Best Website In The Whole Internets!

Last night I was reading an article on the CBC about now-famous Bloggers who have recently signed book deals based on their internet musings. One said blog is called Awkward Family Photos. Once I clicked on the provided link for this site, my world was flipped completely upside down due to the blog's brilliant, deep, ethereal concept. A single tear of joy slowly traveled down my cheek as I said "thank you." Please enjoy.

Food Food Food

Slowly yet surely this blog is becoming very food oriented. This was not the original intention, but perhaps the reason why this is so is because its one of the only things that I do around 433 other than watch watch movies, play video games... and do other things that may or may not be inappropriate to post on this public forum. But anyways, today I made this awesome fucaccia:


Here it is at a bird's eye view.



Another angle. Its inspired by a recipe from Earth to Table , a fancy cook book Isaac picked up a little while ago. Its whole wheat, with a homemade pesto, and slices of tomatoes from my parent's farm. Its delicious.

Also, the other day I made this great lemon chicken with roasted carrots, potato salad and peas:

It was lemony and tasty.



The portion sizes were generous too.



...And I think its official, I make one mean ass gravy.

Unlike Isaac, I think I'm turning white. I think Zack said it best, "You are the best non-white person I know who can cook white-people food." Is it true? I don't know, but I sure do enjoy it.

The Proud Midnight Baker

Making the perfect loaf of bread: This past week I have become a very determined, dedicated, and slightely obsessed person trying to teach myself this dying trade. It all started with making that braided pesto bread. After making that, I thought learning to make a basic loaf would be a piece of cake. Boy, was I wrong. It turns out that it is a very finicky process. The water can't be to hot, the room can't be too cold or drafty, you have to knead the dough very diligently... fuck, you know? Just to make one lousy loaf of bread. Well I am pleased to say that I have successfully baked my first loaf of bread... at exactly 11:29pm.



It was a basic white loaf. I was smitten when I saw it come out of the oven.


Here it is again at an alternate angle. I shall name thee "Loafy."


After one week, one bag of flour, 4 packets of yeast, and a lot of time I managed to finally teach myself to make this beautiful airy, delicious loaf of food. To reward myself, a nice midnight snack; cheddar on fresh homemade bread. I'm going to go have another and watch the 5th season of The Shield now.

He Thinks He's Turning Japanese

Isaac is dating a very lovely Japanese woman (Hi Trish), and we here at 433 love her dearly however there is a slight concern that we feel as though he thinks that he is slowly turning... Japanese.

Case in point, Today Isaac was trying to explain to me how home made dumplings are made because he had done it with Trish and her family the other night.

Now, there is no problem with that except this is what Isaac looks like:



This is what I look like:



Forget about why we are both wearing suits because thats not the topic at hand here. Now look again, closely this time, and wonder why I would be offended by this. Maybe he thinks gyoza and dumplings are two completely different things, or maybe he doesn't see colour, who knows!! But one thing is for sure, I've made dumplings before.


Today Isaac and I shared a plate of his home made gyoza for lunch. They were spectacularly amazing... So maybe he IS turning Japanese, who knows. As a Korean, I wouldn't be surprised. Those sneaky Japanese, they're so sneaky.

If You Live In This Neighbourhood, You Could Be An Eggplant

Since Zack's departure, there have been numerous changes in the neighbourhood which have no doubt solidified it as one of the city's latest gentrified communities.



As I was walking to the grocery store I was pleased to see that the frightening dog breeders a few doors down put up a proper fence. Hopefully this will do a more adequate job then the waist high chain link fence they had prior from seperating their horrific dobermans from small children walking to school and the babies at the daycare that is situated RIGHT NEXT DOOR to them. It looks nice at least.



Walking along Annette, two of the four million churches that reside along here are being converted into condos. I have mixed feelings about them... Here is one of them which I feel will be an eye sore.



Here is the other one that I think will turn out to be quite nice.



This place popped up about a month ago. A glorified day care that have afterschool "education programs" with clowns and juggling. I almost applied for this job, and remember in the description it said "must have experience with kids in field of education, or clowning background." Maybe not word for word, but to the same extent. I project that this place will close within the year.



Another ultra-hip salvaged furniture store has opened up next to the organic grocer. It has no sign and is extremely expensive. I have not been inside because, quite frankly, I'm not cool enough.



A new fancy cheese shop has just opened up next to our local video store. I believe they would classify themselves (according to their window) as a "fromagerie," which makes me want to punch them in the face. If you proudly buy cheese at a fromagerie, you are definitely an eggplant.



One sure sign that your neighbourhood is fully gentrified is if it contains an organic dog treat shop. Its for dog owners who over groom their pets and treat them like children and not what they actually are... a pet. Love your pets, but make sure you ease up when you realize that you're acting like an idiot. If you buy your dog organic dog treats, you are an eggplant.



What was once a beautiful old hardware store is now this. Yes, they tore down the old place and put up this little number. It looks kind of neat, but its still vacant. I think there were rumours of a chain restaurant or coffee place going in, but it still has a lease sign in the window. Only time will tell.



Closer to home now, by the flower shop the neighbourhoods first ice cream shop has opened up. Its small and quaint but I wonder if it will stay open in the winter time.



Noticing all of these changes in the neighbourhood just from walking to and from the grocery store, I started feeling like I was an eggplant living in a now eggplant neighbourhood... but just then, a beautiful waft of grease, - part chicken, part egg roll, part salted meat, and part cheese - hit me like a ton of bricks. The hairs on my arms shot up like something that shoots up really fast, and I looked up with pure excitement and joy, and sure enough, right next to the raw food restaurant, there it was: Dundas Pizza. With the sun hitting the place just right, the sign lit up like a lite brite reading "open." The fan was turned on and the door was open for business. It made me realize that despite all of the changes that are happening around the neighbourhood, some things, thankfully, will never change.



On an unrelated note, here is a picture of a freshly killed raccoon right in front of our house. While Isaac was taking a picture of it, a couple walked by and asked if he was calling the city to clean it up. Awkwardly Isaac had to explain that he was taking a photo for his blog. What a heartless bastard.

Pink Eye, Food Critics, and Asians Bakers

Nothing particularly new to report here at 433, except that Isaac got pink eye, was a judge for the first episode of Canadian Top Chef, and I baked this this evening:


A braided pesto bread! Its the first time I've ever attempted baking my own bread, never realizing how easy it was.


My work station.


This is what it looked like before I put it in the oven at 350F


35 minutes later and this monstrous piece of food came out of the oven. And if you were wondering, it tastes even better than it looks.

Beers, Beatles, and Human Centipedes

Since Zack's excursion, the Wii has been severely neglected, and in fact has not been touched since Zack's going away party. So we here at 433 thought it be fun to invite some of our very best friends over, dust off our subpar gaming machine, drink some beer, and play some Bealtes Rock Band.



Also on the agenda was to watch the movie trailer for the Human Centipede. Here were some of the reaction caught on camera:


What is disturbing is that Zak looks like he is liking it... but in that disturbing kind of way. Quite disturbing.


Jon looks hungry. Hungry for human centipede. Hungry to be apart of a human centipede? Maybe.


Luchan does not look hungry, but only disturbed.

All in all, it was a good night of dinner, beers, and video games. Zack, you were sorely missed.

Tale of the Giant Cetipede

In the past, there have been stories of centipede sightings here at 433. Some take place in the bathroom, while others take place during the night while in bed. I cannot imagine anything worse than being awoken from the purgatory of sleep to feel a hairy centipede rapidly crawling across your bare chest, perhaps ensnaring itself in a tuft of chest hair before barrelling towards the dark recesses of your bed. After hearing such tales, you start thinking of other possibilities like, maybe, centipedes crawling into your mouth to lay eggs under your skin, or feeding off of the food stuck in your teeth, all while enjoying a pleasent night's sleep.



Last night, after getting home from a Blue Jays game, I went into the bathroom to discover the largest goddamn centipede living behind the door. Probably living off of moths and spiders that also tend to cohabit the home, it reacted to my girly scream by scampering towards the hallway.


Initially I tried to kill it by throwing Zack's size 13 boot at it. After missing several times due to a combination of my lame throwing skills and its impressive agility and speed, I stabbed it with a toilet plunger. Above is the result of the conquered beast.


This photo shows the scope and size of how large this centipede was.



That is what my face looks like when pumped full of adrenaline. I was filled with emotions.


I am the Ultimate Warrior!!!! "__________!!!!" (<-- enter war cry here)


And as we do with any disgusting insect, we flushed it down the toilet.

After experiencing this horrific creature, I can see why one would buy a futon to keep themselves elevated off the ground while sleeping after having one crawl on their bare sleeping body at night, ZACK. Dear god, I just gave myself the chills.

Shave Your Beard In My Sink

When you live with someone long enough, you tend to find the habits of your fellow cohabitants the bane of your existence. Some of them may be warranted, while most are often signs that you should start looking for another place to live. One said habit is that of 433's Isaac and his habit of leaving hair clippings on and around the bathroom sink after shaving his beard. Although this habit is not a blip on my radar, it is for our dearest Zack. So after finding them in the bathroom today (evidence of Isaac getting ready for a wedding), I thought I should post them in case Zack missed seeing them:


The culprit.


The evidence (Upper right base of sink)


Bits of the good stuff (Upper left portion of the sink)

Now the question is ,"How long will they live there for?" Only time will tell.

*That's What She Said

For over two years 433 has induced many scrapes, bruises, cracks, and in one case holes, that have needed repairing for years. Well, last week Isaac took it upon himself to put on his Mr. Fix-it cap and do some repairs, including one hole that needed filling*.



Here we see the hallway leading to our bike room. For years the walls of this hallway have endured scrapes, bumps, and more scrapes from the hundreds and hundreds of bikes that have been leaned up against, and gone in and out of it*. Well last week Isaac filled in the numerous cracks* scrapes and scuffs that have sullied these walls for years.



3 Years ago, a past resident of 433 thought it a good idea to install a shelving unit in the kitchen. And install he did, and in the process created a bocce ball sized hole in the shared living room wall. The solution: To hang a 3 by 3 framed picture of birds made of fabric over it... until last week. Isaac took out his trowel and plugged that hole up good*. Oh yeah he did!



A final coat needs to be applied, but for the most part, the living room looks twice as large now that the hole has been filled thanks to Isaac's handy work. 433 is finally starting to heal it's wounds. Now if only we could do something about the mold problem...

The Hillside Doppelgangers

For the past 3 years I have attended the Hillside music festival in Guelph, Ontario, and despite the terrible weather that seems to loom every year, there always seems to be a magical moment that makes you realize why you keep coming back. This year that moment came Sunday afternoon. After 2 days of some good, but mostly okay performances, a band called Zeus made their way onto the stage. Harboring much buzz amongst festival goers, their had been an air of anticipation amongst the audience while doing their sound check. Yet despite all of this, I, along with my companions could not get over the fact that one of the band members looked identical to Zack circa 2008.
Checklist
Tall and lanky: check; Gross beard: check; ponytail: double check.


vs.


But the fun didn't stop there. I also stumbled across my own doppelganger circa 2008/2009.
Checklist
Asian: check; buzzed head: check; thick framed glasses: check; subtle hipster semblance: check; all white cast of friends and girlfriend: double check.


vs.


Zeus went on to steal the show that day, making me, and others like me, realize why we keep showing up to these things. Despite the rain, the humidity, the long line-ups to pee, the uncomfortable run-ins with distant acquaintances, and bouts of dehydration, its the moments where you see someone who looks exactly like you and those you know that make you realize that its all worth it.


(Above) Zack, Vocals, keys, and guitar for Zeus.

Thank Trish for this beautiful blog...

http://www.27bslash6.com/missy.html

This Blog kills me with its passive-aggressiveness. Plus I dislike cats, so its about perfect.

Butterfly Collection

Today Isaac and I have been doing a little summer cleaning that has been severely neglected for 2 years. The dreaded kitchen pantry. Recently 433 has been experiencing an ebb and flow of a rather pesky moth problem that originated in the pantry in the spring. We thought we have taken care of the problem by setting moth traps to eradicate the population, and had done so for a short period, however have recently discovered that they were not only back, but breeding in our food stuffs. ALL of our food stuffs, from our flour to our black pepper. How can a creature spawn in a bag of black pepper? Simply unnecessary. Really.


Here we see a selection of our butterfly collection. These specific ones were caught in our pantry. This is about 1 months worth of moth trapping, and mind you, this is only 1 of 3 moth traps set in our lovely kitchen.


Here is a selection of food stuffs that we pulled out of our moth breeding ground.


Here is a selection of spices we pulled out of our pantry. Many of them discarded due to moth copulation and nesting within the bagged content.


Also found within the tainted goods was a strange person's pills. Does anyone know a Johanna Vipari? Well, if you do, tell her she left her pills in our moth sex den we call our pantry. Hopefully she is alive and well without her pills.


One and a half hours, and 4 garbage bags full of moth diseased contents later our pantry was beautiful. Organized, spacious, bonerific.


And suddenly the sun set, and our kitchen was peaceful. Isaac and I stood in aw and cried.


We then rewarded ourselves with a beer on our front porch and an awkward conversation with our landlord Mark.