randomness in SF

Yesterday, I was standing in line to watch a free preview of the new Transformers movie since my friend Brandileigha has hook-ups with her work.
Then I had a hankering for froyo, so I went to Vince while BL saved our place in line.
When we got to Mission and 3rd, the police suddenly appeared and cleared the streets, and within minutes, Michelle Obama was waving at us from her suited-and-surrounded vehicle.

I waved back.
That was my first First Lady sighting.
To me, it was worth calling home about, and my little sister was a little impressed.

Then we got a pleaser blueberry-and-original-tart-side-by-side-with-more-blueberry-than-original-please-with-mochi-more-mochi-and-cheesecake. That was nice.
Transformers was also nice.

I don't usually watch many movies (but two were free previews), but here is my personal summer list so far from best to worst with yesterday's events interjected:

UP
(seeing Michelle Obama)
Star Trek
Transformers
(eating frozen yogurt)
Wolverine

If there was no mochi, then the frozen yogurt would probably fall below Wolverine.

Michael Jackon's Auction Items

So, in a fit of frustration because the library got very loud, I flipped through Michael Jackson's personal items that are up for auction by Julien's. I was really hoping there would be some typewriters for auction, just because I love functioning vintage typewriters and am always interested in asking prices for them.
Who knew one person could accumulate so much stuff? If I put on auction every single thing that I own, it would probably not be equivalent in quantity to the things MJ has selected to sell...and that would be including individual packets of instant noodles (no, they would not be bundled). I only looked through some of the antiques and paintings then the amusements. I hope the resulting figure for the auction gets published after it's over. I wonder what sorts of people will be bidding on those antiques and amusements...obsessed MJ fans? art purveyors? Disney afficionados? old-school gamers? people that have always wanted to own a B&W photobooth?

happy effing v-day

This year, I helped Dave create some Valentine's day cards that advocate various organs as the new symbols of love.
I know that some of you might be interested to read all the poems that appeared on the cards that featured the various organs pierced through with a valentine arrow of love.
Here they are:

PANCREAS
If I were the stomach, and you the pancreas,
We would never be apart.
I would hold you in an internal hug,
And be more romantic than the heart.

You would be the enzyme to my acid;
We would be the perfect pair.
O! You, my pancreas, my lovely pancreas,
And, I, your stomach debonair!
* * *

BRAIN
If love were an organ, it would surely be a brain.
Destroy my medulla, and I would technically be slain.
It cannot be replaced nor surgically transplanted,
With billions of neurons, it’s not to be taken for granted.

So I would pierce my brain for you,
If I thought I might become untrue;
For it is too easy to be broken-hearted,
So, to prove my love, I would go retarded.
* * *

KIDNEY
My dearest, I would give you my kidney,
Even if I only had but one.
I would lovingly do as you bid me
So your metabolites and urine could run.

Luckily, I still have two,
If both yours should ever fail,
Then one for me and one for you,
And thus, by my kidneys we shall prevail.
* * *

LUNGS
Each moment I take a breath, I think of you, my dear;
Our love is like oxygen, life giving, pure and clear.
The lung best represents my expanding love for you.
With each bronchiole of my being, I swear I will be true!

If you took your love from me; I would commit suicide!
How could I live immersed in hateful carbon dioxide?
With this pulmonary pledge, I devote my lungs to you;
If you were to ever leave me, I would literally be blue.
* * *

LIVER
My liver allows me to drink myself senseless
While I pine away for you at the pub.
Without it, I would be defenseless;
Our largest gland deserves no snub.

So let’s raise a toast to the liver,
And replace those praises to the heart,
For it can purify this poisonous river
Of toxins imbibed since we’ve been apart.
* * *

STOMACH
If you were a bacterium in my stomach,
I would let you live and thrive.
You would return my love three-fold
Because I have kept you alive.

I would feed you partially digested bits,
And keep my stomach placid.
We would all live forever happily
You, me, and the hydrochloric acid.


BLADDER
If I could pick an organ to describe my fondness for thee,
I would pick the bladder, since it contains all of my pee.
Instead of pouring out my heart, this organ I would utilize,
To describe so warmly how it can grow and grow in size.

This is how my love for thee would continue to bloom
If I had endless liquid intake and infinite abdominal room,
And when I’m dehydrated, I know thou wouldst bring another drink
So when I pen thy praises in the snow, I will not lack for ink.

*Special thanks to Dave for working on the printing and images of the cards and Marcia for checking the factual information of the poems (sorry the pancreas is a bit off).
We will launch version 2.0 next year.

happy 2009!

I am not a huge proponent of making new years resolutions.
I think it's a good idea, though, to decide upon certain things, and make slight mental shifts, though, so here are a couple things that I would like to simmer in my brain this year:
1. Thinking more creatively. I am taking some time off academia to play with some creative projects. I have already accomplished two paintings, both of which look rather mediocre to me, but not so bad that they are laughable. I've started an small idea journal of do-able projects and have recruited a little help to see these on their way.
I would like to be more sensitive to inspiration.

2. Teaching randomly. Though I am most used to academic instruction, I also am quite decent at helping people discover the art of make-up application, how to cook with what you have in the fridge, figure out style on a budget, putting together a meal without stove or oven, creating a personalized conspiracy, and a handful of other random skills.
I would like to help others in these small ways and hopefully understand people better through these little avenues.

3. Picking the most loving way. Trying to understand love and what it means for me and those around me.
I would like to be able to pick the most loving way in various circumstances.*

4. Romance and realism. I am trying to find a balance between the two.
I would like to alter my cynical thinking that romance is for idiots and only us realists know what is really going on and that pessimists are just ex-romantics that have become overly hardened by the harsh reality that us realists have already acknowledged.

5. Eating in a sustainable manner. I am off to a good start with over two gallons of three kinds of kimchee chilling in my fridge. I have gone out to get sardines--sustainable, virtually no mercury, and great source of calcium. My weakness, though, is sushi; I like salmon and tuna too much.
I would like to eat in a more sustainable manner, and that means eating more vegetables, whole foods in general (though I am not sure I can give up ranch Doritos), and eating everything I buy.

There might be some more specific extended thoughts that I am trying to retain, like not being mean to specific people, but those need not be made known to everyone.







*I think this one if the hardest because I am trying to understand it intellectually and weigh out the options. This requires more of a change of heart, and it cannot be a habit. It goes against much of what society wants us to do, yet it should serve as a parachute to suspend the rest of my actions. We'll see how this one goes.

not so silent night

I went to NSSN yesterday, and it was fun. It was the first time I had been to such a large concert. I thought that I didn't have that much experience in terms of watching live performances, so I thought hard while riding the bus (where a lot of thinking occurs) about who I have seen. Here is the list:
Sugar Ray
Simple Plan (opened for Sugar Ray)
Eve
Juanes (this is the only one I paid for)
Some local bands at dive bars and local venues
Some bands that have come to church
Do Beyoncé, Clay Aiken, and Hilary Duff on Thanksgiving day floats count?
Lots of musicals
Countless choir and orchestra things

Well, now add to the list:
Jack's Mannequin
Franz Ferdinand
Bloc Party
Death Cab for Cutie
The Killers

It was fun. I am never sure what to do during concerts...Shall I sit here and listen politely with my legs crossed and hands in my lap? That is my usual stance when attending classical music performances. I did that for much of the show, but when The Killers started, it was difficult to stay sitting.

So, needless to say, my date and I rocked out (as best as nerds know to rock out) and yelled along with the lyrics. It was rather like singing along with the radio in a vehicle...if the vehicle were a crammed munibus with a pot-smoking driver, and if an earthquake were happening.
I got the smokey smell out of my hair, but I am not quite sure how to be free of the ringing in my ears.

I also saw some band members before the show, but didn't know quite what to do. I just smiled at them, and they nodded back. After they were gone, I had to ask someone who they were...at least I had a little inkling that they were supposed to be important. They said, "Those guys are Franz Ferdinand," and I thought, "How awkward that four guys must share one name!"

But I suppose that is how it is.

endless parties

It's that time of year again. Time to do an evite quantity comparison...At one point in late 2006, I had gotten 37 evites in my life with the number seeming to increase exponentially. In 2007, there were just a bit under 100 evites. The increase has been more gradual as this year, there are 106 so far, with seven currently projected in the near future. I doubt there will be a decrease, but next year might plateau or have a slight increase. I doubt that google events and coordinating calendars will replace evites, but I can see that having a slight impact on the endless onslaught of eviting.
I wonder if there is guilt in turning down evites. I am becoming accustomed to turning them down all the time, and I don't like putting "maybe." I think it would be great to have a bibically-quoted evite response:
*yes yes
*i am from the evil one
*no no

That might deter the maybes.

i don't get text messages

I realize I should have communicated this before.
I don't get them.
I haven't been getting or sending them since the summertime.
I realize that there is a whole world that I am missing out on.
I am okay with that.