- Hearty well-wishes to you all on this day of the festival of lights.
Tinypliny's Journal
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10/27/2008 02:39 #46360
Deepavali ki Haardik Shubhkaamnaayen!Category: the odes
Aap sab ko deepavali ki haardik shubkaamnaayen!*
10/26/2008 15:43 #46351
A Sequence of HaircuttersCategory: tourism
With this latest haircut, I have had 18 of them in Buffalo. Some of them have been more memorable than the others.
My first one was all the way up at North Plaza. For want of a better sense of direction, and the gleeful excitement of having a "metro" train service within walking distance once again, I took it all the way up to south campus and was quite disappointed when the driver announced that it was the last stop. I don't know what I had been expecting but I do remember wondering whether it would come out in another city's downtown.
Somehow this seems so appropriate, not to mention way cooler. Downtown to downtown - symmetric underground and overground sections. Like a light rail but also like a tube. The romance was killed brutally at south campus.
So back to the main story, that trip was memorable not only for the huge metro asymmetry disappointment but also for the near hysterical haircutter. She started carelessly whacking my hair off. I don't really ask too much from my haircutters. I just want it all off and a decent non-eggy looking outcome at the end. But I got more than I paid for.
She told me the whole in-detail story about how she was going to call her wedding off because she had just found out that morning that her fiance had given her a fake golden ring with a fake diamond pasted on it. She also sniffled into my hair. I didn't mean to be insensitive but.. Geez. I never went back.
The second haircutter had moved his shop from Utica to the basement of an old people's home on Main Street. It started out okay but I was the only one below 60 in that room and one of the old ladies was bitterly complaining that her new hair colour was not purple enough.
It unsettled me. Oh, and that place smelled really funky as well.
A few haircuts at not-very-memorable-places later, I met this haircut lady!
I swear she must have been a drill sergeant in her past life! She yelled at everyone in the shop - customers and employees alike, and gave me something very close to a military buzzcut. I was too scared to say anything and slunk out!
Then I met the best haircutter ever - LaShawn! I don't think anyone ever cut my hair so well as her. My hair didn't grow out of shape for a whole month! It was as if she had sprinkled magic dust on my hair and bullied it into behaving.
Unfortunately, she went on maternity leave after I had that haircut and I haven't seen her since.
The next one was downright freaky. While cutting my hair, he casually mentioned how his dream career was to become a mortician! Nice way to boost confidence levels in a client.
The last really interesting haircutter was an indophile.
He was covered in so many tattoos, it was hard to tell what kind of clothes he was wearing! He told me that his boyfriend usually tried out unique designs on him first and that's how he ended up with so many. I found that what little I know about Hinduism was very deficient compared to his encyclopaedic knowledge!
I seem to have knack for meeting the most bizarre haircutters and going to the weirdest of haircutting settings.
My first one was all the way up at North Plaza. For want of a better sense of direction, and the gleeful excitement of having a "metro" train service within walking distance once again, I took it all the way up to south campus and was quite disappointed when the driver announced that it was the last stop. I don't know what I had been expecting but I do remember wondering whether it would come out in another city's downtown.
Somehow this seems so appropriate, not to mention way cooler. Downtown to downtown - symmetric underground and overground sections. Like a light rail but also like a tube. The romance was killed brutally at south campus.
So back to the main story, that trip was memorable not only for the huge metro asymmetry disappointment but also for the near hysterical haircutter. She started carelessly whacking my hair off. I don't really ask too much from my haircutters. I just want it all off and a decent non-eggy looking outcome at the end. But I got more than I paid for.
She told me the whole in-detail story about how she was going to call her wedding off because she had just found out that morning that her fiance had given her a fake golden ring with a fake diamond pasted on it. She also sniffled into my hair. I didn't mean to be insensitive but.. Geez. I never went back.
The second haircutter had moved his shop from Utica to the basement of an old people's home on Main Street. It started out okay but I was the only one below 60 in that room and one of the old ladies was bitterly complaining that her new hair colour was not purple enough.
It unsettled me. Oh, and that place smelled really funky as well.
A few haircuts at not-very-memorable-places later, I met this haircut lady!
I swear she must have been a drill sergeant in her past life! She yelled at everyone in the shop - customers and employees alike, and gave me something very close to a military buzzcut. I was too scared to say anything and slunk out!
Then I met the best haircutter ever - LaShawn! I don't think anyone ever cut my hair so well as her. My hair didn't grow out of shape for a whole month! It was as if she had sprinkled magic dust on my hair and bullied it into behaving.
Unfortunately, she went on maternity leave after I had that haircut and I haven't seen her since.
The next one was downright freaky. While cutting my hair, he casually mentioned how his dream career was to become a mortician! Nice way to boost confidence levels in a client.
The last really interesting haircutter was an indophile.
He was covered in so many tattoos, it was hard to tell what kind of clothes he was wearing! He told me that his boyfriend usually tried out unique designs on him first and that's how he ended up with so many. I found that what little I know about Hinduism was very deficient compared to his encyclopaedic knowledge!
I seem to have knack for meeting the most bizarre haircutters and going to the weirdest of haircutting settings.
dragonlady7 - 10/28/08 23:50
I laughed out loud at this post!!
Your fantasy of a subway to another city could be answered more or less by taking the real train to another city. Amtrak goes to Toronto (which is an actual city, like a mini-New York with fewer smell issues), Rochester (which has, um, buildings!), Syracuse (full of concrete!), Utica (which is almost like a city!), Schenectady (come for the whores, stay for the crack!), Albany (home of our corrupt state government!) and New York City (which doesn't really need explaining). Also, it's a very scenic ride along the edge of the Mohawk River, and you get a sweeping panorama of some lovely towns like Herkimer (home of a Rev. War general) and Canojaharie. Lots of lovely old Victorian houses, and some older Federal-style buildings too.
Anyway.
I haven't had a haircut in years. I just keep not getting around to it. But I now have 3 hair stylists in my roller derby league. Pummelina, of the Suicidal Saucies, works at Style Lab on Elmwood. I don't know where Cha-Cha Wheels works now, but I could find out. And Beauty School Knockout, a rookie this season, manages a big spa and salon out in the suburbs somewhere, I'd have to find out the name. Cha-Cha especially has done some really great work with people's hair in the league. And she's funny as hell.
Your adventure stories are great.
I laughed out loud at this post!!
Your fantasy of a subway to another city could be answered more or less by taking the real train to another city. Amtrak goes to Toronto (which is an actual city, like a mini-New York with fewer smell issues), Rochester (which has, um, buildings!), Syracuse (full of concrete!), Utica (which is almost like a city!), Schenectady (come for the whores, stay for the crack!), Albany (home of our corrupt state government!) and New York City (which doesn't really need explaining). Also, it's a very scenic ride along the edge of the Mohawk River, and you get a sweeping panorama of some lovely towns like Herkimer (home of a Rev. War general) and Canojaharie. Lots of lovely old Victorian houses, and some older Federal-style buildings too.
Anyway.
I haven't had a haircut in years. I just keep not getting around to it. But I now have 3 hair stylists in my roller derby league. Pummelina, of the Suicidal Saucies, works at Style Lab on Elmwood. I don't know where Cha-Cha Wheels works now, but I could find out. And Beauty School Knockout, a rookie this season, manages a big spa and salon out in the suburbs somewhere, I'd have to find out the name. Cha-Cha especially has done some really great work with people's hair in the league. And she's funny as hell.
Your adventure stories are great.
gardenmama - 10/27/08 10:21
Two women I work with go to a stylist on Kenmore Ave. near Elmwood. They are both happy with her and said she only charges $12. I can get her phone # if you are interested.
Two women I work with go to a stylist on Kenmore Ave. near Elmwood. They are both happy with her and said she only charges $12. I can get her phone # if you are interested.
pmrk - 10/27/08 09:35
I have no idea what he charges for a haircut. If I see Patrick this week, I will ask him.
I have no idea what he charges for a haircut. If I see Patrick this week, I will ask him.
tinypliny - 10/26/08 23:03
@(e:gardenmama): I need a haircutting relative!!!!
@(e:pmrk): I need to check this salon out. How much does he charge for a simple haircut sans shampoo?
@(e:gardenmama): I need a haircutting relative!!!!
@(e:pmrk): I need to check this salon out. How much does he charge for a simple haircut sans shampoo?
pmrk - 10/26/08 22:04
My friend and neighbor Patrick owns East End Salon on Allen Street near Main. He does an excellent job on my husbands hair which can be difficult as its very thick and kinda curly. I also recommended him to (e:Matthew) but I don't know if he went to him or not.
My friend and neighbor Patrick owns East End Salon on Allen Street near Main. He does an excellent job on my husbands hair which can be difficult as its very thick and kinda curly. I also recommended him to (e:Matthew) but I don't know if he went to him or not.
gardenmama - 10/26/08 21:08
This post was very funny. But it can be really difficult finding someone you are happy with. I went to one guy for over 20 years, and loved his work, but he moved to a shop way out in E. Amherst (almost to Lockport) and his prices are so high I just couldn't justify going to him anymore. I go to my step-sister now and I'm usually pretty happy with what she does - and she charges me really discounted rates. Regular haircuts aren't really her thing though - she specializes in hair replacement.
This post was very funny. But it can be really difficult finding someone you are happy with. I went to one guy for over 20 years, and loved his work, but he moved to a shop way out in E. Amherst (almost to Lockport) and his prices are so high I just couldn't justify going to him anymore. I go to my step-sister now and I'm usually pretty happy with what she does - and she charges me really discounted rates. Regular haircuts aren't really her thing though - she specializes in hair replacement.
10/24/2008 22:18 #46313
It's a wild world... of awful covers!!!!Category: music
If you need some aural self-punishment, look no further. Just push play!
This is one of the 400+ covers from hell, painstakingly sung with acoustic shredding prowess by none other than proud Frenchman - Grum Lee!
Another mind-blowing cover: Grum Lee's smooth... er.. Rough Criminal! If Michael Jackson were dead, he would surely be moonwalking in his grave if heard this. So should you, even if you are alive, BTW.
And nothing is ever complete without a complete destruction of the Final Countdown. Yeah finnnnnnnaaaaall couuuuuunnnttdown!!!! Yeah.
This is one of the 400+ covers from hell, painstakingly sung with acoustic shredding prowess by none other than proud Frenchman - Grum Lee!
Another mind-blowing cover: Grum Lee's smooth... er.. Rough Criminal! If Michael Jackson were dead, he would surely be moonwalking in his grave if heard this. So should you, even if you are alive, BTW.
And nothing is ever complete without a complete destruction of the Final Countdown. Yeah finnnnnnnaaaaall couuuuuunnnttdown!!!! Yeah.
dragonlady7 - 10/26/08 12:46
AUUUGGGHHH that's the worst version EVER of Final Countdown!!!
Did you see the video (e:zobar) posted of the Scottish kid with the kazookeylele?
Man that guy is awful! Where on earth did you find him?
That's awful!!!
AUUUGGGHHH that's the worst version EVER of Final Countdown!!!
Did you see the video (e:zobar) posted of the Scottish kid with the kazookeylele?
Man that guy is awful! Where on earth did you find him?
That's awful!!!
10/23/2008 23:55 #46290
Whoring Peppercorns. Since early 1600sCategory: eating in
In response to (e:zobar)'s profound question: "What kind of deranged individual shakes whole black peppercorns onto their food? ", I present some over the top derangement from Palakkadu and neighbouring Thalassery. :)
~~~~Theyyam.~~~~
~~~~Fresh Peppercorns!!!~~~~
~~~~Dried Peppercorns~~~~
~~~~Pongal~~~~
~~~~Ravai Kanjeevaram Idly~~~~
~~~~Pongal, Bonda and Rasam~~~~
~~~~Tiiru Chadam (Or Seasoned yogurt rice)~~~~
Yeah, we are completely deranged about food, colour and spices, down south. :)
More Thalassery ->
~~~~Theyyam.~~~~
~~~~Fresh Peppercorns!!!~~~~
~~~~Dried Peppercorns~~~~
~~~~Pongal~~~~
~~~~Ravai Kanjeevaram Idly~~~~
~~~~Pongal, Bonda and Rasam~~~~
~~~~Tiiru Chadam (Or Seasoned yogurt rice)~~~~
Yeah, we are completely deranged about food, colour and spices, down south. :)
More Thalassery ->
dragonlady7 - 10/26/08 12:49
I use whole peppercorns in my cooking, yes, but I don't just sit at the table and shake whole peppercorns over my food! I put the peppercorns into a grinder and grind them over my food before i eat it.
That's what (e:zobar) was referring to, I think. Sure, cooking with them-- I'd expect you would, especially if you lived somewhere they grow. (How awesome would that be, incidentally? This native North American of European stock is totally bowled over by the thought of just going in the backyard and picking some peppercorns. Wow! I routinely get bowled over at the thought of doing the same with lemons or limes, incidentally.)
But you don't just shake them over your plate, such that you would need a shaker-top dispenser on your container of peppercorns.
I use whole peppercorns in my cooking, yes, but I don't just sit at the table and shake whole peppercorns over my food! I put the peppercorns into a grinder and grind them over my food before i eat it.
That's what (e:zobar) was referring to, I think. Sure, cooking with them-- I'd expect you would, especially if you lived somewhere they grow. (How awesome would that be, incidentally? This native North American of European stock is totally bowled over by the thought of just going in the backyard and picking some peppercorns. Wow! I routinely get bowled over at the thought of doing the same with lemons or limes, incidentally.)
But you don't just shake them over your plate, such that you would need a shaker-top dispenser on your container of peppercorns.
tinypliny - 10/24/08 17:44
MAN!!! WHY does EVERYONE get to go home except me????? I am SO JEALOUS!
MAN!!! WHY does EVERYONE get to go home except me????? I am SO JEALOUS!
chaibiscoot - 10/24/08 12:06
I had to comment! I am going to be home -Bangalore - for 6 months doing fieldwork in slightly over a month from now and cannot wait to indulge the south indian in me. Btw, I regularly use whole peppercorns in my cooking.
I had to comment! I am going to be home -Bangalore - for 6 months doing fieldwork in slightly over a month from now and cannot wait to indulge the south indian in me. Btw, I regularly use whole peppercorns in my cooking.
jbeatty - 10/24/08 11:52
I love food porn!
I love food porn!
james - 10/24/08 10:48
Jesus Christ Tiny. You can't put up pictures of delicious food without making me some.
Jesus Christ Tiny. You can't put up pictures of delicious food without making me some.
theecarey - 10/24/08 10:40
my tummy is growling after looking at these yummy looking, I mean, "Deranged" food pics. Take me home with you. hehe
my tummy is growling after looking at these yummy looking, I mean, "Deranged" food pics. Take me home with you. hehe
tinypliny - 10/24/08 00:19
I need to make all these more often. Though I can't deep fry at home, I can steam/season. Thanks to (e:zobar), I remembered many things I have stopped making just because I don't recall what they taste like, over the past couple years.
I miss home. I need to complete this proposal and visit home as soon as can. :(
I need to make all these more often. Though I can't deep fry at home, I can steam/season. Thanks to (e:zobar), I remembered many things I have stopped making just because I don't recall what they taste like, over the past couple years.
I miss home. I need to complete this proposal and visit home as soon as can. :(
gardenmama - 10/24/08 00:01
This food all looks great!
This food all looks great!
10/23/2008 20:46 #46287
Addicted!!Category: eating in
I confess (and most bitterly). My recent addictions have gone to unhealthy excesses. I am officially and hopelessly addicted to:
a)
b)
I need a quitline for these two, pronto!!! :/
a)
b)
I need a quitline for these two, pronto!!! :/
tinypliny - 10/24/08 00:09
It is so crazy! I didn't know about Twizzlers in January this year and the Andy Capp thing came along somewhere in September when (e:imk2) was eating a pack in the office. I blame this addiction on all the craziness going on with school. But I have to admit that the Andy Capp fries are awesome!
@(e:Gardenmama): I need to check out these Mrs Vicki's chips. I think I have seen them in California! They also have an intense jalapeño chips called Tim's Jalapeño chips there. I had them once and they are seriously spicy. But I haven't spotted them around here so thankfully they don't get listed as addictions.
I need to kick these two. They are probably ruining my metabolism.
It is so crazy! I didn't know about Twizzlers in January this year and the Andy Capp thing came along somewhere in September when (e:imk2) was eating a pack in the office. I blame this addiction on all the craziness going on with school. But I have to admit that the Andy Capp fries are awesome!
@(e:Gardenmama): I need to check out these Mrs Vicki's chips. I think I have seen them in California! They also have an intense jalapeño chips called Tim's Jalapeño chips there. I had them once and they are seriously spicy. But I haven't spotted them around here so thankfully they don't get listed as addictions.
I need to kick these two. They are probably ruining my metabolism.
paul - 10/24/08 00:00
I am so surprised you eat things like that.
I am so surprised you eat things like that.
gardenmama - 10/23/08 23:30
Yum to both! I have a little addiction issue with Mrs. Vicki's pepper & lime potato chips. Thankfully, you can't buy them anywhere here that I am aware of. I have a friend who is Canadian but lives in the States. When she goes to visit her folks she brings the chips back. I always share them with my office and now they all want their own. Next time she goes she's going to pick up 10 bags for all my co-workers. Made them all pepper & lime chip junkies too, but they're delicious!
Yum to both! I have a little addiction issue with Mrs. Vicki's pepper & lime potato chips. Thankfully, you can't buy them anywhere here that I am aware of. I have a friend who is Canadian but lives in the States. When she goes to visit her folks she brings the chips back. I always share them with my office and now they all want their own. Next time she goes she's going to pick up 10 bags for all my co-workers. Made them all pepper & lime chip junkies too, but they're delicious!
tinypliny - 10/23/08 23:09
I KNOW! Aren't they like the TASTIEST snack on earth???!!!
I KNOW! Aren't they like the TASTIEST snack on earth???!!!
tiburon1724 - 10/23/08 22:59
I LOVE hot fries!!!!
I LOVE hot fries!!!!
A Happy Diwali to you! I hope it's a blessed year for you.
What pretty lamps! Happy Deepavali to you!
Thanks. :D
If you were here, I would obliged to stuff you with some kind of overly sweet dessert. Yeah, Indians consume a kilo of sugar based stuff and set off a full night's worth of continuous firecrackers around this week every year. I miss all the craziness. :)
Hearty festival of lightes well-wishes to you today too.
Huh?? Whatever gave you that idea?? Deepavali is hindi/sanskrit for a row (avali) of lights (Deep). :::link:::
It't the biggest Hindu/Indian festival and now even Indian Muslims celebrate it because it has sort of evolved into a national festival of India.
Tiny, are you Jewish?
And isn't Channuka in December?