my (not-so) beautiful laundrette

ernie of the day

2011-06-06T22:53:00.001-07:00

I took this the day before I left for the UK. I miss this my little guy so much already.

on the road again

2011-06-05T10:58:00.002-07:00

Sort of.

Two planes, two trains, two automobiles later and I'm in Bristol trying to stay awake. I really need to stop the silliness (nerves) over flying because it's so hard for me to sleep for the nerves for days leading up to a big flight. Today was no exception. No sleep pretty much guaranteed me a rough ride (four hours of turbulence... two completely full flights... screaming kids for 7 hours and odd human odors wafting around me over the Atlantic) -- no sleep was had on the plane. On my second train, a really nice gentleman wanted to talk to me all about the problems plaguing Britain (i.e. being green... elections... prisons... etc). He was nice, but I was exhausted. I have no idea what BS I was talking with him.

Three hours nap and I'm ready to eat! Off I go exploring...

ernie of the day

2011-05-30T11:38:00.002-07:00

I really love my new lens... it's got a really short focus, but it brings light in from everywhere.

ernie of the day

2011-05-23T21:27:00.001-07:00

Been busy knitting... and soon to be busy wardrobing.

ernie of the day

2010-11-22T15:08:00.005-07:00

It's been cold the last few days... we brought out the flannel sheets. We LOVE the flannel sheets.

ernie of the day

2010-11-08T15:31:00.001-07:00

Done gone squirrel watchin' (as usual).

ernie of the day

2010-11-03T11:08:00.001-07:00

Qui est là?

ernie of the day

2010-10-26T14:09:00.002-07:00

being busy

2010-10-26T13:28:00.016-07:00

With Knitting. Here's a roundup of some of my current finished projects:

Click the image to embiggen. Left to right from top: Wool Leaves, Juniper Mitts, Textured Shawl Recipe, Opus Spicatum, Ribbon Scarf #127, Ghostgirl Scarves, Flicca, Washcloths (1 and 2), Fake-a-gamo bag.

And some works in progress:

Noro Giant Granny Square and Lady Eleanor Entrelac Shawl

ernie of the day

2010-10-25T12:18:00.001-07:00

Waiting for the squirrel-friends to turn up and play.

ernie of the day

2010-10-15T15:38:00.002-07:00

This is what happens when you eat the yarn around my house... just sayin.

...and what the hat looks like on top of a vase:Chicken Viking Baby Hat
http://alohamedia.net/sarah/hats/chicken-viking/

stickin it to starbucks

2010-10-13T18:23:00.007-07:00

Pumpkin Spice Latté hack (first shown to me by my friend, Susanna). Since Starbucks just raised their prices... again... this is a very economical way to have a great autumnal treat on the cheap. Added bonus? You control what you're having -- not "pumpkin flavored" pump additive with your coffee, this is the real deal. Did I go so far as to roast a pumpkin and scoop out the meat myself? No. Luckily my local grocer still has pureed pumpkin on the shelves (I only recently learned of this year's shortage!)

If you don't have Pumpkin Spice Mix on hand, no worries! Apartment Therapy has you covered there... I didn't have mace, so I simply left it out. It still tastes great!

Drink on and save your $4 for something more decadent... like a pint of pumpkin beer.

i'm a creep

2010-10-13T15:48:00.003-07:00

I am. If I'm early for a flight... or if I'm waiting for someone to meet me at the airport, I like to wait in the Arrivals Hall. I'm not a hopeless romantic, but I just really get a kick watching the reunions. Sometimes people are reserved... a pat on the back or a handshake, but the good ones are the bear hugs. The swept-off-your-feet, bone crushing hug; these are the best.

I've been glued to the TV/internet since they started pulling the Chilean Miners back up to the surface; it's been non-stop nail biting excitement, tears, joy. I'm completely drained and I'm just an observer. It must be so amazing for the people who are directly effected.

They're just pulling Miner #29, Juan Carlos Aguilar up now and I'm so thrilled for Chile -- that they finally get some great news (after a year filled with it's share of disasters in the form of an earthquake and then the mine collapse). It's been amazing here as well, just shy of three weeks from elections and the "attack ads" all over television and the radio. You just don't realize how little good news we get these days. Today has been a nice break for a creep like me.

if i had a million (or a billion) dollars

2010-09-17T12:40:00.003-07:00

I'd buy art.
I fell in love with this piece last weekend and foolishly didn't write down the artist's name (foolishly thinking I could just look it up online when I got home... nope). There's something very reassuring about Ted Koppel and I was quite sad when he retired/was removed from Nightline.

Aha! Google is my friend: Vik Muniz is the artist. Phew.

ernie of the day

2010-09-07T14:52:00.004-07:00

Sweet Ernie.Not so sweet Ernie.

Vitamin Y(arn).

not a sad day

2010-08-12T14:38:00.004-07:00

But not as happy as I expected I'd be. I finally got my iPhone (a couple of days ago) and it's actually making me feel really dumb. I've had a long-standing love affair with Apple -- you can't beat their design aesthetic, and the user interface has always been very intuitive, but for some reason this phone is complicated to me.

First, I'm really sad that I left T-Mobile. OK, yeah, none of the providers are exceptionally good... they all have their strengths and weaknesses, but T-Mobile has been good to me for a long, long time. Their customer service has been decent the entire time I've been with them and their international rates (something that was important to me for a long time) were always the lowest (barring those international phone card things). When I called last week to check the status of my contract with them I felt like I was dumping the nice guy -- the one your mom wants you to marry... the one you know you should marry because he's a good guy. He's a guy who opens doors for you and actually has consideration for your feelings... I dumped him for the vapid hot dude who is fun for a minute but then you realize he's vacuous and shallow. And I feel guilty.

Perhaps that's why I'm not head-over-heels in love with my iPhone? I don't know. The thing that was like rubbing salt in my wound was the fact that even though I was taking a leap of faith and buying a product that has major flaws (antennae) and that the "fix" that Apple was providing was OK, not great, was that they weren't just shipping the bumper with the phone. No, you had to have the phone in hand, download the Free Bumper/Case application and then order said fix. Mine is coming in the mail... in about 5 weeks. Fat lot of good that does me today, Steve Jobs.

So I found my own quick, free fix courtesy of the USPS (thank god my postman wraps all of my mail in a rubber band when there's more than 6 items... this was just hanging out in my mail slot):OK, yeah, it's pretty ghetto, but at a cost of $0.00 and a relatively unending supply, it's definitely the way forward. I can be cheap and ghetto because it makes me feel (somewhat) smart.

ernie of the day

2010-08-02T21:14:00.002-07:00

I love this guy so much, it really almost hurts. I have panic dreams about him dying... and my hypochondria has extended to him: what's that lump? Is it cancer? It's crazy, I know it. Life is fragile, you know? I just keep thinking about it... my mother brought up her will the other day in conversation; it's a necessary talk, but I like living with my head in the sand. The last two days when I left my house I saw horrible things -- a squirrel in it's death throes after being hit by a car, and today a kitten who had met the same fate. I started my days with tears so I wanted to put up something slightly whimsical -- Ernie loves him a good string and this one came last week. There are now "strings" all over the house -- it's a happy house, I'm a lucky girl.

ernie of the day

2010-07-23T10:26:00.001-07:00

On the way to a yawn.

i am party affiliated

2010-07-12T10:22:00.007-07:00

I haven't been before, but with politics going where they are I feel it's important to finally affiliate and vote in the primaries. I thought this would be a painful decision but it wasn't. Hopefully this will cut down on the calls from the "other" party... and all the junk mail. Mostly I thought that being unaffiliated would prompt the "tea party" to start harassing me, so it's official. I am now known, on paper with the Secretary of my State, as a Registered Democrat.

thistley

2010-07-10T19:13:00.003-07:00

Friends came to stay for a bit and we did some hiking. Thistle is probably considered a weed, but I think it's really beautiful.

emergency exit

2010-07-10T18:59:00.004-07:00

I was at a thrift store today looking through books; not looking for anything in particular when a copy of "What Color is Your Parachute 2003" popped up. I joke that I really could use a copy to figure out what to do with the next phase of my life... clearly I can't say I'm a roadie anymore. My one-year off -- what I intended to be a couple of months' hiatus but called "one year" became a self-fulfilling prophesy... times two! -- has stretched into 2010 and I have to face facts. It's time to move on. But is it really?

And then there's the monster of a problem with what to do next?

I think my parachute has holes. Honestly. When I think of what I could do that would make me happy, a new vocation, I don't have the foggiest idea as to what I need to do to get there. On the other hand when I try to think of a sensible career path, I have so little interest in doing what I know would be financially stable that I don't do anything to get there. I'm in a state of stasis and it's frighteningly comfortable here most days.

Is this what a mid-life crisis smells like?

sidenote

2010-06-29T21:55:00.001-07:00

When I googled "i80 printer eating paper backwards" I got this google result on the first page:
http://www.poopreport.com/Poll/do_women_poop_less_frequently_than_men.html

Do you see that? "Do women poop less frequently than men?" Odd. Google, sometimes you crack me up. I'm glad we're friends.

history repeats... so do dairy products

2010-06-29T21:50:00.005-07:00

One of the worst sicks I've ever experienced was after a particularly greedy run-in with a pint of chocolate-fudge ice cream. It was violent. Due to the vomiting, all frozen sweet products were dead to me for almost an entire year -- not a small feat for a 10-year old kid.

Tonight I'm having a recurrence... well, not really, but I went too far with the ice cream and I'm having regrets over my poor choices.

Urgh.

Also, my portable printer may have just bitten the dust. How annoying. I just changed the ink.

ernie of the day

2010-06-07T19:47:00.002-07:00

He took a quick break from lounging on the floor...Poor bug. It got up to 95 degrees today, so he's been sleeping all over the floor (anywhere that it's nice and cool). I let him hang out in the fridge for a bit while I made a sandwich (door open! It's our funny trick; I open the door, he jumps in). I think this is going to be a very long summer.

ernie of the day

2010-06-02T17:58:00.001-07:00

sad day

2010-06-01T11:52:00.003-07:00

I woke to the news that Louise Bourgeois died on Monday. We were lucky to have one of her bronze sculptures on loan when the Denver Art Museum's new extension opened a few years ago -- I first met "Mother" at the Tate Modern in London -- it was one of the massive ones which was on display in front of the Guggenheim in Bilbao most recently (although I could be making that last bit up... Maman has traveled the globe). We had the mini-Maman in Denver, but she was still striking.

The massive spider sculptures are recently her most famous, but her body of work, which spans seven decades was revolutionary... controversial... important.

Here's a bit of Maman (after they moved her into the lobby of the DAM).

ernie of the day

2010-05-31T19:30:00.001-07:00

something wicked this way comes

2010-05-29T19:12:00.005-07:00

ernie of the day

2010-05-07T17:07:00.000-07:00

drug dealers and child molesters

2010-05-07T12:33:00.002-07:00

Ice cream trucks kinda freak me out... the non-stop twinkling music... the slow way they move. I guess I've watched too much TV so I always think they're selling drugs out of the trucks. Maybe they do?

I don't think school is out yet and I hear a truck trolling the neighborhood. I suppose this is a harbinger of Spring, but it's kinda creeping me out!

shoot me, please

2010-05-04T16:07:00.003-07:00

It's all over. I like the new Beyoncé song ("Why Don't You Love Me"). Um, it's like the theme song for every romantic relationship I've been in for the last 15 years. Yikes.

i want my money back

2010-04-28T19:31:00.003-07:00

http://www.thedenverchannel.com

an (almost) perfect spring day

2010-04-28T18:28:00.003-07:00

It really was... after days of rain we had a glorious spring day yesterday -- it was typical Colorado weather: 70's, sunny... blue skies! Today was gorgeous (and 80 degrees!) but we had gale-force winds. It was the kind of wind that can make a person crazy and it makes me think of the dust bowl days -- I don't know how people coped... days of insane wind and dust.

Anyhow, a friend and I decided to make the best of it -- more cold/rainy weather is in the forecast; we went to hang at a coffee shop with a patio to knit. Before we hit the coffee shop, however, we hit up a couple of the cute shops next door. Look at what I found:
A new cephalopod friend! I want to name him... Wilson or Wilbur. It's, for me, decidedly male. At $20 it was a must-buy.

Now I'm home... on the couch, with cat in lap (computer on cat) and I'm stuffed and sleepy. Tomorrow fitness begins anew.

ernie of the day

2010-04-27T17:37:00.002-07:00

Rainy evening two evenings ago.

dead dove, do not eat

2010-04-26T10:33:00.010-07:00

So... I knit. I have a group of women who I've been knitting with, virtually, since I picked this up again about 6 years ago. I found the Knit Knack ladies (and a few men) on MySpace in 2004 when I decided to try a pattern and got stuck. Some of the people on MySpace moved over to Ravelry (and we've picked up a few members since then) and they're people who I share some of my deep, dark secrets with -- even though I've only met one of them in person.

One of the really fabulous things about this group is that we do swaps and until recently they've all gone pretty smoothly -- nobody had really flaked out before and everyone really tries to send things their recipient will love. After we did a blanket square exchange (which didn't go horribly wrong... 22/25 people actually sent their stuff out) I decided I was finished with swaps. I was so pissed off about the women flaking on the blanket swap that I decided it wasn't worth participating again... but despite myself I agreed to do another swap because it was low-cost and mailing would be within a month... there were a couple of women not actively participating in swapping but who agreed to be "angels" should anyone dare to flake out. Well, since this was all super-secret, I didn't know who I had been assigned to until today. I totally scored -- Mary (aka SeahagMary aka Knit To My Lou) sent me a box full of awesome!

I don't have the words, so I'm just going to show everyone (click any photo to see big):

Ernie also got a string... he LOVES it:

Also, I feel like I totally shortchanged my partner. I might have to send some more stuff to Georgia.

ernie of the day

2010-04-16T19:47:00.002-07:00

I'd just exercised and was a little lightheaded; almost fell on Ern as I bent over to take this photo... so it's a wee bit fuzzy (kinda like how I was feeling).

besotted

2010-04-16T19:37:00.003-07:00

Oh Costco... how I love you! Seriously. First there's this:and then there's this:
Let's get a little closer-in shall we?$19 for the books? I probably shouldn't be posting Costco's prices on the internet, but I'm so excited to have bought these books (they retail for $35 each). I've never hidden my weird love for Martha Stewart -- it's a kind of a "love to hate you" relationship -- and true, most of these ideas have been previously published in her magazine, but it's great to have a compilation. The photos are so beautiful; these might just end up on the coffee table. Actually, they'll definitely end up there because I'm too lazy to take them up to the loft.

shouldn't judge a book by it's cover

2010-04-15T18:51:00.004-07:00

But we all do. Lately I've been on a bit of a frantic health-kick... no, not really a health-kick so much as a major weight-loss campaign. It's not working. You really can't cram in enough exercise in a day to drop something ridiculous like 30 pounds in 3 weeks... in fact, I've been gaining weight. Le sigh. I hope that what I'm gaining is muscle and I'll wake up one day and all the fat will have been metabolized. I hope that day is next Tuesday.

I've been just disappointed the last year -- I didn't plan on being depressed, being dissatisfied and lazy, but that's what happened. Things just kind of snowballed; 2009 started out with a break-up, which wouldn't have been so bad except I then went into a period of unemployment. I felt like I was disappearing... I guess to compensate, I made sure I had a presence -- a physical presence in the form of 30 extra pounds. The last time I fell into a funk over a ruined relationship and the resulting weight gain, I promised myself it was the last time and I got into amazing physical and mental shape starting with a 30 day yoga challenge. That was over three years ago... how quickly we forget the promises we make.

So here I am. I'm back on a fitness kick. I honestly hope this is the last time I let myself fall into such a state of "illness" -- I really feel like that's what's happened to me; I've made myself sick. When you're sick you stay in bed all the time... you don't go out... you really don't enjoy life and that's what 2009 was for me. I know that I'm not going to fit into a size 6 by Tuesday, but maybe I'll be there by the end of the year... or maybe even sometime next year. I know I'll get there eventually... and that "6" isn't a magic number, it's just a number and when I stop caring about the numbers I'll know I've arrived.

inspired by my friend's blog

2010-04-12T19:08:00.003-07:00

It's springing!

d-i-v-o-r-c-e

2010-04-12T18:58:00.003-07:00

Don't know why I was thinking about this today, but I was... my mind really wanders when I'm sleepy. Anyhow, I was thinking about this couple my father knew: Randy and Annie. I thought they were the coolest; I met them when I was 12 or so... my father worked with them and I occasionally got to hang with the grown-ups at company softball games or whatever. Anyhow, Randy & Annie (I can't remember their last name) were supremely cool -- in retrospect, one or both of them must've been engineers who worked with my father; they were about 10 years younger than him... childless... they had really cool dogs (golden retrievers maybe? cocker spaniels?? I just remember the "idea" of the dogs... not the actual beasts). The one thing that put them over the top on the cool-meter was the fact that they had a convertible Karman Ghia (it was orangey-red with a black rag top) which they were restoring.

I remember the couple of times Annie took me for a spin in the Ghia. I was so in love with that car -- I could actually SEE myself driving a car just like it when I was old enough. The smell of it was so delicious. Eventually I got a '69 Beetle Cabriolet but it wasn't anywhere near as chic as Randy & Annie's Karman Ghia.

Anyhow, they eventually got divorced (I was well into my teenage years and was too caught up in my own drama, as adolescents are); they never had kids and I thought it was so odd that they would split up seeing as they didn't have children to break up the marriage* . It's weird. I hadn't thought about it in years -- about how I thought it so bizarre that they would split up. I wonder who got the Ghia.

*I've since had tons of counseling, thankyouverymuch.

ernie of the day

2010-04-09T13:06:00.002-07:00

lather, rinse... repeat

2010-03-23T18:04:00.002-07:00

Springtime in Denver... it was 70 and sunny yesterday and this evening? Not so much.

last day of winter

2010-03-19T17:47:00.003-07:00

ernie of the day

2010-03-16T21:01:00.002-07:00

a good mail day

2010-03-16T14:30:00.002-07:00

YUMMY!

the start of something very sweet

2010-03-12T13:47:00.001-07:00

worst cat-mom ever

2010-03-07T15:01:00.003-07:00

So... I haven't seen my mother in months. She gives me the krajees and I typically have to write-off the entire day when we have face-t0-face visits. Today was OK, not too traumatic, not spectacular. I decided to take my cat over so she could meet him -- I adopted him last April, but didn't even tell my mother I had adopted a cat because I feared the Lecture. She's my go-to cat-sitter when I'm on the road; I haven't worked on the road in over a year -- although I didn't realize this would be the case when I decided to make Ernie my forever pet, that's how it turned out. My mother looked after my other two, now deceased, cats for years. She has a reason for being upset that I would adopt another cat... the ones I get tend to be long-lived (20 and 21 years for the two dead ones) and when Bill died while I was on tour a couple of years ago, I promised her I would never adopt another cat. Ever. That was a lie. A bald-faced and horrible lie, but I had to tell her that at the time -- it was the only thing that would get her off my back.

So anyhow, I think I managed to keep Ernie a secret for three months before I broke down and told her... but today was the first time she got to meet him. He was a wreck in the car (as always) and was acting really odd at her house -- terrified, actually. I don't know if it was the ghost of Bill or her dead dog, but he was literally cowering in the corner for three hours. Poor bug. I knew it would be hard on him so I took his favorite toy... THE STRING. Seriously. He loves his string... it's a drawstring from an old hoodie that he drags all over the house. I almost got him to play with it at my mother's, but not quite. When her old-lady cigarette smoke got to be too much, after she had popped in a K-drama, I decided it was time to pack up and go. My mother never lets me leave without a large parcel of stuff -- today it was fresh eggs from a farmer friend, a bottle of wine, a massive container of kimchi (which she made in front of me), some rice and some soup... also some frozen bulgogi (you know, because clearly I'm starving). In the madness of getting Ernie packed into his dreaded crate and slogging all my loot into the car, I totally forgot the string. OH. MY. GOD! THE STRING!!! He hasn't noticed yet, of course, but he will. He'll troll the house and yowl plaintively (as he does when we're getting ready for bed... if the string isn't just at the top of the stairs or laying next to his food bowl). Crap. I called my mom and begged her not to throw away the string. She said she wouldn't... but I don't entirely trust her.

The poor bug pissed himself on the drive home and now I don't have a string to console him with. No, wait. I have A string but not THE string. Crappers. Lucky for my mom, she gets to see me twice in one week now. Urgh.

should we send celebrities to war?

2010-03-04T08:41:00.003-07:00

I woke up this morning as I always do -- to NPR. Today, there was an interview (I was half asleep, but it sounded like Terry Gross) with Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson which just about broke my heart. I've had days when I wake up crying -- sometimes it's just a dream I'm having, more often it's a story on NPR that touches me. SSN was embedded with a Marine patrol when one of the soldiers, a young man named Alejandro Yazzie was killed. She choked up and needed to take a break a couple of times when recounting the "incident" and again when she talked about a lighthearted moment they shared back at the base when she told him he had the "coolest" name.

This kid was a soldier; a husband (expecting his first child back at home); a Navajo. He was 23 years old and he was killed on a "normal" day in Iraq. It just seems so incredibly senseless.

I got out of bed, still weepy, and came down to watch the national news. What was the big story of the day? Shiloh Jolie-Pitt's new, boyish haircut. I know morning shows serve a purpose -- to start the day off lighthearted... I mean, who wants to hear about someone's kid/husband/father being killed in Iraq over their Cheerios? Sadly, we need to hear more of these kind of stories.

ernie of the day

2010-02-26T11:05:00.001-07:00

feeling hopeful

2010-02-14T17:20:00.002-07:00

...on this day, the first day of the year of the tiger. I could write a cynical Valentine's rant, but you know what? It's been said before. It's a manufactured holiday... yadda yadda yadda.

I just looked up and noticed that it's almost 5:30pm and it's still light out. I don't care what Phil said, Spring is on the way... the days are getting longer and I'm feeling hopeful.

ernie of the day

2010-02-11T16:46:00.002-07:00

ernie of the day

2010-02-09T15:53:00.004-07:00

So, while I was in NYC, Ernie picked up the kinda bad habit of sleeping on the kitchen table... I don't really mind - I don't actually eat at the table, but still. It's my dumping ground for pretty much everything I bring into my house; it's full of scarves at the moment and he's made a little nest.

dear zachary

2010-02-08T00:47:00.002-07:00

Please see this film. I had no idea what I was getting myself into when I picked up this documentary with an interesting cover at the library. It's an amazing little film -- about a man who was murdered and all the people who loved him. I'm still crying.

You can read up on it at DearZachary.com

an exercise in stash-busting

2010-02-05T15:09:00.003-07:00

I'm broke... as in, "cannot buy things which are not necessities" and it sucks. On the upside I have a massive "stash" of yarn in the loft and since I have loads of free time, I'm knitting. I'm knitting as if my life depends on it (ok, too dramatic, but you get the idea -- I watched the season premiere of RuPaul's Drag Race so please excuse my dah-rah-mah).

My most current project is Sage Remedy -- it's a lovely capped-sleeve, gathered tee and almost every version I've seen on Ravelry looks amazing. The project I was going to make, Harper, hits right at the top of the belly -- you know, where the rounding begins. Where I now have rounding. Le sigh. I figured Harper could wait for that indefinite point in the future when I've gotten back into my regular clothes... it's got kimono style sleeves and I love the shape, but the shape doesn't suit my shape at the moment. So I'm going for some Remedy instead.

I actually made a swatch. I never swatch. Rather, I RARELY swatch before diving into a project; I figure that even if I don't get exact gauge, I'll make it work, but seeing as I need to be economical with my yarn, I thought a swatch would be prudent. Woohoo! I got gauge.And so it begins.

ernie of the day

2010-02-05T14:58:00.001-07:00

...he used to love me...

busy being boring

2010-01-31T13:21:00.005-07:00

...and some of what I knit in New York:

ernie of the day

2010-01-31T13:19:00.002-07:00

ernie of the day

2010-01-27T13:11:00.001-07:00

He has reclaimed the guest bed as his own... it's one giant catbed again. Lucky dude.

garage door repairman

2010-01-27T09:59:00.001-07:00

Please don't make me suffer through The View while I wait for you arrive...

dog park

2010-01-24T23:17:00.002-07:00

As I drove past today I thought, "yeah... I like dogs more than I like most people."

ernie of the day

2010-01-21T14:19:00.002-07:00

left bank

2010-01-09T17:38:00.004-07:00

Debbie Stoller just posted a picture of the scarf I knit as a sample for her new yarn line... I pinched this from her:
Look for Stitch Nation yarn at Joann Stores from 28 January!!!

colorful colorado!

2010-01-09T10:42:00.001-07:00

homeward bound...

2010-01-07T13:06:00.006-07:00

I don't just wish I were, I will be tomorrow morning! Another song reference (one that's be on repeat in my brain like an earworm this entire week) is LCD Soundsystem's "New York, I Love You But You're Bringing Me Down."

Here are the lyrics:
New York, I Love You
But you're bringing me down
New York, I Love You
But you're bringing me down
Like a rat in a cage
Pulling minimum wage

New York, I Love You
But you're bringing me down
New York, you're safer
And you're wasting my time
Our records all show
You are filthy but fine

But they shuttered your stores
When you opened the doors
To the cops who were bored
Once they'd run out of crime

New York, you're perfect
Don't please don't change a thing
Your mild billionaire mayor's
Now convinced he's a king

So the boring collect
I mean all disrespect
In the neighborhood bars
I'd once dreamt I would drink

New York, I Love You
But you're freaking me out
There's a ton of the twist
But we're fresh out of shout
Like a death in the hall
That you hear through your wall

New York, I Love You
But you're freaking me out
New York, I Love You
But you're bringing me down
New York, I Love You
But you're bringing me down

Like a death of the heart
Jesus, where do I start?
But you're still the one pool
Where I'd happily drown

And oh.. Take me off your mailing list
For kids that think it still exists
Yes, for those who think it still exists

Maybe I'm wrong
And maybe you're right
Maybe I'm wrong
And myabe you're right

Maybe you're right
Maybe I'm wrong
And just maybe you're right

And Oh..
Maybe mother told you true
And they're always be something there for you
And you'll never be alone

But maybe she's wrong
And maybe I'm right
And just maybe she's wrong

Maybe she's wrong
And maybe I'm right
And if so, is there?

the brightside

2010-01-05T15:25:00.008-07:00

Since the fire, we've been getting one utility turned on after the other... starting with water. Electricity was next (which I thought controlled the hot water heater) and we're still waiting on Gas. The fire was Saturday afternoon. For real.

The upside to not having gas (because the obvious downside is freezing cold showers) is that I simply HAVE to eat out every meal. I waited far too long to hit up the many Banh Mi shops near here, but stopped in yesterday while I was returning "home" with clean laundry. Paris Sandwich on Grand is where it's at -- they've got an extensive menu of Banh Mi sandwiches and other Vietnamese delights (hello, Vietnamese yoghurt? Delish!). This didn't last very long -- although I did manage to stretch it out over a lunch and then the late-afternoon snack:
I also learned something interesting from the fire. After, one of the older firemen gave the suggestion to leave some cut onions out to absorb the smell... I was doubting his advice, but did a quick google check and after reading some blahblahblah chemistry stuff, I thought, "what the hell... it's only going to cost a couple of dollars and it just might work." And it did! I felt that it might be that the smell of cut onions would trump the stink of smoke, but I threw the onion remains out today and the smell is definitely dimished. I also scrubbed everything down with water and white vinegar, so hopefully my friend will come home and the evidence of the fire will be minimal.

I just got bad news: three gas leaks in the building (bullshit -- the boiler is on) but they're going to replace some pipes tomorrow and then ConEd has to come out and do another inspection and then, just maybe there will be gas tomorrow night. There won't be... it won't be back on until Monday or Tuesday next week... I can almost guarantee it. I'm pretty miserable... Denver is looking so attractive right about now.

there's no place like...

2010-01-02T21:40:00.002-07:00

Home.

2 January and I've already had more drama this year than I had last. OK, well, that's a lie... kinda, but tonight it was a FIRE! For real. Firemen... axes... and the temperature in NYC? It's freezing!!! So... I'm homeless, with two dogs... I smell like an electrical fire and I'm shaky and can't sleep even though I'm exhausted. The building Super, George, put me up in one of the offices on the 5th floor -- it's nice (all the furniture is DWR and Room & Board) and while it doesn't reek of smoke and I have internet, there's no water in the building. However, heating and electricity are a big step up from the blackout condition in my friend's place.

It's funny that I was thinking of packing this week, so I've already started organizing my stuff... so as panic completely set in, I was able to get almost all of my things packed before I exited the building with the dogs (that's why I now have my computer and my phone is charging). How messed up is that? My first thought was, "DOGS!!!" and then my second thought was "OH NO, MY SHIT!" -- which I then wheeled into the bathroom figuring if the building completely went up in flames, the bathroom was probably a safe place to store things...

I'm messed up.

Clearly.

Here's my last confession about this whole incident: I showered today and was SO thankful that I did so since there were firemen in the building. I don't do resolutions anymore, but maybe I should try to focus on prioritizing things properly in the future -- for instance: a more reasonable person would be thankful that firemen came to save their lives -- regardless of how clean they were that day. Right?

Now it's time to try to sleep. Tomorrow is going to be a long, long day.

holidays and homesickness

2009-12-31T18:44:00.004-07:00

I am missing home. I am. I don't know... it's probably a lot to do with being a hermit in NYC and spending two major holidays alone. I'm just a little over the schlepping... the crowds... the inconvenience of this massive city. I miss my tiny town, my couch and my cat.

Today I took the dogs up to the roof (since earlier in the day it was snowing; PT's snowshoes were a mess and I rinsed them off... they were still wet at 4pm). This is fine. We go to the roof, they pee, we play a bit, we go back downstairs to the apartment. Today, however, even though I took care not to bundle PT up (less he take off), he took off. He went for the dread dead pigeon poop stairwell on the building next door.

Last week, when he went over, I got some looks from people working in the building. I'm pretty sure they're manufacturing counterfeit handbags, but that's beside the point. They don't like me chasing after the dogs -- but it's necessary as one can't get back over to our roof and the other likes to go down the stairwell of doom and needs to either be carried back up 7 flights (on a bad day) or coaxed. Regardless, it means jumping over the roof (like an action film star) and going down a very narrow, very damp, very dark, stinky, dead pigeon stairwell (seriously. This thing is full of bird crap... and the remains of birds... it's a nightmare).

Today I could smell the weed -- someone got some good skunk -- and for a minute, I thought, "Oh dear, how many pigeons have died down there this week." I wasn't thinking straight. PT went all the way to the bottom and wouldn't come back up -- not with all my whistling and firm, "COME!" commands. I had to get him. When I got back up, the other dog was now at the top of the stairwell barking in distress... and I had to chuck him back over to our side of the roof. That's when it happened: an older Chinese woman came out and scolded me. She did. She spoke to me as if I were a petulant 2 year old who consistently broke rules. She threatened to call the super for this building and you know what? I don't care. I've gotten to the point where I don't give a crap anymore. This isn't like me... but it's this place -- how it beats you down. I feel like I'm one of those people on the subway now -- someone who has lost their soul... I look beaten down just like everyone else; I MUST, I can feel it creep onto my face.

So I'm counting down the days. I'm looking forward to my big, bright skies and clean, crisp air. I'm excited to get back to my pool and swimming with my water walkers... even the one who has her hair done and wears too much perfume. I've got projects in the works for when I return home and I'm anxious to start them.

I also want to make my home more homey. I've taken the year off and had ideas for doing things -- primarily to hang things. I've got stacks of photos and posters and artwork framed and ready to be hung and it's all leaning against walls on the floor. My friend's place is full of interesting artwork -- some of it incongruent, but it feels good surrounded by the stuff. My house, in contrast, is very stark -- big empty and blank walls. I've got some work to do when I return. Is this a resolution? Eh, not so much... I gave those up years ago. Resolutions are written to not happen, so I'll say this is the beginning of my to-do list.

cheesecake before and fatter (a nyc diptych)

2009-12-30T11:59:00.003-07:00

a moma triptych

2009-12-30T11:55:00.003-07:00

coney island

2009-12-29T17:47:00.007-07:00

I like abandoned amusement parks -- I like the quiet, the stillness which is in stark contrast to how they are the few short months they're open over the summer... Coney Island, I heard, is finally being shut down. There are plans, apparently, to redevelop -- but it's unclear what that means. I just hope they don't bulldoze, I hope the plan is to revitalize.

So today I took the N all the way to Stillwell Avenue to have a walkabout. The wind was up -- it's always really windy this time of year; it comes in off the bay and is killer. The beach was full up of broken glass pieces and disintegrating shells... plastic bags... syringes. It was altogether very sad, however that being said, I hope there are a few more seasons left in this ramshackle place -- where they still have a few side-show entertainments and crazy, dangerous rides like The Cyclone and Wonder Wheel. There's just nowhere else like it.

another sweet pic of the dudes

2009-12-28T21:18:00.002-07:00

I have this picture up in my Flickr, but I love it -- it's so rare that these guys will lay down on the couch together; one is typically up on the bench and another on the floor, but this particular morning, they were together getting their Vitamin Doggie.

I know I haven't been doing much on this trip -- it's been a lot like just living here (or what I typically do at my own house), but that's OK. This is my favorite time of the day. There's an hour or two every morning when the sun shines directly into the apartment; the dogs crawl out of bed and find their favorite sunny spots and just plonk down and soak it up. It's after their little lay-in that we start our day with a walk, and these guys are really great dogs, but it's right here when they're quiet and content that I think I love most about my visit.

feeling touristy

2009-12-28T08:57:00.003-07:00

Or not. My plan for NYC was to come here and do all the touristy stuff I don't remember doing when I was little... to create my OWN memories of places like the Statue of Liberty and the Empire State Building. As I near the end of my stay here, though, I don't feel like doing much. I think it's just a holiday funk -- there've been so many people just EVERYWHERE and I'm sick of it.

I couldn't live in NYC on a permanent basis; I think I'd never leave the four blocks around my apartment -- it's really easy to get cozy and comfortable within spitting distance of your bed here -- in fact, it'd be very easy to be a complete shut-in. If, like me, you're someone who likes to do things for yourself, *cough, laundry, cough* then this is a place that can really get you down. Most of life's conveniences are at your fingertips here, but getting to them and getting them back is exhausting -- it takes some planning. I miss the ease of my life at home... I miss MY little conveniences like having a washer and dryer in my house... like having a car... like constant sunshine.

Cec came out for Christmas, which was fantastic, but I feel like I let her down -- like I didn't PLAN very well and she missed out on doing things she wanted to do... to see. We had set plans for Christmas day which were full-day plans, but the rest of the trip was so disorganized -- we said we just wanted to spend time with each other; she's my oldest, closest friend and we haven't seen each other in a year -- haven't even talked on the phone much due to her busy schedule -- so this was supposed to be a relaxing time to catch-up. It wasn't. I feel horrible about that.

Onward and upward, though. We went to MoMA and took the Staten Island Ferry for views of the Liberty Island... and I think I've had just about enough of crowds. Will I regret not checking out The Met? Maybe, but I don't think it's going anywhere... and I know I'll be back.

lion brand studio

2009-12-22T15:53:00.005-07:00

Click a pic to see large.

5ptz

2009-12-20T21:05:00.010-07:00

snow day

2009-12-20T09:39:00.003-07:00

flushing & corona park on a cold, cold day

2009-12-19T08:47:00.006-07:00

guilt

2009-12-18T08:19:00.000-07:00

Not gelt -- although it's the season, of course, but I'm skipping my swim today. I could go... but I'm not going to. I feel incredibly lazy... my hips hurt... I'm tired... I'm hungry and woke up late. I suppose I could hit the pool late tonight; actually, that's not such a bad idea.

my charges

2009-12-17T20:08:00.003-07:00

a lot of this trip is like a dream

2009-12-17T19:58:00.005-07:00

Every time I ride the train, whether I'm on the express or local, when one passes the other going the same direction, it's like being in purgatory. The expressions on the faces of the people on the passing train are usually pretty despondent -- in my head, it's like they've been condemned to hell and my train is full of noise, full of people in limbo. It's just really dream-like. Perhaps I feel this way because I'm so damn tired (SAD happening, I think).

I also get to live this ridiculous life -- where I'm living in a loft in Soho... where I have pretend pets (dogs)... where I can have parties, but don't. It's really odd.

I also find myself talking to a lot of strangers. Today the first stranger was on the train back from the pool -- I bring knitting for after swims because I'm usually so chill that I don't want to disturb that -- I like to let the endorphins rush for as long as they'll go so I knit to keep my mind quiet. A woman sat next to me and took out her own project. I rarely see people knitting on the train. There are forums on Ravelry devoted to this: spotting knitters on trains, much like spotting celebrities on streets. It's odd. You'd think that in a city so big that the odds of running into someone else knitting would be high, but today was a first, so I interrupted her knitting and she explained that she's knitting a scarf for her husband for Christmas. It was really nice. We talked a bit about the shops around town -- where to find great bargains, etc (all of which, due to my sleepy state) I managed to forget, but it was really nice.

This evening, after my trek to the Manhattan Costco (Queens, you're next!) I was walking the four blocks back to the 6 and a young man started chatting with me! It was really refreshing. I like this random interaction thing. It's not as likely to happen in Denver where we drive everywhere... are sealed into our bubbles going from one familiar place to another. We don't get to share tables at restaurants or benches on busses (OK, that's pretty pretentious of me... I do, in fact, ride the bus when I can, but I don't need to, nor do many of my cohorts). Where do you meet people anyway? Online?

And then there's this: I realized I could start a cottage industry in making guys ready to settle down. They never want to settle down with me, but it seems 80% of the men I date will move on and settle down immediately after dating me. I'm like the gateway to commitment. How can I market this? If I were to come to NYC every autumn, I could probably make a good living doing this...

omg, i miss this guy so much!

2009-12-15T18:42:00.002-07:00

etsy love

2009-12-14T21:22:00.004-07:00

it looks like i can upload photos now?

2009-12-14T10:14:00.003-07:00

These are from a "softies" show I went to a couple of weeks ago at Gallery Hanahou (Near NYU):

buffalo by train

2009-12-13T14:05:00.007-07:00

Mostly bear butts.

first snow!

2009-12-05T14:49:00.000-07:00

It's wet!

bonding over tiger woods

2009-12-04T20:40:00.003-07:00

I found a really great, really cheap curry take-away place about three blocks from where I'm staying today. While I was waiting for my vindaloo (yeah, sober... middle of the day... trying to stave off some sort of ick in my head and chest) a woman asked if she could share my table while she waited for her food, too. Sure! Let's chat.

She had the Daily Mail (OK, not the most high-brow paper available) and the inside front cover featured a two-page spread all about Tiger. Tiger and his penis of fury. We, two women, both talked about our empathy for Elin and the kids... that everything that is online now will be available forever -- that it's a shame their kids WILL know about all of this eventually. OK, sure, Tiger is a cheetah (one of my favorite zingers so far)... the countdown is on for his disclosure that he is a sex addict. Why is it OK for a man to cheat on his wife because he's a "sex addict?" Aren't we all addicted to sex? Wouldn't we all like to have sex with whomever we want? (Caveat: I DO know that sex addiction is a real problem for people who suffer from it; it just seems that it's the new out for famous people who cheat... like "hospitalized for exhaustion" is code for doing too many drugs).

It's just really horrible. This. This when there's real news happening in the world. Why isn't Obama's speech about Afghanistan making the front pages? His speech came AFTER Tiger's accident, and yet it's seemingly not that important. Le sigh.

In other news, I'm still talking to strangers... last night I met a lovely man sitting outside Purl -- he asked me why I forgot his coffee (I was finishing a cup of coffee and a cake before going into the store) and I've made a promise to myself to go back and share a cuppa with this nice man. He's clearly a neighborhood fixture... I just hope I don't miss him when I go back.

I also checked out this new store: Wool and the Gang. Cute name... cute store... cute. Overpriced. Oh well, it wouldn't be a Soho boutique less it were outrageously overpriced -- the staff, however, were very friendly. I'll be back... to browse.

kimchi-bulgogi hot dog

2009-12-03T22:15:00.003-07:00

I kid you not. I've concluded that I AM a kimchi-bulgogi hot dog -- that this is the metaphorical version of me: half-Korean... half-"white guy."

It was delicious. More will be said about this evening's goings-on another time.

clutz

2009-12-03T14:18:00.004-07:00

I am. Clearly. I'm always falling down... I could blame it on an inner ear condition or just not being spatially aware, but it's really down to genetics. My grandmother (on my father's side) was always falling down -- not the, "I walked into the door" as an excuse (because she was always black and blue everywhere). No, my grandfather never laid a hand on her; he didn't need to. She was ALWAYS falling down or walking into things and coming back worse for the wear.

I remember one time when they came out to Colorado to see the acres of land my father bought, the cousins all sat around waiting for the adults to return and when they did, my grandmother was holding her right arm -- blood dripping down from her elbow. None of us batted an eyelash, really, my older cousin calmly asked, "Granma... what happened this time?" She had walked into a fence. Not even a barbed-wire one; the cut was inexplicable.

So today I found a fabulous pool -- it's an Olympic-sized pool way out near Shea Stadium (out at the US Open facility) -- it's part of Parks and Rec here, the aquatic center at Flushing Meadow/Corona Park. When I say it's awesome, I'm not lying. It's clean... it's massive... it has a movable floor! They have open swim all the time and lap lanes set up all the time so there's no weirdness with people swimming willy-nilly. The one thing that I found odd was that this pool, like the other two I've visited, was full of Asian people. What gives? My mom isn't a big swimmer... I didn't think it was a cultural thing, but maybe it is and my mom just missed out on that one. My aunt was big on swimming (she's Korean, too) but I figured she was an anomaly.

Anyhow, it was a good day. I had to share a lane with two other people (three at one point) but everyone was very courteous. The only thing that freaked me out is that the portion of the pool set up for lanes is 7.5 feet deep all the way. I don't like not being able to rest my feet on the floor -- I have an irrational fear of drowning; so I just stuck to the edge where I'd be near a wall... something stable I could grip if I felt at all in danger.

On the ride back to Manhattan, I was exhausted. Again I was asked directions by someone and I had to kindly explain that I'm not from here... that I know where I'm going, but we can look at a map and figure it out together. Anyhow, tired, wet and cold, I lost my footing and fell on some poor guy just napping on the 7... no less than a minute later, once a seat vacated near me, I started towards it and tripped over a woman's feet. D'oh! Yeah, so I'm a clutz. So what.

etsy nights

2009-12-02T16:57:00.006-07:00

So... Etsy has an office in Brooklyn (just next to the bridge) and every Monday they have some sort of free crafting night -- the last Monday of the month is open crafting. You just show up and do what you want -- they have supplies available to everyone.

I really wanted to try out some screenprinting something or other, but nothing was set out and since the organizer, Julie, was busy prepping for a craft fair in Chicago, I didn't want to trouble her so I just worked on some crochet and chatted with my new friend from Ravelry.

There are things about New York that I really love... like this crafting night at Etsy Labs. Sure, we have crafting nights in Denver but being able to hang out AT Etsy... and talk to people who work there about what you can do to make your storefront successful -- or to pick their brains on trending, it is really invaluable. I plan on going back Monday nights while I'm here -- six more to go!

Here are some pictures -- for those of you who can't make it.

could i live like this?

2009-11-29T13:25:00.002-07:00

No. I lost my head for a second at Costco (in Brooklyn) today and thought, yeah! I could live here... I could do this. But honestly? Costco in NYC is kinda ridiculous. You either need to know someone who has a car or have one yourself... because even though I only bought four items, it was a pain slogging them back to my friend's place.

I also hit up Target. I was having a suburban dream day -- not unlike my typical Sunday at home. I suppose that's why it was so good and why I honestly thought, for about a minute, that I could live here. Was it the Italian Sausage sandwich with peppers at Costco for $2? I don't know. Maybe it was when I saw the entire case of kosher goods... and the pickled herring for $3 (which I didn't buy). It's really just a hard place to navigate and I'm like, getting old. I love the convenience of hopping in my car and DRIVING places. I do! It's also kinda great not having a car, but sometimes... just sometimes, it's such a fantastic thing. The driving.

It's odd. People move at a very slow pace here in stores like Costco and Target. Slower than at home. I don't get this... someone should do a study. I'd read it.

making friends all over the place

2009-11-28T18:11:00.002-07:00

For real. Not really. Well, kinda.

I must walk with purpose... which makes me look local. OK, sure, when I'm walking the dogs, I probably look like a resident -- why else would I be walking dogs, right? Even when I'm not walking the dogs, though... even when I think I look lost, people will ask me for directions. Last night on the way to a concert I met a really cool woman from N. Jersey named, Magda. She was up for the Black Friday shopping with her kid, sister and niece and nephew -- they were trying to get to Penn Station to get home already. Cool. I was kinda heading the same way -- so I helped them get there.

I explained that it's funny they asked me where to go, considering I had no idea, but they trusted me and we got to talking a bit while we waited for the train. I don't know. I keep meeting people. I probably should avert my gaze... or not talk to strangers, but that's the thing about this city. There are so many people and they all seem so caught up in their own stuff that they don't talk to others.

After the concert I got a ride back downtown by an acquaintance -- he was dropping off former colleagues closer to their place, which it turned out wasn't far from where I'm staying. I just started talking to the other couple -- and I think they were a bit taken aback. What's weird is that we had a common acquaintance and we were in a car (and kept hitting red lights). I learned that guy was from Denver originally and knew where I live... the girl was from LA originally.

I hope that when I'm home, I don't shut out the people around me... that I am open to meeting new people. I used to be really good at talking to "strangers," but it's been a while -- funny that I have to leave my comfort zone to come to this realization.

Also, I'm having a bit of a problem posting photos... so those will come eventually.

wait. wwjw?

2009-11-25T21:38:00.001-07:00

What would Jesus Wear? This is on Nightline. Huh? Pure Fashion???

new york... new york. week one.

2009-11-25T21:28:00.002-07:00

Well, I'm almost to the end of my first week in NYC. To date, I've done pretty much nothing! My goal on this trip (aside from the house sitting and pet sitting that I'm here for) is to do as many touristy type things as possible -- today I did my first one. I went to the inflation for the Macy's Thanksgiving Parade -- all the way up behind the Natural History Museum.

OK, so everything I read said it starts at about 3pm... right. I didn't want to have to hang out too long to see the things inflate, so I waited until about 6pm -- which a woman at a knitting shop advised me to do. Whoa, Nelly. I had an inkling when I changed trains at Columbus Circle... there were quite a few kids on my train... I knew it was going to be a little crazy, but I really didn't have a clue. The police were directing traffic; everyone was moving in a weird circle around the museum and once we were halfway down the block, we could hear the generators (over the piped-in Christmas muzak) and see giant blobs of plastic. All the characters were strapped and netted down (to prevent their premature escape) -- I saw Snoopy so I was happy. SpongeBob Square Pants was on the other side -- all the kids were crying over it. I skipped side two -- Snoopy and Hello Kitty were enough... and the 10-deep crowd was unnerving.

I'll post pictures later. I need to take the dogs out for a wee first.

Another really great NY moment happened on a really crowded subway train last night. I went up to Yarntopia (near Columbia University) for their Tuesday knit night to meet someone from Ravelry -- but it was during rush our. Nightmare! There was a woman on the train across from me and it was clear she was upset about something -- she was acting out about the people around her and eventually had a really odd outburst. Anyhow, there was a stroller in front of me with the cutest 18 month old... he was getting upset over the car being so crowded... he couldn't see his mother, who was sitting next to me. Eventually another mother got on with her two kids -- one in a stroller and they sat opposite us (next to the upset woman). Her two-year old little girl grabbed the upset toddler's hand and reassured him. It was just really cute. It's like how dogs can suss each other out just by sniffing bottoms... and then everything is cool. The woman who was so upset could've learned something from these toddlers.

OK. Out into the rain and up to the roof... It's cold so I'm praying PT won't hop over to the other side and head down the dead pigeon fire escape... that was another adventure I'll recount on another day.

ernie of the day

2009-11-15T16:02:00.003-07:00

ernie of the day

2009-11-13T13:33:00.002-07:00

My bug spends so much time on my bed; I suppose because it's the warmest, most sunny spot in the house. Or maybe he just loves me?

ernie of the day

2009-11-11T19:26:00.002-07:00

bumper sticker wisdom

2009-11-02T14:38:00.005-07:00

OK, so today I was driving and got behind an older, baby-blue Ford pickup -- with a bed-topper thing -- like a camper box thing? You know, the kind serial killers have?

Anyhow, this guy (if you go by his bumper sticker choices) was pro-Gun, but also pro-Choice. Weird. He had a sticker that said, "Criminals like victims without weapons" and then a bunch of other political ones like, "Keep your theology out of my biology" and "I was born OK the first time," and another one about the last time religion and politics mixed you didn't get a Reece's peanut butter cup or something to that effect. After last week's visual assault by the pro-Life Subaru, the following stickers made my drive:

"If you can't feed 'em, don't breed 'em"
"6 billion "miracles" is enough"
"Condoms are easier and cheaper to change than diapers"

As I passed this older gentleman, I gave him a big thumb's up -- not that he saw... or if he saw, he might've thought I was flipping him off, but still. His bumper sticker collection made me smile.

ernie of the day

2009-11-02T11:08:00.002-07:00

Little winky winker... I'm off to submit my ballot! Tomorrow is election day... and I might have jury duty!

some things make little sense

2009-11-01T20:34:00.003-07:00

So last year there was a big to-do over a woman who wanted this on her license plate:
The DMV said that it could be misconstrued... misinterpreted... deemed offensive and denied her custom "vanity" plates. OK, sure... "I Love Tofu" could also be read as, "I Love to FU" but when you put in your application, I'm pretty sure they ask for an explanation. The rest of her car was plastered with pro-vegan bumper stickers so it's pretty clear what her intent was, right?

Well. I was driving behind a 4-Runner with this plate today:
I think it's equally offensive... I think they were Jesus freaks, but I'm kinda surprised that this plate could get approval. Just sayin. I'm also incredibly tired... so, grain of salt.

master procrastinator

2009-10-26T15:29:00.004-07:00

I should be packing right now, but I'm surfing the web and about to make some cookies... I also need to clean house since I'm leaving town for a few days and I HATE coming home to a messy place... but I choose to be lazy now instead.

I needed to get some Whoppers for the Malted Milkball Cookies I'm making to take to Maine tomorrow and I got stuck behind a car plastered with anti-abortion stickers. Some were pretty offensive: A baby doesn't have the CHOICE to live... Abortion Kills...

One sticker, in particular, caught my eye: "Abortion causes breast cancer." Really? Is this a scientific fact? I could've parked next to her and said something like, "having three kids under five causes cancer" -- I'm sure that there's a study out there somewhere that would show that the increased stress three small children places on a person can cause a number of different diseases... but I didn't, because it would be rude and you can't win an argument with some people.

On the abortion issue, I've always taken what I think is a neutral position -- and that's the pro-choice position. In countries like China where they've instituted mandatory birth control (via abortion... or cash incentive... or whatever) I would classify that as the extreme. The opposite extreme is no abortion and so the choice option, in my mind, is in the middle. It's where the State stays out of your bedroom... out of your body and you have the choice, which is surely not an easy one. When I see people pushing their anti-abortion opinions on others in a way that's not diplomatic, that's not kind and is meant to intimidate, I take pause.

So yeah, to go from cookies to abortion in under a minute... that must be a record. I'm going back to cookies now.

not a kid anymore

2009-10-23T09:04:00.001-07:00

When you mix:
Red and Blue, you get Purple.
Red and Yellow, you get Orange.

It's no coincidence that when you mix Red and White, you have to reach for the pink stuff. Blergh. Didn't even get drunk.