Birthday weekend

Jessie jots...

I had pre-birthday party with Daniel Lee who is also, coincidently, share the same birthday, born in the same state but of course different time and different parents. And then I spent the weekends at North Shore, which I had no idea where it was until we got there. It was Hushby surprises birthday gift for me and he was very, very sweet to make this happen for the both of us.

We left early on Sunday morning, navigating our four-hour trip from St. Cloud to Two Harbor with the help of our trustee Garmin GPS system. I have to say, that helped a ton! My first surprise agenda for that day was to have lunch at this supposedly well-known restaurant close to Two Harbor called Scenic 61, located at the scenic drive by the shore of Lake Superior. The view was, no doubt, magnificent however, the restaurant looked a bit shabby from its first impression. That made me a little doubtful of its gourmet American contemporary food reputation.

The not-so-shabby appetizer. You probably have seen the rest of the lunch at Facebook album.

I guess we really can never have a judge a book by its cover. The food appeared to be more gourmet than I expected, the price was not over the top and the atmosphere, just sunny and carefree.

Then we took an hour drive down after Two Harbor, somewhere between towns and quite remotely located is Betty's Pie. The pie almost threw me off my chair with its too-good-t0-true delicious taste with its just-right-sweetness filling. And the crust? I tell ya, I didn't leave a crumb.

Chocolate Banana Pie - the chocolate part was SO GOOD.

All berries pie. Again, no crumb leftover.

We drove along the lake shore, for another hour or two. I can't remember honestly, because we made too many pit stops - not because I had a tank full of water but I thought we just need to stop and admire what Mother Nature has to offer. We don't get these beautiful landscapes too often and I think they are dying. I haven't had a view like that for a long time and didn't thought it even exist in the state of Minnesota. Now I know where to go when we both need a break from plain old St. Cloud.

Heart-shaped stone by Lake Superior. He was too sweet.

Being sentimental. Come July 7th, it will be our one year anniversary. On a side note, look how clear the water is.

A waterfall I witness by the highway. They are just everywhere!

See how close are we to the Canadian Border?! Woo hoo... haha ok I'm just being annoying.

The drive along the way to the hotel looked like that.

Then we got to Bluefin Bay, our hotel place. I didn't know I was suppose to spend a night here... Hushby kept his mouth shut all the way until I opened the hotel room's door and my jaw drop.... I felt like living in Samantha Brown's shoe for one moment.

The luxurious view and my fat arse.

And the luxurious jacuzzi bath tub for two.

I took my leisure time to spruce up for the night... even when it had to take an hour for fatty dipping, I did it. How can you not when the tub is overlooking the ocean-like lake with aromatherapy scented jacuzzi bubbling water from your bottom. Ahhh.... What did I do to deserve this?

Just before fatty dipping and tiny bird dropping at the right corner.

After my spa hour, I was so relaxed, I didn't quite have an appetite for dinner. Still, we had fun talking about our past, what we've went through all these years... how we used to not afford to buy organic food, a lil petty stuff, nothing interesting really. It was fun to reminisce... what more, just enjoying each other's company. He was very handsome too, in my eyes at least. ;)

At Bluefin Grille

Hushby and I marked my 26th birthday dinner at Bluefin Grille.

Before stepping out of the restaurant, we discovered it was a full moon night. The view made me speechless the moment I saw it, almost made me cry like Brendan Fraser in Bedazzled. Unfortunately we had to give the romantic walk due to the sudden drop in temperature. We opted to stay in the room and admire the view from there. It was still pleasant nevertheless.

I can't remember when was the last time my night was this peaceful. Nothing on the horizon and nothing to worry the next day. Just a gold moonlight dusts coming our way...

The next morning, we took a walk to a nearby deli store and bought a couple of baked goods for breakfast. The hotel provide good coffee, so we rather not waste it and thought, bringing in breakfast instead would be a better idea. So we took a sit at the balcony, again, catch some sun and watch the view in awe. As soon as I took the first bite, the seagull gathered, flew and landed in front me and more flying towards me, all in action less than 3 ft away! I shooed them aimlessly but all the seagulls were doing... was come even closer to me. I started yelling at Hushby when I realized the seagulls were not afraid at all. In a calm voice, he told me to run inside and then he got a little nervous and said "TAKE THE BAKED GOODS WITH YOU". Whoa, for one moment, it was like an action movie. I grabbed the bag and ran inside and he took care of the coffee. I ran in just in time before the other seagulls landed on the fence too. Their senses are too extraordinary. They were still hanging out by the balcony when we continued eating. To make the story worse, they were kind of pecking at the glassed windows, hoping to get in. Scary shit!

Moments before the attack.

Seagull and co flew back to the rock after an unsuccessful attack.

Oh you think the drama was over. What happened next was one seagull fell into the balcony and I guess he was really trapped and didn't know how to fly out of it. He was stucked there for quite some time and I pitied him for not being able to join his friends. Hushby came out of the toilet after his business and realized, we've got to do something to help him out of here. I told him just move the chairs away, that way he might have enough space to flap his wings. Well guess what, Hushby extend his hand, caught the distress seagull with his two bare hands (!) and threw him off to the sky... like he was just catching a harmless chicken.

I shrieked in disgust! That bird has got to have tons of dirt in him - he is a pest! And he eats garbage! But Hushby did it already... he came in and said "I used to catch chickens by my backyard when my mother was rearing them". OH OK that seems useful at times like this. I knew that... I just never thought that could be a skill - it sound like as if you only need to learn it once and you can do it for the rest of your life? I never catch a chicken and will never do!

Anyhoo, we checked out of the hotel reluctantly. I got over the seagull moment and he washed his hands. We started driving again, this time heading south (boo hoo), considering various places to visit the GPS picked up for us. One thing it didn't pick up though was this sight. We came across a handful of cars parked by a waterfall and decided to stop by - my rule no. 1, follow the crowd, you can never go wrong. They called it the Temperance river and boy, was it beautiful. I can't help it but to go for the hike even though I was not dressed to do so. We soon discover there was a trail going uphill, a small part of it was climbing on rocks but became less steeper as you go higher. The hike up there wasn't anything huffing and puffing experience. The air was so clear and crisp, the sound of the water flowing made me feel mother nature has her own spiritual strength, and while being in the wilderness, I felt more alive than ever, keeping my eyes and mind fresh. We were both in a high relaxation mode - I don't even know how to fully describe what it made us feel like. I think it just feel right to be close to nature again.

We went to a few other places after that - namely a casino (I lost 5 bucks), a lighthouse and other state parks but the sky got gloomy and we were kind of set to go. My body was slowing down due to the allergy but my mind was still motivated to keep on moving. We had to call it quit anyway because the temperature was dropping drastically and we weren't prepared for it. What can I tell ya? Only two profession in the world is allowed to lie. The lawyer and the weatherman.

By the famous Gooseberry Fall

Say goodbye to North Shore at Gooseberry Fall.

I had a whale of fun overall. It was my best birthday yet! I have to say, it gets better with age.

If you're not bored yet, click here for more pictures.

The explanation of idleness

Jessie jots...

This blog is not just boring, but there's nothing in it! Sorry folks, those who come back regardless of its idle mode. I was terribly, terribly occupied. Welcome me back :) Like I've announced to many people, I am finally done with finals. You would think since that happen, I am sitting at home, enjoying every TV shows on the planet and munch on potato chips. Unfortunately, that's not the case. I still have to work to do.

I was in a crazy mode for the past few months. Not only do I need to juggle between assignments, projects and the ever-so-demanding professors, I am also working on two jobs. I know, I'm such an idiot. I thought I would be fine working on weekends when I have the rest of week days to work on SHHHHhhh---tuff. Boy, was I wrong. I really needed the weekend.

This semester was quite a struggle because of my quest for a better job. I couldn't do as well as last semester because of the many interviews I went. And still going. I am also looking for a summer job, so preparing for that is quite important or else that would mean me sitting at home, figuring how to make Butter Pound Cake and get fat.

At first it was that one interview I had to go for Z position. I didn't get Z position and they handed me X position. Later, they told me that X position would soon turn to W position due to an organization chart remodification but they want me to get the new Y position in the center. They can't let me have that position automatically because it has to open to public, so that gave me extra work to re-apply. There in itself, in the same department, I had to be interviewed at least twice in order to get to Y position. Now that I got it, another department is seeking my attention. In addition to that, the four classes I had are all as equally demanding. Women's Action group are asking for my attention as well. Not forgetting poor Hushby. He's also busy with something else but thank God is all over now.

Lets move on though... lets talk about something else. What's fun? Well, nothing beats Ceramic 330!? hehe

I'm sure I've spoken of this before - the 20 bowls and 15 cups I need to make? For at least 4 days out of a week and for 2 months, I can be seen in the clay room, looking kind of nuts, throwing and shaping bowls and cups. Nothing broke from the high heat thankfully, but only that the glazing part did not turn out to what I wanted, hence messing up the end product. Just when you thought you did a good job coming up with a creative piece, a not so good-job glazing would put your finish product to the D list.

So, that went by, not up to my expectation but they turned out OK. With limited time, I couldn't have done a better job honestly. Glazing alone takes one whole day, only to get half of the bowls and cups done. I had to go down to the Ceramic room every so often to finish the rest of the glazing task and that means taking time in between classes, between work, sneaking out early from other classes when they are half done and even if it means having lunch there, I still have to glaze them. I go there so often, I even look and smell like clay.

And the funny thing was, by the time the clay were all out of the kiln, I begin missing throwing clay on the wheel and feeling them on my fingers. And by the time glazing was done, I begin missing going down to the clay room altogether. I'm so converted! I might turn into a ceramic major before you know it.

Just kidding!



That's my wheel, right there! With some wet clays. They are upside down because we need time to dry the bottoms before it can be trimmed. Oh those clay tools are now strewn across my living room. I used to can't live without them but now, what will I do with them?



My clay room! I miss my beautiful, smelly, dusty clay room! SOB SOB There's some orange locker on the left and some wheels just next to it. The entrance is on the far left corner of the room and where I'm standing is where a microwave is for quick munchies.


One of my first finish product is on the right. It's with seafoam or teal color glaze, topped with dirt brown glaze on the bowl's lips. The left is a baked clay, ready to be glazed, with a layer of white slip for aesthetic purpose. With white slip, the glazing will turn out brighter and smoother. Unlike the seafoam glaze bowl, that is not applied with white slip.


I will post more of the rest of my bowls and cups when I finish taking their pictures. They are very eager to make their debut in this blog.