Wednesday, April 01, 2009

Midweek Miscellany

On Monday, after a mini-adventure up to Jeff's office (where he had kindly printed out my thank you letter to the translation company), I visited World Market to buy spices and an apron.  I was so thirsty I also picked up a lychee drink.  The bottle was very interesting, so I sat in the atrium of the Mazza Gallerie to open and marvel at it, and roll the glass ball around inside. 

I happened to look up, and this is what I saw:





I ran some more errands, and going up the stairs to my porch, I picked these up off the ground:



The courtyard is full of trees with white blossoms.

Yesterday, the translation co emailed me a second QC test to print out and mark up using provided proofreading/editing marks plus company guidelines - it was a bad faxed copy of a cost table in Russian, and the English translation.  There were some bad errors, but it was tricky enough that I flapped my hands about a bit.  The all-in-one printer I inherited from my landlady would not scan, so I faxed it from the UPS Store this morning.

Interesting development, that, isn't it?

13 comments:

Miss Dallas said...

Hrm... a follow-up. Perhaps they're having a hard time choosing?

I hope they choose you! :)

And I've never had the taste buds for lychee. Yech...

Anonymous said...

I just love your photos. You're so cute.

Christopher said...

Hello. I am still on a photo journey so that is why I haven't posted any, as the weather has been rainy and I haven't a lot, but just for you I will post a few that I have taken :)

This Lychee drink that you speak of, is it Japanese? I remember drinking this soda style drink that I got once in Japantown when I lived in San Francisco that was like a sodapop type thing, that had a glass ball in it when you opened it, and then "popped" the glass ball into the bottle before you drank it. If it isn't, try finding such a drink at an asian market, they are quite tasty.

Also, rereading your last entry about the drink that you had that reminded you of cake, there is a DELICIOUS drink, well actually more like a shot that you can do called a Chocolate Cake shot...here it is so you can try it the next time you go out and have a cocktail:

Tell the bartender in a shaker, to mix just over a half shot of vanilla vodka, with some Amaretto and a splash of coconut rum with ice and shake it up with ice and then strain it into a shot glass. Take a lemon wedge and cover it in sugar.

After you down the shot with the mixture in your mouth, as you are swallowing the shot bite into the sugared lemon and swallow the lemon sugar juice with the mixture of your booze...it will taste like a piece of chocolate cake...grande, addictive, and so deliciously yummy!

I'll hop right on to my new entry :)

Olivia said...

Jo - I hope so too!

Lychee doesn't taste of much, though...do you not like the texture either?


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Jessica - thanks! :)


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Kissy - a few pics more frequently, that's a good plan, you know!

That Japanese lychee drink with the glass ball is the exact thing I had! It was just the right amount too, not too much, not too little.

I'm going to have to write down this recipe you have given me. It sounds wicked. I don't know where I would ask a bartender to do it, perhaps based on whether the drinks behind the bar look exciting or not...

The Moody Minstrel said...

Proofreading a translation of a badly-faxed Russian document? Sounds like more like an ordeal than a test, m'lady!

A lychee drink...now that's different. I do like the lychee ice cream desserts that tend to pop up here in Japan during certain times of the year, especially at Chinese restaurants.

Do you have any idea why they put those balls in the drinks? Old-style sodas here in Japan have them, too. (Did I just say "soda"? Oh, no...I'm losing my Oregonness!)

Olivia said...

Minstrel - YOU might think it an ordeal, but then you are a musical artsy type. I'm more of the scientific artsy type. Quite different.

What do they say in Oregon? Pop?

I honestly can't think why a cap and a ball are better than just a cap - and it's not easy. If I were a woman with fancy nails I would not do it. First you have to push the cap apart, then you have to press down and pop the ball out with it, and then you can't close the bottle and have to drink the whole thing - which, granted, is not difficult since there is just the right amount in there....but still....I would buy it again, nevertheless. It's just that fascinating.

michelle G said...

amazing pics per usual.

That market seems amazing, me and chad went to the sunday flea market and to the 606 garage sale (its actually a small market) last sat.

there is a small antique district near where we live and we go treasure hunting all the time.

I'm crossing fingers for the job!

steve on the slow train said...

Does this position require proficency in Russian? Or is it just the translation you have to clean up? In either case, I can see the need for a security clearance. I'm hoping you get the job.

Olivia said...

Mich - any pics from the flea market??


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Steve - no language proficiency, just a sharp eye and a knack for words and familiarity with other cultures and comfort with languages, and yes, there is going to be security clearance.

Life for Beginners said...

The photo of the white blossoms are amazing... what flowers are they? They remind me of a scented candle I burned last weekend during my anniversary vacation at the beach - it was called White Flowers (jasmine, magnolia & ylang ylang)....

There's something pure and uplifting about these white blossoms, no? :)

Rick Rockhill said...

I love going to World Market, it is always an experience and I walk out with something interesting. Those blossoms are so beautiful, nicely captured here.

Tea N. Crumpet said...

How many languages do you speak, Olivia?

beginninghere said...

Liv - I am excited to read about the possibility of the translation co job. It seems it would be a good fit for you. And very happy to hear about J. It is always very pleasant to have such a friend :) Hope you have a delightful weekend.