24 posts tagged “life”
I feel like a curmudgeon. These past two months have been kind of hectic, like the Universe decided to kick me in the pants and I'm trying to figure out what it is I need to get a clue about.
Lessons I Should Probably Remember:
1. It's ok to ask for help - during my whole experience with my recently paid off car, I had to ask my mom for help. I hate asking for help from anyone. Usually, I just suffer and feel like crap about my self. But this time, I asked, it felt awful but overall, I'm not beating myself up about it. Because really, that just makes me sick mentally and physically.
2. Save money, stay in town - so due to the car stuff, I'm staying home for Turkey Day. The brighter side, I'm going to hang out with Ambookgeek. Also, my friends are awesome and have invited me to Turkey Day festivities so I had those options but I'm really looking forward to a movie and Chinese food. Also, Headphonerecord and Felicious will be in town for the weekend so I will get to spend some time with them too because I miss them so much!
3. Potlucks are the bomb, but plan it for the weekend - This wednesday we had our potluck and hello, can I just tell you my friends know how to cook!!! Amazing! Amazing mac & cheese, delicious stuffed dates wrapped in bacon, yummy cornbread muffins, mashed potatoes, spicy spicy greens, the best sweet potatoes (hold the marshmallows but throw on the crumb topping), turkey, ham, cheese plate goodness! Such a fun time. We missed some people but hopefully next year, if we do it over a Friday night we can actually not feel guilty about enjoying the cocktails and staying up late.
4. Open the door and let people in - I started a hula class and am starting to hang out with my other coworkers. I tend to like to keep things together but separate. Does that make sense? I try not to have the lines of my life cross over too much but this year, I have approached things differently. So, now I'm in the hula class that is actually testing the lines I have drawn. It makes me uncomfortable but I'm also feeling a little better about things. I just have a hard time trusting people and this class, for some reason, is really pushing that wall. I don't know if it will ever come down completely but I think there's a little crack.
Just curious because I think I had one of those weeks were I just agreed to help EVERYONE! It's ok. I agreed and I can do it but also it is more proof that I'm kind of crazy!
I had a surprisingly lovely Sunday. Normally, my Sundays are just pretty uneventful, I usually have a nice breakfast, hopefully with friends and then head on over to work and then home and more work. Big whoopee right? Well, today was super nice. Actually, the weekend's been pretty good.
Friday - I went to the school's dance production show and again the girls were amazing. I went with Melle (who cut out early), Tall Guy, B and Ambookgeek. Learned a hilarious joke (is it a joke?) from Ambookgeek that totally cracked me up.
Saturday - I woke up way too early and ended up going to the LA Arboretum. I didn't even know it existed but it is located in Arcadia, CA and honestly, I hardly ever go past Pasadena. I saw a sign and pulled off and there it was right off the freeway (210).
Here are some pictures:
I went a little happy with the macro and super macro features on my camera. Can you tell? I ended up spending 4 hours there just walking around and clicking away. Also lost some of my hearing because it's mating season for these guys:
at one point I was sitting on the ground not paying attention to the birds and this guy snuck up on me and honked. Have you ever heard a peacock mating call? yeah, it's not pretty and it's unbelievable loud. Too bad, I only saw 2 ladies for this guy and they were way at the other end of the park. Good luck guy!
And now it's Sunday! Back at work but before that I had a really nice breakfast with Mister JT then ended up talking on the phone for an hour with Felicious and then Headphonerecord and my sister. It's my niece's birthday today. She's going to Build-A-Bear and then lunch with her friend from school. Happy Birthday Little Banana!
She cracks me up. I tried having a conversation with her but you know, talking to a kid on the phone is a lot of work.
Now I'm here at work waiting for a night of Rock of Love Bus with Puppymommy and her sister. It's a wreck I know but I can't help but watch it.
Oh! I also bought a new DVD player so no more watching "The Legend of the Seeker." Whoo-hooo!
Life is Good. Life Is Good!
It is a balmy Thursday night in LA and I am forgoing a walk to chill at home for a night. I have not really slept since Monday. I wish I had exciting tales of smoky bars and dreamy sounds but it is more based on what I am slowly accepting at stress. I have 7 days left before the big trip and I am teaching a new unit so since Sunday night, I have woken up to thoughts of Facebook, GCast and other "Web 2.0" tools. I will delve into that on my other blog on another night.
I just wanted to share my new favorite singer, Lisa Shaw. She was recently on KCRW and the other night, Garth Trinidad played this track I posted and I just had to buy it. I have to also add that KCRW is soooo much better now. It hit a bit of a slump there with so much sleepytime tea music but now it is back to being amazing. I really did miss Garth Trinidad 5 nights a week and now he's been back for a while and I definitely stay home to listen to him spinning.
It was a pretty uneventful day but it has come to my attention (probably for the gazillionth time) that I am a bit too enthusiastic for people. Not that my enthusiasm for things are bad but I kind of get very caught up in in things and do not realize that it could be bother people. At the same time, no one says anything to me so I could be absolutely wrong. But we are all guilty of this right? Self-involvement. Still working on empathy, awareness, and authenticity...
Anyhoo - listen to this track and tell me what you think. It's "electronica." Most of her songs sound kind of the same but that definitely is not a bad thing.
Night!
I haven't had 2 days off in a row since the beginning of the school year and it was wonderful. I wish I did not need 2 jobs but I do but 2 days off was pretty amazing. I do have homework and to prepare for tomorrow's lesson but I really did enjoy myself. (Oh crap! Just remembered I need to do grades tomorrow morning! Luckily I finished all but one before semester break :))
I spent yesterday morning walking around Chinatown because it was new year's day. Happy Year of the Ox!
I also tried a restaurant called Kim Chuy which was in a little mini shopping center (there are a ton in Chinatown) and ended up having fried fish and rice. There is something about fried fish that is just comforting and I hardly eat it so it was time.
I even had time to make champuraddo. Have you had it? It's Filipino chocolate rice.
2 days off you can actually accomplish things like cleaning your little studio and laundry. Is it just me but is doing laundry at the laundromat complete torture? I swear, the owner has the worst station on the planet on. Let me just say it's like being locking in a room for 2 hours listening to Celine Dion. TORTURE! By the end of it, I'm staring at the clocking running down on the dryer so I can grab my clothes and throw them in the bag. I can't even stay there to fold because if you were stuck listening to Celine Dion for 2 hours you would want to stab your ears like me!
I also got to feed my new obsession with the Fleet Foxes album. It's really beautiful. I am sad I missed them on SNL.
and also digitize more CDs. I didn't have any Hepcat on my iTunes. I am not sure how that happened so I remedied it today.
So here are 2 songs to enjoy this evening.
There's this superstition about New Year's that basically says "whatever you are doing on New Year's Eve, is what you will be doing a lot of in the new year." Well, I was a sleep because I have a sinus infection. Yeah, so I am now hoping that is not true because (1) I really don't want to be sick the whole year and (2)...wait. I don't mind the sleeping. I'm actually ok with that one! I just don't want to be sick the whole year. So, I'm drinking tea, popping vitamins, and trying to eat better.
Last night, I did make it out to a wonderful dinner that Mellemusic set up at Full House in Chinatown.
I grabbed a ride home with Derrick and then quickly passed out as I attempted to watch ABC's new year's programming. Did anyone else see that? I could not stand that chick cohosting with what's his face, Ryan Seacreast. Annoying! I had to turn it off. Then at midnight, I listened and watched my neighbors fire off their illegal fireworks. It was like the 4th of July!!! My building is one of only 2 apartment buildings in the neighborhood and I can see the neighbors' backyards so it was pretty interesting to watch. If you have a house, you can hide those things. It was crazy.
Now, I'm convalescing with some tea and attempting to finish Inkheart by Cornelia Funke. Lovely book. My goals for today - a load of laundry; finish Inkheart; finish The Lost Art of Walking; talk to someone (which I did - my sister who had to work the night shift at the Marriot in Downtown San Diego) but I couldn't really talk because of my throat so I just mumbled stuff and coughed into the phone.
Hope you all have a very wonderful new year's day!!!
I am very disappointed that Prop 8 passed. I suppose, one gigantic step forward and two steps back. Though I did read a very interesting op-ed piece in the LA Times by Jasmyne Cannick, who states she is black, a political activist and a lesbian. I can see where she is coming from but I still think discrimination is discrimination. Maybe I'm naive but that is how I viewed the issue and plus, I have issue with people pushing their religious beliefs on the the rest of society. Hey, believe what you want but don't push your definition of marriage on me or anyone else.
I wish I could have taken part in discussions after the election but I was sick for 3 days. That was not pretty. I went to work one of those days but I should have stayed home. I have to remember that the flu shot is not for me. Actually shots are not for me though I have to get more shots for the upcoming trip to China. I spent 3 days in bed. I cannot believe a person can sleep that much but I did it.
In preparation for the study tour to China, I have started teaching myself Chinese and also am reading an interesting book titled China's Rise: Challenges and Opportunities.
Also, I finally finished Edward Abbey's Monkey Wrench Gang.
It was suggested reading for my trip to the Colorado River retreat from Cobalt Blue. It was a great read. I have never read any Edward Abbey but his descriptions of the Southwest were incredible. I can also see how this book is viewed as a call for "eco-terrorism" (I am not sure of a better phrase to use). He goes into such detail when the gang destroys a number of construction machines. It was funny and action-packed. I will probably read another Abbey book soon. Hayduke was hilarious but also disturbing. I discovered he has a definite following and fan-base, there are websites devoted to him. I liked Bonnie Abbzug, she did what she needed to do when she went back to the Doc. I am not going into detail because you might want to read it too.
I also finished my reading for Banned Books Week. Yeah, I'm super late but hey! I'm busy. I read Walter Dean Myers' Sunrise over Fallujah.
Anyway, here's a song to keep you moving on a lovely Saturday (well, it's lovely in LA). I've been listening to a lot of U.F.O. They were fabulous and positive and always puts me in a great mood. :)
Happy Halloween weekend! Whoo-hooo!
This is a picture of one of my cousin's daughter stealing her cousin's candy. Hilarious!
Right now, I'm sitting at work trying to figure out what I need to do tonight. On the list includes:
- comment writing
- finishing "Monkey Wrench Gang"
- laundry
- going for a long walk
- posting some pictures
- finishing my passport application
It was a pretty eventful week. Today, I tried a new breakfast spot, Vivian's Millenium Cafe on Ventura. Here is a better link. I heard about it last week from Tall Guy and because I was a dope and woke up an hour ahead of schedule (yeah, I forgot to switch my clocks!!! what of it?!? :)) I was out and about and thought I would try to rally the troops and head over there. I just read that they are the "home of the banana pancake." MisterJT had it and it was good! I had the Angelo's Special - it was scramble with ground beef, spinach and onions with home fries. It was delicious. They were super busy too at 9am. The service was ok. They were pretty busy so I had to get up once to ask for utensils but after that it was fine. They have a nice patio in the back but because it was raining we stayed inside.
Other events - I'm going to China!! Whoo-hooooo!!!! I applied to go on a study tour and I was chosen! WHOOO-HOOOOOOO!!!! I am SUPER SUPER SUPER excited! I do not know the details but I'm going and right now, that is all that matters. I have been having random moments of excitement throughout the day. I will be sitting here thinking of nothing and then I'll think, "I'm going to CHINA!!!!" and want to explode with happiness. Seriously, I never really thought I had a chance. I work with some smart talented cookies you know, like Ambookgeek. I know it will be work but I will be with some fun people and I think I will learn a lot...plus I will be IN CHINA!!!!
Today, I took my new passport photo. I think I have a wonky eye ball. But maybe it's just me. I showed MisterJT as breakfast and he laughed at me. But I know the truth!
Oh, also did not finish my costume so bummed! I will have to work on the hoodie part because that is important for my little project I'm working on.
Anyway, that's all folks! have a great week!
