lenten reflections

...place-holder posting for future thoughts about what I will be doing during Lent for Lent.

weekend

Awesome weekend. Now for a flush of my brain of the weekend's festivities:
Virgil's BBQ
Whiskey Tavern (oh lovely spicy backs)
L'asso
Uniqlo
Shoegasm
Eataly
High Line
Chelsea Market (Jacques Torres)
Spain
Cienfuegos
Jo's
456 Shanghai

...a weekend filled with inter- and intra-personal reflection. More later!

my idea

...just so it's documented that I thought of this before anyone else has (or at least before I've found it on the web), here is my proposal for a new site:

- have a map of all the routes every airline serves.

I don't think this exists yet and it would be helpful to see which airline I should be considering when shopping for airfare, no?

waste land

Last night Mary and I saw Waste Land, one of the Academy Award nominees for Best Feature Documentary. It was the first of multiple free screenings of the nominees at the Nat'l Archives and it was so wonderful. I actually didn't know the complete synopsis of the film going into the screening and was glad I didn't because it was surprisingly and refreshingly uplifting. Highly recommended. If only these were the types of films that were regarded as blockbusters...the world would be a more thoughtful and informed place.

where credit is due...and gay marriage

This morning, GM reported its first annual profit since 2004 - $4.7 million - the most in more than a decade. To state the obvious, I credit this to the Obama administration's Big Three bailout. According to the Times, tens of thousands of GM employees will receive profit-sharing checks of over $4000 each. Chrystler and Ford are also cutting bonus checks to their employees. By saving GM, the government has indeed preserved jobs, which is what the initial goal was. Although the government still needs to sell its remaining shares at high enough prices, it has also already recovered billions from GM. (ok - it's only about $7 billion out of the $50 billion needed to validate the decision to save GM (as of Nov 2010), but still, things are looking up and thousands of jobs were saved) Where are the anti-government naysayers now? Somewhere thinking of other stupid things to harp about, that's where. Many of said naysayers believe in 'less government' yet these are the same morons who want the government to do many things still - including banning gay marriage - another hot topic in the news this week. Ban gay marriage! The least of things the government needs to do!! And/or SHOULD do!!

check out my mad skillz, yo

To my readers (all 2 of you) -
You probably noticed that the number of postings has tripled in the last 24 hours! That's because I've learned out to import postings from my old blog (circa 2006-07). So everything I wrote there is now here. It's important to note that these postings were from years ago, as some of the content was worth posting then (or maybe not) but I wouldn't necessarily post it now. I guess you can say either 1) I've grown up or 2) I haven't grown up but actually gone backwards or 3) I'm still the unthoughtful writer who wishes she was more insightful and witty. Regardless, I'm glad to have all my thoughts - past and present - in one place (not including my xanga I kept while in college - that was great stuff).

i was told i should write about something...

There have been a few requests for me to start writing already. A few days ago, Tony Kornheiser mentioned on his radio show that many people write about themselves - what they're doing, the conversations they have, what their thoughts are - and then there are those who write. The latter are people who can write pieces about a certain topic and that have a beginning, middle and end.


I was contemplating this while thinking about what direction I want to take the Train and concluded the following: I know very little about many things and know a lot about very few things. For me to write postings as Mr. Kornheiser described would be to do a research paper everytime. Forget that.

unfair

What am I doing inside when it's a lovely, balmy, unseasonably warm 72 degrees here in an otherise dreadful location?!?! ...
...
...
...oh right.

I haven't won the lottery yet. That's it!

back by popular demand...

I've reincarnated into a brand new blog - my third. Please don't have high expectations.

conversation

my brother (5:12:30 PM): i went to a baby sign language class on saturday

me (5:12:40 PM): aww how cute. not you, babies doing sign language

me (5:12:45 PM): is the baby ok?

my brother (5:13:13 PM): we got an apt on wednesday

my brother (5:13:23 PM): vicky say it moving around alot

me (5:13:23 PM): but it's not deaf right

my brother (5:13:41 PM): lol

my brother (5:13:43 PM): no

me (5:13:34 PM): you got an apartment?

me (5:13:37 PM): where?

me (5:13:42 PM): why

my brother (5:13:57 PM): it's for when the baby cant talk yet

my brother (5:14:02 PM): so it can tell you what it want

my brother (5:14:13 PM): appointment

me (5:14:07 PM): but how does you taking a class help the baby convey what it wants

my brother (5:14:21 PM): what did you have for lunch, scotch?

my brother (5:15:40 PM): the baby can do sign languages like a monkey

my brother (5:15:49 PM): like i want more i want to eat, too hot

my brother (5:15:53 PM): that kind of stuff

my brother (5:16:07 PM): they can communicate with that before they can talk

me (5:19:10 PM): so the class teaches parents how to understand them

my brother (5:21:17 PM): teaches us signs so we can teach the baby

me (5:21:54 PM): oohh

me (5:21:59 PM): thats silly

my brother (5:22:11 PM): so if i want to say "more hot turtle eat hurt cat dog thank you all done" i can sign it and the baby can too

me (5:22:01 PM): sounds yuppy

my brother (5:22:20 PM): it is

my brother (5:22:23 PM): $50

Perfect

"Your health is the continent, the solid land on which I build all my happiness and hope. When you are sick, I am like the inhabitants of countries visited by Earthquake. They lose all faith in the eternal order and fixedness of things. Your sickness is my Earthquake."

-James Garfield


"I don't know how to exist in a world where my dad doesn't."

-George


(stuff I wish I could come up with .. among countless other thoughtful statements)

This sucks...

... I ran out of Kirkland brand toilet paper, had no ride to Costco, was forced to buy Scott brand toilet paper from CVS (that was $1 off with an instant coupon), and am now wiping with ONE-PLY. I never noticed how Kirkland was two-ply - serves me right for not noticing and appreciating that extra layer of comfort, strength and absorbability.

Boo :(

On a brighter note, I had the most generous side order of lamb biryani today for lunch from Naan n Beyond. Oh they went beyond alright! The lamb pieces were enormous.

Why is it so hard ...

... to write a resignation letter?
... to find a manly man who takes charge?
... for me to update my mp3 player?
... for me to go to the post office?
... for me to make decisions that are good for me?
... for me to eat my frozen vegetables?
... for me to clean my shower and tub?
... for me to just put the damn toilet paper in its holder?

On a lighter note, I've decided to learn as many Jay-Z lyrics as I can, after being so irritated that I didn't know as many as I would like so I could sing along at the club this past Friday.

... I got 99 problems but a bitch aint one, that's for sure.

hmmm...

The interior of my building is being painted, and in the elevator tonight, I saw a "wet paint" sign with the Sherwin Williams logo...

Music is food.

The US Airforce Band. The Airmen of Note.
I woke up today thinking tonight was going to be grim and lonely, remembering everyone I know has plans ... except for me. Then one friend said she has no plans and we tried to get tickets to one of tonight's showings of Borat! Thank you, God, for having other plans for me. I then decided to go to the free Airmen of Note concert two blocks from my apt. A night of free jazz ohhhhh yeahhh.

I've never gone to a concert alone before. Nonetheless, it was so frickin good it made me want to shout explatives, pee in my pants and cry all at the same time. You know when you get really emotional -you get a lump in your throat, it's hard to swallow, your eyes might start to well up, and you are speechless? I was in that state for the entire two hour show and it was one of the greatest night I've had in months.

The Airmen of Note is the premier jazz ensemble of the Air Force, and tonight they were joined by the legendary Phil Woods (you may know him as the saxophone soloist in Billy Joel's "Just the Way You Are"). I can't tell you just how good they were, they were that good. In fact, me trying to tell you how good they were wouldn't do them justice.

When I left for the show I was a little upset that I didn't get to finish my dinner, but when I was at the show, I was full. The music was sooo good - it was better than my dinner, better than watching Borat! on opening night in a theater that smells like feet/butter popcorn, better than ice cream, and, depending on who you're sleeping with, better than sex (hahahhahaa). Oh - not to mention the handsome Sgt who seemed to be staring straight at me when he wasn't tootin' away on his trombone. To not appreciate fine live jazz is to not know what's good.

stuff

• "The books on the shelf have no more importance/For all that I have read/And for the little that I have learned /Nothing is left/besides the desire/to see you." ~Herbert Vianna, Mensagen de Amor
• Kenneth Kahn - professional clown and mayoral candidate of Alameda
• Case-control studies - their strengths and weaknesses
• Edamame, lightly salted
• The rockin' beats of Putumayo
• The rockin' beats of Phoenix
• The "Running Divas"

...in the mirror

So while plucking unwanted hair off my face, mostly in the brow area, I had a nice little self-realization session in the mirror. Very intimate. I realized the following that makes me want to say to new people I meet "Why would you want to talk to me?" This is what came to mind in the 10 or so minutes in front of the mirror:


I'm a dark, pessimistic, angry and insecure person.

I don't see the point of having pets.

I hate it when people say all in one breath as if it's all one word: "HiHowareyou?"
I then reply with "fine" or sometimes a "fine, thank you." I never ask how they are because I don't like how the "How are you" has fused with the "hi," not meant to be an actual question to be answered, but rather a habitual slur of words.

When I am faced with stupidity or nonsense expressed through a comment, my face of disbelief of how stupid this person really is is intentionally exaggerated to express my disbelief and well.. how irritated I am.

I judge just about everyone, which is normal, but almost always believe my first judgement as being correct. There's no giving someone a chance with me.

I have a chip on my shoulder.

I hate everyone.

hot dogs...

...ok so the hot dogs I had from the cart in my neighborhood were good and snappy, but I guess at $3.50, it's still not as good a deal as two dogs and a papaya drink from Gray's for $2.50 ...

Items to expand on later...

Decision-making: an incident that would have intrigued Malcolm Gladwell ... what made the bus driver think it was okay to drop people off on the side of the 295 between Baltimore and Columbia just before an exit?

Nina's blog entry about our Jersey Boys-filled day: awesome!

Dumb: Realizing that I should have researched more when deciding what field to go into ...

The complete translation of the Kama Sutra: ...

2 snappy-delicious hot dogs, a bag of Utz, and a can of Sprite: $3.50 worth of awesome-ness

Life checkers: decisions, decisions, decisions ...

Lovely

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I find it very, very easy to be true
I find myself alone when each day is through
Yes, I'll admit that I'm a fool for you
Because you're mine, I walk the line

As sure as night is dark and day is light
I keep you on my mind both day and night
And happiness I've known proves that it's right
Because you're mine, I walk the line

You've got a way to keep me on your side
You give me cause for love that I can't hide
For you I know I'd even try to turn the tide
Because you're mine, I walk the line

I keep a close watch on this heart of mine
I keep my eyes wide open all the time
I keep the ends out for the tie that binds
Because you're mine, I walk the line

-Johnny Cash