Pass the Pasta

フレッシュなパスタが最高！！

もう買わないメリッサが。手作りが早いと安いしやっぱこちの方がいいね　＾＾

自分で自分の食べ物を作ると幸せよ！ボックスパスタよりもっとやわらかいとちょっとうどんの食管みたい。やばい！作り方も簡単し「じゃ、パスタ買うか？」もう思わんよ。...会ってるかな..？

 左下から：パスタ生地、小麦粉のふるい、生パスタ麺、アルカリ水、パスタローラー
Starting from the bottom left: Pasta dough, flour sieve, raw pasta noodles, alkaline water, pasta roller

いただきます！！

あ、でも今フランス語のテスト勉強中やし「Bon Appetit!」と言おうかな？

Okay, in case I've lost all Japanese writing skills...

Homemade pasta is the best ! It's faster and cheaper, which is good :) 

To make you own food yourself is pure happiness. These noodles were softer than the box pasta you can buy at the grocery store, and it kind of had the texture of udon. (I wanted to say "chewy" but I can't remember how to ! >_<). I don't think I will ever think of buying pasta again. This was just too good ^_^

DONE !

Classes are DONE ! Term papers are DONE ! Year-long-History-course midterm is DONE ! And now I have time to be crafty :)

I did a bit of reconstructing and upcycling today. Some knitting, reading, and listening to salsa as well. It was what I longed to do all through last week when was bogged down with writing and studying. What a release !

Took an old t-shirt with formidable colours and added a bit more material from an old t-shirt to make it into a dress. I'm thinking of adjusting the shoulders too and changing the neckline to a V. We'll see. I'll make something from the leftovers of that Tee another day. No waste ! :)

Restructured a male dress shirt into .... something that fits me. Forgot the before picture, but it was basically a massive tent. 

Next up, lots and lots of baking :D And pasta making.

Don't tell Jojo, but I'm going to attempt to knit him a Christmas sweater this year. 

Including his name, soccer balls and candy canes.

Mamak Night in Da Houuuuse !

Faire mes devoirs. Faire mes devoirs.　
宿題をして。宿題をして。

No matter what language I say it in, it's not going to end just yet. Homework. Homework. Homework.

But no complaints, I am so lucky to be able to go to school freely, study what I want and pursue my dreams. I just wish this translated into a better work ethic. I need to be more proactive

Devoir 2 pour le francais. Due mercredi. Mostly done.

World AIDS Day showing of A Closer Walk. If only tomorrow wasn't so busy, I'd stay for the whole thing...

Chamber concert at night, I'm really excited ! I think everyone's so exhausted from the term that all our dress rehearsals went very sketchy, but it's sure to be a great performance tomorrow. I love Ravel and I'm really excited to perform it for an audience. I hope it goes well !

English play review and term paper. As well as getting W;t from the library. Oi oi oi Melissa, what are you doing !?

To cap it all off, here's what we ate for supper tonight :) Mamak is the name for East Indians living in Malaysia, and this is the type of food that they have honed (I think). Malaysian food is one of my favourite parts of my heritage. It's just so exuberantly spicy, fragrant, and unique to other "world foods". Plus it hasn't got a North American fake version

Yu choy, fried eggs, curry ikanbilis (south-east Asian anchovies), cucumbers, and nasi lemak wrapped in banana leaves. My mom says she used to buy nasi lemak for lunch at school for 15 cents when she was little !! Talk about sweet deal !

Close up on nasi lemak. Mmmmmm

and open. In Malaysia, the Malay and Mamak people eat the food with their right hand (no utensils) and use their left hand for the bathroom. If you mix these up, people will probably be extremely disgusted with you.

Good Sunday

The end of August is coming...where did summer go ?!

I went to the Public Library for the first time in a Long time yesterday. Since then I've been listening to Dear Catastrophe Waitress by Belle and Sebastian for a majority of the day. I did pick up other CDs and books, but this album takes the cake ! Piazza, New York Catcher makes me think of Carlos everytime I hear it, I can't wait for him to be back in the city for good. As well as for us to talk and figure out what exactly we're doing. Patience Melissa...

This drizzly Sunday turned out to be a really great day. I've finally found the trick to making my room clean: throw out everything that's unnecessary, instead of hoarding all the things I find sentimental. I never look at those things again anyways. So with a newly clean room, I took apart an unused bunnyhug and used it to spruce up a funky gigantic sweater. Actually, I just added the white band at the bottom. This shirt is so big that the wind would blow right up through the torso and I would feel like I was wearing nothing at all. 

"Chibikko Festival"

Then me and mom baked Red Bean Buns. Well, she bought frozen dinner roll dough and we stuffed them with Coshi An (red bean paste) then left them to rise to triple the original size.

After rising

Egg washed and black sesame seeded.

The lighting makes them look burnt.

Tada ! I've got that corny smile going on because my mom was taking the photo. Remember, when you're little and your mom says "Smile like this, it looks nice" but you actually just look quite silly?

Ha, she moved so I wouldn't photograph her, but it turned out even better.

Washed down my bun with some Postum:
ground roasted barley drink that tastes like coffee.

Deeeeelicious ! We did leave some behind for Jojo to eat when he gets home from Edmonton, though mom was pretty steamed (and most likely worried) that when I texted him at 9, he and Shari were just leaving Lloydminster, meaning they won't be home until around 11. He's a grown man, he'll be fine. She'll learn to stop stressing herself over him unnecessarily...one of these days. Everyone's geating down for sleep, as should I. Need to load up all Belle and Sebastian, Most Serene Republic, Malajube and New Pornographers onto the Mp3 to make work fun for tomorrow. Night !

Peace Tree Project

The 22nd Saskatchewan Children's Festival started yesterday, and today I spent the whole morning helping out in the Peace Tree Tent ! We have a "garden" on man-made trees, and we're getting the children to make decorations about peace to put on them ! Too bad it's raining or these pictures would be nicer

 

世界人類が平和ありますように。
May Peace Prevail On Earth.

Cabin Fever

Trekked out to Kristina's cabin for less than a day of fun chatter and a puzzle.

友達と楽しみのためKristinaのキャビンに行って来ました！

超スウェーデンぽい！素敵なキャビンな～

Graham, Alex, Kate and Kristina, after we FINALLY completed the puzzle of "Kitty City"

「ねこ市」のパズルを完成した後。マジしんどかったわ！！

Next morning, everyone was still asleep at 11 am, so we decided to go for a bike ride by the lake

次の朝、皆が11時でまだ寝ていたしGrahamと湖でチャリに乗って行くことをした

Potluck

Potluck: a gathering where all who attend bring one dish to share with everyone else.

ポットラック：集合場所ですべての人が一皿を持って皆で共有する。

Maia and Cassie (the Stark twins) have an awesome mom. She came up with the idea that "Hey, we should have people over. On a regular basis. Let's have a weekly potluck at our house every Sunday !"

双子友達マイアとキャーセィのお母さんは賢い！彼女が「毎週人々が私達の家に来たらいいな」と考えて「じゃ毎日曜日ポットラックしよう！」のアイディアが生まれた！

This past Sunday was the very first one.

先の日曜日が初だったよ！

I decided to make homemade udon ! And since we didn't have any udon dashi, I made miso with wakame and tofu to go with it. It turned out not too bad ! Pretty healthy tasting anyhow...

メリッサが手作りうどんを作った！だしがなかって味噌汁とわかめと豆腐を作ってあわせて。。。まぁそんなにまずくなかった！めちゃヘルシーな味。。。

先の一週間休みだった！

Alright, I have not posted in FOREVER and seeing as I just returned from a splendid trip I might as well write it all down.

2010年2月15日- 日曜日

電車でレッドディーアへ友達ケーティを会いに行くぞ！

出発は２３時４７分です。６時４７分エドモントンに着く予定で時間がめっちゃ早いしそこの駅で誰も待ってなかって良かったわ！ジョウジョウもお母さんも駅まで送ってくれた。駅員のフランス語アクセントが重くて自分の席を見つけられなかった。ついに彼の助けてもらって光すごすを見て寝ました。

Monday February 15, 2010

I'm taking the train to visit my friend Katie McLaren in Red Deer ! 

My train leaves at 11:47 pm. It is scheduled to arrive 6:47 am in Edmonton, and hopefully Katie and her Mom will not be there yet because that is SO EARLY ! Jojo and Mom drove me to the station, we had no problems finding it. I couldn't find my seat due to the train attendant being French and speaking in a funny accent. He eventually helped me, I watched lights pass in the dark and fell asleep.

Happy New Year !

あけましておめでとうございます！！

去年お世話になりました。どうもどうもどうも！今年もよろしく！

Violins and Video Games !

よっしゃ！試験全部終わった！降格できたかな？(笑）

やっ初テスト(地理学)の場合テストする場所を間違った。(`o`) あせた！
PACジムと書いて、EDUCジムに行っちゃった！
始まる時間は2時でメリッサは違うジムに入って違うテストを受けって見て出てPACジムまで走ってた。マジしんどかった！！たぶんその日の気温は-27度かな？
｢やばいやばいやばいやばいやばいやばいやばいやばいやばいやばい｣と思った。
2時16分PACジムに着いてまだ大丈夫だった！良かったな～残ってるテストの始まる前場所を３回もチェックした。

昨日トクマルシューゴを見つけた。日本インディ歌手と言う人。この歌を聞くこと止まれない！聞いて見て！

Yesssss. Finals are done and away. Hope I passed ! (Especially Math 110)

Haha, so I messed up the location for my VERY FIRST final, Geography. It was in the PAC gym, but I showed up at EDUC. I looked around me and saw only guys, so I texted my brother and (haha) asked whether they separate girls and boys for tests. Oi vay. It turns out there were two Engineering finals going on. Haha. So I went in, I get my test, I looked at it, and when I realized the GE stood for General Engineering not GEography, I walked out of there and felt ready to panic like crazy. I then had a nice job through the cold brisk air. I didn't even feel tired from running, but it was probably cause I wasn't even thinking about that. I showed up 16 minutes late, but it was all good. Phew. Definitely doubled checked all the rest of my test places after that.

I discovered this guy Shugo Tokumaru yesterday. He's a Japanese Indie Artist. I cannot stop listening to this song !! Have a listen.

土曜日友達マイルスはうちの家に来る。彼とNYOCオーディションを受けるしバイオリンを弾いてビデオゲームを遊ぶ。

めちゃ楽しみしてる！

Miles is coming over this saturday ! We're auditioning for NYOC, so we're gonna jam on our violins and play video games. I'm so pumped !

心配させてごめん～

久しぶり日本語書いてなかったごめんね！

I got a call on Monday, and I'm not going to Africa. Oh well, I can always try again next year ! But since I'm not going, I've applied to audition for NYOC (National Youth Orchestra of Canada). It's really hard to get in, but it's a good experience to do the audition. So from now til the end of January....endless violin practice.

月曜日電話がかけて来てアフリカの行かないらしい。ざんねんけどまた来年もう一回申し込もう！アフリカに行く予定が消してカナダの国立青少年オーケストラに申し込んだ。(笑。申し込むこと終わらんな～）オーケストラに入られるはしんどいけどめちゃいい経験と思う。今からいっぱいバイオリン練習しよう。
昨日と今日高校のミュージカル見に行った！名前「Anything Goes」をした。やばいめちゃばかばかしかった。ビデオを見て！

Yesterday and today I went to see my old high school's musical production. They did Anything Goes. It was ridiculous. Here's some clips !

That was all fun, but with classes done, finals are a coming !

My next week looks a little like this:

Dec. 9 - Geography Final and Cantata rehearsal

Dec 10 - Symphony Concert

Dec. 11 - Jazz Final and Symphony Concert

Dec. 12 - Symphony Concert

Dec. 13 - Cantata Concert

Dec. 14 - Quintet gig and Chemistry Final

Wowza, that's a jampacked weekend ! Hopefully it all turns out well...

９日~１４日は忙しいと思う。地理試験、カンタータリハー、ジャズ試験、交響楽団コンサート、カンタータコンサート、五重奏ギグと化学試験。やばいいっぱいな！

Tomorrow Never Comes

I applied to become an EWB (Engineers Without Borders) Junior Fellowship, to go and volunteer overseas in an African community for 3 months this coming summer. I did an hour interview with them 2 weeks ago. And tomorrow I find out if they've accepted me or not. NERVOUS !!!

内職...?

I should be completing one of the many things on my list to do:

VSEPR Molecule Lab
WebAssign Online Math Assigment
Mastering Chemistry Assignment
Studying for the Geography Lab
Finding a Spanish Piano Piece
Practicing for the upcoming Chamber Concert

But...

This morning I played piano for worship. And it was So Fun. So Fun ! Finally I wasn't in an older person group, but instead got last minute called up to play for Youth Worship. So we played pretty upbeat stuff, although I'm sure we shocked the hair off of many seniors at the service: we were pretty loud. So now, all I'm thinking about is Christian Rock and those 6 songs that we played this morning. I wish I could write music. Or more specifically, write Good music. Grounded just released their first EP and Pirate Fridays is having a CD Release on Sunday. I admire you all, I can't write melodies, let alone lyrics, even if it's a poetry portfolio assigned to me in Grade 9 ! And a random connection, the drummer who played this morning is opening for PiFri in the band Rippit Rippit (with David Turnbull!) It should be a good show, hopefully I've found focus for my work so that I can attend that concert guilt free !




Our version is better :)
We received applause from the age 50+ crowd at both services, but we weren't sure if it was because they were happy the loud song was over haha.

Birthday Math and the Symphony

Me and the family went to The Samurai for some "authentic" Japanese cooking...from Chinese chefs.

The little boy in the red was sooo cute.

家族と｢侍｣日本料理レストランを食べに行った。中国人シェフがご飯を作ってくれたけど。。。

赤いジャケットを着てる男の子はめっちゃ可愛かった !

Supposedly they usually light the onion on fire, but we were treated to a steamy spectacle instead !

普通は玉ねぎを燃えるけど今回は蒸しをしてた。

The family and the birthday cake.

Everyone was wearing pajamas, so we only took a photo of our heads.

家族と誕生日ケーキ

皆がパジャマを着てたし頭だけを撮った。

My favourite :)

大好き

Had my first experience of being part of the Saskatoon Symphony Orchestra (SSO) this past week. 4 two and a half hour practices and one concert; it was fun. Too bad I started feeling awful on Wednesday night, just before my Math midterm. I made it through that test, fever, chills, aches and all. I hope I didn't fail.

The concert was yesterday and SOO good.

1. The Hebrides Overture: Fingal's Cave by Felix Mendelssohn

2. Violin Concerto in E minor by Felix Mendelssohn

3. Symphony No. 7 by Ludwig van Beethoven

All of the string section's arms, are so tired. Beethoven's 7th is like playing 16th notes for 50 minutes straight.

Jasper Wood came to play Mendelssohn Concerto and he was amazing. Super clear and sang on every note, his flashy bow and tail coat added to the evening.

I need to find new black wear for the next concert; I guess my dress just isn't long enough. Oops.

October Snow

初雪。

雪運んでいる自転車。

真っ白。

まだ紅葉色に変わってない。

車。

Japanese Beer in CANADA !? HaaaaH !?

Now what's Aren got in his hand?

Is that...an Asahi Beer!?

Say Whaaat!? No way!

I'll keep my eyes peeled for other Japanese paraphernalia in Canada. :)

Arenが何を持ってるかな ?

ASAHI ビルか? (o_o)

はぁ!? びっくりした～

ほかの日本のものを探そう !!

And now for some University Photography.

今から大学の写真。

The shoes of me and Donna, during Chemistry.

Then I found out from Becky that taking photos during class is supposedly illegal?

化学中私とDonnaの靴。授業中写真を撮ることは絶対あかんらしい。。。

 

They are the Eggman.

彼ら卵みたいね~（笑）

The sound of October

October 1: Final Fantasy

 October 19: Amy Millan



October 29: Metric !!

... if only Mom would let me go. Or if I had the guts to completely disobey my parents.

Gundam Happy Birthday Jojo!

Jojoは24歳になりました！16日は兄ちゃんの誕生日でした！けど水曜日時間がなくて今日アイスケーキを食べた！Mmm, Dairy Queenのアイスケーキはめちゃおいしい！そして兄ちゃんはガンダムがめちゃ好きやからガンダムのケーキを作ってもらった。おなかいっぱい～

火曜の数学時間でノルウェー人の男の子に会った！彼はMartinと言う　カナダに来てばかりし授業中いっぱい分からなくてたくさん質問をメリッサに聞いている　:)　可愛い(笑）

見て見て！！ESSは英語部じゃないけど大学でこのサインを見たらめちゃESSの皆様に会いたかったわぁ！

あぁBlogをうまくできない。。。日本語を下手になってしまったみたい　もったいないな～！！

Knit Bit

And now a spontaneous post to list all things to be made using needles and yarn

Slippers
Headband
Longjohns
Toque
Penguin?
Socks and socks and socks



I'm also still debating on which pair of glasses to buy...

http://www.eyewearmagic.ca/plastic-eyeglasses-10-productid-614.html
http://www.eyewearmagic.ca/index.php?pop=viewCat&productId=404

Off to hear Michael Swan saw out some Bach, Vieuxtemps and Wienawski. First day back to SYO tomorrow, Drop Zone Response downtown in the afternoon, then "ushing" the Amati Concert of Haydn "Falling Fifths" Borodin and Beethoven. Weekend YES!

Ponyo ponyo ponyo she's a little fish!

月曜友達と小さな遊園地を遊びに行ってメリーゴーラウンドに乗ってて崖の上のポンヨ｣を見に行ってきた！英語だけどめっちゃ可愛かった！！！ジブリと宮崎はやおめちゃ好き！次の映画を楽しみしてる ^^

この写真は(左から)Graham, KristinaとJordyです。Jakeもいるけどあまり見えない。

メリーゴーラウンドのトナカイを見たことある？(笑）
Saskatoonの遊園地はめっちゃ古くて100年前を造ったでしょ。O_O

Grahamの車の運転をした！映画館に無事着いた。よっしゃ！^_^

　
（On Monday me and my friends went and rode the merry-go-round at Kinsmen Park, this little fun park in Saskatoon. Then we went and saw PONYO! Even though it was in English, it was still really cute. I love Miyazaki and Studio Ghibli! I can't for them to make another movie. I drove Graham's car and we arrived safely with no another movie.

This picture's of Graham, Kristina and Jordy. Jake's there too but you can't and Jordy. Jake's there too but you can't really see him.

Have you ever seen a reindeer on a marry-go-round? Hahaha, Kinsmen Park is so old, it was built 100 years ago...

I drove Graham's car and we arrived got to the theatre without any crashes! YEEEH)