A Study in Contrasts

M: Ame
D: Denny's

M: "What are you drinking?"
D: "M'am, can you get me some food?"

M: Stands until the lady is seated.
D: Shivers in the booth.

M: Clean, confident, and completely in control.
D: Ragged, humble, and at the mercy of a stranger.

M: Speaks in jargon, military terms flow freely.
D: Repeats the same stories of life "back on the farm."

M: Helps me with my jacket.
D: Accepts the gift of an old scarf.

M: Opens the door.
D: Walks thru first.

M: Was awarded a Purple Heart.
D: Had a heart attack.

M: On a mission to help Iraq & Afghanistan War Veterans.
D: On a mission to find a place to sleep.

M: Looks me in the eyes, has an easy smile.
D: Looks me in the eyes, has an easy smile.

An argument for music therapy

Music can lift us out of depression or move us to tears – it is a remedy, a tonic, orange juice for the ear. But for many of my neurological patients, music is even more – it can provide access, even when no medication can, to movement, to speech, to life. For them, music is not a luxury, but a necessity.

-Oliver Sachs, Neurologist and author of Music and the Brain

A Passing Case of the Stupids

I think I inadvertantly came up with the title to the perfect break-up album:

The Soundscape of My Stupidity

Doesn't that have a nice ring to it? This was the phrase I used to describe the various and sundry exasperated sounds coming from my mouth today at work as I "accomplished" many stupid things. I couldn't get through one task today without some sort of stupid being infused into it. Lack of sleep, perhaps.

In any case, the evening - and the soundscape - ended with two blond-haired, blue-eyed girls singing the chorus of "Achy Breaky Heart" at the top of our lungs, much to the bemused horror of three speechless Brazilians rounding out the carpool in the backseat. And yes, we knew ALL of the words.

uno, dos, tres, catorce

14 means to a fabulous [week]end:

1. Mustard-tarragon pork tenderloin and roast potatoes coming out tasty on the first try;

2. Speaking French with new friends;

3. Breakfast at Kate's Kitchen with Sibling;

4. Organizing and decrapping kitchen cabinets;

5. U2 t-shirt;

6. Finding a fun Superman Card to send to a friend;

7. Experiencing U2 3D IMAX with an international cast of characters (3 from Brazil, 1 from Belarus), and not being the only SuperFan sporting a U2-shirt;

8. Trying to start "the wave" in the IMAX theater;

9. Blue Bottle coffee, thoughtfully picked up by Rona on Sunday morning;

10. Getting my car out of the parking lot after church before the lot was locked;

11. Putting my own spin on mom's homemade chicken soup;

12. Finally watching "An Inconvenient Truth";

13. Landing a borrowed copy of ZooTV to watch;

14. Receiving a Petit Prince card from another friend.

Looks like Somebody has a case of the Mondays

I was recapping the magic that is U2 3D on the IMAX screen to two of my colleagues this morning - my excitement growing with each passing second of reliving my Saturday night experience – when at the height of my story-telling (reaching out to 3D Bono on the line “Touch me, take me to another place….” as he stretches his hand out to grab MINE over the audience), Debbie Downer joins in with “Oh, you’re talking about that movie you saw? Hahahaha! Did I tell you the story of the really nice man who helped me install xyz appliance at my house last week? His wife dropped dead!” . . . and walks off.

I couldn’t meet the eyes of my two other colleagues, due to inappropriate laughter. Not at the loss of life – never – but at the reliable timing of DD to drop a comment like that. I mean, it’s like clockwork. I could practically set my watch by it.

Happy Monday!

U2 3D - the movie

The film was AWESOME. It had all the benefits of being at a live concert, witout the contact high and sticky beer-shoes. After it was all over and we were walking outside, I felt as if I had been through an emotional wringer. It was a great experience!!! I already want to go see it again!

The adventures of Salty Pete

AZ gave me this guy for my birthday last year. He's handsome AND functional. I use him as a sea salt grinder (hence the name); he is a fierce kitchen tool pirate.

Inspired by all of the kitchen organizing I did today, I decided Salty Pete would go on adventures. And I would take pictures. Stay tuned for chapter one: Salty Pete vs. Pancho Pescado.

Books

Today's Friday Five is actually Wyld's from last week.

1. What book have you read in the last six months that has really stayed with you? Why? Hmmm...the most recent coming to mind is Doonesbury's The Sandbox, which is a collection of stories from Soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. It's an emotional read (ups AND downs), and I've appreciated the insight into a world which I know very little about. It's also a website, updated daily.

2. What is one of your favorite childhood books?
I loved reading the Ramona Quimby books, and others by Judy Blume.

3. Do you have a favorite book of the Bible? Do tell!
Psalms. Every human emotion is expressed in them - pretty amazing, actually.

4. What is one book you could read again and again?
LOTR. The Outlander books

5. Is there a book you would suggest for Lenten reading? What is it and why?
For Lenten reading? I don't know . . . I've never really thought about it. Perhaps something on discipline . . .

Sarcasm much

Sure I'll share my feelings . . . while listening to Yanni and drinking herbal tea.

-Scott Baio

When Google's parents leave town for the weekend

Go watch this video now.

If you think it's funny and brilliant, then we're on the same page. If not - well, no hard feelings...it's a generational thing, I think. :)

I've come to realize

1. I've come to realize that me and my last ex:
are on different life paths.

2. I've come to realize that when I talk:
I say "dude" and "awesome" a lot.

3. I've come to realize that I love:
having family in the city.

4. I've come to realize that I have:
many books to read.

5. I've come to realize that I've lost:
my mind.

6. I've come to realize that I hate:
very little.

7. I've come to realize that marriage is:
something to look forward to, but that it's not easy.

8. I've come to realize that, somewhere, someone is thinking about me and:
probably laughing? hahaha - or at least smiling. I hope.

9. I've come to realize that I'll always have:
wine on the wine rack.

11. I've come to realize that the last time I truly cried:
was last week.

12. I've come to realize that my cell phone:
has caused me to lose the ability to memorize phone numbers.

13. I've come to realize that when I wake up in the morning:
I did not go to sleep early enough the previous night.

14. I've come to realize that before I go to sleep at night:
I have to set my alarm clock.

15. I've come to realize that right now I am thinking about:
The Amazing Race finale.

16. I've come to realize that babies:
are squishy in the best way.

17. I've come to realize that I get on myspace:
not very often.

18. I've come to realize that today:
turned out not too shabby.

19. I've come to realize that tonight I will:
go to bed by midnight. Hopefully.

20. I've come to realize that highschool is:
11 years behind me.

21. I've come to realize that tomorrow I will:
get up and go to work.

22. I've come to realize that I really want:
to travel more.

23. I've come to realize that my last kiss:
was almost exactly a year ago.

24. I've come to realize the last stupid thing I did was because:
I was delirious.

25. I've come to realize that my true friends:
are amazing people.

Tragic

After 10 Things I Hate About You and A Knight's Tale, I had a huge celebrity crush on Heath Ledger. I tore his picture out of magazines and I'm pretty sure I even wrote him a fan letter once. (I *KNOW* - I can't believe it either.)

I just remembered all this a few minutes ago.

I am saddened that he has passed away...but it's a sort of detached sadness, since I didn't know him personally. Rather, I am saddened for his family and friends. Their loss gets magnified under the scope of a media frenzy - I can't even begin to imagine how difficult that would be to endure.

So...say an extra prayer for the Ledger Family today: for his parents and siblings, his daughter & her mother, and for his circle of friends. They are all just regular folks, too, and mourning the loss of a loved one.

hurry up and wait

That was basically how I spent my day today . . . hurrying up and waiting.

I guess it worked, though, 'cause I finally made it back to my home sweet SF home a few minutes ago. The cab ride home was entertaining. As soon as I got in, the cabby starts hitting on me, asking about my state of singleness or marriedness and if I would like a "part-time boyfriend". . . and I was being polite, but I was on the verge of cracking up. I could barely understand the man because of:
a. my tiredness
b. his extremely thick accent
c. road noise

Good times. Had by all.

OH and surprise, this is post number 500! How exciting. I think I'll give myself a high five. *high five!!!!!!*

BNA *

I'm sitting here waiting for my flight to Denver and then SFO. There's a slight chance that I'll miss my connecting flight if this one is delayed too long (for de-icing). Oh well - good thing Mom and Dad live in Denver - I won't be relegated to the DIA floor for the night if we are delayed...ha! :)

It has been a wonderful weekend. S and I just picked up like no time had passed whatsoever, which always amazes me. I got to visit with her whole family (including meeting her precious nieces & nephew) and meet a few of her close friends. Worlds collided in the best of ways.

We spent a lot of time curled in blankets (temperatures in the teens here!) talking until the wee hours, drinking tea, looking at photos, listening to performances, watching chick flicks, etc. But we also braved the cold, going for a lake-side trek with her dad in the Nature reserve behind her folks' house. (I'll put up a couple of pics soon).

As is usually the case, I feel very much at home when I head back to a Southern state. Living my fast-paced city life, I forget how nice it is to walk down the street and have everyone say "hello". Also, you don't have to lock your doors out in the country where S's folks live, and you can leave things in the car without worrying about break-ins. The men are gentlemen and the women are ladies, and everyone is happy with and expects this arrangement. Even after this quick visit, I feel drawn into the rhythm of life here. Including (of course) finding myself slipping into the inevitable drawl I always seem to pick up during any down here.

All in all, a highly enjoyable weekend. I am so glad it worked out!

weekendelements

seeing.fondue.hibachi.doggies.toddlers.family.janeausten.loves.
friends.laughter.pictures.freezing.church.worship.dvds.singing.
playing.dancing.cooking.hiking.visiting.shopping.facebookpoking.
catchingup.teaching.listening.giggling.french.coloring.borrowing.
lending.reminiscing.meeting.inviting.encouraging.sharing.enjoying.
notsleeping.reading.telling.solvingtheworldsproblemsfromthecouch.

being.

fun with photobooth

and other madness...

S and I just did a whole series of shots with her macbook. it was a lot of fun....from sad, angry, and crazed to zoolander, mysterious and pensive.

I'll have a lot more to write about, but for now it is bedtime! I've pretty much had about 6 hours of sleep in the last 48...ack!


[edited to reflect that this was posted Central time, meaning 12:56 AM on 1/20/08, thereby fulfilling my 365 reqs. My compy is still set to PST]

Tennessee (Tennesssee...)

(You guys remember that Arrested Development song? Anywho . . . )

A few of the things I'm looking foward to this weekend in TN:
-Playing catch up w/S and her family
-Being back in the South (I do miss it at times - really!)
-PBS Jane Austen (S is the quintessential Austen fan . . . oh yes)
-Mini-Vacation time!
-Sweet tea (can't be down South w/out having it once, ya'll...)
-lots of laughter
-qq conversations en francais (peut-etre!?)
-Hearing other people say "ya'll" (not spoken too much out here)
-live music of some sort

woot!

Friday Fives - Speed Trap

1. Have you ever been pulled over? How many times?
Yes - twice. Once for a "rolling stop" and once for speeding. I only got a ticket for the first one.

2. What are you most likely to be pulled over for? (Speeding? Reckless driving? Expired tags/inspection? Bad signal/headlight?) Probably the aforementioned rolling stops.

3. You're driving along on your merry way when you see a police car. What is your first thought? "Whoops - better slow down!"

4. When you see a cop car, do you hit your brakes or keep your foot on the gas? If I'm on the highway, I just take my foot off the gas or take it off of cruise control (I usually don't slam on my brakes in that situation).

5. What's your personal speed limit? How do you determine what it is for any given road? Where I grew up in CO, the highway speed limit is about 10 mph higher than anywhere near me now in CA. So, I got used to driving 75-85mph on the highway, easily. Now, there's very little opportunity for that - if for nothing else than the usually snarled Bay Area traffic. In city street driving, I probably drive on the faster side of the limit, but not unsafely.

Viva Nash-vegas!!!

I just booked a ticket to Nashville on a last-minute, spur-of-the-moment decision. The stars aligned, my Frontier miles kicked in and having a free place to stay seemed too good to pass up!

I'm headed to the fine Southern state of Tennessee to visit my college roommate. We saw each other briefly one afternoon after Sibling's graduation from Wake Forest (not sure *why* exactly I was in Nashville during that trip to NC...hmmmm....must be getting too old to remember....hahaha).

ANYWAYS. Other than that, we've not been in the same place at the same time since graduation in 2001. And that was a long time ago!! I can't wait!

It will be a trip down memory lane and a wonderful catch-up to present lives. ACK I gotta go pack!!!!

defrost

In December, just before Christmas, I had the - pleasure - of being the D.D. for a carpool of drunken revelers. Included in this entertaining group was a Kiwi and a Brit.

We pull up to a gas station (the empty light's on) and sibling hops out to pump gas.

The pickled (but lovely and nice) Kiwi in the back proceeds to write in the condensation which has gathered on the inside back windshield.

"I <3 U. Pump 'n Pay, Bitch".

It was hilarious at the time.

Fast foward to . . . last week. It's cold, foggy, damp winter weather. I look in my rearview mirror, and what do I see?

Oh yes - pump 'n pay, indeed. I had forgotten about that compeletely. I tried to wipe it out of the window, to no avail. I can still read it. I think I'll have to bust out the windex...but for now, I look in the mirror and crack up. Good times.

train keeps a rollin'

. . . that is what today has felt like. One fire after another to put out at work and no breathing time. Coupled with our alarm going off and having the cops come - that's always fun - and squeeze in trying to plan 8 different things at once. Good times.

ack.

SO...I'm drifting back to a less stressful time. And that time would be yesterday morning on my way to work. Bohemian Rhapsody came on the radio and I turned it way up and sang along. When the song ended, it hit me: I know ALL of the words.

It's the little things . . .

hilarious

Sibling *just* walked in the door with the best blog fodder. EVER.

My own personal DEVO HAT. That's right. The MacWorld party band was none other than the one and only DEVO. And my sweet brother fought off tens of drunken computer genii to bring me a hat.

I am so wearing it to work tomorrow. *Sweet*

precious metals

Make new friends,
but keep the old,
one is silver and the other gold!

(Shout out to my fellow Girlscouts out there - if you were one, you know that song.)

One of my best college friends has proposed a yearly get-together for our little group of four musketeers. We are spread out across the country - one in each time zone, in fact - and rarely get to see each other. In all actuality, probably the next time we'd all four of us get together would be (I'm assuming?) my wedding.
Which . . . well, let's just say that that's further in the future as to be at an as yet undetermined time. Anywho! Three of us have managed to work out a potetial plan via Social Networking Site, and yet the fourth, our Georgia Peach, is M.I.A. (She is not a subscriber to said Social Networking Site).
I just hope it all pans out, because it would be so much fun to get together again with these women who were - and continue to be - such a wonderful part of my life.

motley crew, indeed

The last 10 keyword searches leading to this blog (in random - natch - order):

1. late night laundromat san francisco
2. marrakech whores [oh yeah - that's my favorite one hahahah]
3. The song where the chicken clucks all thru it, and no other singer
4. how do you spell rose in Greek
5. yanni chole
6. "Mr FdC"
7. katharos meaning
8. poems about laundry [Hey AZ, maybe you can help me out with this one...lol]
9. random point of view
10. nicholas sparks random facts

hilarious, the lot.

Surf's Up, Dude

So, yes, we ended up going down to Mavericks this weekend - and it was awesome!
Got down to Half Moon Bay around 9:30pm Friday night and as I rolled into the hotel parking lot, there They Were: blond, blue-eyed skinny surfers...three of them in the lot, clearly ready for the day to come. (lol...it was a running weekend joke that the Queen had dated two of these types of guys, and I never have).
Anyways, I knew I was in the right spot!

We woke up at o'dark thirty to make our way North to the beach. We rolled up by 6:30 and actually found free(!) parking. Loaded with our gear (blankets, picnic, water, binoculars, coats, hats, gloves, etc) we made our way to the so-called shuttle. (There was - supposedly - a shuttle running from the Half Moon Bay airport to the beach site...we never found it). So we made the hike ourselves - and it was beautiful. Watching the sun rise over the bay, making our way up the hill with a hundred some-odd of our "closest friends" felt like we were part of some really-cool, underground event.

Now the think about Mavericks is . . . if you stand on the beach you don't see any of the action. The big waves (read 30-40 footers) break about half and mile out, and if you're standing on the beach, you can't see over the waves breaking on the shore. So, the place to be is high up on the cliffs overlooking the ocean. This is where we were headed. Our path was cold and muddy, but the reward was an amazing view. We picked out our spot, set up camp and waiting for the 8am start time.

And we were not disappointed. I can't believe the waves that these guys tackle - they are HUGE and dangerous! One guy's board snapped in half one of his first times out. Crazy!

We ended up staying there until 2pm (having arrived at 7:30). By that time, most of the biggest waves had already made their appearence. All in all, it was a great time - lots of cool people, big waves and beautiful scenery made for a memorable Saturday. I look foward to going back next year!

I took a few pics - none of them had the big waves, though...! However, you can check out these pictures here from SFGate.

Giggle me Elvis

On my way home from work yesterday, I was listening to KPOO San Francisco 89.5. They were playing Elvis songs and "Are You Lonesome Tonight" came on. Well, about one verse into it, Elvis screws up the words and starts cracking up (it was a live version). Well - that took me off guard and I started laughing, too. He never did recover from his giggles. I've been there man...sometimes, they just get a hold of you and there ain't nothing nobody can do to make them stop!

Anyways . . . his band and backup singers just kept going. They were pros! Every now and then Elvis tried to jump back in, but to no avail. So, when I got home, I just *had* to find that performance online, and sure enough, found it on youtube. It's from a 1969 performance. Enjoy!

Friday Fives - Primary Colors

I like the idea of Friday Fives. Feel free to join the fun!

1. When is the presidential primary in your area?
February 5
2. Do you plan to participate? Have you participated in the past? Yes and Yes (via absentee ballot)
3. Do you identify with a single party or do you consider yourself independent? Has that changed over the years?
I used to consider myself firmly Republican. Now . . . I’m more right down the middle.
4. In your opinion, what are the major issues this year's presidential candidates must address? Which is most important to your vote?
Foreign Policy and Health Care.
5. How do you get your information about candidates at this time of year? What media and messaging impacts your opinion of the candidates the most?
I read my ballot information guide; candidates’ official websites and wash it all down with a dose of Comedy Central for good measure.

Random defined

My friend the Queen and I are going to the Maverick Surf Contest. Well, I *think* we are. We've made our hotel reservations, but the contest has yet to be officially announced. They give people 24 hours notice for the contest, and then all the surfers, musicians for the day and spectators take the bay by storm. Speculation has it that the contest will be on Saturday - and that's what we're banking on . . .

Should be AWESOME!

Band meme

This is funny. I stole it from this milblog here.

1. Random Wikipedia
The first article title on the page is the name of your band.

2. Random Quote
The last four words of the very last quote is the title of your album.

3. Random Flickr
The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

You then take the pic and add your band name and the album title to it, then post your pic. Here is mine:

HBIEDs*

They are not a good thing.

Say an extra prayer for the troops in Baghdad today.

Yum

I found a yummy recipe via this blog here and I thought I would try it out. Feeling inspired by:
A) My free evening;
B) Wanting to use up random stuff in my fridge;
C) My watching of Chefs on the Travel Channel drool

This is what I had already in my kitchen:
Red onion
Green onion
Olive Oil
A few snap peas
Garlic
Brown Rice
Lemon pepper
Dried cranberries
Slivered almonds
Chicken breast (from one of those grocery store rotisserie chickens)
Grated parmesean

What I bought at the store:
Can of butter beans (big, white beans)
Baby carrots
Red Bell pepper

Saute garlic and onions in olive oil; add carrots and bell peppers; add chickpeas and chicken; add cranberries & almonds; add beans, lemon pepper & salt. Serve hot over brown rice, drizzle with a little olive oil and sprinkle with parmesean.

I choose to enjoy dinner with a glass of Ledson's Bellisimo red wine (it was open and only had enough for one glass left). Delicioso. I even took pictures, but I *still* have no idea where my camera's USB cord is...hmmmmm.

20 Minutes

It took me 20 minutes to get the gridlines to appear on a document template today. Perhaps that doesn’t mean anything to you. To me, it represents 20 minutes of my life I’ll never get back.

Open template.
WTF? Where are my gridlines?
Borders? No…those show when printing.
Shading? No.
Options? Customize? No and No.
AH! “Show Gridlines!"

Crap. I can’t select that option.
Close document.

Open template.
WTF? Where are my gridlines?
Borders? No…those show when printing. We’ve already been over this.
Online Help. Please. Help would be lovely. As would a shot of…something.

Anything. No help. At all.

Rinse. Repeat three or four times as needed.

Oooh…flash of brilliance coming through!
“Select All”“Show Gridlines!"

Et voila! The waters parted, sun rays shone down on my CRT, and the gridlines appeared in all of their grayish, grid-ish beauty. After two Bachelor’s degrees, one Masters, one artist certificate, three languages, and . . . .20 minutes . . .I had my gridlines.

This is why I appreciate the comic genius of Dilbert and The Office, ladies and gents, because I am one of them.

Maido

I love the Maido Stationery store at the Westfield center. They have beautiful papers, notebooks, supplies, and such, all mostly from Japan. I could spend hours in there.

I went Sunday afternoon to pick up a birthday present for a friend, and yes, ended up with a packet of handmade paper for myself. (You know, to encourage that letter-writing resolution).

Even better, upon checking out, I received a "frequent buyer card"...after enough stamps, I get a discount. I am SO excited. I only wish I were still in school so I had an excuse to go there more often, ha!!

Happy Monday, ya'll!

No Reservations

The new season of No Reservations premieres Monday, January 7.

YAY. I am very much looking forward to seeing Anthony Bourdain once again cross the globe and get himself in (and out) of trouble.

Also - LOST comes back on at the end of January. *sweet*

fridge poetry

In college, I used to keep a journal of all the poems people would write on my little dorm refridgerator with those little word magnets (remember them?)

My grown-up, brushed stainless-steel fridge does not allow for the sticking of magnets (only on the sides does it work), so I have to find my inspiration elsewhere. Last week, when I was throwing out the mass of holiday cards we received at work, I found a few inspiriting gems among them:

Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.
-Harriet Tubman

A mind once stretched by a new idea never regains its original dimensions.
-Oliver Wendell Holmes

The value of a man should be seen in what he gives and not in what he is able to receive.
-Albert Einstein

hope is the thing with feathers that perches in the soul and sings the tune without the words and never stops at all.
-Emily Dickenson

7-year itch

The classic Marilyn Monroe film The Seven Year Itch deals with the premise that after seven years of marriage, one's spouse may get an 'itch' for his or her old life, as a happy-go-lucky single. It's the one with the famous subway grate dress scene.

I'm not married. BUT my own 7-year mark is rapidly approaching - I've been living in SFO for almost that long now. And I can't help but wonder if the aforementioned 'itch' applies to living situations, and not just marital status. I am wondering this because I have been back from vacation in Colorado for . . . less than a week now, and I am already scouring my 2008 calendar, calculating my hours off, downloading passport renewal paperwork and trying to plan the next time I can go home for a visit, go abroad to see friends, or just go somewhere new stateside.

I'm thinking of starting locally - a trip up to wine country or maybe Monterey over the MLK weekend. In, February, I think a good friend of mine currently abroad will be headed to Denver for a couple weeks, so I might try and coordinate a long-weekend trip home for that time. I would *LOVE* to go to Paris this year. Oh man, I'm missing it a ton. I want to see my "French Grandmother" again before it's too late (she's in her 80s, you never know!). I want to go to Italy and visit the F. Family - and meet their newest addition, baby Clark! I am also ready for a trip back to New Orleans. I've not been since Katrina hit and my family down there had to leave the city. I want to see the changes with my own eyes.

The enormous math problem I have to work out in my brain to make this all work is: 90 hours vacation + paid holiday time x airfare costs + time off between performances / cash = creative traveling. Heck, in 2007 I managed quite a few trips across the globe and back again, so it's not impossible.

Ready. Set. GO!

Link-up and send a prayer

One more plug for Milblogging.com. It seems they linked me up as their entry of the day today since I gave them a shout-out earlier this week.

While I am at it, here are links to some of the blogs they have on their site, which I've found very interesting:

Badgers Forward

From My Position . . . On the Way!

Kaboom, A Soldier's War Journal

Tragically Famous

Blackanthem military news site

I encourage you to read an entry and pray a blessing over the writer!

Sunrise

I took this on my phone after I dropped my dad off at work one morning. It's about a mile from my parents' house, looking towards the Rocky Mountains around 7am. Colorado has beautiful sunrises in the winter - this pic doesn't do it justice - but it was very lovely. Ice-blue sky and snow-covered mountains: one of my favorite sights.

True 'dat

“I did some auditioning [for Sweeny Todd] with other people, and afterward I was completely devastated and exhausted. I felt like I was casting a porno movie. I mean, having people come in to audition and sing was like having them come in and take their clothes off. It felt that exposing. It shocked me.”

-Tim Burton, Esquire Magazine 01 08

Site to check out

Check out Milblogging. It features straight-from-the-Soldier's mouth writing from US Soldiers (active & retired) around the globe.

I've a minor compulsion going right now about reading some of their blogs. I feel like I have ignored (or tried to tune out) news of the Iraq war for so long (due to the mostly negative media here in SF), that now I can't get enough news. Read the accounts and say a prayer for our guys out there.

hp

Am setting up my new compy. And hoping that it doesn't give me fits! Yay!

Starting things off with a bang

2008! Who-hooo!!

I'm sitting on my couch, waiting for the dishwasher to finish so I can put in the last of the dirty dishes. I'm trying to hydrate, only now realizing that I did, indeed, drink more wine and champagne than I had originally intended. I'm hoping the water will counterbalance any headaches to come.

As for resolutions? I'm never really sold on that idea. But, at least one thing I'd like to do this year is to send more handwritten letters. [Full disclosure: I've already kind of started that, seeing as I've been writing to P - who's currently serving in the "Big Sandbox" with the Army.]

Here's to a new year!