Post Punk Kitchen Forum

I'm very tired and I should go to bed, because it's late and I'm trying to get a better sleep schedule before Friday, but I can't be bothered because first I need to have a shower, wash my hair and put bedding back on my bed.

I finally gave in and bought a Starbucks card today. I feel weird about it, because I worked there for two years many years ago, and have immense issues with some of the ways they do business. But Starbucks is the only coffee shop around in the armpit that I work in, and my job really does require some kind of treat at least once a week. I should at least be getting free soymilk if I'm spending my money there!

I have a shitload of stuff that I have to get printed out. I had to go to the store to buy ink for the printer. Then I had to spend 3 hours trying to get the ancient desktop that's hooked up to the printer to boot up (Not exaggerating. It's been 3 hours, and it's still not 100% functioning yet.). And finally I go to replace the ink, only to realise it's the wrong forking ink (I was thinking of our last printer, apparently). I hate everything.

Today was my last official day of school. Friday was the last day for students (and I finished all my grading that day, too!) but today was a "teacher work day" and classroom clean up/close out. I did SO MUCH today. I moved tons of furniture, climbed on chairs and tables to get things down from the walls, scrubbed a billion surfaces, sorted a billion papers, organized tons of mess from the past year, moved everything in my classroom into my one lone locking cabinet (seriously, everything... anything not locked up or bolted down WILL go missing during summer school. I even had to take the toner out of my printer if I didn't want that jacked. Posters from the wall, anything from my desk drawers, etc), lugged text books down to the text book room, lugged my projector and cart down to the storage room (really unpleasant when you're on the second floor and you don't have an elevator key), moved more furniture...

I even sanded and painted my desk, because it was INSANELY ugly and I spent all year hating to look at it. So I painted it white with black trim/accents and a black top. During the summer, I'm going to draw art and trace out some lines of poetry and then Modge Podge those onto some of the white panels that will be facing my classroom. I'm determined that next year, my classroom will be a beautiful, pleasant space that students and I will want to be in.

I also carried a billion pounds of stuff home and then did a bunch at home when I got here.

Holy crepe, I feel utterly flattened. I'm going to make tots, dip them in some guac I have to use up, sip some wine, watch my cat batshit insane with her mousie, and spend the rest of the night vegetating in from the teevee.

I can't believe it's over. I am boggled.



Free soymilk, and occasional free drink cards mailed to you!

I feel like a dirty corporate hors d'oeuvre every time I use my Starbucks card, but the sweet caress of free soymilk--and the ridiculously enormous and extravagant drinks I splurge on with my free drink cards--always soothes my conscience. Starbucks isn't a saintly corporation, but they're also not TOO awful. At least they give benefits and, from what I hear, reasonable wages, which is a lot better than many businesses, so although I don't like them, I also don't hate them. I kinda hate their design/marketing department, though. Ungh.

Ugh RC, that is the worst. Sounds a lot like printing anything at my house. It's usually quicker and less frustrating to drive to the library and pay five cents a page (but I never do).

Oh man. I skipped yoga today and decided rather than going for a ride I'd veg out and eat crepe. But then I decided to do a dance-fitness video on Youtube. I had forgotten that I am officially the least coordinated person in the history of humanity. It was so bad I turned it off after ten minutes because I was almost crying from frustration. Is it possible to get more coordinated? Or should I just accept that I am not meant for cardio-dance?

I did find cardio box and a "booty shakin' core buster" videos that I could do without wanting to die of embarrassment.

I feel you. There's a reason I ride a bike and don't dance or do yoga: coordinated I ain't. I figure you just have to play to your strengths; it makes your weaknesses a lot easier to accept!

I thought about going somewhere and paying, but it's such a large amount of stuff, and a variety too (everything from word documents to photos), so I figured it would be cheaper and easier to print it all at home. Ha! Silly me.

And now both my rabbits seem to be under the weather, so I can add that to my list of stresses/expenses. Everything happens at once. I honestly don't think I'll be able to afford another pet, ever, after the current ones are gone, and that makes me depressed.

...eating kale raw isn't weird, is it? Today someone was all "WUT R U DOIN U CANT EAT RAW CAYL WEIRDO"

If eating raw kale makes me a creep, I will wear that creep badge with pride.

I wish this paper would revise itself. Grumble.

I wish the concept of kale like it exists in the US existed in this country. We only have one type of kale here, and only in winter. I always get a little jealous when people mention different types, and making salads and all.

Also, I would totally eat kale raw. Word.

I don't think I'll ever exercise in the morning again.
It's 35°C outside, and almost as hot in my office.
I'm having a super stressful day, and it's getting worse by the minute, and I'm not collapsing but I don't know how I'm doing it.
I need new (better) nerves.

My new bathroom rugs are made of aqua blue lava. At least that's what the cat seems to think.

I've only seen curly kale available in the market in the fall/winter.
BUT, at the Amsterdam meetup, we went to a Bio Markt and it had dinosaur kale, en mass, even though it was early summer (!).
You can also buy seeds for dinosaur kale at some of the larger garden shops. A friend and I are trying to sprout it (but it's not working yet).

I eat it raw, too! In fact, there's raw kale in the sandwich I made for lunch today. I can't wait for lunch!

I'm at that point where I can't decide if I want to continue dating this wonderful woman or not. If what I'm feeling is panic over the idea of letting someone in as well as not having dated a woman before or just plain not feeling 'it' with her. I hate liminal states and that's exactly what this is. I don't want to upset her either and I feel like I'm probably going to unintentionally somehow.

Haven't seen it at my Ekoplaza, but will ask them about it. Thanks for getting my kale hopes up !

Anek, I think you not only have to make a list you have to prioritize it. You also have to determine which characteristics are deal breakers.

j-dub, have you found that yoga helps wih your coordination? I do not count lack of coordination amongst my physical difficulties but I have found that doing yoga consistently makes me more aware of every part of my body and what it is doing at any particular time. Practice helps too, though you may never be a candidate for SYTYCD :-)

I also have never seen it at EkoPlaza, Paloma. This was an independent bio store in Amsterdam. lepelaar or Cornelie can probably give you specific information; I just remember it was near the Museumplein.

thisheregiraffe--Raw kale is definitely completely normal. I feel like everyone is all about kale salads right now, like kale and then beans and quinoa and tons of veggies.

ALSO, J-Dub, I've found that sticking with it and repetition really pays off. Although you may still look silly. I wish I still had the Paula Abdul Get Up and Dance work out video, I'd send it to you!

I'm super tired today so I stayed home. But I am working from home so I can't actually get any sleep. So I decided to wake the cats up! If I can't sleep than neither can they!

Jdub, I have a Starbucks card somewhere but never use it! I should def be getting my soy for free.

So, I'm about to become a great aunt today (again.) I feel for this kid already and she's not even born yet. My niece is 19 and so utterly selfish, spoiled and immature. I hope she can rise to the occasion, but I just don't think she's at all prepared to parent. She started trying to get pregnant the second she graduated from high school because she thinks a baby will fulfill her every need. She actually posted on fb that she won't need friends once the baby comes because all her needs will be met by her daughter. It's like she's not aware that babies are pretty much nothing but needs themselves for awhile. (Contrast this with my nephew and niece-in-law who accidentally got knocked up their senior year in hs, but had their heads screwed on straight and understood that parenting wasn't going to be a game of dress up, and are doing great with their now-11 year old daughter and 8 year old son... I know young parents can be awesome parents, but I just don't see this girl growing up fast enough to not screw this baby up.)

+1 best advice ever

I am looking for ways to survive working here until a better solution shows itself.

I am cutting back my hours and going in early, to avoid the horrible people. Although... really, I would have to work alone for that.

In the scheme of evil companies, Starbucks seems pretty benign. Weren't they one of the first companies to give same sex partner benefits?

The thing is, SB isn't cheap so there is lots of room for a mom and pop to open and compete nearby. There were two local shops in my college town and SB killed them because they were friendlier, nicer to work for, better service, usually better coffee (more consistent anyway), and didn't charge an extra $1 for soymilk.

I wouldn't mind more variety, but the only other option here is a missionary run shop.

I'd love to open a little shop with vegan cookies, all fair trade coffee, lots of syrup flavors , different milks like rice or almond, and a drive through.