Wednesday, April 30, 2008
I actually OWN something
As of today's check in the mail, my car is paid fuh. I own it. It belongs to me. Now that it's paid fuh, I will set about undinging the door, replacing the two missing hubcaps, and putting some new visors and mats in. It's gotta last us a long time to come, so it may as well not look like a hooptie.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Spring Look
I've changed things up a bit. It's spring (even though Ogreville is now experiencing "normal" temps in the 50s which seem frigid compared to the 80+ degrees we had a week ago). And because it's spring, I thought some earth tones with a bit of blue sky were appropriate. Also, check out my new avatar. Appropriate, don't you think?
To the left is a gorgeous shot of cherry blossoms, the symbol of spring in Korea and Japan.
The quest continues...
Yesterday I stopped into our local wine and liquor shack to pick up a bottle of our favorite comfort wine (Bully Hill Vineyard's "Love My Goat" table red). As long as I was there, I thought I'd peruse the rum section to see if I could get a leg up on what kind of rum to use in the elusive Mai Tai. I was overwhelmed by rum. So, when I paid fuh my wine at the counter, I asked the guy about rum and Mai Tais, and as his eyes glazed over, he reached for the little Bartender's Black Book they had for sale. I looked up Mai Tai, and sure 'nuff, it's the pink pineapple sick-fest version that almost made me vomit on the spot. He said he knew nothing about rum (and really I should have said, THEN WHY THE FUCK DO YOU WORK IN A LIQUOR STORE?). But I have a line on that place via SMJ and know that collectively, those folks aren't very on top of their supposed game.
When the semester finally ends, I will start collecting Mai Tai ingredients in earnest, especially because PMP will be leaving for the summer and I need to send her off with a proper patio Tiki extravaganza!
When the semester finally ends, I will start collecting Mai Tai ingredients in earnest, especially because PMP will be leaving for the summer and I need to send her off with a proper patio Tiki extravaganza!
Saturday, April 26, 2008
Mai Tai Madness
Bizarro and I went to our friendly neighborhood pub for sum grub tonight. I'd ordered a Mai Tai there about a month ago, and the bartender had to look it up but was able to do one up (albeit not a very authentic one and there wasn't even an umbrella). Tonight I ordered one and this time the waitress came back and said the bartender had no idea (and apparently they were too busy for him to have time to look it up - it WAS hoppin' tonight).
I decided I need to start making them at home. I already have the little umbrellas ($1.50 at Big Lots), so I went online to find a recipe, and instead found a little war over what constitutes a "real" Mai Tai. See for yourself: Mai Tai Madness. And here's the whole scoop all about theMai Tai.
I'm sure this crowd has heard of the Mai Tai, but the average hick bar in Ogreville has no freaking idea and looks at me like I have three heads when I order one. What I will do is find a good (and relatively simple) recipe, have it laminated, and on a slow night, go to our pub and offer it up to the bartender, along with a box of little umbrellas.
I decided I need to start making them at home. I already have the little umbrellas ($1.50 at Big Lots), so I went online to find a recipe, and instead found a little war over what constitutes a "real" Mai Tai. See for yourself: Mai Tai Madness. And here's the whole scoop all about theMai Tai.
I'm sure this crowd has heard of the Mai Tai, but the average hick bar in Ogreville has no freaking idea and looks at me like I have three heads when I order one. What I will do is find a good (and relatively simple) recipe, have it laminated, and on a slow night, go to our pub and offer it up to the bartender, along with a box of little umbrellas.
Swank Blather
I've been going to this site for awhile but felt it needed its own post.
Swank Pad Blog
Doesn't look like I'll make it to Kowloon, but Rache and I will be hitting Tiki Port in Hyannis when I'm on the Cape visiting her. We are going to make a little mini-doco about our tiki misadventure. Oh yes oh yes oh yes.
For your listening pleasure, go to iTunes, get yourself into the Eclectic group and tap into "Illinois Street Street Lounge on Soma FM" for all of your bachelor pad & lounge eat treats.
Yum!
(and if you're wondering what to get me for Christmas this year: Swank Shopping)
EDIT: hyperlink for Tiki Port
Swank Pad Blog
Doesn't look like I'll make it to Kowloon, but Rache and I will be hitting Tiki Port in Hyannis when I'm on the Cape visiting her. We are going to make a little mini-doco about our tiki misadventure. Oh yes oh yes oh yes.
For your listening pleasure, go to iTunes, get yourself into the Eclectic group and tap into "Illinois Street Street Lounge on Soma FM" for all of your bachelor pad & lounge eat treats.
Yum!
(and if you're wondering what to get me for Christmas this year: Swank Shopping)
EDIT: hyperlink for Tiki Port
In The House
JET (formerly JEB) was worried for me after reading Thursday night's post, so I thought it best to follow up. Nothing is WRONG, wrong. Just that I had a very unhealthy dose of reality all too suddenly and my reaction was to run and hide and feel like a loser. But nothing is wrong with Mom, and nothing is really wrong, as I said. It's just one of those things that helped to make Thursday a particularly cruddy day pour moi.
In a nutshell, I realized that we are very VERY far away from being able to buy anything resembling a livable house. But it's okay because we've only been at the "building a life together" thing for 3 years, and we do have other priorities right now, like Bizarro going back to school to get a Masters in Health Administration, and me getting my writing career off the ground and making/promoting this film.
It's all got me to thinking more carefully about the "American dream" of homeownership. JET and I talked about this earlier today - how easy it is to tie one's legitimacy into the ownership of a home. And Salty Miss Jill reminded me yesterday that many of those homeowners are only scraping by to pay for house, kids and the SUVs in the 2-car garage by working their asses off, some at jobs they don't even like.
It's been pointed out to me that living with joy is more authentic and really more "legitimate" than living life on a treadmill. I know all this is really a "Well DUH" sort of topic, but it's surprising how much of this nonsense even us sensitive, artistic, spiritual types buy into out of sheer over-stimulation with the same message our entire lives.
Here's another way of looking at the issue (how perfect that this showed up on Icanhascheezburger.com yesterday):
see more crazy cat pics
In a nutshell, I realized that we are very VERY far away from being able to buy anything resembling a livable house. But it's okay because we've only been at the "building a life together" thing for 3 years, and we do have other priorities right now, like Bizarro going back to school to get a Masters in Health Administration, and me getting my writing career off the ground and making/promoting this film.
It's all got me to thinking more carefully about the "American dream" of homeownership. JET and I talked about this earlier today - how easy it is to tie one's legitimacy into the ownership of a home. And Salty Miss Jill reminded me yesterday that many of those homeowners are only scraping by to pay for house, kids and the SUVs in the 2-car garage by working their asses off, some at jobs they don't even like.
It's been pointed out to me that living with joy is more authentic and really more "legitimate" than living life on a treadmill. I know all this is really a "Well DUH" sort of topic, but it's surprising how much of this nonsense even us sensitive, artistic, spiritual types buy into out of sheer over-stimulation with the same message our entire lives.
Here's another way of looking at the issue (how perfect that this showed up on Icanhascheezburger.com yesterday):
see more crazy cat pics
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
Over the last few weeks, I have had a recurring motif in my dreams. Get ready for this; it's hilarious and probably the most Bizarr-o thing I've had to offer in awhile:
I keep dreaming that the toilet is backed up and I am plunging like mad to keep it from overflowing. This happens in different settings, sometimes with Bizarro around, sometimes not.
The truth is that our toilet does actually need more plunging than the average toilet. It probably needs a good roto-rooting, or at least some dump of noxious chemicals to clear out the pipes. It's not like we're throwing anything down there that shouldn't be!
I know, this is a weird topic and I agree that it is even weirder that I'm dreaming about it on a semi-regular basis. Clearly my mind has taken the icon of the plugged toilet to represent something else in my life. For those of you amateur psychoanalysts, go to town and let me know what you think.
I have my own idea: I am always feeling overwhelmed by so much stuff (crap?) that it will overflow and make a mess unless I plunge (read: control) and I am the only one to do it.
That said, I now need to return to my huge pile of grading which is about to get bigger when they hand in second drafts today. Hmmm, I wonder what those dreams could possibly be about?
I keep dreaming that the toilet is backed up and I am plunging like mad to keep it from overflowing. This happens in different settings, sometimes with Bizarro around, sometimes not.
The truth is that our toilet does actually need more plunging than the average toilet. It probably needs a good roto-rooting, or at least some dump of noxious chemicals to clear out the pipes. It's not like we're throwing anything down there that shouldn't be!
I know, this is a weird topic and I agree that it is even weirder that I'm dreaming about it on a semi-regular basis. Clearly my mind has taken the icon of the plugged toilet to represent something else in my life. For those of you amateur psychoanalysts, go to town and let me know what you think.
I have my own idea: I am always feeling overwhelmed by so much stuff (crap?) that it will overflow and make a mess unless I plunge (read: control) and I am the only one to do it.
That said, I now need to return to my huge pile of grading which is about to get bigger when they hand in second drafts today. Hmmm, I wonder what those dreams could possibly be about?
Monday, April 21, 2008
Tiki Heaven on the South Shore
At the end of next month, I am taking a vaca out to the Boston area to see friends and family. I will also be going to Kowloon. Oh, but I am, and I will not be driving, either, because I am going to get silly on Mai Tais.
Saturday, April 19, 2008
Forbidden Kingdom
Bizarro and I went on a rare movie date on a Friday night to catch the new Jet Li/Jackie Chan fantasy/martial arts flick. I give it a 3/5 stars, though I'd like to give it 4, but I just can't considering the white kid supposably from South Boston didn't have a trace of an accent. The story was, alas, utterly predictable. Despite the detractions, I thought it was loads of fun, and when it hits Borders bargain DVD bin some day, I will snap it up just so I can watch Jet Li as the Monkey King prance around and grin like an idiot over and over again.
Bizarro makes the excellent point that (spoiler alert, heh, as if you won't see it coming in the first 10 minutes of the movie anyway) there is a strong underlying racist tone: it takes the white kid to destroy the evil bad-ass even with Jet Li and Jackie Chan in the room, playing the Monkey King and an Immortal, respectively. I can see his point, but don't know if I buy it. I could spin that around and say that the point is that you don't have to be an immortal or a monkey king to win the day; heroes are everywhere, even in Southie.
I appreciated the fact that although there was the expected training sequence, the kid never gets to be nearly as good as the Monk or the Immortal, and although he can hold his own with the no-name foot solders of the Jade Army, he appropriately gets his ass kicked by the Witch. It's really only by being in the right place at the right time that he is able to help destroy His Evil Badness in the end, so it's not like he actually fought the guy and beat him after the Monkey King couldn't.
So yeah, what the hell, I'll raise my rating to 3.5/5 stars. Let us not forget the "Yankees suck" reference, which simply can't go unrewarded.
The Forbidden Kingdom on IMDb
Friday, April 18, 2008
Walkies
Yesterday and today I was able to walk to the chorch job because it's sunny and in the 70s. This is the life! Seriously, this is one of the reasons I wanted this job so much. Two days a week I get my exercise as a natural part of my routine, and I don't have to deal with the car.
I am very grateful that we are able to remain a one-car family. Bizarro takes the bus to work, and I can walk to this job when the weather allows. I believe the car will be paid for very soon, and I plan to run that thing into the ground before buying a new one. I don't care what any flag-wavin' gun-totin' yahoo says, I am down with Japanese cars.
I am very grateful that we are able to remain a one-car family. Bizarro takes the bus to work, and I can walk to this job when the weather allows. I believe the car will be paid for very soon, and I plan to run that thing into the ground before buying a new one. I don't care what any flag-wavin' gun-totin' yahoo says, I am down with Japanese cars.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Observation a success!
A few quick lines before I'm off to belly dance class:
I received the observation notes today, and I am happy to report that overall they are glowing. The two faculty members who came to my class commented on how I was in command of the class, managed it well, was clear in assigning work, answering questions, and eliciting responses from students (many of the areas I was supposedly lacking in the observation from OOTU, BTW!). The only negative feedback was that I graded the papers too high and didn't give enough substantial comments on the papers. The first part of that I agree with whole heartedly; the second part I don't agree with but it's because the observers only saw the students' final papers with my cover sheet - they didn't see the students folders with every draft, all notes, all comments and peer review sheets that went into the making of the final draft. I believe that if they had seen all of that, they wouldn't have thought there was a lack of feedback.
At any rate, the entire process was very professional and I am well-pleased with it, and the results, overall. What a relief!
Time to get ready to dance! Haven't been to class in two weeks, so I am really looking forward to it!
I received the observation notes today, and I am happy to report that overall they are glowing. The two faculty members who came to my class commented on how I was in command of the class, managed it well, was clear in assigning work, answering questions, and eliciting responses from students (many of the areas I was supposedly lacking in the observation from OOTU, BTW!). The only negative feedback was that I graded the papers too high and didn't give enough substantial comments on the papers. The first part of that I agree with whole heartedly; the second part I don't agree with but it's because the observers only saw the students' final papers with my cover sheet - they didn't see the students folders with every draft, all notes, all comments and peer review sheets that went into the making of the final draft. I believe that if they had seen all of that, they wouldn't have thought there was a lack of feedback.
At any rate, the entire process was very professional and I am well-pleased with it, and the results, overall. What a relief!
Time to get ready to dance! Haven't been to class in two weeks, so I am really looking forward to it!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
More Belly
I found this clip, and I recognize most of the moves here from the dance I'm doing in class (yes, even the hair flip thing). I absolutely love her costume, too.
(Make no mistake - I looking NOTHING like this lady when I'm dancing. I can barely keep up.)
(Make no mistake - I looking NOTHING like this lady when I'm dancing. I can barely keep up.)
Monday, April 07, 2008
Dance, Belly Dance!
So I've been taking belly dance lessons lo these last few weeks.
I love it. The undulations are still really hard for me to do without feeling like one of the Predator's victims.
Check her out, though:
And this girl has more precision in her hips than I could ever dream of:
I love it. The undulations are still really hard for me to do without feeling like one of the Predator's victims.
Check her out, though:
And this girl has more precision in her hips than I could ever dream of:
Sunday, April 06, 2008
What to do...
Today it is a glorious 55 degrees and full sunshine. It should be in the 50s/upper 40s most of the week. My question: do I take the plastic off the office window so's I can open it and get some fresh air into this cave? Bizarro would answer with a resounding "no" even if it were the middle of June and 70 outside. I am just not sure. Last year we had a freak snowstorm in April, so even though it's gorgeous today, who knows what 2 weeks from now will feel like.
*Sigh*
Tell me again why I live in the Northeast?
*Sigh*
Tell me again why I live in the Northeast?
Friday, April 04, 2008
What the frak is going on with BSG?
I love how Sci Fi's been building up the season premiere, which airs tonight at 10:00. Last week's special whetted the appetite, but I didn't see the short "What the frak is going on with BSG?" spot that aired during some other show last night.
Can I tell you how excited I am that the final season is about to begin? "All will be revealed" Ron Moore promises us rabid fans. I hope he doesn't cheapen what's been an awesome 3-season thrill ride. Seriously - I will find him and bash his skull in if he's done something stupid. But I'm sure he hasn't. He wouldn't dare.
I think there will be a heavy spiritual/religious element to the story for this last season. I went to the SciFi's page and the page for the episode loaded with the header "He who believeth in me..." Um. Please don't make Baltar into Jesus Christ.
Battlestar's Homepage
Can I tell you how excited I am that the final season is about to begin? "All will be revealed" Ron Moore promises us rabid fans. I hope he doesn't cheapen what's been an awesome 3-season thrill ride. Seriously - I will find him and bash his skull in if he's done something stupid. But I'm sure he hasn't. He wouldn't dare.
I think there will be a heavy spiritual/religious element to the story for this last season. I went to the SciFi's page and the page for the episode loaded with the header "He who believeth in me..." Um. Please don't make Baltar into Jesus Christ.
Battlestar's Homepage
Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Busy Bee
Bzzz bzzzz bzzzz... the sound you'd have heard me make over the last week. Coming back from our glorious anniversary weekend, I wasn't feel very well, but by the end of the week was back to my usual standard. I think it was just withdrawal from only 2 days of vacation!
This past Saturday was an important day for me. I presented at a conference for which I had also been a judge for a scriptwriting conference. The day's events and the people I met were inspirational to me as a writer and as a teacher. To preserve what anonymity I have on this here blog, I can't say much more, other than I am so energized to pursue my writing career.
Which is a damned good thing because yesterday I was told by both departments I've been associated with at the Other School on the Hill that I am not needed in the fall (or likely would not be). Of course these things can and often do change, in my experience. But the interesting thing was this: I was disappointed for about a minute, then I had a definite sense of the ground being cleared. It wasn't upsetting in the least. I truly believe this is an opportunity for me to do some freelance writing and focus on that area of my career. I have a part time job at the chorch (that's church with an Oirish accent), and I have a kick-ass summer teaching job lined up that will pay handsomely, so I don't have to freak out about money. I can focus on what is important.
Speaking of which, I have all day today to do just that, aside from a chiropractor's appointment this morning. The new orthotics are freaking amazing, BTW. I am going to need to find some kind of dance shoe for my bellydance class so I can wear the orthotics when I dance. Last night my feet hurt as usual after dancing in stocking feet.
And can I just tell you how lovely and warm it is this morning? I have the patio and bedroom windows open to let in the 60 degree fresh air (which will soon turn to thunderstorms and then fall below freezing again tonight). Spring in Central NY - it comes slowly and with fits and starts, but it does come, finally. I am looking forward to seeing the forsythia bush outside the patio in bloom!
This past Saturday was an important day for me. I presented at a conference for which I had also been a judge for a scriptwriting conference. The day's events and the people I met were inspirational to me as a writer and as a teacher. To preserve what anonymity I have on this here blog, I can't say much more, other than I am so energized to pursue my writing career.
Which is a damned good thing because yesterday I was told by both departments I've been associated with at the Other School on the Hill that I am not needed in the fall (or likely would not be). Of course these things can and often do change, in my experience. But the interesting thing was this: I was disappointed for about a minute, then I had a definite sense of the ground being cleared. It wasn't upsetting in the least. I truly believe this is an opportunity for me to do some freelance writing and focus on that area of my career. I have a part time job at the chorch (that's church with an Oirish accent), and I have a kick-ass summer teaching job lined up that will pay handsomely, so I don't have to freak out about money. I can focus on what is important.
Speaking of which, I have all day today to do just that, aside from a chiropractor's appointment this morning. The new orthotics are freaking amazing, BTW. I am going to need to find some kind of dance shoe for my bellydance class so I can wear the orthotics when I dance. Last night my feet hurt as usual after dancing in stocking feet.
And can I just tell you how lovely and warm it is this morning? I have the patio and bedroom windows open to let in the 60 degree fresh air (which will soon turn to thunderstorms and then fall below freezing again tonight). Spring in Central NY - it comes slowly and with fits and starts, but it does come, finally. I am looking forward to seeing the forsythia bush outside the patio in bloom!
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