Walking With Dinosaurs- Live!

While John and I were in Paris last summer, we saw ads in the metro for something called "Walking with Dinosaurs- Live" (though it was in French of course) and we were depressed to see that it was playing just a few days after we left. Not really knowing what it was, we forgot about it until around October, when we saw a commercial on tv for the very same thing, coming to Albuquerque! We quickly alerted my dad, who is a little obsessed with dinosaurs, and we got four tickets for March.

Well, it was last night and it was amazing! Basically the dinosaurs are giant puppets that come out into the arena while the "paleontologist" talks about them, etc etc. Each dinosaur was more amazing and more giant than the one before it! We had such close seats (4th row) that the Brachiosaurus actually reached his neck out over us. The music was great, and when the final giant Mommy T-Rex came out to protect her baby from the Triceratops and Ankylosaurus, my body started coursing with adrenaline. It was slightly embarrassing, because my mind logically knew that it wasn't real...but her roar was so loud and so intense and she was so dang huge that the survival instincts of my cave-men ancestors kicked in!

Here are some not so great pictures (cell phone) but hopefully the point gets across!

The Allosaurus:



The Raptors devouring a corpse next to the humble paleontologist:



The Brachiosauruses (whose heads barely cleared the arena ceiling!):



The amazing yet slightly terrifying T-rex:



The T-rex with her baby:



It was an amazing night. Walking with Dinosaurs Live is touring Europe, the US and Japan as we speak, so go see it!

On a side note, my Mom left for India this morning- Have a great trip Mom!

Church's Chicken Does Romania

Today as I was driving the long and lonely road to work I noticed something that has never caught my attention before. Wait- why is Church's Chicken flying the Romanian flag??



I quickly alerted John to the situation, and asked him to look it up. It turns out the Romanian flag has vertical stripes instead of horizontal ones like the flag I witnessed (who can keep all those vertical/horizontal stripes straight anyways??). But to me, it seems close enough to be strange, even uncanny.


See what I mean? That would be like a Japanese grocery store having an upside-down American flag as their logo.

More notable flag look-alikes:



Flag of Hungary vs:



Flag of Italy.

And next:



Flag of Belgium vs:



The Flag of Germany.

How unoriginal are these flag makers?
"Oh I know, let's take this already existing flag and turn it on its side! No one will ever notice!"

Since I'm 99% sure that the country of Romania existed before Church's Chicken (note that pesky 1% of doubt -along with the 349% sarcasm-) Shame on you Church's Chicken.

the last AIIIIRRRBBBEENNNDDEEERRR!!!

After obsessing over the series Avatar: The Last Airbender to the point of having an "Avatar night" whenever the new Dvds were released, to say that I am excited for the movie is a bit of an understatement. If you have not seen the trailers yet, go to the movie site and watch them- now! We are getting goosebumps over here. Little Aang is amazing, and the trailer even shows him going into the avatar state.
There has been some criticism that all of the cast isn't Asian but I say get over it. We will be first in line to flood the theater on opening night.

An International Order.

It is my second week of my new job, working at a flower shop. I am a "call-center" person, so I work in an office, not in the flower stores themselves. But today I did, just to give me a feel for what it's like. Today, I was working at a register helping a customer, while my coworker helped a woman who came in to send flowers internationally. I happened to glance over, and where should she be happening to send flowers to? Why, to nowhere else but Hungary of course! I could not believe it, the ONE day that I work in a store, a woman sends flowers to Hungary. What are the odds of that?? She wrote the card message in Hungarian, "Oszinte Resztuetunk. Szeretettel, (insert name) es (insert name)" I figured it means something along the lines of "Sincere (I don't know this bit) . Affectionately, (or lovingly) (name) and (name)" So there you have it, when the world thinks I have forgotten about what's coming up, something pops up to remind me.

Thoughts.

I have just completed my first week of grueling training at my new job, a local flower shop. I work in the sales department in a small office above the actual flower shop. This week seemed never ending, and now it is over. But it has reminded me of something extremely important and something that I believe in relentlessly: work to live, don't live to work. That's all.

New Year, What's Been Going On?

I can't believe I haven't updated in so long. A lot has happened. Graduation, Christmas, New Years etc. We've been staying relatively busy with our CETP applications (which are being sent out TODAY) and our TEFL course (which I should be doing but the 20 or so tenses of English verbs are currently frightening me away). I have also been working on a new painting. I initially meant to submit it to Spectrum 17 but the deadline is in a week and there is just no way that I will be able to finish. I am submitting my Venus de Milo painting however. Fingers crossed! One of the Christmas present that John and I received was Pimsleur's Hungarian audio CDs. We have been doing a lesson or so every day and can now form real sentences, ask directions, order in restaurants etc. It is a tricky language but extremely fun to speak. Without further ado here is a picture of my newest painting in progress. It is still in the monochromatic underpainting phase.

It is called "Bubbles over Budapest" and I still have a long way to go.

Victory Rolls: A Success!

This was my first attempt at victory rolls in my hair! I love it and I look like the perfect 40s girl. Ignore the bobby pins, I didn't quite hide them well enough. I have one on the other side, but I thought a closeup was in order. Amazingly adorable if I do say so myself, and not terribly difficult either.

Painting...Finished!

Tomorrow is the big day, I will show my painting in front of around 200 people. I am extremely nervous but hey, I finished it! Which is never expected really... But here she is: The picture sucks yet again because my phone camera is awful. That is why is is grainy etc. But the point will get across I hope:

I feel relatively confident about the critique but after having stared at one thing for hours and hours and hours, it is hard for me to judge her objectively. It it sort of a blur to me now. Maybe it will look different in context. Wish me luck!

Painting Progress Part Harom

So I broke down and did the face today. It was scary but actually went pretty quickly.

Here she is:

I based her on a picture of Jessica Stam, the model. So there you have it.

Painting Progress Part Ketto

I have been working on my painting a lot in the past few days. I am about done with the body and the fabric parts, even adding cracks and chips as per the original sculpture. I have fallen in love with her. So here are the pictures:

The fabric part of the sculpture. You can see cracks in the leg and a few other places.

The body portion. I still haven't done the face yet, since that is the scariest part.

So what do you think? Good, yes? This is going to be critiqued in front of 200 people. That's pretty intimidating but I think my piece can stand for itself. I still have a lot to do but I am pleased with the progress I have made so far!

Venus de Milo Painting Progress.

For my Art History class, we have an option instead of doing a 10 page research paper to do an art project (if you are a studio major) and a 2 page paper. I am obviously doing this option and I am using the "Venus de Milo" as my inspiration. The point is to create a piece being informed by a piece that we've talked about in class. So here it is: My modern interpretation of the Venus de Milo (of course it is a painting, not a statue)

The picture is a little poor in quality since it is from my cell phone, but you get the point. I only started working on it yesterday so I am pretty happy with how much of the first layer I completed. More to come!

Sweet Dreams of Budapest

Last night (or this morning actually) I was dreaming about being in Budapest. It was so amazing, though different than it is in real life of course. There was a giant building shaped like a box of Crayola crayons. We ate amazing food, and I went swimming in the Danube. Only 7 more weeks until we are done with college.

You'd Think I Woulda Done This Sooner...

So, in preparation for becoming a little Hungarian housewife (not until August but I don't think I can start too early) I have been trying to home cook more meals. Not just assembling but actually cooking. I want to be able to provide for our little ex-pat family, and I want to actually eat real grown up food. Which, in college, we have definitely not been doing.
I was taking a nap today (still trying to fight this flu) and I starting having the worst craving for Tuna Helper. Yeah, I'm not sure what that's about either. We haven't had tuna helper in this house for years, so I thought hey! I'm going to look up a recipe for "homemade" tuna helper.
I rifled through the pantries and found an expired box of Kraft Mac n Cheese so I just threw away the "cheese" packet and kept the noodles. Here's my much modified recipe for "made from scratch TunaHelper":

Ingredients:

1 can of tuna, drained
1/2 large onion, chopped
2 tbsp butter
1/4 cup flour
1 1/2 cup milk (at least)
1 Bay leaf
Salt, Pepper, and Poultry Seasoning to taste
Noodles (8 oz or so)

Boil water and cook the noodles until just done. Remove from heat, drain, put aside. In a skillet, saute the onions with the butter until soft. Sprinkle on the flour and stir to coat. Start adding the milk slowly, until you have the desired thickness. I lost count of how much milk I used, I just eyeballed it. Add lots of pepper and salt and throw in a bay leaf for good measure. Add in the poultry seasoning until it tastes delicious and keep stirring to cook the flavors together. Add more milk if it gets too thick. Remove the bay leaf and add the can of tuna, stirring well. Finally, add the drained noodles and stir until completely mixed into the sauce. Enjoy!

This was so so good. Much better than regular Tuna Helper and probably (maybe?) healthier too. I am definitely adding this dish to my repertoire. When far from home, being able to cook up a delicious hot meal for yourself and your other half is invaluable. Try it!

Sick, and Right in Time for Fall Break.

Well, the entire household is sick, including John and I. Fevers, Chills, Headaches, Body Aches, Uncontrollable Coughing, I have it all. Taking my H1N1y-ness to school for midterms was no small feat, and now all I can do is lay in bed. These 4 days off are needed, but in a different way than I had first expected.

Halfway There.

I cannot believe that this semester is basically halfway over. It has gone by quickly, yet I count every day. The household has all fallen ill however, right when I have 3 midterms this week. Arg. Well, I will get through it as I always do. I have had to start thinking about invitations, graduation parties, etc etc. I even made an invite list! I truly cannot believe that I've done it.

Dreams of Sinking Parisian Balloonscapes

Last night I had a strange dream. I was in Paris, and I had met a Finnish girl there in a haunted house. I remember telling her that I was learning Hungarian, and we talked about how Hungarian and Finnish are somewhat close (at least in the same language family). I asked her how long she had been in Paris. We got to talking about how we had both entered and had been chosen for this raffle, for a chance to ride on this multi-level floating underwater building thing. It was a scientific breakthrough, it was as big as a skyscraper. It was held together with old cars, and the whole thing was made out of inflatable rubber/plastic. I took pictures of it before we went on the first "test dive". This was supposed to make it possible for people to live underwater in the future. So we went underwater, and were theoretically supposed to be avoiding some evil squid monsters. An announcer said that it was going well, and welcome to this exclusive view into new technology. We were lucky to have been chosen in this raffle. The announcer said that this plan was fool-proof, except when someone jumped up and down. It created a shock-wave that flipped me onto my head, like a waterbed. We went through several underwater stations with workers in headsets. The plastic floor was leaking slightly.
Finally, it was time for us to "live" on this unbelievably huge, underwater balloonscape, held together by old cars, all the while trying to avoid the evil squids which would surely pop our underwater inflatable city. Much happened while we were underwater, my Finnish friend became ill and so I bought her black and red eyeliner in the giftshop. Eventually and inevitably, the squids came to pop our city. Water was leaking in, and we were all struggling to evacuate. We were somehow in this giant pool now. I was trying to gather up all of my belongings, and there was an auction going on for all of the items that had been "orphaned" because of the popping city. I was concerned I wouldn't get out, but still couldn't decide on all of the items from my room that I would take. My dolls? My art? My skull collection? How could I leave any of it behind after I had worked so hard to collect it? Finally my Finnish friend told me I could take two trash bags full of items. I grabbed some of my sister's old stuffed animals. I cried and lamented over the furniture and various marionettes that I couldn't fit into my bag.
The inflatable balloonscape finally flipped, and my friend and I, being on the first floor, were now at the bottom of the pool. I swam to the top and remember seeing floating, sleeping people and all of their belongings floating around them.
I awoke with a vague feeling of sorrow, of all of the items that I love but will not be able to take with me to Hungary. I feel guilty, and regretful that some of my collections must stay behind.

An Ambitious Sunday.

Though ungodly busy with school and an attempt to balance my other non-school related interests, I still have time to cook on Sundays. This is something that will not give. Today was our most ambitious menu to date, and left me feeling tired but satisfied. The menu was as follows:

Appetizer:
Chevre and Baguette
Baba Ganoush

Drink:
Hungarian Bull's Blood Wine

Main Course:
Seasoned Salmon
Apple Chicken Sausages

Side Dishes:
Apple Butternut Squash Risotto with Caramelized Onions
Toasted Squash Seeds with Salt and Freshly Ground Pepper
Raw Veggie Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette

Dessert:
Zucchini Bread
Apple Berry Medley topped with Pecan Oat Crunch

Really, who eats this way? My motto in life, I've come to realize is: Simple? No thanks.

Carmelized Onion Flatbread

After a long and stressful day of classes, I find that having something yummy around really soothes my soul. This was just what I needed. Caramelizing onions is one of those things that takes forever, but the results are well worth it. This is simply a piece of Tandori Naan, topped with melted Gruyere cheese and then smothered with peppery caramelized onions. It was amazing. These little things keep me sane in such stressful times as these!

Egri Bikaver

Yesterday afternoon I went shopping with my parents at the local Trader Joe's. It was up to me to pick out the red wine, since it is still hot outside, I seem to be the only one in my house drinking it. I decided to look for some Hungarian wine, on the off chance that a store in Albuquerque, New Mexico would have some. Sure enough, on the bottom shelf, tucked in a corner, I came across Bull's Blood wine from Eger. I jumped around elatedly (in my mind at least) at having found a Hungarian wine that I had even heard of! I had read a little blurb about its rich history in my Eyewitness travel book.

The story goes like this: In the 16th century when the Magyars were holding off the Turks (like everyone else at the time) they drank copious amounts of this wine, and rumor spread amongst the Turks that they had added Bull's blood to the wine to keep them fierce and strong.

Great story. Tonight, being Sunday and unofficial wine night, I opened up our first bottle of Hungarian wine, and it is so delicious. I kept the cork to make a necklace out of. My family all tried it as well, and hot weather or not, the Bull's Blood rests sleepily in all of our bellies tonight.

New Painting

Wow, blogging has been a little slow lately...I blame the nine classes that I'm taking. I'm unfortunately not taking Advanced Painting like I had wanted to, so I am filling up my free time with this new painting I started a few days ago. I drew a beautiful sketch so I actually transferred it the proper way (with a grid). So here she is. I just put on the first layer of grisaille (gray underpainting) which will eventually be glazed over with colors to create a more rich and realistic surface. I think I love her.