription for some antibiotics for that nasty sore throat that Iz still has two months after catching that evil 'elephant' bug at work.
After the doctor's, next stop was a quick peek over at Izzie's usual spot in the Min to catch up on Cyberian stuff. For some inexplicable reason, Live Journal always seems to be a hopeless case at lunch time. It's slower than a drunken snail if not popping up with those pathetic 404 messages. It's not just here at the Ministry labs but nearly everywhere at that time of day that it takes ages to do anything over there. Iz just got pissed off and left but not before finally managing to print some stupid Goblin things from online about coffee.
Next stop was reading the papers and going back to the lair for lunchie munchies and to catch up on nonexistent snail mail.
The good news was that the Izzie silver sickles arrived in the bank account last night which was pretty quick considering it was Monday that they got the request. So next decision was whether or not to be a good serpent and go to the 5pm managerial accounting lecture that is a repeat of the one that the Iz should have gone to this morning (this is normally NOT an option as Izzie works on Wednesday evenings) or to go into downtown Dursleyville and visit that very cute bear shop to pick up Dolores's little pink sister. (Iz has been invited to a housewarming party next month by her pink partner in crime at that public speaking group and figures that instead of a Gargoyle, Iz can get Alex the ultimate in home protection from mischievous magic makers)
The other temptation was a very wierd Greek grocery store that sells oodles of things that you cannot get elsewhere. Most of the stuff is in big sacks or boxes and you just get what you need. They used to be famous for weighing and adding up customers baskets - not only remembering the price of each thing for the scales but also adding up the whole list without using tills or even calculators - and they nearly always got it right. But the introduction of the goods and services tax in 2000 saw an end to that ancient tradition. Since not everything was subject to the tax, it was all a bit too complicated.
There was a notice in the window about an up and coming Greek festival with music and munchies which just happens to be on the same day as the house warming party. Most convenient indeed.
So after stocking up on linseed, sesame seeds, brown rice, very smelly purple garlic and Turkish bread, Iz then left and pottered off to the Hari Krishna joint next door that have cheapie take aways between 5 and 6pm. Sometimes their stuff is yummie and sometimes it's just plain crappy but at least Iz knows that it's always kosher
No pakoras or dhal today, just some fairly boring vegie stew with tofu and some horrid dumplings that must have been made with potatoes. They looked like felafels on steroids but that was where the similarity ended. As far as Izzie is concerned, potatoes are to be mashed with lots of onions and butter, deep fried as chips or as tasty little roesti or kartoffelpuffer (German/Swiss potato cake thingies) or made into potato salad. Anything else such as gnocchi or any incarnation resembling dumplings in any shape or form are to be avoided at all costs as they are just so gluggy and tasteless. Especially as the Hari Krishnas do not believe in using garlic or onions in any of their cooking.
En route to this bizarre Bazaar, Iz passed the geekish Supernova bookstore which was where she got the US version of the first 3 Potters. Got the sudden inspiration of looking for a book that the Cocytusian Cat was absolutely drooling about. Lots of Neil Gaiman or some Jennings guy who Iz has never heard of but nothing by Jane Jensen at all. Or so Iz thought. Was just about to walk out the door and seen it among all the newbies and special selections rather than in the Alphabetical section as Iz assumed it would be.
Was so excited and delighted until discovering that not only was it a hardback but damnd spanking new (much of their stuff is preloved) and the princely sum of 30 silver sickles. Iz had no idea that it wasn't some ancient text but just published only last year. Dear me. Looks like we will have to make do with a samizdat version.*Iz slinks off to consult the Oracle*
But taking a quick peek inside, Iz notices that there is credits for quotes from various books with intriguing titles like "The Seven Mysteries of Life" and "The evolution of evil" That one does sound rather like the most fascinating "The Lucifer Principle" that Iz read nearly 10 years ago. Since "Seven Mysteries" comes with a commendation from one of Izzie's favorite eccentric Buckminster Fuller, that is just the excuse she needs to slink off to the library in search of this most intriguing title. The pictures from Amazon.com just add to the mystery and magic.
On the subject of magic - must really get around to yesterday's adventures with smells and bells. A one hour visit to the belltower turned into a whole three hours. Iz had never expected the bell ringers to stay that long at all. It really is a most amazing experience to be on the same level as the bells themselves and to watch them swinging backwards and forwards like a pendulum on their ropes and pulleys. The largest bell of all weighs a mere 1500kg and the smallest are around 240kg or so.
Apparently on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, they have demonstrations where the public can actually go into the bell ringers room and have a go - under strict supervision of course with some of the smaller bells. Normally you can only see the bell ringers through one way tinted glass on the next floor. Iz spent some time watching the folks pulling their ropes but watching the bells themselves was much more interesting. But to actually learn proper bell ringing - ringing the changes and all the complicated arty farty stuff requires a whole 6 months of practising. And the buggers are damned heavy to get going too.
One of the ringers was talking to us yesterday and telling us how one onlooker kept insisting on how easy it looks and anyone could do that and what a load of rubbish it is needing 6 months to learn and she wants a turn right now etc etc. The lady told us that if they had actually let this silly smart arse on the ropes she could have quite easily hanged herself. Yesss. They did look uncannily noose shaped, the bits of the rope that the ringers kept in their hands.
So it looks like the Iz will have to pay one day to get to play with the ropes. Or if she had gotten there a bit earlier than 11.30 when the official ringing began, they were apparently doing demonstrations yesterday too. Never mind. One of the Izzie's friendseses is actually a bell ringer at St Patrick's Cathedral in Dublin. The tour guide told us that St Pat's went and added another few bells to their collection shortly after this place opened so that they could keep their claim to having the biggest set in the world with 19 bells. There is 18 in the bell tower.
Iz must say that she is fascinated by folks who have such strange, unusual and peculiar hobbies. There is something so romantic and magical about good old fashioned bells - especially lots of them all pealing at once. It is an incredibly joyous and powerful sound.
