Belle update and other news

Belle is doing well. She's settled into living in the Plateau and, as long as Portugal doesn't do well in any upcoming soccer matchups, it should be a peaceful summer. It's springtime, everything's wet and she isn't a fan of such things so walking is a bit of an issue. She didn't even poop yesterday because it was raining too hard. We had some issues this winter with her health: she just wasn't "right" so we went off to the vet. She was discovered to be jaundiced and the vet decided that there might be some liver issues (ie cancer or hepatitis). We ended up having a harrowing Valentines Day: Sweet Pea had an echocardiogram that day and Belle had to be driven (in the middle of a snow storm) to St Hyacinth for a biopsy. Both are fine: Sweet Pea is "too thin" (sigh....) and Belle has some gall bladder issues that need medication but in the end she's fine. Here's a photo of my two on Mt Royal after a snowstorm

and finally: j'ai vote hier! I love voting. I don't really trust people who don't vote. I realize that it's not always exciting to follow politics but to dismiss it? Kinda dumb, IMO. Prior to the election I didn't know who to vote for. Usually I vote NDP but this time there were no candidates available and I was just flumoxed.

Here was the breakdown of the choices:

* ADQ: I want to like Dumont, but he made waaaaay too many mistakes during the campaign & we're in a big enough mess. Also, it seems to be a one-man show and that's not cool. The fact that they did so well and formed the opposition is a little scary: we'll be talking about reasonable accommodation for a very long time.

* Liberals: I can't vote Liberal. It's beyond reasonable. I just can't do it. Fortunately, others can and they're in a minority government position.

* Parti Quebecois- a bunch of lefty intellectuals? What's not to love? And Andre Boisclar is pretty charming, I love the fact that he seems like he could go to a rave at any given moment. isn't he cute? doesn't he look like a mix-and-match separatist Ken doll? I also hate how "character issues" become such an issue whenever there is a gay candidate. It's such bull. It's not like the hetero politicians in this province (or country for that matter) have been choirboys. Anyway, even though they kept banging the separation drum I was teetering. Until the slant eyes comment, then it was all downhill and I realized that they was no way I could vote for them.

* Marxist Leninists- these are STALINISTS! didn't even know such things still existed. They support NORTH effing KOREA! they are connected to the larger Canadian party & have union connections to the Steelworkers and the Postal Workers so I was almost on board, but North Korea? come on!

* the Green Party: ummm... no! I won't vote for refried Conservatives who mask themselves as progressives

* Quebec Solidaire- more lefty intellectuals. Yes, they are pro-separation but in a vague community activist way. Basically, they give the impression of being lefty Kubaya types.

Readers, I was going to vote for the Marxist Leninists. Basically, I ended up decided on the way to the polls to vote for Quebec Solidaire. They didn't win any seats, came in 2nd in a couple of ridings, which considering they became a party in 2006 ain't bad. I don't know how I'll vote or even be involved in the upcoming federal elections. My head hurts thinking about it. I was seriously considering setting my ballot alight in protest at the paucity of choice. vive la difference!

So, there are a lot of things going on here...
When I first started the blog I'd broken up with my boyfriend, was running a marathon, moving away from Montreal and starting law school. Most of the events were chronicled here, with a more than a touch of drama.
Almost two years later, I'm living with the gentleman in question, here in Montreal. I have yet to complete my second year of law school. My interests have been refocused and I've been trying to figure out the place of the blog in that. I'm still running (not looking at a marathon anytime soon, though), cooking more (discovering the world of gluten free goodness has been exciting) and I've even rediscovered an old hobby: knitting. I'm also finding myself more political and rant-y. All of these add up to a blog that's more (and less) than what it was when it was a girl/ dog/ law school blog.
There will be more in the next couple of weeks and I'm sure there'll be some growing pains. But- I think it'll be worth the effort.

If you wanna be happy...

5 THINGS TO EAT BEFORE YOU DIE

The question has been asked of food bloggers: what 5 foods should you eat before you die? The answers, given by food lovin' bloggers from around the world, are as varied and interesting as the foodblog world. As a wanna be foodblog writer, I have been thinking of my own answers and ideas.

Food, for me, has always been as much about the place and the people as about the food itself. I have an amazing number of food memories in which I don't remember the food as much as the setting. More on that later. Here is my list of foods that I have come to love and believe everybody should try at least once:

1. Green Papaya Salad The mix of hot and sweet, salty and sour make this my favourite Thai salad. I've tried a number of recipes, some better then others, but at the end of the day, it's the smell, texture and overwhelming yummyness of the first taste that always does me...

2. Basil Sorbet yes, it does sound odd and not really dessert-like. Well, it's not supposed to be: a palate cleanser after a big meal, it should be savoured in small quantities (maybe with some fresh strawberries) just as a little pick me up. fabulous.

3. Dark Chocolate Truffles (preferably homemade) chocolate is an ancient food of the kings, a gift of the gods. Chocolate has been shown to be an anti depressant, good for the heart and an aphrodisiac. need I say more, seriously? Anyway, not everyone likes dark chocolate (which is high in antioxidants- which prevent cancer), preferring the overly sweet, milky concoctions found in the corner store. Regardless. Everyone should have good chocolate at least once. My friend Lulu showed me how to make tuffles a couple of years ago and there's no looking back.

4. figs with parma ham and buffalo mozzarella with lemon and honey I found this "super sexy salad" recipe on Jamie Oliver's website over the summer and found it so ridiculous that I had to try it. Sexy? Figs? well, the ingredient list sounded good- fresh figs, parma ham and buffalo mozzarella drizzled in lemon and honey and the rest is history. I love this combination and suggest everybody invest in the food importation business: I'm gonna need some fresh figs year round.

5. ???? I dunno. I love olives and garden ripe tomatoes in season and new potatoes (ok- I love all potatoes) and seafood ... blueberries and custard and raspberries and tortes (made without flour! woo-hoo!)
this past year has opened some amazing food doors for me: finding a new life without gluten has been both strange and wonderful. So this one is blank- need to find out the fifth food worth living for.

and-- with my list (kind of) complete--- TAG! you're it!

on purpose

I have, throughtout my life, wanted many things for and of myself:
to be carefree; to not worry so much about being liked, or getting approval from others; to be a good daughter, student, girlfriend, dog owner; to be able to wear long dangly earrings and hippie clothes; to be a successful lawyer...

All that in aid of saying that there are some changes are being made around here, my friends.
First, as you can see, the template and a couple of other blog renovations.
Other moves are bigger, albeit more subtle. So- bear with me.


This summer has been awesome. My classes, while not the most stimulating all the times, have really helped my French. I've enjoyed volunteering at Santropol and working at Stanton's (ok- maybe I didn't enjoy that part, but lip gloss isn't cheap).
My mother's arriving tonight, we're going to Ottawa so things are going to be even more chaotic for the next couple of weeks. After that things should be a little more timely around here...


And love don't play any games with me
Anymore like she did before
The world won't wait, so I better shake
That thing right out there through the door
Hell, I still love you (Ryan Adams)

Still Life and Recipes

In an attempt to channel my deepening love of all things foodie, and to use up film prior to going to the Lifetime Commitment Ceremony, I took a bunch of photos. Most of them didn't turn out too well (aka the anchovy shots), but a couple did. Please note the beautiful herbs- my balcony garden is gorgeous. I'll try and post more pictures as time goes on- my tomato plant? fantastic.

Here's what we're eating

*Roasted Vegetable Salad*
~ I got a version of this recipe from the Fields of Greens cookbook years ago. The original called for a lot of ingredients (including Champagne vinegar) which seemed along way off many years ago in Halifax. None the less, I was addicted to roasted vegetables and have eaten variations of it over the years
roast a mixture of veggies: garlic,
onions, zucchini, eggplant, red peppers, mushrooms (or others). when done, slice, mix together & toss with balsamic vinegar, olive oil, pepper, fresh basil.
let it sit for awhile for all the flavors to mix and enjoy!

*Basil Sorbet*
~ I read about this recipe shortly after planting my herbs and fell in love with the idea. It's so wonderful, perfect after a meal, with fresh strawberries or on it's own. The one problem? It melts quickly in the heat!

1/2 c sugar * 1/2 c water * 1/2 c lime juice * 10-15 leaves of basil
make a simple syrup by boiling the water & sugar together for 5 mins. allow to cool & blender with the lime juice. When it's lovely & frothy add the basil juice and blend until it's a gorgeous green colour. Put in the freezer, allow to freeze and then blender again. Allow to freeze throughly before serving. yummy!

Today
The vegetables would like to be cut
By someone who is singing God's name.

Because
Once we were all tomatoes,
Potatoes, onions or
Zucchini. - Hafiz

Summer Lovin'

The Lifetime Commitment Ceremony was wonderful. One of the best weddings I've ever been to. The coolest thing about the actual ceremony was that because they had chosen not to follow any particular tradition, they were able to incorporate what they wanted and include the people they loved. Everyone wandered around on a bit of a high afterwards. Anyway, it was great,camping was good (cold but good) and my home in Ottawa is still standing (and is relatively clean, even). So yippee!

Back at the ranch, Sweet Pea's parents are staying with us. They are showering Miss Belle with love which she appreciates. She's been more difficult lately (more on that another time) so it's nice to have people who are ok with dogs and understand their temperments somewhat.

I've enjoyed meeting them & we've had quite a bit of one on one time since Sweet Pea's been at work while I've been out of school. They're lovely people, one can see where Sweet Pea [SP] gets his mannerisms. It's been a little like camping in that we're in the living room for the most part. I've managed to get stuff done but sometimes a girl wants to hang out in her sweatpants, watch bad TV and eat ice cream out of the carton, no?

Mrs. Pea has made her opinions known about Christmas and babies, but it was done in such a way that, while firm, was none threatening. Mr. Pea was a little bit more relaxed in the conversation, but all in all it was rather funny. Especially since I don't really care about Xmas (they're welcome to him by all means) and babies are a long way off. Anyway, they care about their son and wanted me to know that. and they leave Tuesday.

The Mark of Cain

... so I woke up Sunday morning to find a bloody gash on my forehead. Something had bitten me in the middle of the night and I had scratched it. Because of the extreme heat it won't close and heal- I keep sweating & it? keeps oozing. yuck. it's like a third eye or something. Oh sure, you're saying "stop exagerating- it can't be that bad". well... y'know when you're talking to someone with a horrible deformity/ growth/ cold sore and it's all intense eye contact so you don't stare at the growth or something? people are doing that to me. Half the time I forget I've got the mark of the beast on my forehead, see myself in the mirror and "ACK"! I'm going to a wedding (or rather a "Life Commitment Ceremony" more on that later) and considered getting a cute bindi or something to cover it so that the pictures wouldn't have an open wound in them. but that's kind of Gwen Stefani circa 1998. Besides- I rocked that look hard back then & try not to duplicate. So if you see me- be kind.

On another note, my father has a protrusion on his forehead (this is a new thing-kind of freaked me out the first time I saw it) but in typical fashion he has christened it his unicorn horn so- maybe this is the start of something big. Besides, becoming a unicorn is better than being cursed by G*d.


WORK started working some shifts at Stanton's in Westmount. good to see a lot of people. and my blog has been discovered by some of the runners there. which is cool- slightly nerve wracking. since no one ever comments I always assume this is some kind of black hole. I'll try not to edit myself and keep going here. and compliments on my writing? are awesome & appreciated - thanks A!

THE NOT WEDDING
off to Derek & Simone's Life Commitment Ceremony this Weekend (or not wedding as we call it in my house). This involves a roadtrip, camping, a stop in Ottawa, some school buses and a vegan meal. All in all, an adventure and a good time. The lovelies are, of course, relaxed about presents. I am making some pantry items for them (Red Curry Paste, Chilli Oil, Mango Chutney) and enjoying it. and i may have discovered a fantastic chutney recipe... will keep y'all posted.

lot's more news on the way- gimme time folks!

What is it? You need some chap stick or lip gloss or something? Because your lips keep getting stuck on your teeth. Or is that your idea of a smile? - Joanne (Michelle Pfeiffer) from Tequila Sunrise

~ only one of the best movies ever also, a fantastic cocktail:


- 2 oz Tequila
- 4 oz Orange Juice
- 1 oz Grenadine
- Glassware: Highball Glass

Mix ingredients in a mixing glass with ice cubes. Strain into a highball glass over crushed ice.

A Scar on my Porcelin Skin

Your Ex-Lover Is Dead- Stars

I love this band, the album (Set Yourself On Fire) & the song... so good

Sweet Potato Salad

Inspired by DD, my foodie friend/ training partner, I made a Sweet Potato Salad with Honey Dijon Dressing.
After swim practice (warmup of 550+ 3*400), I sauteed some shrimp with garlic and chilli garlic sauce on top of the salad. Fantastic! next time I'm going to experiment with a Chipotle-Cilantro- Lime Dressing. Oh! how I love the sweet potato. and in my brave new GF world, I'm going to be eating a lot of them.

The past month has been slow. It's hot and I move slower anyway but then I've felt drifty, sleepy and not really clear of what's going on.

My tri has come and gone. It was the nastiest day I could have imagined and I loved it. So, that's something I'll be doing again.

Marks have come back and, while my legal genius has yet to be recognized I am happy with the results. that being said, I'm questioning what's next. I love this- but the parts I love aren't necessarily what's rewarded. I have to figure out how to get there. Hmmm...
I will definately be eating Sweet Potato Salad though. Here's the recipe:

Sweet Potato Salad
2-3 sweet potatoes- chopped, cooked but still maintaining their structure and consistency (not too soft, in other words)
red peppers- chopped into chunks
red onion- chopped fine
DD sugested celery (I'm not a big fan-seems a bit of a wasted vegetable), maybe lightly roasted corn, some black beans or carrot would also work

Honey Dijon Dressing
2 Tbsp honey
2 tsp dijon mustard
oil/ apple cidar vinegar/ salt & pepper

or, Chipotle-Cilantro & Lime Dressing
chipotle pepper- chopped fine
chopped cilantro
juice of 1-2 limes
oil - touch of mustard
salt & pepper

another day

in a few hours I write my final exam: I feel the usual mixture of excitement & dread. Today's going to be awesome: write the exam, have a job interview immediately afterwards (I know!), meet up with people and the celebrations begin!

But, before all that, this is a bit of a special moment for us here at SadieBelle because it was one year ago today that we had our first post. One year and 43 posts later we're still here.

It's been quite a year: ran a marathon, moved cities, started law school, renewed a relationship, did moot court, started training for a triathlon, discovered I was celiac and written more exams in the past 6 months then I had ever done before.
What next? well, I'm going to Disneyland. Not really, but I suspect I won't be posting as much as I have this month for awhile (it's a great distraction when you're at the computer for 12 hours a day). I think I'll read some great books (thanks for the suggestions, all) and cook and continue training and walk Belle a lot. Then I'll be back, lot's to talk about really: relationships & truisms, Mile High (still the best thing EVER), Belle's aching to give her views, Miss Legal Manners has a few things up her sleeve, I need to chat about the tri, there are recipes & of course, year one round up.

Take care-I'm going to bed.
SB

wise words

"Always be ready to kill your students"
- Grand Master Masaaki Haatsumi, ninja master

I think sometimes that law profs think like that: make sure the students sweat and are tortured by the end of the month. It's a combination of fear, mind bending and boredom. My last exam is tomorrow. And then- still don't know. I do believe that tequila shall be involved, however.

suggestions

summer is fast approaching and with the chance to READ BOOKS! real books, not text books that involve Lord Denning rambling on and on, etc, ad nauseum.
I'll take any suggestion for a reading list- email me or leave it in the comments. I will read just about anything but I don't love horror/ fantasy/ sci fi. other than that? you're on

countdowns

There are a lot of things I am counting down right now. We present:
Sadie Belle by the numbers...


2 exams left
5 days until exams are over
1 year of law school, over!

26 days until my first triathlon

3 "walks" a day
walks we take when it's raining: 0
bags / day: 3

it's one a.m. i must be alone here...

... only a slight paraphrase of Matchbox 20
I have less than 9 hours before my first exam starts, I'm freaking out, rewritting my summary (yes, again, thank you very much- this new habit of constant rewriting is getting to me)
I need to reread the FOI paper beofre I hand it in- I do manage to blast Stephen Harper & the Conservatives, so I'm sure she'll be happy.
still very tired. feeling very disastisfied with myself- haven't been able to get out much (except for mini walks with Belle) I'm still sick and my allergies have kicked in. I've been thinking about getting all my hair chopped off- very short like I used to wear it-- any thoughts? let me know...
other than that- mistake calls! and i, for one, listen...

writing my paper- an up to the minute account

there have been a few people who have complained to me over the past couple of months that I've disappeared: i'm not "sharing" the "real me" here. well folks, i'm tired, exhausted, had very little sleep, it's too early to call anyone to bitch so- here goes: i am going to blog writing this $%&@ paper for JSL- not only the STUPIDEST class EVER but the STUPIDEST assignment.
My beloved roomate arrived home last night - i'm going to guess he was intoxicated- and woke me up. I'm stressed and had no sleep. I've been awake since 5, it's 7:30, I'm listening to some kind of Easter church service on the CBC and I'm on page 2. I swear if MH woke up I'd hurt him...
ok--
7:20 page 2....
more later
9 am- writing paper
9:30 freak out at boyfriend
page 3
spend next hour showering/ walking dog/ eating/ preparing food for library/ dishes
11 am- freak out at MH: resist his attempts to calm me
his response? "i'm a bastard" i am so very tired and angry...
11:30 am- at library, holding at page 3
12:30- 4 pages folks, uh-huh!
eating my edamame as I write - I need some sleep & some Advil extra strength long lasting gel caps. My head is killing me- probably a heady mix of allergies and lack of sleep
so tired... 4 Pages!
1:30 - on page 5: finished my quesadillas
going write the damn conclusion & be done with it
tried to put my head down - can't sleep
- 5 pages people: looks like it's going to be exactly 5. This is good, tweak a few things, add a footnote or two. This is my Seinfeld paper- a paper about nothing!
1:45- Done! that's right D-O-N-O-N-O-N-E!
gotta get the contracts under - really? I need to sleep and maybe crying a little.
effing contracts... gotta get the summary done: trying to a table of easily readable rules & the cases separately briefed- i don't know...
3- Open Office is now refusing to open my documents: Frustration in particular. Irony aside I need this %$#@&* it!
- leave computer with Mike in the library (we've been watching each other's ccomputers as the other goes for walk, pee break, etc), sprint home, get memory stick so i can save what Open Office has chosen not to destroy
that's the problem with free source programmes- you can't focus all of your rage on a single person like Bill Gates
3:30 - find the house exactly as I left it. All of my please for MH to do his bit & clean up were for naught. good to know that he's consistent at least.
3:45- back in library, my area has been over run by someone wearing- perfume? $#@!%&*!
ok- i know I'm hypersensitive to this, especially when I'm in the midst of allergy season. and now that there's the celiac thing, I'm risking turning into one of THOSE people who annoy me to no end. but, sweet mary & joseph. the woman is 10 feet away from me and I can smell her. bleck...
5ish- going home, summary almost complete, paper in need of editing. and a dog who needs to be walked
so- that's my exciting life. i don't have time for anything else.
stupid law school.

stupid blogger, stupid computer

for some reason I can't retrieve an awesome post- complete with pictures of Molly Ringwald & Lord Denning (a fine day when you can have the two of them included) that i wrote yesterday. AND Blogger won't let me cut & paste a post I wrote while I didn't have access to the internet. Stupid Blogger grrrrr...
well folks, my blog-versary is fast approaching: 1 year! gosh... sadly, since I'm in the middle of exams and what not- my actual time on the internet is very rare and the celebration will be muted. for now- I'll post when I can...
PS- stupid blogger's spell check? doesn't recognize the words "Blogger" and "blog"- &^(*^(*^&(*er

More Law School Geekdom

I don't know how many of you saw Brokeback Mountain or what you thought about it. I saw it with Michael & it was mmmm... not great. Frankly, I thought My Beautiful Launderette was far more progressive, interesting and hotter (yeah, I said it) than Brokeback. And it had a young (& yummy) Daniel Day Lewis.
The best thing for me has been the parodies of Brokeback. If you haven't seen Brokeback to the future, I suggest you goggle it right now.

So the following is Brokeback Moot. Many of you will remember my travails at the Moot Court in November. Y'know- from whence the lovely eye twitch comes and the crushing of alarmingly low self esteem. So, imagine my delight when I found the following in my inbox! God bless the University of Alberta! and, for those who are law students: Carbolic Smoke Ball? I want one!

you know you're a law student when... II

1- you are seriously worried that you've missed something in your legal analysis of the Tim Horton's cup case
2- you realize that you simply cannot read everything
3- you are ridiculously proud that your boyfriend knows all about the Ogopogo case (he does!)
4- you understand where the lawyers are assholes stories start
5- you start calculating what a 70 hour work week would look like

but i love this. that's the thing. for the first time in a long time i feel like i am exactly where i am supposed to be. sure, it's scary and somewhat soul crushing but i love it. i get the impression that some expect this to be the 'hapless adventures of a girl in law school' blog, and I can't do that. sure, i'm still hapless (I'm still ME) but i'm not wandering in the wilderness anymore...

you know you are a law student when...

1. you hear great celebrity gossip about a marriage (or divorce) and your first thought is: I'd like to see that prenup!
2. you are sad to realize you can't blame a fictious governmental agency for a kid burning his house down
3. everywhere you go you start looking for a plug for your laptop
4. you hear a loud noise outside and run out- excited to see some liability!
5. you start a debate what colour highlighter you'd come back as. with yourself. at 2:40 in the morning.

5 more weeks!

Oscar Fashion & Gossip Update

First up - Oscar fashion
This was the first time since- 1993? that I haven't watched at least a part of the Oscars.
I watch for the clothes. So, I've been checking out the gossip blogs for the past week.
if you'd like to see some awesome outfits and get great gossip, check out some of the following sites...
www.gofugyourself.typepad.com
http://celebritysmack.blogspot.com
http://celebritysailing.blogspot.com
there are so many blogs out there- those are some of my faves.
Now the outfits that were the best (ie worst) at the Oscars were...
Charlieze Theron! I know!
I kind of love the idea- strips of material, wrapped mummy style around. It's different. But - in forest green? with a bow on her shoulder? Why? Why?
Char, honey- you're gorgeous, perfect legs & lovely hair; you have money, people *give* you pretty clothes. Why the Mummy in the Forest look? Is it because you & Stuart broke up? Yes, he was very pretty. But this is the time to bring out the A clothes sweetie. pretty lip glosses (look at the lip gloss reviews in the post below! they'd look fab on you).




Ms. Sharon Stone is another one who just- I dunno. Say what you will about the Stone-inator- she's got ummm.... eggs! and she knows how to dress but this looks like ... like... Windsor Forks circa 1985. don't get me started about the Lohan. I want to like her (i really really do- mean girls rocked!) but she is circling the drain. Ms Stone has Basic Instinct 2 coming out soon. it's all so uck.
Stone is hot. I saw her in Broken Flowers and she's still got it.
Anyway, in case you can't tell from the photos - Stone is wearing *frosty blue eyeshadow*, and I'm pretty sure she's not being ironic. Her hair is a teased, sprayed and coiffed confection. A tribute to the 80s hairbands- maybe her next role is as an aging Poison groupie?


Madonna has been saying in interviews that her daughter, Lourdes is concerned that her mother is gay. Apparantly, she saw the MTV awards show & watched her mother kissing Britney Spears. Madonna's got some crazy story about passing on 'rock star energy'. um, ok? If I were Madonna, I'd actually be more worried about my daughter thinking I had syph or something but I guess that's just me.

Britney Spears may/ may not be pregnant. Isn't she over yet? Why do we care? If I have to look at god awful pics of Brit Brit everytime I try to get some good gossip for the rest of my life.

Paris Hilton is banned from Vanity Fair parties by Graydon Carter. That may be the best editorial decision made by Vanity Fair in years.

There are some awesome pics of a very drunk Jake Gyllen-whatever partying with the Brokeback people on Oscar Eve. He's obviously drunk and enjoying himself, really funny.

AND Jessica Simpson seems to have been dumped by Adam Levine. I've heard only that one song of Maroon 5 and yeah, not feeling it. Anyway, she will be dumped!

that's all for now...