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Posts Tagged: 'benton+fraser'

Mar. 14th, 2015


[info]beyond_hope
[info]valarnet

[info]beyond_hope
[info]valarnet

 


[info]beyond_hope
[info]valarnet
So after my alarm didn't go off, I locked myself out of my office, spilt my first cup of coffee down me and smashed the screen on my phone, I had a quick look for reasons why Friday the 13th is considered unlucky. I'd always thought it was because of the Knights Templar, but apparently there's a whole lot more to it!

I posit that we create our own luck on days like these. The cumulative effect of all these stories passed down through generations is that we expect on some level for the day to be bad luck and thus, sub-consciously create bad luck situations.

Thoughts anyone?

OOC: I hope that makes sense, I'm sick atm :-/

Mar. 11th, 2015


[info]fromthelake
[info]valarnet

[info]fromthelake
[info]valarnet

 


[info]fromthelake
[info]valarnet
Not that I'm very surprised, but it looks like I won't be getting a permanent teaching position at Creekside once this year's over. I guess I'll make the most of the months I have left. And, in any case, now that I'm back in Orange County I don't think I could leave again, so I'll probably take up tutoring again.

And I've finally had more dreams. I can finally call myself a knight, which is an incredibly humbling experience. We're a motley crew, but I wish I could meet the lot of them in person. I could get used to being in the company of such good men.

Mar. 9th, 2015


[info]the_wolverine
[info]valarnet

[info]the_wolverine
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[info]the_wolverine
[info]valarnet
Regular NHL season only has a month left. Then we get playoffs. Good time of year.

Feb. 22nd, 2015


[info]fromthelake
[info]valarnet

[info]fromthelake
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[info]fromthelake
[info]valarnet
The risk you run when working with a bunch of kids is catching a variety of bugs and viruses. Out of nowhere I got hit with what I'm willing to say is the worst head cold of my life. Thank God it's the weekend and I can hopefully recover by Monday.

I've used up my - albeit small - bit of ginger tea and I've moved on to the licorice tea I have. Allegedly it's good for sore throats. Also, allegedly, putting vaporub on the soles of your feet and wearing socks to bed helps. I tried it, it didn't help. If anyone has any sworn by home remedies, I would appreciate it. I'll be awake for a while (the joys of congestion).

Feb. 21st, 2015


[info]beyond_hope
[info]valarnet

[info]beyond_hope
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[info]beyond_hope
[info]valarnet
I'm sure I can figure out how to get this into a lesson plan! It's perfectly legitimate, right?

Jan. 28th, 2015


[info]tingedreality
[info]valarnet

[info]tingedreality
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[info]tingedreality
[info]valarnet
I don't know why people can't seem to get that 'herbal remedies' don't mean marijuana. It doesn't mean I'll have it next week, either.

When I say I sell homegrown things, it means I have an herb and vegetable garden. I'll sell you a tomato, or some mint, but that's all I have.

Please stop asking. Especially grabbing me after I close up for the night, that just makes it uncomfortable for everyone.

Jan. 12th, 2015


[info]the_mountie
[info]valarnet

[info]the_mountie
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[info]the_mountie
[info]valarnet
I know there are some college students on here, so, as a professor, allow me to offer you this bit of advice.

You are not doing yourself any favors when you email your professor on the first day of class and say that you're vacationing with your family and won't be back for another two weeks, so you'll need accommodation.

It is, of course, your prerogative and your family's prerogative to vacation while classes are in session, but I am under no directive to accommodate what is your choice. It is also your choice to stay in the course, knowing that you will be penalized for choosing not to be in class, or to drop it and retake the course at another time when you can actually devote the time required.

Dec. 15th, 2014


[info]andawisecrack
[info]valarnet

[info]andawisecrack
[info]valarnet

 


[info]andawisecrack
[info]valarnet
Yeah all right but what in the God given bloody bedamned fuck are these dreams I've been having? Insect demons, witches with monkey familiars, full on balls to the wall black magic shit.

God that poor girl, I can't even think about what happened to her.

And that's not even touching on the lung cancer. Which I suppose isn't too far fetched, considering how much I smoke. But I did manage to fool Hell's top three demons into letting me live, cancer free. Points to me, there.

The rest can fuck right off, though.

Jesus tapdancing Christ on a chariot driven crutch.

[info]the_mountie
[info]valarnet

[info]the_mountie
[info]valarnet

Cold Weather Tips from a Canadian Abroad


[info]the_mountie
[info]valarnet
As many of the local inhabitants seem to believe that "winter weather" is anytime below 20 degrees (Celsius, or 68 degrees Fahrenheit, by American reckoning), and requires sheepskin boots and Winter Storm Watch on the local news, I thought I might offer some advice as a Canadian who has spent the majority of their adult life living in a climate where the amount of snowfall we received is a yearly occurrence.

For those of you effectively stranded due to the snow and Southern California's inability to deal with it, let me offer a few tips:

- To prevent pipes from freezing, keep the taps on a slow, steady stream. I understand that this is counter intuitive if you have resided in the area for long, since the area is in a drought and water conservation is a behavior ingrained from birth, but trust me. The reservoirs will be overflowing with melted snow.

- Feline litter product is just as effective as gravel in terms of providing traction on icy porches and/or walkways.

- Should the power fail, do not burn candles unattended, nor should you utilize propane or kerosene camp stoves indoors, as carbon monoxide gas can build up to unsafe levels.

If anyone is in need of assistance in terms of needing food and/or supplies delivered who is reading this, I have the use of a neighbor's SUV and Diefenbaker and I will be rendering assistance to those who require it.

Dec. 5th, 2014


[info]darksinisterman
[info]valarnet

[info]darksinisterman
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[info]darksinisterman
[info]valarnet
I never thought I'd do this, but curiosity got the better of me. So here I sit, watching the NBC concert of Peter Pan.

The biggest problem I have with it, surprisingly, is the group of twenty year olds they got to play the Lost Boys. Everyone knows that when a Lost Boy shows signs of growing up, Peter takes them out to the woods and kills them. None of them would have reached twenty.

Christopher Walken's performance is slightly wooden, but I have to say they captured the homoeroticism inherent in living in an all male testosterone filled environment such as a pirate ship.

I do miss having a crew of swarthy men to carry me around on a golden throne. I wonder if I could bribe an intern.

Dec. 1st, 2014


[info]_kingofthedead_
[info]valarnet

[info]_kingofthedead_
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[info]_kingofthedead_
[info]valarnet
Snow? Here?

If I had wanted snow I could have gone home to the Midwest.

I do have to say, however, that snow is quite a beautiful thing, and something I am still not used to even after all these years, especially considering I spent my younger years living in Africa.

[info]the_mountie
[info]valarnet

[info]the_mountie
[info]valarnet

 


[info]the_mountie
[info]valarnet
I'm afraid that I am in a bit of a quandary this morning, and thus, feel the need to put the question to the community at large:

Did everyone wake up to both unseasonable snow and a wolf in their beds, or am I alone in this situation?

Pictorial evidence of said wolf in said bed )

The wolf answers to the name Diefenbaker, although "answer" may be overstating his responsiveness a bit. If this wolf is, indeed, the wolf from the particularly vivid dreams that have been plaguing me of late made manifest, I must admit I am quite perplexed.

Nov. 18th, 2014


[info]darksinisterman
[info]valarnet

[info]darksinisterman
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[info]darksinisterman
[info]valarnet
You know out of everything? I think I'm most upset about being called a codfish.

A codfish, I ask you.

[info]_kingofthedead_
[info]valarnet

[info]_kingofthedead_
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[info]_kingofthedead_
[info]valarnet
So I've been told on more than one occasion that it would be best to expand my circle of friends, and one of the most popular places to do so would be on the internet, specifically this site. I don't know why everyone seems to seek friendship via this method instead of face to face contact, but then, I did not grow up with so much technology surrounding me. It's a fascinating concept for an anthropologist to be certain.

My name is T'Challa Okonkwo. I'll be teaching at the University of California: Irvine, replacing [name] as professor for the course Post Colonial Africa. Seemingly considered an 'Easy A' course. We'll see about that. I will also be teaching a Masters course in Cultural Anthropology. If there are any prospective students on here, I look forward to our time together. If there are any fellow professors on here, I look forward to meeting you in person at some point.

Nov. 12th, 2014


[info]somethingred
[info]valarnet

[info]somethingred
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[info]somethingred
[info]valarnet
A couple things to address. First off, and not very originally I suppose, but I want to thank all the men and women out there who have served and continue to serve their country. One day isn't enough to thank everyone for what they've done, but it's all we officially get, so there you are.

Secondly, I'd like to apologize for being an angry seventeenth century Frenchman for a few days there, and making embarrassing posts. Apologies to anyone I shouted in French at.

And last, congrats to Clint on his new place, looks gorgeous.

Nov. 2nd, 2014


[info]somethingred
[info]valarnet

[info]somethingred
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[info]somethingred
[info]valarnet
C'EST QUOI, CE TRUC LA? C'EST UNE PETITE BOITE, MAIS JE PEUX ECRIRE DEDANS. JE NE COMPRENDS PAS. OU EST LE PAPIER? OU EST LE STYLO? COMMENT JE PEUX ECRIRE SUR CETTE PETITE BOITE?

ALLO? ALLO? QUELQU'UN LIT CA?

Oct. 8th, 2014


[info]the_mountie
[info]valarnet

[info]the_mountie
[info]valarnet

 


[info]the_mountie
[info]valarnet
While, like any Canadian, I feel there is something fundamentally wrong with a hockey opener being played in a region that hit triple digits this week and is in the middle of a drought, I was still pleased to see last season's Stanley Cup champions be soundly shut out.

And although I was born in Toronto, their abysmal failures and my studies in Montreal allowed me to shift my allegiance to the Habs with little difficult, and it was heartening to hear of their win against the Leafs during their opener. I say hear, since of course, living in Southern California, I am now unable to watch Hockey Night in Canada, or any games not airing on the NHL network or NBC Sports, which are both cable networks that I do not have access to. Furthermore, one cannot be assured that hockey will be airing on the television at a bar, as you would in any Canadian city.

Truly, the OC is a new circle of hell Dante could not have foreseen.

Oct. 6th, 2014


[info]andawisecrack
[info]valarnet

[info]andawisecrack
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[info]andawisecrack
[info]valarnet
Well I'm completely pants at technology, but let's give this a try anyway.

Hello, name's John Constantine. Recent transplant from London, by way of Nevada. Looking for a kindly shop owner to let me stand in front of their store and do a few card tricks without calling the police on me, like. Any takers?

Sep. 18th, 2014


[info]the_mountie
[info]valarnet

[info]the_mountie
[info]valarnet

Introductions and Such


[info]the_mountie
[info]valarnet
A well-known search engine led me to believe that this community might be a good place to search for fellow Canadians abroad in the Orange County area.

If that is not the case, I am sorry, and you should feel free to stop reading and continue on with your lives.

If there are, in fact, other Canadians living in Orange County:

Greetings. My name is Benton Fraser, and I recently moved to the area when I accepted a position at Occidental.

I was surprised to learn that Southern California is home to a curling league, which, although they do not have their own dedicated ice, seems to be quite enthusiastic. Unfortunately their 10-week and 5-week leagues are full, but there is a pick up game this Sunday, if any other curling enthusiasts are interested in joining me.