It was the worst of times, it was the best of times...

The worst: when there is only one stall in the girls bathroom.

The best: when no one walks in while you're doing the doo.

The worst: when you walk in and it already smells and all you want to do is just pee the last cup of coffee from 10min ago.

The best: when you do the above and can walk out without anyone walking in on you.

The worst: when you're washing your hands, someone else walks in, thinking the smell is from you when you innocently walked in on it as well.

The worst: when you think you've got off scott free, walk out of the restroom a free woman, only to have your arch nemesis waiting just outside the door to go in...knowing she's going to walk in and think you're responsible for the smell.

The best? When you're arch nemesis is no longer your arch nemesis, because enough sunshine eventually melts the ice to reveal...a much squishier byproduct.


Based on a true story.


Hi heather c! Thanks for being a fan.

I'm back...

Took a small hiatus to shoot a music video...still in the middle of it all, but am taking this small window of opportunity to say hello.

Went to get peruvian takeout tonight. I had forgotten that the waitress there (I think they only have one) doesn't speak a word of english. Except for maybe "Thank You." I tried to communicate "TO GO" to her...but to no avail. She just didn't understand (even with my lame hand gestures and pointing to the door...uh, duh! Pointing outside means to go. It's so obvious...and yes i'm being sarcastic) and responded with spanish that I didn't understand. Which then made my head go into foreign language mode, and for some reason my limited spanish vocabulary (me gusta, por supuesto!, no esta aqui) didn't kick into gear, instead my french popped into my head.

"Pour allez?" thought my brain...even though that didn't sound right either. After she finally understood "to go" with the help of a fellow diner, I sat and waited. Waited and thought about how I was going to ask her to include their delicious bread with green sauce.

Pain...s'il vous plait...no, por favor! What's bread in spanish? Pain. No. Oui. No, si, SI! Vert. Vert? Vert sauce? Merci. No no, gracias. Gracias! My brain was on fire! On fire with french though...but in a city like this, what good is it for, except... eavesdropping on french mothers at the grocery store, and mostly tourists at The Grove? Luckily, she included the bread and sauce without me having to ask, and we parted on a "thank you"- her, "gracias!" - a happy me. A gracias that i practiced in my head over and over while i waited. Not merci, gracias. Gracias!

How do you say "take out" or "to go" in spanish?

And yes, the lomo saltado is still delicious to go.

A Real Nail Biter

A chunk of my fingernail has been snagged, and if i lift it up just ever so slightly, i can see the skin under my nail. I am trying to buff it so it doesn't snag on anything else...and hoping that it doesn't come off. I'm not ready to lose part of my fingernail nor see the skin under my nail.

The culprit? My old computer. It tried to bite me when i was taking out its insides, and rightly so i guess. It must've known that I was about to hand it over to a new owner, and was retaliating against me. I tried not to talk about the separation in front of it, but it must've had super sensitive hearing if it heard me whispering. Then again, it was a super sensitive computer. You know what they say....like owner, like computer. (Yes, they do say that.)

I didn't think i would get so attached to my old computer, but i guess i was wrong. And even as i type on this new computer, i don't feel any attachment to it...but i know we'll have lots of adventures and fights and malfunctions and

It's a new record.

August 24th.

The earliest i've seen a commercial for christmas. I was changing channels today when i came across "your christmas countdown." What, already? I saw it briefly and had to go back. Granted, it was on QVC, but still, they are already selling christmas? In August! Boy, these people work fast.

That got me started thinking though. Christmas is just around the corner! Soon halloween, thanksgiving...and then BAM christmas. Where does the time go?

However, though this summer has been mild so far, i am looking forward to the fall season. Time when i can break out my scarves and hide under my thick blankets. But...we've still got about a month and a half to go, so i'll enjoy the fun under the sun while it lasts.

This Just In!

My scab is about to fall off. It's hanging by a corner...

R.I.P

Sad day...

I just broke one of my art pieces....my handshaped business card holder...I knocked it over and it fell and two fingers broke into tiny pieces. It's not functional anymore. I'm trying to be very buddhist about it and not care so much because it is just a material thing after all, and I shouldn't be so attached to things. Even if they were one of the few things I created that I was really proud of. All this right before my new business cards arrive. Sigh. Stupid elbow.

Goodbye handshaped business card holder. Thanks for holding my business while you were here.

Let California Ring

So i saw this commerical today, and though i knew what it was trying to do and say, I still thought it was lacking. I don't quite know why. Badly executed. A little over the top. Taking too much time to say too much of the same thing? Take your pick.

What do you think?

TV is sucking me in...

OMFG, why is gossip girl so dirty!!!! And why do i want to rub the dirt all over me by watching it!! So damn good. Even with all the partial episodes i've been catching here and there...still so good. But so bad...

And, is that jennie garth in the cast of the new Beverly Hills? Man alive!

HSM, and the phenomenon that is.

High school is quite an event in one's life, but somehow Disney is able to make it THE EVENT of your life...and then set it to music and choreographed group dance. That's right folks, I'm talking about High School Musical.

I blogged about it last year when I finally had to find out what all the hype was about. As it turns out, it was just a bunch of nothing. Not to mention, a bunch of LAME nothings. And then a few months ago at my sister's, I happened to catch HSM II on her cable. You'd think I learned my lesson the first time, but alas, curiosity got to the best of me again. So yea, remember the year that both the kids of Saved By The Bell and Beverly Hills 90210 all happened to be working at their local country club? Well, HSM II is just like that, except...(you guessed it!)...set to music and choreographed group dance. Hooray!

As if all that wasn't bad enough, this summer ABC's got HSM: Get in the Picture!

Oh boy.

I do have to say, one thing Disney is pretty good at, is sparking my curiosity. Knowing how HSM I and II went down, I should've been staying away from this reality contest show. And, for the most part, i did. Except when i didn't....

Ok ok. One night when there was absolutely nothing on, my fingers slipped on the remote, and I "happened" to catch a lil bit of the show. I only caught one segment of it before i tuned out. They had all the kids sitting on a stage somewhere, and they each took turns going up to the front, so that the other kids could give their impressions of them, based on looks alone. "He seems like he's kinda quiet," "She looks pretty free spirited," and blah and blah on. Having missed the beginning of that segment, I didn't get what the purpose to all of it was (I guess....don't judge a book by its cover?). But I did learn that if you tell someone what you think of them, you get rewarded! That's right, after everyone had taken turns being judged based on looks alone, they all got gift bags from Kmart filled with goodies. And then they all took their obligatory turns telling us, the viewer, how cool the people at ABC and Kmart were for getting them cool dope STUFF. Sigh.

That was lame, so I turned it off.

So there was another night when I was at the laundromat when this show was on again!! It was either HSM on one side, or spanish soap opera on the other. Since i couldn't understand all the drama, i opted for the one I could understand, HSM. And when i say understand, I mean solely the language, not the actual show.

So in this episode, I again missed the beginning of the segment. What I did see, were these same kids being let loose in a Kmart somewhere, singing "Together, together" along on their IPOD. They were energetic, and dancing, and playing with bouncy kmart balls, and riding kmart bikes around the store, and getting other customers to dance and sing along, and wrapping kmart towels around themselves, and jumping on kmart checkout lines, all the while, singing along with their ipod. Again, i missed what the purpose of this exercise was, I think it was...just have fun and don't worry so much about how you sing? Beats me. But i shuddered as I turned away from the TV, and instead, found the spinning of my clothes in the dryer much more interesting. (seriously, it was...it's captivating, kinda draws you in...all that...spinning...its like, what's it gonna do when it gets to the top? oh, fall down. yay! and repeat.)

So my gripes with this show:
**They've got advertising blatantly incorprated into the show, which is nothing new, they've been doing it since Friends in the 90s, but this is a show for young impressionable kids...the same crazy kids who made HSM a phenomenon in the first place! They can't be trusted!

**The main group of kids. They're so annoying. I know you always think back and wonder if you were a certain way when you were younger, but we certainly weren't. But then again, these are all drama students...thus...

**Knowing disney, there's always a lesson to be learned around every corner...except i just can't figure out what they are...oh yea, cuz the lessons are LAME.

I'm getting all worked up thinking about this stupid show. Over and out.

Ursula vs Ariel

Today I signed away my soul.

I finally signed and faxed in my offer letter and accepted a full time job. Though the whole event didn't come without its difficulties! Perhaps a sign from the gods that I shouldn't have? Anyway, I tried faxing over the letter twice and HR didn't receive it on either occasion. So the third time i decided to go use the upstairs fax, only to discover at the upstairs fax that my two previous faxes somehow transmitted to the upstairs fax and were just sitting there! How that happened, I couldn't tell you. I even checked to make sure I dialed the right number the first two times, both with HR, and with the fax report printout (which is such a waste of paper, let me tell you....). The number I was trying to fax to wasn't even in the same area code, so how the heck could it have gotten sent upstairs? Very mysterious I tell ya.

And no, I'm not trying to be ungrateful. I know I'm really lucky to have gotten this job, and the particular position I'm in. I've had enough conversations and overheard conversations to know that lots of people would love to be in my particular situation right now. I know i have it good, other people should be so lucky as me. And deep down, I kind of feel like I should hand over this job to those people, not that they're more deserving, but those who would appreciate it much more than I do. But I'm going to do this job, and I'm going to do it well. At least until the economy gets a little better.

I just wish I was more excited about a new job. It's a big deal, starting a job. And usually you know you're going to stay for some time. But i'm not excited about this job like i should be. I'm doing it because its the practical thing to do right now. I think i feel so guilty because in the beginning i told myself that i wouldn't just take a job out of practicality, that'd it'd have to be something where i can learn and grow exponentially, and yet, here I am, signing away my soul. I probably wouldn't feel that way if i was doing something I loved.

But alas, we can't always have what we want. And if there are any co-workers reading this blog (ha! so very unlikely), please understand its nothing against you personally, you guys are great. It's just the nature of the work. And it's my blog, and my daily banterings, so i can do whatever i want! But in all honesty, I just need a forum where I can be honest about how i feel and not pretend like everything is peachy keen.

So i just gotta suck it up for a while, and know that i'll get as much out of it as i put in, as they always say.

That's all for today. Stay tuned next time, for my rant on High School Musical, the reality show. I know you can't wait, so come back soon!

I know i said i would avoid the late night blogging, but when you're waiting around on your computer, and there's not much else to do, I can't think of a better thing to do than blog.

Yes, i know i said to go to perezhilton, but it's all trash and gossip anyways, and i'm starting to get tired of it all. Yea, I know. I grow up so fast....*tear*.

I have a scratch at the back of my throat. It's been there for a few days now, and then it went away, and tonight it came back. I hope its not strep...oh how I hope I hope I hope.

It's late and I'm tired.

Sad News

Just found out Randy Pausch passed away today. I've been following his story through youtube and oprah, and somehow i feel like i know him or something. I just didn't think it would happen, he always looked so happy and healthy, I thought, since he's got on TV maybe he'll be an exception.

My thoughts go out to him and his family tonight.

AM Radio

Talk radio is a powerful thing.

I've only recently discovered Rush Limbaugh, and boy....the anger and energy that comes out of that man makes me scared. Most of the time I wake up to him bagging on Obama. Which is starting to make me question Obama myself, because I agree with some of the things Rush says. And i'm hearing all this negativity when i'm just starting to wake up, so really, when i'm half asleep, so who knows how much of it has sunk into the abyss of my unconsciousness?? Yikes. Egads. Zut!

And then on the same channel theres Coast to Coast AM when I go to bed, which I call, Creepy Radio Show. Creepy Radio Show started out pretty interesting the first few nights I started listening. First it was about time traveling and cool sci fi stuff, interviews with writers and scientists...and then it turned into aliens, alien abductions, guardian angels walking the earth, witches, and interviews with people who have either witnessed these things or are directly involved. Most of the time i get so creeped out i have to turn it off. And then i'm wide awake, hiding under my covers hoping that the aliens didn't hear me listening to Creepy Radio Show, because once I hear it, and learn the truth about them, is when they'll come for me.

Like I said...talk radio is a powerful thing...

Can you guys suggest some other shows i should be listening to?

SH*T Squared.

Why, that's a whole lotta sh*t!

I hate when i post to the wrong blog. I just posted that last entry into a group blog, a blog meant for business communications, and now everyone knows I'm panicking over infertility. GREAT. Just what I needed.

And not that I'm panicking, mind you. I only say "panicking" because i wrote it in the last entry, as a joke....a joke that does not seem so funny now that I've posted to the wrong blog. Sigh.

What was that? Just hit the delete post button you say? Nay, dear reader, nay. For it was I that pushed everyone in the group into getting EMAIL updates whenever a new entry is posted. Yknow, so everyone can be up to date without actually reading the blog. Great job SH! All your willy nillying then has now left you red in the face. oof.

This is what happens when you post at 2am dear readers. Take it from me. Do not post late at night while waiting for your computer to slowly render. Go to perezhilton.com instead.

SH*T

In discussing general topics with a friend today, we came across the age to have children. I've always thought the "too late" age was 40, she says its 38, i just tried to google it and i'm coming up with 35. Crap. How and when did this happen? Aren't we in 2008? Aren't people living longer? Are we more technologically advanced? Why is the age still at a young 35? Why haven't they pushed it to 45? In fact, for the longest time I thought it was 40!! Damn, i feel like i've been living a lie this whole time.

I canNOT believe this is happening. People were telling me that you go through certain "changes" at 27. I didn't believe them. That's all hullabaloo, my brain said to me. And a week into it, i'm already starting to feel the pressure. First you find out your college roommate is getting married, then another roommate engaged, then jr high crush married....then you find out that its dangerously late to have kids after 35....WHAT NEXT PEOPLE????

Not that i'm even close to considering marriage or kids, but one always hopes for the option if one so desires to change one's mind some day. Now i find out that I was mistaken, and there is less time than one had thought. So now there's all this pressure to make choices and decisions, and my brain simply cannot hold so many thoughts at a time!


Shh...do you hear that? It's the sound of panic settling in....

Klean Kanteen Update

It's working great so far. I feel as though I'm saving the environment by not using those plastic cups at work. And I no longer have to buy water in plastic bottles. It also makes me drink more water during the day, which is great, except for the fact that I have to go pee once every hour now, which is not so great.


Oh, and today I also watched The Story of Stuff in its entirety. And now I'm afraid to buy anything.

Love, Ms Lopez

I never thought I'd be the type of person to be walking around with a headset in my ear while walking about town, but there i was today, at the grocery store, with my bluetooth headset in my ear. Ugh, so lame. But it's only because the buttons I have to press on my phone to connect to my headset is enough to dial someone's number manually! So i either stick to the phone, stick to the bluetooth, or keep switching back and forth, back and forth. Ugh. It's so not worth it. And I feel like i'm even MORE distracted on my little headset than I am when i'm holding my phone. I just feel like it's all so backwards.

And then I lost my clubcard today. It's usually there, but today when i went into the wallet, it decided to run away or something cuz it wasn't there! So i told the cashier that i didn't have my card, hoping she would let me just swipe hers, but instead she asked for my phone number, which is what the usual backup is when you don't have your card. Well, I knew for sure that my phone number wouldn't work because I signed up for the card with my OLD phone number which i couldn't remember, but I gave her my current number anyways. To my surprise, I saved $9, which made me think that maybe they just wanted the phone number for their records. Until....the cashier said to me: "Thank you Ms. Lopez, you saved $9." Which was followed by a weird look on her face. I missed what she said, but her weird look made me give her a weird look back, and made me look at my receipt, only to realize that my number once belonged to a Ms. Lopez.

And you know how I know this?? Because debt collectors call me all the time looking for Ms Lopez and asking if Ms. Lopez would be so kind to call them back. Damn this Ms Lopez....seeping in on my life. But she did save me $9 today, so I guess we're cool for now.

It's Here!!!

My long awaited for bottle is finally here!!! I came home from lunch to find it sitting in front of my door. I can't wait to use it tomorrow!

chug chug chug. ahhhhh...

It's a miracle!!

Sourpuss girl said hi to me today! And there was a smile attached! It was so unexpected that i didn't know what to do with myself.

This comes after
1) Waving enthusiastically (yet nerdy) from across the room on my second day, only to receive a blank stare in the eyes in return, before turning back to her computer.

2) Running into each other in the hallway, saying, "oh, hi!" only to receive another stare in return before walking away IN SILENCE!!! No hi back.

3) Being referred to as only "hey" in person.

But today she walked into the hallway while I was on the phone (with you sara!!), and actually smiled and said hi to me. What a breakthrough! She's so pretty when she smiles, just like I knew she would be. Let's hope she keeps this up!!

Bluetooth Challenged

I'd like to think of myself as a nerd, geeking out on geeky gadgets and what not. But the truth is, I can't even handle a bluetooth headset. How sad is that.

So I bought this headset a week before the July 1st deadline, and it just sat around until 2 days ago. I finally took it out, tried to connect it to my phone, only to realize that i have to fully charge it first for 2 whole hours. So i plug the baby in, sat on it for more than 2 hours, and returned only to find that it still wasn't working. It just wouldn't connect to my phone! So i returned it to the charger, this time i somehow saw a blue light come on. So I realized maybe i didn't even charge it the first time! (DUH! User error!) So i charged it for another 2 hours, and rushed out the door.

My poor bff Sara was the first victim of my bluetooth calling. First I couldn't hear anything, or she couldn't hear me, or it wasn't connected but she could hear me or something. And then i somehow got it to work. We were able to chat briefly only to get randomly disconnected 15 min later. I thought maybe it had already run out of juice. Damn bluetooth. Since i was driving i decided not to get distracted by trying to figure out how to call her back. But i left the headset in my ear while I drove so I could look like someone who knew how to use their damn bluetooth. And boy did i look like i knew how to use it!!

So then a couple minutes go by and the phone rings. AND the bluetooth rings!!! So it's NOT dead? What? So i press the little button (still trying to look like i know what i'm doing) and was actually able to answer an unexpected call on my headset. Who knew!

Fast forward to a couple days later, and I haven't touched it again once. In fact, as of this moment, I don't believe I know the whereabouts of the little sucker. Oh wait, there it is. Damn. It's as if it's sneaking up on me or something.

Until i get this doo-hickey down, i probably won't be talking much in the car. Although I am looking forward to the day when i can do my dishes with my bluetooth headset!

(And perhaps I'll even CALL someone while doing the dishes.)

It's Official!

Yes, that's right folks. After months of indecisiveness, I just bought myself the 27oz Klean Kanteen. WHeeeee!! I always try to get myself something nice for my bday, and this year, it was a water bottle.

I know, you're thinking: "whoa there SH, don't go all crazy now that you're a year older. A water bottle? Are you crazy?"

Yes. I'm crazy about chemical free water....except...now I'll have to worry about what's in the actual water, and not the container it's in. EH. Baby steps people, baby steps.

Thanks for all the comments and poll taking. I ended up buying it from REI.com, which after a 15% off coupon code for signing up for the emails, is still the best deal I was able to find.

Oh, and I ended up going with the original SILVER. As much as I loved the colors, I was worried about the paint maybe chipping off if I bang it around a couple times. Plus like Ms Parker says, its sexy and sleek, like me. ;-)

Stay tuned for when I blog about actually receiving said bottle... in about a week.

Potpourri

While looking for something to do while my computer renders for me, i've decided to blog. Since i'll be rendering sporadically tonight, so will my blog thoughts be. Let's get started!

27 Dresses.
Ok, this already looked pretty cheeseball in the previews, I admit. There are two levels of chick flicks. The good ones you can watch over and over again, like You've Got Mail! or When Harry Met Sally, or 10 Things I hate about you. And then there's the ones that are just trying to be good chick flicks in disguise. As in, they have all the pretty, all the gay best friends, all the cute apartments, but no substance. This movie would probably fall in that category. But I just can't pass up something with 27 dresses in it, you should know that by now. J was nice enough to endure it with me, although with several...SEVERAL rolled eyes in my direction. (Point it somewhere else buddy!)

The sad thing is, the movie actually had a few...no several! redeeming qualities and interesting ideas and somewhat humorous dialogue. But for some reason that I just can't quite figure out, it just fell flat. The jokes that should've been funny in theory...weren't quite. I wish I got to be in on the writing sessions and see how the magic (or lack thereof) happens.


Side Projects.
They're great for creativity sake, but not so good for the bags under my eyes. It's already 3am, and I need to decide whether to pull an all nighter and finish up this piece while i'm in the zone, or go to bed and try and get back into the zone tomorrow, AFTER my 8 hr day. Hmm...oh the choices.

Speaking of which...It's 3am. I can answer my own phones. Ha. Ha ha ha.

Today in the car I thought of writing down all my funnies and compiling them into a book called: The NOT SO FUNNY Funny Book. Or, The Funnies That Never Were. What do you think? New York Times Best Seller? Thought so.

Also today in the car I absentmindedly checked a voicemail on my cell phone, SANS HEADSET! (egads!) only to realize after I hung up that I could've gotten another ticket!! My driving record can't afford another one of those!

Of course, not to say that I'm an awful driver or anything. What, you think just because I happen to be an asian and a female, that I'm automatically a bad driver? Well you're wrong. I'm an excellent driver. Just ask my dented Corolla. (none of which were my fault, of course.)

Ugh, i think i'm out of material...or i'm just tired.

Until next time!

(In the mean time you can take my poll!)

Blog Memo

Fellow Readers (of California),

Please be advised that a FLEX-ALERT has been issued for this week. This means:

Turn off all unnecessary lights.
Use major appliances after 7pm.
Set your air conditioner to 78 degrees or higher.

This has been a public service announcement, courtesy of the hard working staff here at DB.

Thanks!

iPhone You?

So i just got an email this morning from Apple, reminding me that they're opening their stores early on Friday so that they can help get me set up and going on my iphone. How kind of them to remind me to spend my money. If only they emailed me when I have to go to the dentist, send me my weekly grocery list, and read me to bed, they'd be the perfect iCompanion.

But i came across this in their email:

What to bring.
To purchase and activate iPhone 3G, you need the following:*

Credit card
Social security number
Valid, government-issued photo ID
Your current wireless account number and password or PIN (if you’re new to AT&T)

Really? To buy a gadget that will supposedly transform my life, I have to hand over my life? Man. Well, you know what I'll be doing friday....


Crying over my noPhone.

But of course!

Anonymous reader writes:

Can you post pictures of these various bottles so we can better judge. Just a lot easier than looking them up myself. I've never heard of them.

Anything to help my readers decide my life for me!

But aside from that, everyone should be familiar with the fact that plastic bottles are 1)bad for the environment and 2) leak chemicals that you do not want to be drinking. I'm tired of using a plastic cup everyday at work only to throw it out at the end of the day. I'm guilty of being wasteful, yes, i admit it. Which is why the sooner you decide which color kanteen i should get, the faster i'll be on my way to reducing waste. Hooray!

Actually...I already think I might go with the green...but please take my poll anyways...I'd be curious to see what people go for.


And here are some helpful links:
KleanKanteen
and as always, on my blog list to your left:
AskWoollyM. She is the best!!

Parched.

For months now I've been thinking about getting a Klean Kanteen, but haven't been able to go through with it. They are rather expensive for a water bottle, but they don't leak contaminants, which is good i guess. And then there's those SIGG bottles, which look oh so cool, especially if i can have my own head as the bottle cap top. Except they're all out for now anyways, as demand has exceeded production. But either one beats using water bottles so i should just buck up and buy one. But...which color to pick? Green, pink, orange, or regular? I may never decide. Maybe that should be a poll question! Yess....

My Apt Smells Like Chicken Sausage...

More specifically, chicken MAPLE sausage...from TJs, of course. Too bad it smells better than it tasted. I messed it up when I cooked it, and i took a bite of sausage that wasn't thoroughly cooked....i hope i don't get sick now.

I really shouldn't blog about fellow co-workers since they could one day come across this blog...oh but i so want to!! I so want to blog about people who, as nice as you are to them, won't give you the time of day, or care to, just because they can! People who you end up being an idiot in front of, solely because you want to be nice, and they don't. I really want to blog about it, but I won't. Ha.

Travail

It's the weirdest feeling when your commute is about 1.5 minutes. When you literally walk down the hall, down the stairs, out of your apartment building's door, look both ways, cross the street, and in another door that leads to your place of employment. That's right ladies and gents, I work across the street!

Well, freelance for now anyways. But still...it's suh-weeeet...to work across the stra-eeet!

It's weird having to work again. "You mean i have to use my brain and think?" The ole brain was a bit rusty today, as it took me a while to figure out how to solve this one problem. Gotta get back into gear. First gear, that is. All day yesterday I was training, and all last night I had dreams of being trained. Suffice it to say, i did not really get a good night's rest...felt like I worked 2 shifts. Hate when that happens.

And how did July creep up on us so quickly? Almost forgot to pay rent today! Speaking of which, I should go do that now. Happy 1st of July.

Juice

My blog no longer remembers me, despite my continuous clicks on the "remember me" button when i sign in...sigh.

I've been antsy lately. My RLS** has been acting up in the past few weeks, and the tips of my fingers are itching to be creative. And try as i might...nothing. My creative juices need to be freshly squeezed and strained and digested. But the question is, where does one go to pick the ripest creatives? Maybe the salmonella got to them too, and they were destroyed along with the tomatoes...before I could get to them. Double sigh.

**Restless Leg Syndrome. Crazy, I know. Ridiculous, I know! But imagine my surprise one day when I'm watching late night TV, and one of those lame drug commercials come on, like another one of those cialis or viagra commercials. But then i find myself saying yes yes yes to all the questions the voice over asked. Unpleasant sensation in the legs? Uncontrollable urge to move? Especially while falling asleep? Man. Who knew?? Anyways, my condition, real or not, is not severe enough to fall prey to medication...but it is somewhat annoying and irritating.

Internet Sensation!

If you haven't joined the craze, what are you waiting for??

hifromwork.blogspot.com

What kind of a man are you?

When suggesting movies to watch, do you suggest:
A.Terminator
B. X-Men
C. How to lose a guy in 10 days?


When watching said movie, do you:
A. Sleep through it
B. Make some excuse to leave
C. Make sure it is on pause when you have to get up so you don't miss a single minute.


If you've answered C to all the above, you are my kind of man.

End of the world?

Sure feels like it. Gas prices going up, food prices going up, housing industry meltdown, unemployment rate up, sag strike looming, and I...still unemployed.

What is one to do?

Only in LA...

...do you hear the guy next to you in the bookstore pondering out loud to his friend, "Should I go to Lance Bass's bbq?"
Of course you should, it's lance bass! Duh!

And only in LA do you run into lorelai gilmore at the observatory (which is closed on Mondays btw, to all you tourists out there).

But apparently, APPARENTLY, this next piece of information applies across the country...

DID YOU KNOW? That when you print out a coupon for pizza and it says max 3 toppings, they really don't mean 3 toppings?

Confused? I was too. Let me explain...

You can get 3 toppings on half of that pizza, AND 3 completely different toppings on another half of the SAME pizza. Wow, i know. This happened the other day, and it completely blew my mind. In fact, i'm still trying to wrap my head around this one. So what if i want to divide my pizza into quarters instead of halves? Would i have 12 different toppings on one pizza? Why would they not charge me extra for those 3 new toppings? I just don't get the logic. I really don't. If i wasn't so lazy right now, i'd take a self portrait of myself with my college degree in one hand, and pizza coupon in the other, and a rather confused expression on my face.



Seriously though, that's 6 toppings i had on ONE pizza with a three topping coupon. Tell me how that works out.

"What kind of girl are you??" Pt 2

(I have a feeling this is gonna be pt 2 of a loooong series...)

I hate that J is more domesticated than me. I don't usually make ice. Even on hot hot days, I don't consume beverages at home with ice. The other day I decided this summer was THE summer I started making ice. So i took the empty ice tray out of the freezer, washed it, dryed it, and let it sit on my counter...only to have J show me today that it's not an ice tray, it's an egg tray! And what do you know, the eggs fit perfectly in the ice tray. Now i just have to get some new ice trays. Or go back to my old ways and not consume ice this summer.

Following this discovery, J then showed me how to use one of the tools in my (but really his) manicure kit.


To be continued, I'm sure.

"What kind of girl are you??"

I seem to get this question a lot.

Today I picked up a pack of qtips at target, and decided to go with the pack of 650 because it came with a free gift on the side.

Me: ooooh...what is this pack of fandangled gadgets?
J: It's a manicure set...What kind of girl are you??

I guess the kind that doesn't know a manicure set when you see one. BUT! The real question is....why would J know about manicure sets??????

I rest my case.


I saw several penises (penii?) this weekend. Participated in SF's Bay to Breakers where people can run all 7 miles completely naked. I'm not one to be against one's right to bare skin, but really, when it involves old men, creepy looking middle aged men, and no hot guys...really, it makes me wonder, what's the point to this human right? And isn't it really just taking away MY right to not see what I don't need to see? I'm just seying...

Mop Quest

The ultimate quest for the perfect wet mop came to a halt today in the aisles of Target, where they finally restocked on some regular clorox sponge mops. This quest has been going on for a while, and came to a short hiatus when i bought the method mop kit, thinking that i'd save the world and get clean floors at the same time. I should've known better. Now i have a yet another mop that doesn't work so well keeping my fridge company, AND, on top of that, I saw the kit on sale for $5 less last weekend. Poop. But now I've got a new mop, a new mop bucket, and a scented Mr. Clean. :) All's that's left is the putting it to use part. Stayed Tuned.

Meanwhile...

Why is it that I feel guilty and irresponsible when i have fun? Especially spur of the moment fun. If i'm not doing something productive, i'm thinking about what the next productive task should be. It drives me crazy. Sometimes i just want to shut my brain off and just have fun. Pure fun without the guilt, is that too much to ask? Apparently so.

Took J out for his bday last night and while we were driving home, we broke out into an impromptu dance party in the car (thanks to my man Justin). And then the car next to us invited us to go clubbing with them. We declined, explaining that it was so very late (10pm) for us in our old age (29), maybe next time. Instead, we went home and had an impromptu dance party of our own in my living room instead. I make a mean DJ.

Now we've caught the dance bug, who's with us?

Geek out, or FILL out?

On the freeway today I passed by a billboard boasting of breast augmentations for only $2999. Wow, they are affordable these days eh? Which got me thinking, for about the same price, I can have a new supercomputer with double quad cores, high speed and powerful, new OS, dual layer superdrive......humuhna humuhna....i'm already drooling. It's amazing what you can get for your money these days...

Do you understand the words that are coming out of my keyboard?

You should, because it's no longer typing like crazy! Hooray! Typing on my new keyboard makes me feel more like Carrie Bradshaw than ever! Something about the feel of the keys and the little clickety clack noises it makes...i feel my transformation with every word i type. This new keyboard is so thin and hip, i almost can't stand it! I didn't mind the old one so much, but it malfunctioned when someone spilled water all over my desk...tragic.

Went to my second funeral ever last week. Funerals are never fun, but something about them feels soothing in a weird way. I guess it just gives closure to everything, and gives people a chance to get to know the person's life. It's almost like a big party, but with alot of tears instead of cake and balloons.

Death is a strange thing. One minute you're here, the next minute you're gone. And then all that's left are memories of the life you lived, survived by family and friends. It's like your body is a wind up toy, it just tickers along, until one day someone forgets to wind you up again. Maybe it's not really like that. I don't know what it's really like.

I still remember the day my frog died. My beautiful little frog, with its hot orange belly that I got from S&J for my birthday. One day i looked in and it was dead and flat. I remember having to take it out of the tank and freaking out because it was dead. My little frog that I wasn't afraid to hold in my hand when it was alive was suddenly the scariest thing to touch now that it was dead. Funny how that is...

**ADDENDUM**

Life is a funny thing too. These events, life and death, they happen every single day, every single minute of the day...yet we're unaffected by it until it happens to us. Until we give birth, or someone we know gives birth, or someone we know dies. Sure when these things happen, it affects a lot of people but still many more are unaffected. There is a baby being born as I type right now, but I'm unaffected by it. Yet if we rewind back to July a couple decades ago, I was affected, I was being born!

Again...I don't know where I'm going with this...

Readings and Findings

Recently finished reading Persepolis 2, and was quite surprised by how much I enjoyed it. The library did not have Persepolis 1, I may just have to watch the movie instead. Now I'm on to The Fountainhead, giving to me by J, who may have made the claim that it will change my life. I guess I will find out in 727 pages. Recently found out they're making a movie of The Time Traveller's Wife...how disappointing yet intriguing at the same time. Funny thing is, while I was reading it I kept wondering what the film version would look like. Guess we'll find out this summer.

This week has been a frenzy of events hither and thither. This weekend doesn't look like it'll slow down either.

Boring post for now. More to come later.

I feel like Jesse Spano

No time? There's never any time!


Why is it that despite my unemployed hours, i feel like i still don't have enough time to do everything i want to do! WHY??

Things left unsaid.

Dear Rebecca,

I hope that somewhere out there you know I came by to see you today. I know things have been confusing for you, and you probably already can't remember who I am, but I want you to know I think about you and your family all the time. Your daughter is doing a wonderful job taking care of everything, I just don't know how she is doing it. I half expect her to break down at any moment whenever I call her, but she doesn't. And I saw her take care of you today and it just amazes me how strong she is throughout this whole process, with so many other things going on. You've done an excellent job raising her and her brothers and I told her today how great it's been to see everyone in your family come together these past few years. Today I really missed one of your strong hugs, the ones you always give me when I see you...it always amazed me how strong they were even though you're so petite. I'm sorry I left the room so abruptly today, I didn't mean to be rude, but I didn't want to cause a scene and I just wasn't prepared to see you in that state, as much as I tried to prepare myself beforehand....I really did want to come in and say hi and get a hug, or even just to hold your hand...I really hope you know that. I hope I can send this out into the ether and it will somehow get to you, and even though I'm not the praying kind, just know you are constantly in my thoughts.

SH

Robot Chicken vs Family Guy

Most of the time, i'm absolutely fine with having no cable. But there are just those times when i really wish i had certain channels. HBO for their movies, SHOWTIME for Dexter, BRAVO for Project Runway, and COMEDY CENTRAL for Adult Swim. The other night the famous Star Wars episode of the Family Guy was on. I've heard all my friends say how funny this episode was. And it was indeed. But then at the end they alluded to the fact that Robot Chicken also did a Star Wars episode. So then i looked that up online, and, it was hilarious!! I think Robot Chicken wins this round.

It's amazing how quickly time goes by when you're not working. I've been quite busy for someone who should have all the time in the world! How does that happen? But its better than nothing to do i guess. Over and out.

Babies

It's amazing how much babies resemble a combination of two people. I know, duh. But, the whole concept of it just amazes me. For some reason i've been coming into contact with babies lately. Babies of people i know. And the first thing you notice is how much they look like the mom or dad. Or even a combination of the mom and the dad. It's just something in the features of the baby. As though the separate features that resemble a parent are still...pure and untouched, it hasn't morphed into it's own thing to become an individual yet. I mean, sure, little kids and even older children up to adults may have some semblance of their parents. But it's never as obvious as babies are. Am i just driving this blatantly obvious point into the ground? Hm...

Visited the library last week. Can't believe i've been here for a year and it was only the first time i've been to this library. I just love libraries and exploring them for the first time. So peaceful and quiet. So many possibilities to check out. So many nooks and crannies to discover. Always end up checking out more books than i can handle within the checkout period. Oh well. That's why "renew" was invented, right? Right.

Last week was my semi productive week. Wasn't completely lazy, but definitely lots of down time. This week is all business. ALL BUSINESS. I suddenly have the feeling that I don't have enough time with all that i've got lined up. We'll see how it all goes...

Unemployment, Day 2

So far, so good.

I'm not losing my mind yet. Though i'm talking to myself alot more in the car. I've been trying to get alot done and have actually been quite productive. Gone to the bank, post office, did taxes, made several customer service calls, applied for unemployment...just trying to get odds and ends in order. I'm trying really hard to stick to some sort of a schedule so i'm not up reading or watching movies til 3am and not waking up til noon. But then today i thought about it, and...why not? No one's stopping me! But still...must stick to some sort of schedule, for my own sanity.

From being unemployed last time, I've learned that one spends more money when one is not making money, than when one is making money. Funny how that works. I guess you have all this free time and what better way to fill it than spend some money? So i'm also trying really hard not to do that...and of course, end up at Bed Bath and Beyond yesterday because I felt I really needed an air tight coffee canister. That is, for the trader joes coffee beans I bought the other day that was constantly emanating this wonderful coffee smell, making me want coffee whenever i passed by my kitchen, but more like 24/7. That is, coffee made from the french press i bought over the weekend, because now that i'm not getting office coffee, i must get it somewhere, so I might as well make it at home. See...see how the vicious cycle works?

So yesterday as I was checking out at BBB, I saw Sandra Oh in front of me, two 'o clock. After i discreetly stared at her to make sure it was her, i shrugged it off, because yes, she's just another human being, who cares. So as i went to check out, i noticed lady A behind the counter whispering to lady B, and staring in the direction of Sandra. I heard her whisper, "yknow,from grey's anatomy. That's my favorite show." Lady B seemed confused and finally looked up at me, and asked lady A, "HER?" I laughed, shook my head, and said, "no, HER!" and pointed my head in sandra's direction. Discreetly, of course. Lady B was still confused, but lady A and I shared a good chuckle. That's why I love LA man...the city where I can get mistaken as the OTHER asian actress.

I think as long as I don't start drinking in the afternoon, I'll be a-ok. And to prevent that from happening, I'm going to go finish the two beers left in the fridge.

Haha, just kidding.







There's only one left anyway.

The Cereal Bowl

As i was putting my dishes away tonight, i suddenly realized that i've been ignoring my cereal bowl. My lovely petite little choux of a bowl, a sunny colored yellow bowl with a little gnome playing an accordion on the side. As if eating cereal didn't make me happy enough, this bowl just puts it over the top. I mean how often during the day do you get to see a gnome playing the according for you while you eat? That's what i'm saying! I got this bowl especially for cereal on my first trip back to NYC with SW. It was my special NYC purchase, something to remind me of the lovely city, and the fantabulous trip. I can't believe i've been neglecting it in the back of the cupboards. I shake my head at myself.

Anyway, so I washed it, and now it is drying for me and my cereal in the morning. I can't wait.

Paging Robert Buckley...

YES YES YES!!

I knew it. My memories aren't against me after all! So, after a confirmation email from JB, I did, in fact, go to school with HOT BOY, aka Robert, but I'll stick with HOT BOY. I believe i was in on some study session with him and some other people in a suite lounge on a floor of Tioga or Tenaya, studying for an econ final that I eventually bombed. Perhaps i was too distracted? Ha, who am i kidding, i just really sucked as an econ major. Too bad it was only a study session and not a MAKE OUT SESSION! Damn, those were the days. If i could only travel back in time and re-live those moments again. Suh-weet!!

Ok, but, all that aside, it's kind of a bummer that he is so hot. He's actually not bad of an actor, but with a body like that and those boyishly good looks, and those blue eyes, and that smile....oh that smile........hm...where was I? He's not bad of an actor, but I fear for him that he will be forever cast in these hot boy roles. I don't know where he wants to take this acting thing or how serious he is with it, but i'd love to say some day with fervor and excitement, "I had econ classes with Edward Norton" but instead of Ed, I'd insert Rob's name. You know, someone that is hot AND recognized for his great acting. But I guess everyone's gotta start somewhere, and being THE up and coming hot boy isn't so bad for now. We'll just have to wait and see!

Thank you India

Last night as I was drifting off into sleep but not quite asleep yet, I suddenly smelled India. Which then pulled me out of my almost asleep state. How weird is it to suddenly smell a country hundreds of miles away? Of course, I wasn't really sleeping in a room that smelled like India, my Brain was smelling India. But why would my Brain suddenly pull this smell from the depths of my memories, out of nowhere, at a seemingly random time?

The smell was quite strong, and though it only lasted for maybe 10 seconds, I suddenly felt like I was transported back. I saw the dirty streets at night, and the old men and their tea, and the restaurants we ate at. But I was still not asleep. I only saw these images in my head. Then the smell slowly faded away, and I longed for it to return. So I thought some more about the images in my head, and tried to remember more things. And then the weirdest thing: as I recalled my memories, the smell came back! The stronger a memory was, the stronger the smell became. I made a note to blog about it in the morning, and slowly drifted off to dreamland.

Unfortunately, I did not have any dreams of India. Even now, as I try to recall the images I saw last night...no smell...nothing...just the smell of regular air inside my nose. The curry smell is gone. The foreign new place smell is gone. And it wasn't just the smell of curry, it was intermingled with something else I can't quite put my finger on. Spices, perhaps, as that's what everyone seems to say India smells like. Or maybe it was just a smell my Brain created from my memories of India. (But really, I don't think my Brain is that clever, sorry Brain.) I'm sad it is gone now, but grateful that I was able to have such a wonderful olfactory experience last night.

Proof #136

Another example that Tina Fey and I are really the same person:

In episode #113, The Fighting Irish, Liz Lemmon goes to the gym and happens to meet up with Flower Guy and his GF.
A. The seemingly perfect guys always have cute attractive gfs to throw in your face.
B. They're in a hip hop class where everyone knew the routine perfectly except for Liz...or should i say, Tina Fey.........or should I say............ME?
C. Immediately afterwards, Liz is watching one of my favorite videos, the one with the baby panda sneezing.

If those three points combined don't prove that I am Tina Fey, I don't know what does.

Random thoughts...#258

It really amazes me how quickly one can spend $50 at Target. Like poof, it's just gone. And for what, a few things here, a few things there. (And some cool flip flops.)

So we're on countdown...8 more days until I am officially unemployed. The last imf-er standing. Kind of ironic to me. And i still have about 489 business cards in my name that i can no longer use. Perhaps i can create some sort of art project out of it. Make a house of cards? And then destroy it on a rampage...falling house of cards...analogy for the fate of said job? Perhaps? Yea, i'll sit on that for a bit.

I heart Tina Fey

I heart her sooooooo much.

Oh my oh my...

In telling this story, I'm gonna have to admit something embarrassing.

So...I watch Lipstick Jungle. I know, i know. But i do. And there's this hot boy on the show. Aside from the fact that his face is super cute and he has the most adorable smile and his body is incredibly HOT....um where was i?

Oh yea, so i see him on tv, and think he looks very strangely familiar, but can't place him in any WB shows i've seen. So tonight i'm watching him, and it just bugs me to no end how familiar he looks, so i start IMDB'ing him to see what shows i've seen him in. Realize he hasn't been in anything I would've watched...but find out his name is Robert Buckley. Hm...sounds oddly familiar. So i do some more digging, and see that he went to UCSD as well!! Hm...interesting. Look up his age, same age as me!!!!! He was an econ major....I was an econ major to begin with too!! And then WOOOSH. I suddenly have these vague memories in the back of my head pop in. Is it possible that I went to school with HOT BOY and even had some econ classes with him????? I'm giddy just thinking about it.

I currently have an email out to a friend who might have been friends with him. I can't wait for her reply. I mean, his name is just so familiar, as is his face....probably because I thought he was super hot back then too and have since burned the image of his face into the back of my corneas. Maybe? I even think he was in the same college as me, Muir, and lived in the Other building, on the 8th or 9th floor, the cool floor. And might have been friends with said friend. So...i can't possibly have all these memories of him if it wasn't true right? Man o man...i wish there was someone i can ask about this right now. I might have gone to school with HOT BOY!!! We might even have had a conversation or two!!!

HOT BOY, if you're reading this, contact me. I mean...Robert.

And if you have no idea who i'm talking about, just look him up. Seriously. He is HOT. HAWT.

Oh no.

I just went to get some soup at my Chinese take out of choice, and the guy there knew what I wanted...before I ordered it! Damn. Did you guys ever see "While you were sleeping"? Where Lucy was always ordering for one, and that chinese place always pointed it out? Damn chinese take out places! Damn Them!! It's fine when you go to starbucks and they know your name and know what you want. (Even though they usually don't for me...lame.) But when your chinese takeout place knows...then it's embarrassing.

So i mailed in my trial by declaration today. I'll be waiting to see what they say back. Crossing my fingers...

Pictures!

Wow, i just sat through 6 episodes straight of 30 Rock, 1st season, 2nd disc. THIS IS MY NEW FAVORITE SHOW!! Liz Lemmon is my new Carrie Bradshaw replacement. It's a great show to watch when you're sick and your head is fuzzy, and you just want a good laugh. And several good laughs I had! I just can't get over how good this show is. I love it so much I just want to take it behind a middle school and get it pregnant. Muahahahah.

In other news, here are some pictures from the toilet restaurant in Taiwan, as promised many many moons ago. Enjoy!

Sugar withdraw?

OMG, i currently have the worst headache ever, and feel quite nauseous. I wonder if this has anything to do with my no sugar week. Maybe this is how drug addicts feel when they're trying to quit. On a much worse level, i'm sure. But man, i feel like crap. I hope it goes away.

No Sugar Week: Day 5

Hm...just doesn't have the same excitement and ring to it as shark week...

So this week I have decided to cut back on processed sugar. I say cut back instead of cut out because it seems as though i just can't avoid it, it's in everything! So i'm cutting back on the obvious: sugar in my coffee, cookies, ice cream...you get the idea. And the not so obvious I haven't been able to avoid? Sugar in my yogurt, sugar in my jelly (what else can i put on my muffins??)meals when i eat out, sugar in spaghetti sauce, and so on. But at least this some sort of step in the right direction, right?

I partially did this just to say to myself I can do it. I'm always thinking I can do things if i really wanted to, but never end up doing it, so technically, I can't do anything if i don't actually do it, right? Maybe i should take up smoking just so i can say i'm able to quit. Ha. Hahaha.

So far i've made it to day 5. But the weekend is upon us, and oh i'm scared. I've got birthdays to celebrate and college friends to meet up with. That spells sugar all over! So far i'm feeling pretty good, but i can't tell if its because i'm not putting poison in my body, or if its because i'm just really proud of myself for getting this far. Probably the latter.

Justache

As ryan says, it's "just a stache."

Which is what i wish i had. I might have blogged about this already so hear me out again...but...the longer my hair gets, the more i play with it. And when i say play, i really mean twirl. In the office, in the car, while having a drink at the bar. (A lil matt damon reference...teehee)

Alot of the times, i find myself twirling my hair for no good reason, and then wondering if the guy in the car next to me thinks i'm the biggest ditz ever. Good thing i don't chew gum...oy vey.

Now if i had a mustache, that'd be a complete different story. I'd twirl my mustache instead of my hair, and man, instead of ditzy, i'd look really....well probably manly. But it's like looking smarter when you wear glasses. I feel like i'd look more accomplished if i twirled my mustache instead, as if i'm always deep in thought. Which...is actually what i'm doing when i twirl my hair too. It just doesn't come across that way i guess. It'd also help if i had a legit english accent while i twirled my mustache. Hm...yes. Gotta work on that.

I bought two avocados today, for the first time ever. It's funny, i've never really liked avocados, but within the past year or so, they've really grown on me. i once had them at ms. parker's house with just a bit of salt, and it was actually quite good! and so when i saw them today i suddenly had a craving for salted avocado. except....how do i know when they're ready to eat? ms parker?

ok, so i've been watching this video non stop. It's funny, and really original. I wish i had come up with it. And i wish i was the one to edit it! If only i could put that in my reel.




Speaking of my reel, i finally got some sort of website up. whew. long time coming. But i had to scramble this weekend. And scrambling never comes out well. Except eggs. Mm...scramble eggs...with a dash of ketchup!

Just another saturday night...

So rather than go to an art show with vonne tonight, I somehow lost all track of time and ended up working on my website all night. Yes, the website that's been like a thorn at my side. The one that I didn't know how to get started on. Well...i'm about 60% there, thank goodness. This needs to be done this weekend, as there are demands and needs to be met! Oh the anticipation!

I hate that time after you've applied for that seemingly perfect job. The possibilities! The dreams! And then a week goes by...a month...and you realize maybe you're not so perfect for that job after-all. Ha. Days since applying for said job: 2.

I left the tv on while working on the website tonight. Listened to Oldschool in the background, and some very funny skits on SNL. And now.....Showtime at the Apollo! Not only that, its a "best of" show. Who needs to go see Step Up 2 when there's Showtime at the Apollo? Not that this blogger has any desires to see Step Up 2. No siree. Boy, people really get excited on this show!

Well, off to bed soon and then getting up to work on the site some more as I will be landlocked in the morning, thanks to people who like to run for shits and giggles. Ok ok, I won't be a hater...just because I don't run and am accruing office butt, that doesn't mean I need to hate on people who enjoy a good sweat. So here's to you, 26 mile marathon runners! May you have a great (and fast) run in the morning. I'll be counting the minutes til the streets open up!

How does one sell oneself?

And no, i don't mean the type of transactions on the street corner, you dirty thing. I mean, how do you build yourself up into this great awesome person for other people when sometimes you really doubt it yourself? It's hard to do I think. Don't you?

Warm Weather

Today i walked out of the office after work and felt like it was spring time. It was oddly warm, and there was actually light out. What's going on? Is it spring already?

But i do love the later sunsets. You just feel like you have more time in the day to get your stuff done when its light outside.

And apparently, tuesday nights around 8:30 are when the cute boys shop at the grocery store. Perhaps their gfs have all taken over the tele for American Idol night, and they just need to get out for a breather, a quick smokey smoke, some ice cold beers to claim their manhood back. Perhaps? In any case, i was unprepared for such a barrage of dapper fellows milling about, so i quickly gathered my mango and apples and yogurt and Bass (on sale!) to make a quick exit, only to be slowed down by the self-checker...yeah, that self-checker that's suppose to let you check out quicker, make that quick exit easy for you in such situations. I had to wait to get the apples weighed and cleared and the mango weighed and cleared and my id checked and blah blah blah.

After all that though, I did get to leave with Ben and Jerry. I know they will make me very happy.

Random thoughts...

Is it weird that it kinda bothers me when I log on to my online bank account, and my bank greets me with, Welcome Back, Wang?
It really just puts me off for some reason. They obviously have my full name in the database, why can't they greet me with my first name? It would sound a lot more personal, don't you think? It just kinda creeps me out. Like my computer is my football coach or something, and every time i want to check my balance, my coach is there to greet me, but instead he is shouting it...using my last name. Maybe if i'm good and have a large balance when i log off, i'll get a slap on the ass for a job well done?

And...fruit on the bottom yogurt. Why? I pondered this as i ate my fruit on the bottom yogurt today...as i furiously mixed to get the fruit to mix in evenly with the rest of the yogurt. If they put the fruit on the top, by the time it gets to me, it'll practically be all mixed in already. If they mixed the fruit with the yogurt...wow, what a concept, I'd be able to eat it immediately! Not that its THAT hard to mix my own fruit in the yogurt from the very very bottom of the cup (where the corners indent out...blueberry likes to hide out there), but they very specifically include on the label "with Fruit on the bottom" as if its a big selling point. As if i would be more likely to buy the yogurt if i can mix in the fruit on my own? I just don't get it.

Other Random Banterings

Last night i realized that i kinda have a crush on Ira Glass. Sure he is my hero...but...part time lover? One can only dream. I really love him.

It's 7:43pm. The oscars are on in the background, and i will shortly be in bed. I've been up for the past 36 hours, with only about 1.5 hours of sleep. Things are starting to blur, and my eyes grow heavy. Aren't you glad, dedicated reader, that I'm even taking this time to blog??

"She has a proclivity for everyone else's shoes, and mischief on her face."
Perhaps that is how I will begin my greatest song of all time. By george, that's it!

Alright, time for the oscar for most original song...I hope ONCE wins!!

OMG! And they did!! No surprise, but gosh, how great for them! Golly gee...

LOST

I've lost it! I've lost my creativity! It's gone! It fell out of my pocket somewhere back in college, and now it's probably just sitting in the grass by itself, getting wet from the sprinklers, being sniffed by a dog...and then probably shat on.

I should be working on my website. My website that used to be endless joy for me to create...but now I'm stuck on little things...like color scheme and the perfect name and fonts and layout. Instead i'm here whine-blogging about it, procrastinating until who knows when.

This is exactly like my inabilities to decorate my apartment. Too many choices, can't make a decision. I just need to do and go.

Ok, here i go...

Gone Postal

I just spent 30min waiting in line at the post office for 75cents worth of postage. Yes i'm serious. I stood behind the cutest girl though, she was very nice, and we bonded after her cell phone attacked me. I think I wouldn't mind working at the post office after I retire. I mean, the hours are regular and you get all the government holidays. Plus those snazzy uniforms...I wouldn't have to worry about what to wear all the time then. I could work behind the counter, or be one of those walking postwomen and get exercise everyday. The only problem would be getting around those dogs....

Well, after all that waiting, I simply couldn't just walk out of there paying .75cents of postage. So i got me some superhero stamps. They're quite awesome I must say. Give me a reason to mail you something.

Words and words

Sigh...so i was this close to finishing a personal project 2 years in the making...and then I just found a major error. So i started to fix it and decided to procrastinate by blogging.

Blog blog blog.

So, one catchy candy jingle and a mediocre try at a song later, I still don't have that great song written. That one great belt out in your car, cry your heart out, can't get out of your head, I've gotta put it on loop song. There's already too many about unrequited love, love lost, crazy in love, heart break heart ache songs out there...maybe i'll write one about recalled beef, there's never enough of those...trust me, when I get it right you'll hear about it. Maybe you'll even sing about it.

Time to get back to work...I'm on a deadline.

Book parties and such...

Who would've thought that being at a party with my name is earl and hyde would be a snore in the land of doldrums? The event piqued Vonne and my own curiosity, but i soon learned that nothing really goes on at a book party. To be fair I only knew the author's brother (who himself had not read the book), and Vonne arrived way after us. If I had been friends with these people or made an attempt to start conversations with any of them, it might've been somewhat interesting. (The event, not the company i was with.) But instead i stuck to Y+T, discussing the merits of having large text on walls as an alternative to wallpaper. (Quite an interesting idea I must say.)

So instead, we bid the party adieu and sauntered over to Cosmo's for what turned out to be a fantastic night of ancient Japanese hiccup secret cures and drunken karaoke. And boy, what karaoke! Old japanese men crooning to old japanese hits, vonne's melodious rendition of jill scott, JV and I making THAT CHANGE per Michael J's request, Bryan Adams appearing out of NOWHERE, and on and on. Karaoke makes the world a magical place. It really does.

Next up: I really must unload my camera and upload some pictures. It's been months. I see other people's blogs full of pictures and videos, and it really just adds to the blog-mosphere. I know i'm trying to keep myself somewhat anonymous, but really, my two readers already know who I am and those who fall into the blog by chance...well, I'm guessing that they just pick themselves up and are on their merry little way very quickly. So if i'm hip enough to have an rss feed, I think its time to start putting up pictures...don't you think?

Ugh

AND! And i have a big zit growing on my face. It's annoying and it hurts. They always like to emerge from the same place. You think it went away or you killed it, but no, it just goes on vacation every once in a while, but it returns. TO THE SAME PLACE. GD it!

Thursday

Geez, i look like crap today. Especially more so than usual, just to spite this non holiday that is a pain in our ass. I nearly screamed when i saw all the teddy bears and flowers on the side of the road this morning. Stuffed animals are a waste of money. Especially when they're gigantic, and not going to a needy child. Especially when they're seasonal, and holding a red heart. I hate seasonal stuff....like plates. Like when you walk into Target or Linen's n Things, they always have plate sets for that particular holiday. Halloween plates and christmas plates and valentines day plates and fall plates and summer plates...ugh. You only need one set of plates!!!

Although this morning i did get some heart shaped candies from a fellow coworker, and for 2 minutes i was brought back to third grade when we made paper bag envelopes and suddenly i panicked cuz i felt like i forgot to write out HER valentine. But then i reminded myself, oh, its a non holiday, chillax. But still, it was very nice of her.

I'm in an awful mood today, unrelated to this non holiday, so I thank you for letting me rant. Perhaps there will be more later.

At last!!

The strike is over. Thank goodness.

Over and out.

Move along

Lately I've been thinking about moving. NY? SF? I know some people there. Out of the country? But it'd be hard to find a job and get a permit and all that. France? Australia? Canada? Too bad I don't know anyone in canada...it'd be a great mix of english, french, chinese....plus there's some production up there, so a job may be more likely. I mean, come on, Canada is the home of Degrassi the next generation, what could be sweeter? It's hard to move to a place where you don't know people. It's hard to move to a place when you DO know people! Moving is just hard in general. But it'd be a nice change of pace. Too bad I can't get myself on the production of LOST. I hear hawaii's nice this time of year...

This just in...

Oh my...what do I do??

So i just let my machine pick up two phone calls...first time the guy was confused, second time he left a message.

His name is robert, and he's making reservations for two for...VALENTINES DAY!!!!!! The second session, whatever that means. I wonder which restaurant he thinks he called....

Thing is, my phone is connect to the keypad to get in. So, i've gotten calls from people wanting to get in and stuff....so i just stopped answering my phone. And my message says, "Please leave a message." That's it. No name, no nothin. I didn't want to say my name on the machine because people who call from the keypad downstairs will get the machine message if i don't pick up, and know my name! Anyways, its a pretty intricate system of avoidance I've set up, don't question it.

But..so...what do i do? I don't want to call him back! But i also don't want to be the reason him and his date are stranded on valentines day! He spelled out his name and left a number and everything!

Thanks alot valentines day! If you didn't exist, none of this would've happened. You're not a real holiday anyway so stop acting like one!


*********NEXT DAY UPDATE*********

So i called the DOOD back this morning, trying to explain that he called me...the wrong number...valentine's day reservations? He either couldn't hear me, or couldn't understand me, so i guess the next logical thing to do was....hang up on me?

Thanks mr. Thanks a million. Trying to do you a favor and get you possibly laid on Vday, and what do you do? Hang up on me???

Sigh.

So in my quest to save their relationship, i texted him back. "You dialed the wrong number last night for your reservations."
And, let me just say, that is a looooong sentence to text for someone who is text handicapped, and running late for work.

And oh what's this??
I just got a text back! It wasn't in vain after all! (i wasn't even sure if i dialed the right number, couldn't tell if he said 310 or 210 on the message) So he just texted back "U r rite my apologiz"

Hooray! SH saves the day! Boy, I'm tired...now i know how Batman feels. That's enough good deeds for the day MONTH.

This played out in my head last night...dim the lights.

Lady with blonde curly hair, freshly done nails, snapping gum in mouth:
"Ugh, but Harry, you said you MADE reservations!!"

Man with open shirt, gold chains:
"But hon, i did, i promise. Check the list again will ya kid? I called and left a message last week!"

Red haired kid with freckles and suit:
"I'm sorry sir, you're not on this list, we didn't get a call from you last week. Please, sir, step away from the book...I can't take your money sir, we are all filled up, I really can't get you a table. Sir...sir, please, personal space..."

Lady:
"I give you one thing to do harry, ONE THING, and you can't even remembah to do it."

Harry:
zoom in on sad face....cue trumpet sound fx: wop wop wop wop wwwwwop!

AND SCENE.

Picture

I just got this picture from T and had to share it. It's a pretty funny picture of C and I, but...is that a fat long haired luke wilson sitting next to my presents?? Nice of him to show up to my birthday...hahaha. One year Dax Shepard was having dinner at the same time as my party, and then later, Jason Schwartzman came for karoake. I mean, the real guy! Not this luke wilson imposter. It's ok, the more the merrier.

It's always better on holiday...

Lately, i feel like a tornado, pretty much a wreck, mentally and emotionally. This year so far has been..tumultuous, to say the least. I've hit the lows and then climbed back to the OK corral only to go back down again. If it's not one thing its another. I'm tired from these spikes...I just want to plateau at steady and sip some champagne. But i guess all these emotional spikes just means i'm alive...not dead. I just want a vacation from my head. Like in cartoons when the ghost spirit steps away from the body. Then, i can just push the automate button in the back of my head, underneath all that hair, and just float away while my automaton body continues to be me. Just for a little while.

I had a lovely date tonight with the bff in the oc. The drive there was horrendous, worse than expected. But we rarely get alone time anymore so it was nice to just have dinner (though quickly cuz we were running late for the show) and chat. The show was BLAST, and it was pretty good, some parts better than others, but there were really some awesome amazing musicians I saw tonight. The drummers were pretty incredible, i just don't know how they do it. That's the one thing i don't care much for in Rock Band. I'll let the others fight over the drums as long as i can rock out to something else on...11.

Shadow of the Day

Normally I'm not a huge fan of Linkin Park...in fact I don't think i'm a fan at all...til this song. It's such a great song...so very U2 like. It's quite a change from the usual stuff. It's such a great song title too. I think i can write a novel titled, Shadow of the Day, and it'll be a best seller based on the title alone. Reminds me of one of the Enders game books...hm...kinda want to read that now.

Now one of the many things that really bums me out about the end of imf is the end of my world music knowledge. Where else now will i find out about artists like sia and miyavi and verdena? I had it all at my fingertips, and now, poof, it's all gone. And sure, i watched alot of really bad hip hop videos about hos in different area codes, but the good ones...the really good videos make it all worth it. You know what this is like?

It's like when the milkman drops off milk everyday for the little 5 year old boy. Orphan boy...of course. And suddenly one day, the milkman doesn't come anymore! Where will the little orphan boy get his milk? Sure they're out in grocery stores, but little orphan boy can't drive yet! He doesn't even know about grocery stores, he's only 5! And an orphan, of course. This is exactly what it's like.

Um..yea.

So you see, after that prime example i just made up on the spot, do you see how my novel would NOT be a best seller? I rest my case.

Elis Regina

Wow. I'm so in love. My itunes suddenly started playing Elis's Carinhoso...I've forgotten about this song and now I'm in love with her voice all over again. What is it about portuguese that makes it so romantic? It sounds like a very nasally language, which has the possibility to be annoying...but it isn't. Instead, it draws me in...and oh the guitar picking, oh this part is the best....and her voice is so sexy. I love you Ms. Regina.

Laws of Attraction

Some say it's all a numbers game. To me it's a very unromantic way to look at things. But then again, maybe romance was created in movies, made up by people who have now affected my ways of thinking. Who knows.

Going back to things being relative...I still can't quite put into words this relativity i think about all the time. Like distance. Hm..it's all up in the ether and I can't quite pull it down to articulate it.

I just wonder...

People who are married. People who have this person that they love, they get along great. Sure they have arguments here and there, but for the most part, this is the person you want to be with. What about the other love of your life that you've never met because he was hundreds of miles away on the other side of the earth? He could possibly be the love of your life except you'd never know it because you've never met. So all these people in love....they're in love with the one that's closest in proximity with them at the time. Sure there are lots of instances of people meeting their loves while on vacation on the other side of the world. But for the most part, people meet people they live close to. And yes, i know there's lots of long distance dating...and this is where it starts getting hazy for me and i can't quite explain what i'm thinking.

This business of being single...sometimes it's crappy, but other times, its the most wonderful thing in the world! Once you're in a relationship, you're closed for business. You're no longer open to the world of people. When you're single, everyone's a possibility. Then again, i'm sure you'll argue with me on this. Please do so.

Tomorrow is another day. A day where I will bring in my own half and half for my coffee. No more of that powder crap. You'd think that a company with fancy coffee machines would have some real milk somewhere, but alas, its all powder creamer. This makes me angry. But then again, just being in this new place makes me kinda angry. However, anger aside, i really do have it good right now, which is why i'm bringing in my own h/h. No more yelling at the powder creamer inside my head. It's not its fault. It's only fault is trying to be delicious when it clearly cannot. But then again, we all strive to be better in life, why shouldn't powder creamers do the same, right?

Right.

Elevators

Everyone in every big building always think they have shitty elevators. Thing is, i think elevators just break easily in general. I keep hearing the same kinds of conversations with elevators everywhere i go. The on at the apartment was down for a month, and before that probably once every week. (They recently got it fixed, we'll see how long that lasts.) The one at the old work was breaking down all the time. Today i got in the elevator here at new work with some pretty angry people. I just wanted to tell them, look, it happens everywhere you go. But I didn't. I just let them rant instead. I think they need that.

Just got a notice this morning...turns out my rent is going up. Oh joy.

Yikes!

I update my template and end up losing all my other blog buddies! ZUT! I can't remember the links!

Thar I blow...yarr

Boy it sure is windy outside. I almost got swept away! And it was so windy i could hardly breathe...it's crazy!!! What's going on!!!

Currently listening to kate nash and having vanilla ice cream...they go well together.....SO FAR. Still feeling her out, the ice cream can stay though.

Goodbyes

When I woke up this morning I was not expecting to end my day with a goodbye.  But alas, I found myself saying goodbye to my dear friend C at 5:45pm.  I guess unexpected goodbyes are better than the expected ones.  That way you're not counting the days until that awkward sad moment.  And it's nice to know that he's off to be with his beloved finally.  It's just too bad it had to be under such circumstances.  But i guess for them, it worked out ok.  

C and I hit it off pretty well.  Before I knew it, we were getting into long heated discussions about love, politics, life, and any other topics we can think of.  It's easy to get into these discussions when you both live back in the Cave, away from the outside warfare of the Pit.  While they dodged bullets and gambled their money away out there, we shared views and opinions in the safety and warmth of the cave.  That's not to say all was  peachy keen.  There were times where I could've strangled him for such brash and impertinent views, and I'm sure there were plenty of times where he thought the same.  But nonetheless, he was a good, dear friend to me.  

I remembered being surprised about his views on Sex and the City...that it was brilliantly written, and a great show.  Now, this opinion doesn't surprise me one bit, I know it to be true already, but it just surprised me that this was coming from a male.  And this was early in our relationship too.  We both agree that Aiden was better for Carrie than Big ever was.   Show me another guy that will say the same and I will give him a crown!

We celebrated each other's birthdays, we had a fondness for Once, and we both had a great time in the cave.  

I'm reminded of the quote from the post when A&S moved away, which is...hm..odd, I don't see it in there.  I thought i had posted this a while back when they moved away...

ok, so here it is:

For that which you love most in him may be clearer in his absense, as the mountain to the climber is clearer from the plain.

Great, now I'll be digging through old posts for this quote.  I KNOW I wrote it down before!

EXTRA EXTRA!

The DB today is unveiling it's step forward into the future! present. By popular demand from an anonymous spammer, you can now subscribe to DB through RSS. Huzzah! Pizza for all! Link is located at the bottom of the page.

Still working out kinks...wondering why I cannot post a title. May have something to do with this template. In any case, this look is kinda old...may need an update soon. More to come. For now, enjoy the feed. Pizza for all! Huzzah!

oh! oh!

ok, so this has nothing to do with the brilliant thought i had the other night, but it does deserve a post in the blogger.

ahem.

HOW SHE MOVE

Yes, yet another horrible paramount movie...OR IS IT? Ok, it is, i'm sure. But still...looks maybe kinda good, if you're into that whole choreographed hip hop crunking scene. Right? So like any of these types of movies, it usually wouldn't deserve a mention here...but there's just one thing that really bugs me about this movie.

THE TITLE!!!! IT'S GRAMMATICALLY INCORRECT!! Could someone at P not afford another consonant? I hope they lost their job over it. If it's meant to be grammatically incorrect to...I dunno, perhaps reflect the jargon of crazy dancing kids these days...then...then...oooooh I don't know. It makes me want to punch someone! And then maybe kick them while they're down on the ground...y'know, where it hurts. Hard.

That is all.

Please, discuss.

Whoa whoa...

Are spammers getting way way too high tech or are real readers asking for an RSS feed to the DB?

Hm...hard to tell. These spammers are good. They promise macys and starbucks cards. They have really interesting articles they want you to read. They post porn for you to click on. They are a high tech bunch, they are. And now...posing as interested readers?

Dot dot dot. The plot thickens.

I'm usually not one to get out of bed to write a brilliant idea down...though now looking back I should have. For some reason I always think I'll remember it with keywords or numbers or something that proves to be useless in the morning.

I had a good blog post that I was too lazy to get out of bed to write down. It had something to do with relativity...the intricacies of one thing relating to another at certain points in time. It was really brilliant at the time, but now I can't seem to remember the exact brilliantness of it. Since then, I"ve left a notebook by my bed for such instances of laziness. Let's hope that works.

It's weird with this layoff...things are happening slowly rather than all at once. It's stretching the sadness for far longer than I wish it to be. Things are just sinking in at a slower rate. Today I realized C is moving in a week. Possibly less. People moving away always makes me sad. I'm sure I've posted something about it in the past, so I won't repeat myself.

This is a bit late, but i recently went to the newly renovated observatory and found it to be quite inspiring. Maybe it's something to do with the spectacular view or the notions of the great big universe, but I just found the place really inspiring and really, just lovely. It really is a lovely place to be. Then again, I guess I had low expectation of this place having gone there as a kid. Back then I found the place boring, the planetarium show lame and uncomfortable, and probably had too short of an attention span to enjoy the view.

There was one particular moment while I was watching the planetarium show where LITERALLY, the light bulb went on above my head. (Ok, insert light bulb SH joke here...yadda yadda) But the lady in the show posed a question that I had thought about before but just for some reason, at that moment in time, it all made complete sense. It was a strange sensation. Can't say I've had many of those light bulb moments...it was really strange, but totally refreshing.

Currently listening to Rufus doing Judy. He's just fabulous. Would've loved to see this concert live. But the cd is just as good I suppose.

Oh goodie. Just finished up my internet traffic school. One ticket fixed, one more to go! As you can see, last year was not my year as far as cars and tickets go. Two traffic tickets, a tow, and...less luck with the parking? Hm...well, this is a new year. (Even though i started it by running through a red...eek.)

Got the new sia album. Awesome, as expected.

Today our channel went off the air, and was replaced by THE OTHER channel. Nothing was said, no ribbon was cut, no goodbyes cried. POOF, it was gone just like that. The only remnant left was the text crawl across the screen, something about the old becoming THE OTHER, and what THE OTHER was all about. No one could stand to watch it for more than five minutes. Not even I, a person who enjoys the type of content shown on THE OTHER. THE OTHER has now become the enemy, though it was only an innocent bystander. It's been a sad and somber week. People packing belongings. Empty offices. Speculations of past and future. Nailbiting nervousness for a fellow comrade who has only til the end of the week to stay in the country less she finds a sponsor. News of people moving. Moving far. To the east. coast. And I. I am left to watch all the mounting tension, the "see ya laters" and the K.I.T.s...the sad though optimistic goodbyes. For I was lucky enough to have been kept on for three more months. Who knows what the next three months will bring? Desperation as it charges to an end? New possibilities? Boredom? Increased productivity?

This is the part where the music swells as we cue the "boom" sound effect and quickly snap to black.

"Next time...on Daily Banterings...."

(And this is the part where you come back each week to find out what happens. I know i'll be on the edge of my seat.)

OMG OMG OMG.

I almost died just now. I just ran a red light on the way home. And I didn't even realize I was doing it until the car that could've hit me blasted his horn at me. I could've caused a major accident. All because I wasn't paying attention. My head was up in the clouds.

Dear Drivers of the intersection and the universe: I am so very incredibly sorry for my carelessness. I did not mean to cause you alarm and disturb your world on this peaceful sunday afternoon. I will be paying attention next time I'm out on the road.

I want to shout it from the rooftops!!

JANUARY IS NATIONAL VOLUNTEER BLOOD DONOR MONTH!!

Yes, it should be every month of the year. But for some reason, it is january. It has been way too long since my first donation, it's a good time to go back. Who's with me!

So apparently 2008 is THE year. The year that people I KNOW are getting married. People I KNOW!! Sure I've had friends get married. One here, one there. A year at a time. But it's looking like this is the year. I think everyone goes through "the" year. And it never comes slowly...it's all at once. So far, the people around me that are getting married: Mr. Diaz, Mr. Hawkes, Mr. Deines, Mr. Ha, Mr. McNiff, and the newest addition to the family: Ms. El Dessouky. And four of those are getting married in September. It'll be a busy fall. That is of course, if I'm invited. HA! If not, I won't have much to worry about. :)

It's raining cats and dogs outside! Thank goodness for that. I wish it wasn't so loud though. Makes it kinda scary...

Wow, guess everyone had the same idea i had this evening.

I went into trader joes today at 6pm on the dot, and it was PACKED!! Guess everyone wanted groceries after their first day back to work. I overheard somebody say "it's like no one was able to buy any food yesterday (so they're doing it today)!" Not so, my friend, not so. Grocery stores were opened yesterday, on the first day of the year. THEY WERE! Yet, everyone decided to wait til today. I guess maybe everyone was too hung over from new year's eve to shop for groceries yesterday. Lame.

I don't know if i'll be able to stay up for them tonight, but all the late night shows are coming back. I'm interested to see what they do. I hope the writers stop striking soon. It's going to start raining for the next week or so, and there will be a lot of drenched people out there. I feel bad for them. Someone said somewhere that the writers have lost more salary on strike than they would've earned with the deal they wanted. I mean, i don't know the details of it all, but it must be such a blow to the writers to hear this. And the person who said it and got it repeated over the airwaves probably wanted to do just that: sink the hearts of these writers and make them second guess what they're doing. War...what is it good for? (well, other than stupid reality shows...) Absolutely nothin.

Please. For the sake of good tv and the industry, kiss and make up already.

On a related topic, I was laid off today. More to come.