Several years ago (at least 6, maybe 7), I started getting bad headaches while working. It probably had more to do with stress than my eyesight, but when I went to see the optometrist she gave me a prescription for glasses. She said I had 20/20 vision but had a slight astigmatism, and that the glasses might help my headaches. I wore them faithfully for quite a while, partially because they helped, but also because I thought they looked cool.
After a few years the novelty wore off, and I didn't wear them as much. I still kept them at my desk and would put them on if I was staring at the screen for hours on end.
I haven't worn them much in the last year or so, and not once in Krakow. Earlier this week my eyes were getting tired, and the headaches started again, so I decided I should resurrect the glasses.
What a reaction! As soon as I put them on, people started commenting. My favourite remark was "Wow you look so much smarter!" which was immediately followed by much back pedaling, and then qualified by saying that I have a very smiley face and that I look much more authoritative with the glasses.
So maybe I'll start wearing them to important meetings.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Adventures in baking
In honour of Valentine's Day (Walentyki if you are in Poland), I decided to bake some cookies for my team.
Thanks to my horribly expensive junk food order from Canada I have chocolate chips. Chocolate chip cookies are not common here, so I thought they would be a special treat for the Poles.
My challenges started in the baking aisle. I had to call one of my writers in order to determine that brown sugar, a key ingredient in all chocolate chip cookies, is not available at most Polish grocery stores.
Then I saw something called wanillowy aromat in the baking aisle. It appeared to be vanilla extract, but I was a little suspicious of the word aromat. It seemed too close to aromatic to be extract.
My writer confirmed that in Poland we don't have vanilla extract for taste, just to enhance the smell. I bought it anyway.
When I got home I realized that I don't have a cookie sheet. Nor do I have baking soda. But everything else seemed in order, so I improvised with some glass casserole dishes, white sugar and skipped the baking soda. Who knows what that's for anyway . . .
The recipe on the back of the chipits package didn't actually call for vanilla extract, but since I bought it, I thought I'd throw it in to see how it enhances the smell.
My cookie dough is very, very smelly.
The first batch took a lot longer to cook in my oven than the recipe suggested. When finally done, the cookies seemed a little pale, but edible. So to speed things up a bit, I decided to bake one batch in my normal oven and one in my toaster oven.
Oddly enough the toaster oven cooks much faster then the real oven, even though the temperature is supposedly the same. The first (and only) batch from the toaster oven burnt after 5 minutes, and I had a few anxious moments wondering if the fire trucks would show up downstairs again. No sign of them yet, but I've decided to stick with the real oven for now.
I hope my team appreciates these.
Two weeks ago I made Nanaimo bars, which were a big hit, even though they didn't set properly and turned out more like Nanaimo pudding. One of the guys asked me if they were a special Canadian treat for Pancake (Shrove) Tuesday, as I brought them in that day.
I'm thinking I should stop trying to adapt Canadian recipes to Polish ingredients and just start to learn how to make Polish baked goods.
Thanks to my horribly expensive junk food order from Canada I have chocolate chips. Chocolate chip cookies are not common here, so I thought they would be a special treat for the Poles.
My challenges started in the baking aisle. I had to call one of my writers in order to determine that brown sugar, a key ingredient in all chocolate chip cookies, is not available at most Polish grocery stores.
Then I saw something called wanillowy aromat in the baking aisle. It appeared to be vanilla extract, but I was a little suspicious of the word aromat. It seemed too close to aromatic to be extract.
My writer confirmed that in Poland we don't have vanilla extract for taste, just to enhance the smell. I bought it anyway.
When I got home I realized that I don't have a cookie sheet. Nor do I have baking soda. But everything else seemed in order, so I improvised with some glass casserole dishes, white sugar and skipped the baking soda. Who knows what that's for anyway . . .
The recipe on the back of the chipits package didn't actually call for vanilla extract, but since I bought it, I thought I'd throw it in to see how it enhances the smell.
My cookie dough is very, very smelly.
The first batch took a lot longer to cook in my oven than the recipe suggested. When finally done, the cookies seemed a little pale, but edible. So to speed things up a bit, I decided to bake one batch in my normal oven and one in my toaster oven.
Oddly enough the toaster oven cooks much faster then the real oven, even though the temperature is supposedly the same. The first (and only) batch from the toaster oven burnt after 5 minutes, and I had a few anxious moments wondering if the fire trucks would show up downstairs again. No sign of them yet, but I've decided to stick with the real oven for now.
I hope my team appreciates these.
Two weeks ago I made Nanaimo bars, which were a big hit, even though they didn't set properly and turned out more like Nanaimo pudding. One of the guys asked me if they were a special Canadian treat for Pancake (Shrove) Tuesday, as I brought them in that day.
I'm thinking I should stop trying to adapt Canadian recipes to Polish ingredients and just start to learn how to make Polish baked goods.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Kindred Spirits
My third day in Krakow, I noticed this display in bookshop window. At the time I just smiled to myself, pleased that one of my favourite Canadian childhood books was available here in Poland. It wasn't until this past Saturday that I realized how much of an impact Lucy Maud Montgomery's books have had on Polish culture.
When discussing Polish names with some friends, I mentioned that Anna seemed to be an extremely popular Polish name, particularly among women about 25 years old. I was stunned when my friend said it was a result of "those stories about Anne of Green Gables."
Apparently the Anne books were translated into Polish 25 or 30 years ago and were a big hit, resulting in many little Annas. No Anne with an E here.
Abandoned
Once upon a time I had two cats that followed me anywhere. Even all the way across the world to Poland.
And then I turned the heated floors on in my lovely Cracovian abode.
Now my cats spend most of their time lying on the floor in one or other of the two bathrooms, or in the kitchen.
I can't say I blame them though, as when I was lying on the floor taking pictures of Small, I could hardly drag myself up and away from the heat.
And then I turned the heated floors on in my lovely Cracovian abode.
Now my cats spend most of their time lying on the floor in one or other of the two bathrooms, or in the kitchen.
I can't say I blame them though, as when I was lying on the floor taking pictures of Small, I could hardly drag myself up and away from the heat.
Sunday, February 3, 2008
The Colour Purple
Indigo, aubergine, violet, periwinkle, plum. For years I had a love affair with the colour purple.
And then, suddenly, a few years ago it stopped. Instead, when I walked into a store, I was drawn to the greens, and recently, almost uncontrollably to brown.
But lately, helped I am sure by a fashion resurgence, I seem to have come to my senses. Over the last few months I have remembered why, and how much, I love purple.
It started in Toronto in December when I purchased not one, but two, purple sweaters. Then on Monday I bought an entire bedding ensemble in purple shades.
On Saturday, while picking out flowers, I couldn't help myself.
Purple and green together! What more could you want?
To see more purple (you know you want to), check out my recent pics link.
And then, suddenly, a few years ago it stopped. Instead, when I walked into a store, I was drawn to the greens, and recently, almost uncontrollably to brown.
But lately, helped I am sure by a fashion resurgence, I seem to have come to my senses. Over the last few months I have remembered why, and how much, I love purple.
It started in Toronto in December when I purchased not one, but two, purple sweaters. Then on Monday I bought an entire bedding ensemble in purple shades.
On Saturday, while picking out flowers, I couldn't help myself.
Purple and green together! What more could you want?
To see more purple (you know you want to), check out my recent pics link.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Child's play
Several of my friends here have small children. So sometimes I do things like eat lunch in cafes with play areas.
Luckily I find primary colours soothing.
Luckily I find primary colours soothing.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
More reading material
I've got yet another cold. Yes, the last one was 3 months ago, but that seems like too short a time between colds, particularly when you are feeling sorry for yourself between sneezes.
And, I am starting to believe that perhaps Polish viruses are stronger than Canadian ones, as I don't recall getting sick this often in Canada. Maybe I just need to build up my Polish immune system.
When I expressed this idea to my manager today, he called me a Canadian lightweight. I should have coughed on him.
Anyway, I am zapped for inspiration, so here are a few new blogs to check out. Maybe they'll have more interesting things to say than I do this week:
Apropos of Nothing
Stuff in the Attic
And, I am starting to believe that perhaps Polish viruses are stronger than Canadian ones, as I don't recall getting sick this often in Canada. Maybe I just need to build up my Polish immune system.
When I expressed this idea to my manager today, he called me a Canadian lightweight. I should have coughed on him.
Anyway, I am zapped for inspiration, so here are a few new blogs to check out. Maybe they'll have more interesting things to say than I do this week:
Apropos of Nothing
Stuff in the Attic
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