Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 43)

by Linda Nguyen on in Diary

1.


So when BFF dropped me off at the airport for my flight back to Austin, I inadvertently left my phone in her car. I made it all the way to my gate and was fishing in my purse for the phone to make a few calls when I realized I didn’t have it. I had about an hour til departure and was wheeling with anxiety. I needed to make at least two calls. One to her to let her know she had my phone and another to Alan to let him know I wouldn’t have my phone when I land. (He was picking me up.)

I decided I could try to boot up the wireless Internet on my Kindle and use Google Voice to text both parties. Just when I was about to open up my Kindle cover, I heard my name announced on the intercom. My heroine of a BFF had managed to call my gate and then arrange someone to meet me with my phone.

Anyway, the point of me sharing this is that I realized I really need to memorize a few phone numbers. In case something like this happens again. Or in case I get arrested.

2.

One of my new year’s resolutions this year is to publish 3 blog posts a week on the food blog. For every missed week, I pay myself 10 dollars in my Vietnam fund. This week is the very first week I completed that goal and did not have to drop a ten in the Vietnam account. High five!

3.

Links to the three posts:


Modern Diner (Pawtucket, Rhode Island)


Wordless Wednesday – Poutine


Flour (Boston, Massachusetts)

4.


I was going to write up a full recap for my fear-facing canoe trip I took with the work people, but I think it’s only really fascinating to me, the person whose mind and world were shaken by something most people find pretty tame. So now unconceived blog post has been reduced to a bulleted quick take.

  • The river was very low due to Texas drought. Which means if we were to tip over, all we had to do is stand.
  • I lost count of how many times a rapid turned our canoe backwards.
  • I lost count how many times we collided into tree branches. Thankfully, by holding up my paddle to protect my face, I escaped unscratched.
  • I saw a snake swim under us and because my fear of tipping over and being entangled with said snake was greater than seeing the snake, I remained calm and just anxiously waited til we were in the clear.
  • One of our canoes tipped over during the biggest and last rapid. One workmate disappeared underneath the boat and scared us witless but she was safe. The other workmate had a doozy of a bruise on her leg but was otherwise safe as well. I decided I was too faint-hearted to go through that rapid so I walked around it instead. Sound decision, I think.
  • Canoeing down a river for the first time was cool. I wouldn’t seek this experience out again but it wouldn’t be so terrifying should I find myself peer pressured into going again.
  • Sitting in a canoe and paddling for a collective 5 hours makes your bum hurt and your arms feel like they’re going to fall off.

5.


Conversation at Ben & Jerry’s Factory:

Best Friend:
Oh. My. God. That guy was SO hot.

Me:
Really? I started at the shoes and I couldn’t get past his wearing long socks with shorts. Didn’t make it to his face.

Best Friend:
Honey, the shorts and socks come off.

6.


Speaking of Ben & Jerry’s Factory. We went last week. I found a new flavor I like. Americone Dream: vanilla ice cream with fudge covered waffle cone pieces and a caramel swirl.

7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ great 5 day trip with best friend ♥ 3 day work week ♥ catch up phone call with Naz ♥ crossing paths with Brenda on a sidewalk and exchanging a rushed hug ♥ Realizing that for the past month I somehow inadvertently and mentally readjusted my goal of 40 books in 2011 to 50 books in 2011, correcting this has given me more breathing room ♥ finishing an entire Anthony Bourdain book during one day of traveling ♥ silly banter with boyfriend ♥ Ally McBeal marathons ♥ fresh, clean, and white bed sheets

Questions: Do you have any phone numbers memorized? Which numbers do you know?