Offline

So I've been MIA in the blogosphere for most of the month of March. I'm still enthusiastic about my little cyber vanity piece, but I can't find the time these days. I'd love to say that I've not posted because i've been stuck in the sand at Anse de Source de l'Argent, but the reality is not that spectacular. Lately, I can't be asked to be online much outside of work.

Currently Reading:
Animals in Translation by Temple Grandin, PhD

Recent film seen:
V for Vendetta

New undertaking:
Indoor Soccer at the Bladium in Alameda

Latest i-tunes purchase:
Anything Box "Worth"

Favorite Mash Ups:
Bizarre Light Triangle by New Donna
Mustang Intergalactic DJ Moule

I'm recovering from the drain my intensive 2-day read-a-thon of Dan "It was a dark and stormy night..." Brown's The Da Vinci Code. Have jumped into Angels and Demons against my will, though the cliffhanging chapters are really getting on my nerves. Angels et al is is great bart reading, if i ever get up early enough to take it. With all the track fires and bomb threats, I'm feeling a bit safer navigating ma petite poubelle over the Bay Bridge.

So i've turned instead to Temple Grandin's Animals in Translation. Ever since I finished the chapter called "How Animals Perceive the World," i've been finding myself identifying contrasts that animals and autistics would notice....shadows, shiny glaring puddles on the sidewalk, and yellow signs...

Shrimp

We recently saw Hustle and Flow on DVD. I thought Terrence Howard was brilliant and could understand why he was nominated for best actor. For a week after the film, that Three 6 Mafia song re-played in my head, over and over. So, I've written up some alternate lyrics. For those of you who know me well, you know very well my propensity for the absurd. I'll share those here and now, though they don't translate too well in the written form. I'd have to sing it for the full effect:

It's hard out here for a pimp
No money to get my hair curled and crimped

It's hard out here for a pimp
No money for juice box and shrimp

It's hard out here for a shrimp
All the big sharks think that I'm a wimp

Am nearly 15 pages from finishing The DaVinci Code, a.k.a. adult Harry Potter. Since the whole world has read the book, i thought i'd buckle down and get it over with. And that i've done, in record time. It's McLiterature crack-- i can't put it down. I woke up in the middle of the night to read about 20 pages, it's dire. In any case, it has been a welcome diversion from language acquisition theory and my work in Beijing. All I can say thus far--it's a surprise that Jesus was a mortal man??

Have you seen Google Earth? Last Friday at work, I was able to drop in on most of the places I've lived. I was even able to spy on the rooftop of my parents' home in Bellevue, Washington. Intriguing and frightening. Is it just me or can Google Earth further enable any stalker or would-be terrorist? If you were one who wanted to inflict mass harm, couldn't you just Google Earth your whole plan? However useful, all I can say is that this new tool left me a bit seasick.

What's next Google? The ability to hear anyone's voice? We'll just type in a phone number and download an audio sample of anyone's 2-minute greeting? Want to know what people are eating? We'll be able to type in a random name and get a live feed of the contents of their refrigerator. How high is your thread-count? Simply type in a number in the 150-1000 range and Google will pinpoint those who slumber with the same amount of softness as you.

Oh, and a co-worker told me that she saw a full recipe for crystal meth in a paper much like the Bay Area's Guardian. It didn't just list the ingredients, it spelled out the exact amounts of each ingredient, as well as why Sudafed was key to the whole recipe. Brilliant!

Happy Near End of the week....

Raves

Lately:

1. Newly discovered Windows Movie Maker on my work computer. I've had this computer for a little over two years and had no idea of this program. Two and a half minute documentaries now fill up my desk top. Good times.

2. Fort Minor's "The Rising Tied"

3. "Tortilla a la Espanola" from Alegria's

4. Great blog, new to me (friend of a friend): http://metropolitician.blogs.com/
Check out his entry about Daniel Henney (!!) and Hines Ward

5. Lonely Planet's The Travel Book

6. Lococo's on Piedmont. Their "Spaghetti with Meatballs and Peas" is a soulful experience.

7. Cooper, the neighborhood Daschund. He no longer resembles garden vermin and has developed the warmest and most endearing personality. He has a major crush on our T.O. but she can't be asked to bother with stubby excitable pups. She's all about opposites--she wants someone heartier, fluffier, taller, and calmer.

Apparently, "the Sun is presently in the most harmonious alignment with revolutionary Uranus. This powerful conjunction has the ability to "dissolve old images and allow a larger, freer self to emerge." Woo Hoo. If you're a Piscean, it says that we must pick up things we began in 1999. I know what that is for me--how about you, my fellow Pisces pals?

Doves

So let me explain what happened the other day...

First i should preface this with an earlier incident:

It was March 1999 when my beloved grandmother passed away. We were very close and I absolutely adored her. She passed away kind of unexpectedly and I've never really gotten over it. So in March, we all flew to Hawai'i. We were pulling out of the driveway to go to her funeral.

All of a sudden and out of nowhere, a beautiful white pigeon appeared. Now, in all the years i spent in Hilo, i NEVER saw this kind of bird, not ever close to the house, actually, not anywhere. This bird stood behind the car as we were reversing out of the driveway. The bird took a few steps back, the car reversed a bit, then it took a few steps back again... As we began our descent down the small hill, this mysterious white bird remained standing at the top. She watched our car go all the way down the hill. I immediately knew it was my grandmother. We all knew.

Fast forward to my birthday, March 2nd 2006. My grandparents were always great about my birthday, they never forgot, even when they got really sick. Lately i've been thinking a lot about them. On this day, I wore a special ring--my grandmother's most treasured piece of jewelry.

So anyway, i'm at work and it's about 3.30 in the afternoon. Cappy calls me in distress. "There are two DOVES that somehow got in!" At first, i thought she said "two ducks." Great, I thought, a field day for the Tubular One--her food source yapping and flapping all over the place. Then I realised she was saying "doves." Me: "Oh my god, open the windows!" Cappy: "I can't they're dive bombing me! They're perched up really high!" Now here's the weird thing, we only had one window open slightly. We've NEVER had birds enter the space in the four years we've been here!

Apparently these two grey doves, one male and one female were flying all over the place, perching here and there. Thankfully, a very freaked out Cappy was able to find a helpful neighbor. She helped her put out some bread and open up the windows.

The male bird was the first to fly out, yet the female bird took her time. She seemed to perch from various places: the track lighting rail, and nearly each exposed pipe and vent. The female bird finally did fly out, but not before having a long lingering look at Cappy.

Later, Cappy realized that the doves weren't really dive bombing, just checking out the space. She said, in retrospect, that they seemed protective and curious. I laughed to myself imagining my grandparents' mischievious year of the monkey spirits. After all the ruckus, some parts of the floors looked like a bridge underpass and the table tops looked like the night after a 70's drag show. Tiny feathers everywhere.

And I absolultely felt that I had a visit that day. It was a wonderful gift.

Decathlon

This is a picture I took at the University of Oregon Art Museum. I have vague memories of hiding out here... reading poetry by Shelley and sipping dark coffee. Ms. Sharmaine swears that she took some black/white photographs of me here for a project, but I can hardly remember that... On this day however, my experience was less than peaceful.

Cappy and i wandered into the Art Museum around noon on Sunday morning. After about twenty minutes or so, we walked upstairs to see the Asian Art collection on the 2nd floor. This featured artifacts from Korea and China. We walked into a large room with Chinese scrolls and paintings on the walls. There were miniature models of pagodas on wooden stands. At the end of the room there were costumes encased in glass, as well as jackets, helmets, robes, etc. Suddenly, we both felt intense waves of energy. It was like invisible ribbons of dark grey clouds were swerving in the room. At least, that's what I could visualise from the feeling I got. Immediately, we both acknowledged that we had quickly leave that room.

Cappy felt intense energies emanating from the artwork--a feeling of outrage and anger. She said the energy she picked up felt extremely draining. For me, i felt fear because i am always afraid of rage. I also felt severe sorrow and pain. It felt like something had a grip on my heart and was yanking it from my body. This might sound odd, but it made me think of the dementors in Harry Potter. A dark spirit that zapped out positive energy...

When we finally skipped down to the last step on the first floor, Cappy looked intently at something and sighed heavily, "Oh, no wonder." I looked at what she was pointing to. There was a sign that identified the exhibit that we escaped from--it was called "Life and Death in China." Things like this don't scare me. What was amazing was that it took about 30 minutes for me to feel as if i had my heart back.

Have you ever had an experience like this? I've had similar experiences at the Native American Museum at the University of British Columbia and also at an African store next to the Piedmont Theater in Oakland. I might write more about this kind of thing later. Maybe not.

But anyway---

It was a wonderful roadtrip. Unbelievably, we reached Ashland, Oregon quite late Friday night. At one point of the drive, we were driving 20 miles an hour through an intense snowstorm near Mt. Shasta. Good times.

Highlights of our trip:

-"The Decathlon" at Track Town Pizza in Eugene, Oregon. Though I've been all over the world, there are only two pizzas that are most memorable to me. The first is the pizza in Napoli, and the second is Track Town. Seriously. I love everything about Track Town. The honey wheat crispy crust. The photos of Steve Prefontaine on the walls. The wooden bench seats.

-Walking around the campus on a quiet Sunday morning. I walked Cappy through the amazing Triple A building (Allied Arts and Archictecture), the Erb Memorial Union, Willamette Hall, through the Art Museum, and the Knight Library.

-Courteous and considerate drivers who let you pass with a wave and a smile. This is a Pacific NW thing--when taken to the extreme, it can be just as dangerous as any Bay Area driver.

-Dropping in on the Hillcrest Winery, a small family operation in Roseburg, Oregon.

-Drinking "Rubinator" at the High Street Cafe. The High Street Cafe is a small pub that serves comfort food and the one of the only kinds of beer that I actually enjoy drinking. "Rubinator" is part Ruby, which is a raspberry beer, and Terminator, which is closest to the Irish Guinness. I'm not a beer person, but drinking Rubinator is as easy as it was sipping Smithwicks in Dublin.

-Attending the closing night of Eugene's first Asian-American film festival. We saw "The Grace Lee Project." The one Grace Lee that I know was actually featured in the film. She was the pixelated blob walking around Seoul.

I was reminded of a few things:

1. I never want to live in Korea again (seeing Grace Lee in Seoul...)
2. Eugene loves Steve Prefontaine
3. I actually do enjoy beer sometimes
4. Oregon is predominantly white
5. I am still shocked that I'm a Californian

Road Trip

Tomorrow (Friday) we embark on our first roadtrip of the year. This might imply that there are more to come, but quite frankly, I can't be asked to do more than a few roadtrips per year. Something about sitting in a car forever, seeing signs like "My Destination 300 miles" kills me. And we're bringing the Tubular One. That should be interesting.

We're leaving tomorrow afternoon with the goal of reaching Ashland, Oregon. We should make that in 5-6 hours. However, I've read that there's a 30% chance for snow on our way up. Great. We'll definitely be carrying chains with us. For those unfamiliar with Ashland, it's a quaint little town 15 miles north of the California border. It's home to the annual Oregon Shakespeare festival, polenta pancakes with warm marionberry sauce, mountain biking, skiing, music, and Victorian B&B's. And us, for one night.

I've been there once a long time ago. I saw "A Winter's Tale," and "The Tempest" at the outdoor theater in the middle of summer. Unfortunately, we won't be staying there too long though. After breakfast with friends, we'll continue our trip north to Eugene, Oregon. Home of the Ducks, the Bijou theater, Excelsior, Track Town Pizza, and my home for five years a long time ago.

It's been about thirteen years since I left Eugene in the beginning of July in 1993. A lot of things were going on at that time--graduation, coming out, packing, my first Gay Pride (San Francisco), preparing to leave for Japan that August for two years... All of my grandparents flew over from Hawai'i. My parents and brother were there too. I was getting back together with someone and breaking up with someone else at the same time, the same week. Oh, and I wasn't out to my family just yet. Total chaos.

I've decided to take this trip with Cappy as kind of a pre-birthday getaway. My birthday is not too far off, and not too welcome, i might add. Eugene is not only where i went to school, it's also the first city i landed in when i flew over from Korea at 9 months. In the freezing winter of 1970, my parents drove down from Seattle, Washington to pick me up at the Eugene Airport.

One year while in school at the U of O, a good friend of mine kidnapped me for my 20th birthday. She made me cover my eyes and she drove me to some "secret location." When i finally was able to see, i opened my eyes to an incredible sight. A flood of blue lights flashed before me, running up and down. My friend was able to somehow drive us to a spot that is near dead center of the runway at the Eugene Airport. She had no idea what it meant, by bringing me there. I think I told her, but not for a few weeks. It really didn't dawn on me until then...

So i have this nagging thing in me. I don't know what it's called. I'll re-watch films, re-read favorite books, re-read journal entries, and order the same thing over and over again in restaurants. Lately, i've felt more desire to revisit places I've been to, rather than discover new places. Or maybe, and i think this is what that's all about--I'm trying to re-trace my steps with Cappy. Next, but in no particular order--we'll visit her school, my favorite places in Japan, Ko Tao, Thailand, and eventually Korea.

Oil

Post-Syriana thoughts:

Tyranny is tyranny wherever you go. Every battling country elicits the newly immigrated or disenfranchised to do their dirty work.

P.Diddy and the character Prince Nasir Al-Subaai have much in common. Precisely shaved, not into giving back to their communities, greedy, and highly ostentatious. Also, more sadly, in order to keep their current administration's game plan, they need to continue to be just as they are.

Power does not corrupt. Fear corrupts... perhaps the fear of a loss of power.
-John Steinbeck, novelist, Nobel laureate (1902-1968)

All for now. I'm sick because of the above, and also physiologically.

Soccer

Another season with the ladies in green and white striped jerseys has begun. Eclipse is the name of the team we played against tonight. Final score: Eclipse 2- Poppers 2. I'm in no better shape this season, but enjoy it much more. The games are a welcome change from the hours i spend in a cube farm.

On my way down 880 last night, I was thinking of the names of soccer teams I've been on:

The Golden Eagles--2nd grade-4th grade
The Rebels-- 5th grade-6th grade, same team as above, with more attitude
The Cobras--High school, State select team. Very competitive. Hated it.
One Last Time--High school, Fun team. We all wore #10 jerseys. Loved it.
Diablitas--2000-2001 The infamous team of Dolores Park and the World Cup Indoor League
Circus Animals--2005 Outdoor co-ed. Never again.

The other day my mom and i were reminiscing about all the soccer teams i've played on. We brought up a few names i hadn't thought of in ages. One of them was Kris H. She was a teammate of mine on the "Cobras." She had hair like the guy from the Flock of Seagulls, but it was dark brown. Spiky bangs covered most of her face. She hated high school and i wonder if she hated soccer too? She seemed perpetually enraged, but in a quiet way. To me, she was the sweetest person you could ever meet. She smoked clove cigarettes minutes before walking on the field--and then proceed to run like lighting all over the field for two 40 minute halves. Incredible.

Cassettes

I recently started taking inventory of old cassette tapes that have been sitting in an old leather case since 1995 or so. I'm either throwing them away or replacing them digitally, via i-tunes. I've found a few sentimental favorites though.

First cassette bought: Xanadu the Soundtrack
Most loved in 5th or 6th grade: Pat Benetar "Crimes of Passion"
Most worn out cassette: U2 "The Unforgettable Fire"
Totally forgotten but loved : The Sugarcubes "Life's Good"
Most played in 1988: Depeche Mode "Black Celebration"
Gift tape that I never listened to: Dirty Dancing Soundtrack
All Time Best Mixed Tape: The one by the girl from Geneva

Mixed Tapes. i've kept a few of the best recorded cassettes with clever or romantic titles. It's funny to look at the cracked plastic cases encased in dust and think that at one time, they were my life. Rather, the makers of the tapes were. Or so i led myself to believe.

Of all the mixed tapes i've received in my life, some of the best were from a boyfriend in college. Presently, he's a junior high school English/drama teacher in a Portland, Oregon. Last i heard, he's married with two or three kids. Thankfully i completely escaped that fate... living in that overgrown town, driving a minivan, being bored out of my mind... but i still love the music.

A few of the best selections:

Swingin' Party--The Replacements
The Only Thing that Shines--Shriekback
My Bag-- Lloyd Cole
Uncertain Smile--The The
It's Only Life--The Feelies
Beyond Belief--Elvis Costello
Hearbreak a Stranger--Bob Mould
The Other Way of Stopping--the Police
Soon--My Bloody Valentine
Good Good Things--Descendents
Train in Vain--The Clash
Ana Ng--They Might Be Giants
Just Like Honey--Jesus and Mary Chain
Head On--Pixies
Carolyn's Fingers--Cocteau Twins
Deep Ocean, Vast Sea--Peter Murphy

Remember the "rules" of mixed tapes? Side A was usually the warm up for the hard hitting Side B. When i say hard hitting, i'm referring to the songs that implied, "Hey i like you, you could be my next big thing..." when you felt it, but couldn't say it. You never put a song by the same artist on one side, nor right after the other by that same artist. For the exciting surprise factor you didn't list the song titles. You decorated the cover by carefully pasting images on the paper jacket thing. Mixed tapes were given within the first month of dating, not first week.

Then came the ability to create CDs. The best part of that was being able to be precise about the times of songs, to not overflow the CD, nor fall short of the space available. In the world of mixed tapes, there was always that problem of finishing Side B, but seeing that smidgen of space left on the cassette, and the horror of beginning to record a song that cuts off.

Now one can created a mixed CD in less than 3 minutes. Great, but a lot is lost because of it. In my mind, it was a relaxing and structured way of pining. All these things: searching for the perfect opening song for Side A, rewinding/forwarding, carefully printing on the cassette jacket so the ink didn't run, the joy of handing it over and receiving it, analysing lyrics, playing and re-playing...

Encore

More Lists of 3's:

Foods you’d think I love but don’t:
-Peking Duck
-Unagi Donburi (unagi anything)
-Avocado

Hidden Talents:
-Flipping a Fried Egg with smooth wrist/pan action
-Pen Twirling (ambidextrously, to boot)
-Dig Dug High Scorer

Recently purchased itunes songs:
-Happy When it Rains-- Jesus and Mary Chain
-Come Dancing-- The Kinks
-Near You Always-- Jewel

Hobbies/Interests that are SO not me:
-Gardening
-Arts and Crafts
-Antiques

Things you’d think I can’t stand but actually like:
-Vacuuming
-Hot Dogs
-Eminem

Movies you'd think i like but don't:
-Gia
-Moulin Rouge
-Bound

Matrix-like Skills I’d like to download:
-Complete Fluency in Mandarin and Spanish
-Instant and Lifelong Physical Conditioning appropriate for triathlons and soccer games
-Magic (I’d be the first Korean-Lesbian Street Magician)

Tomfoolery

So we brought the petulant Tubular One to a local dog park this past weekend. All week, she had been pouting and whining--something along the lines of "you guys never take me to the dog park anymore! It is the year of the dog now.... he-LLO!?" She then herded us into Cappy's car, and took her place... Two front paws on the middle arm rest and face forward like a captain off to sea. Cappy turned the keys to the ignition, and we were off.

We finally pull into the overflowing parking lot. At this point, the Tubular One was panting at the window and ready to jump out. The sight of all the burly Rottweilers, black labs, and Australian Sheep dogs was enough to make my eyes water and nose run. As we approached the fenced area, I tightened my grip on T.O.'s cheetah leash--could she hold her own with the big dogs?

Thankfully, we spotted a separate fenced in partition for those dogs under 30 pounds. Phew. Although our T.O. loves to flirt with big fluffy boy dogs, we thought it more appropriate for her to romp with other short-legged creatures. Less chance for an "incident." Ha.

The small dog section was awash with white fluffy puffies in pink sweaters, chihuahuas with snarls and growls, and a score of mini Yorkies playing street basketball sans street and ball. They were a tough group. I soon realised we shouldn't be be fooled by their canine duds and fashionable grooming.

Instinctively, Cappy picked up the T.O. as we surveyed the lot. Thinking it was OK, we finally placed the T.O. on the ground. We might as well have been lowering her into a shark pool. Within two seconds, she was surrounded by a collective mass of yelping fur. The T.O., on her best behavior started out with her usual play bows. Seeing that the other fluffie toughies were all about rough and tumble tomfoolery, we scooped her up again. We placed her down on a grassier patch, but no sooner, the fur gang was at her heels again.

Moral of the story: The Napoleonic syndrome is not restricted to humans. And to the Tubular One, be careful of what you wish for--you may get it...and then some!


3's here, shamelessly copied from the folks at Lunamania (1.28.06 entry). Somehow the list is limited the list to threes, so off i go...

Three books I can read over and over:
-The Material World: A Global Family Portrait
-The Journals of Dan Eldon: The Journey is the Destination
-Lonely Planet: France

Three Places I've lived:
-Near Seoul National University, Seoul Korea
-Nishi-Aizu, Japan
-Market/Guerrero S.F.

Three TV shows I love:
-6 Feet Under
-VH1's Behind the Music
-Iron Chef

Three highly regarded and recommended TV shows that I've never watched a single minute of:
-Curb Your Enthusiasm
-Weeds
-Xena the Warrior Princess

Three places I've (recently) vacationed:
-Mendocino, California
-Hilo, Hawai'i
-Lake Tahoe

Three of my favorite dishes:
-my late grandmother's nishime and chicken long rice
-chop chae
-lomi salmon, poi, and lau lau

Three sites I visit daily:
-nytimes.com
-jonathancainer.com
-imdb.com

Three places I'd rather be right now:
-Asleep and wrapped up in our 1000 thread count sheets
-Mukaitaki, Aizu-Wakamatsu, Japan
-Disneyland (in the midst of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride)

Gibberish

i'm in love with a new group. New to me that is. They're called Sigur Rós which comes from the very common girl's name Sigurrós in Iceland.

Their music is esoteric and heavenly. It's like moody Icelandic Enya meets arctic Deathcab/electronic Cowboy Junkies. Is it Canadian? Is it trip hop Bjork? Hard to pin this down. But the result is lovely.

What i find compelling about this group is that they have an unusual approach to lyrics. Apparently most of their songs are sung in Icelandic, but some are sung in an invented language called "Hopelandic." This is a kind of a "gibberish lyric that fits the music and acts as another instrument." Jónsi the singer, sings in Hopelandic to fit the melody before there are vocals.

At some point they must have decided to go with the perfectly fitting gibberish, rather than figuring out lyrics. Brilliant. And would i or anyone non-Icelandic be able to distinguish the difference of Hopelandic and Icelandic? i can't tell if Hopelandic is absurd or genius. i just think it sounds pretty wonderful.

By the way, I wonder if Elizabeth Frazier of the Cocteau Twins used some sort of Scottish gibberish--could anyone figure out what she was saying?

Cities

My Year in Cities for 2005:

Apparently someone has a blog or site where people list the cities they've been to? You're supposed to list cities you've stayed in, drive by cities don't count.

Starting point:
Oakland, California

San Francisco, California
Monterrey, California
St. Helena, California
Yountville, California
Mendocino, California
Truckee, California
Reno, Nevada
Bellevue, Washington
Hilo, Hawai'i
Beijing, China
Paris, France
Reims, France

2006 Projected:

Tokyo, Japan
Koriyama, Japan
Aizu-Wakamatsu, Japan
Niigata, Japan
Beijing, China
Hilo/Kona, Hawai'i
Seattle/Bellevue, Washington
Eugene, Oregon
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Livingston, New Jersey
Long Island, New York
New York City, New York

....by the way, i'm not yet sure what i think of the "My Year of Cities" blog. What do you think?

In a way, it makes me think of how much I don't explore my immediate surroundings. Not referring to the Bay Area, but i've been to more cities in Europe/Asia than in the U.S. Hopefully we'll get to the cities on the East Coast mentioned above. It's about time i see where my Cappy grew up and went to school.

Time

C.S. Lewis wrote about the mystery of time in a letter to a friend of his on December 23, 1950:

"Do fish complain of the sea for being wet? Or if they did, would that fact itself not strongly suggest that they had not always, or would not always be, purely aquatic creatures? Notice how we are perpetually surprised at Time. (`How time flies! Fancy John being grown-up and married! I can hardly believe it!') In heaven's name, why? Unless, indeed, there is something about us that is not temporal."

Fish are clearly at home in their environment. Perhaps our uneasinesss with time suggests that humans were not created to live in this world. In any case, we're obsessed with time. I've got book called "A Sideways Look at Time" and i've not had time to read it yet. Go figure.

But it's true--we act as if we're surprised with the passing of time. Sadly, i can say that i don't know Hilo all that well now. You know you don't know a small town when you can't suggest a good restaurant anymore. When my mom asked me where i wanted to eat, i named restaurants that had either closed or changed hands. Sad. It made me think of the Hilo that existed when i was young. The Wendy's that was a chiropractic clinic is now a Starbuck's. Roy's Gourmet became Kay's Lunch Center, but is now, "Kalbi Express."

I was reminiscing and feeling nostalgic about things i no longer see in Hilo. Reading the above bit from C.S. Lewis was reassuring--why should i be so awestruck that a town has changed much in 10-15 years since i spent so much time there?

So, rather than listing and lamenting on things gone by in Hilo, i'll list 3 semi-new things to me that i noticed:

1. The Poke Truck with their motto, "We make em' like you like 'em" (See picture above) If you're not local, or have no idea what poke is, here's a clue. We didn't stop to pick up some poke here--my dad's recipe is better than any chef in Honolulu. Actually buying poke is like the equivalent of a Baskin and Robbins employee paying for a scoop of Jamocha Almond Fudge. Dad was actually offended when i brought home some ahi poke from KTA supermarket one day. Well not totally offended, but his first comment was, "no mo enough chili pepper..."

2. On the corner near the airport, there's a drive inn that has been home to many fast food restaurants. When i was young it was Dairy Queen, then it changed to many short lived local plate lunch houses. The former DQ has finally found a well-liked resident, "Verna's." Unless you've heard about the food there, you might miss it if they didn't have their great sign that greets people at a busy four-way stop: "If no can, no can. If can, Verna's!" We got Dad an extra large grey Verna's t-shirt (with the aforementioned logo of course!) and we all recited "If No Can, No Can, If Can VERNA'S!" at various points throughout the trip. Extra points if you can decipher what their slogan means. We came up with a few variations...

3. De la Cruz ice shave truck. They stop in at the parking lot of Onekahakaha beach on weekends to serve the hungry kids tired of drinking saltwater. They sell anything from manapua, gravy burgers, rainbow ice shave, li hing mui, to hostess ding dongs. i've not seen the old Filipino couple who operate the truck in years. i was happy that we happened to be at the beach that day.

And no, i'm still not out of vacation mode. i'm still thinking about the lifeguard thing.

Waipi'o

For those of you unfamiliar with Waipi'o Valley on the Big Island of Hawai'i, it was the home of to the kings of old Hawai'i. Most of the taro that is cultivated for poi is grown in the lush valley. It takes about 2 hours to drive there from Hilo, via the small town of Honoka'a.

For all the summers i spent on the Big Island, i had never been near Waipi'o Valley. Unbelievable right? It's kind of like local people here in the Bay Area who've never been to Alcatraz. Or not. You know what i mean.

Over the holiday, we spent an entire day on horses from the Waipi'o Ridge Stables. It was my surprise treat for Cappy on her birthday. i opted for the 5-6 hour "Hidden Waterfall" ride. i know what you're thinking--5-6 hours can be dire for those unaccustomed to long hours in a leather saddle. And would Cappy thank me or hate me for such a surprise? Thankfully, we weren't on horseback for the entire time. And though we were a bit sore, it was totally worth it.

The brochure promised a wonderful "...journey along the rim of Waipi'o Valley to the top of Hi'ilawe, one of Hawaii's highest and most beautiful waterfalls." The extra special Hidden Waterfall ride promised even more wonderment: "As we ride deeper and deeper into the rainforest we encounter a series of smaller, beautiful waterfalls and secret pools. Soon it's time to tie up your horse and hike down to a very private waterfall spilling into a pristine ginger lined pool."

Cappy was assigned to the shortest horse of the bunch, Kaleo. She later described this horse as an "ornery donkey" because he failed to respond to her constant tugs on his rein. He didn't give up a single opportunity to graze on the green grass, ferns, and anything else in his path. It was basically a constant "drive through" for Kaleo.

My horse was called Roddo. He was a 20-year old horse derived from the Spanish stock of horses that first occupied Hawai'i. He was thankfully not as voracious as Kaleo. And for some reason, he decided that he would listen to me. My only complaint was that he loved to trot spontaneously which was brilliant, though painful.

The Hidden Waterfall was exactly that. We rode up the mountain and our horses waded through shallow rivers to get to it. You didn't have to dip a toe into the water to know the water was freezing. Still, there was no way we were killing ourselves for 2 hours to not swim in the "pristine ginger lined pool." Not to sound cheesy, but it was that. Though the water was arctic, it was completely refreshing. We had a picnic lunch of sub sandwiches from Blane's Drive Inn in nearby Honoka'a.

After a brief dip into the aforementioned arctic waters, we got dressed and got back on the saddle, literally. The prospect of another 2 hours back to the stables seemed fun, yet painful to my increasingly strained back.

It's funny. The whole experience seemed so cheesy and unreal, both from the brochure and the actual experience. In the moment however,it felt so normal--as if we ride through tropical forests on horseback every morning. It's odd how things feel nearly ordinary in the moment, yet totally glossy afterwards. I can easily recall the sound of the breeze weaving through the eucalyptus trees, the sound of horse hooves trudging over rocks, and the silence except for the steady footsteps of 10 horses in single file through the jungle.

Match Point

My favorite Woody Allen films are: Annie Hall, Alice, Mighty Aphrodite and Small Time Crooks. Though i wouldn't say i'm a serious fan, i appreciate his sense of humor a great deal. As far as his personal life, i can't be asked to analyze that. There has been so much buzz around "Match Point," i thought i'd check it out.

If you've not seen this film yet and/or intend to, be aware that there are some spoilers in the paragraphs below...

In my mind, the main reason that this film is being heralded so is because it offers his fans a much needed break from the usual Woody Allen experience. We're spared the whining, self-indulgent casting, and plots that are a bit too clever (e.g. Melinda and Melinda).

Frankly, the plot line is really tired. Working class guy marries into wealthy family, has an affair, but refuses to give up the life he has become accustomed to, and someone ends up dead. The conclusion is hokey yet cynical. You've seen this film before. Though, even though you recognise the story and could predict where it was going, it was still pretty riveting.

The casting was natural and fitting, especially with Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. He does a wonderful job disguising his strong Irish accent--you get the feeling he's been trying to do that his whole life. Woody Allen made London seem more appealing than it actually is, from indoors that is. Chris'apartment with Chloe was amazing, but i wondered if it was actually an office building they used as their loft just for the film.

The editing was flawless. i'm a big fan of editing that doesn't give too much away, nor leads you on too much. It's a lot like the pace of a good waiter in a fine restaurant....the perfect amount of space from the time you sit, to when you order your drinks, when the plates are brought out and cleared...

I left the film thinking about things in life that have happened out of sheer luck. Things that have seemed too outrageous to be real. And though i'd love to finish this thought, i can't seem to at the moment.

Year of the Dog

Hawai'i was wonderful...

Am putting some thoughts together--i am still wistfully processing the whole experience. Currently i feel like leaving the corporate world and becoming a lifeguard at my favorite beach in Hilo. i liked encountering pleasant and friendly drivers who would smile and wave from their cars for me to pull ahead. i liked that i could go places and people would ask my last name, and they'd know my family. i liked going to the beach every day and having the biggest decision be what kind of shave ice i was going to have that day. i'm clearly not over my vacation. More to come on that.

i can tell you about the horrendous flight over, however:

Apparently, we flew to Hawai'i on a day of a huge tropical storm. This storm was tracked across the Pacific stirring up 25 foot waves. A normal 4 hour flight turned into a 5.5 hour nightmare.

Usually turbulence has been a rough patch of clouds or wind. i grip the armrests and it's over. This time, the turbulence was intense and long-lasting. It lasted for over twenty minutes two different times. The "fasten your seatbelt" light was on for most of the flight. There was at times that eerie silence that comes when people are too scared to move. Some people screamed when the plane dipped for about five seconds, then tipped heavily to the left. i found myself wishing and praying that it would stop, and thinking at certain moments that i'd never see my family again.

At one point, the plane was silent except for a boy in the back who was talking loudly, "Dad, if the we crash will the plane protect us?" Comforting and exactly what you want to hear at 20,000 feet above the Pacific!! At one point, i realised that the experience of turbulence was quickly surpassing my fear of dentists.

We landed horribly wibbly wobbly at the Honolulu International Airport. After a comforting plate lunch, we headed to the airport bar for a much needed drink before our inter-island flight later that afternoon. Enough about this.

We have stumbled into 2006 the Year of the Dog. We're all about the dog here at pennylane productions--i am a dog and i live with a dog. Am i a dog person? If you've always associated being close to fur with not being able to breathe, i think it's difficult. i can say that i'm a dog person by fate, as those i'm close to love dogs.

Apparently, one born in the year of the dog is:

-loyal
-honest
-selfish
-stubborn
-eccentric
-trustworthy
-a good leader
-reliable
-compassionate
-anxious

We get along best with Horses, Tigers, and Rabbits.
We worry a lot.
We're good listeners.

And guess what, we're going to have a very good year.

Aloha 'oe

The last pennylane production posting for the year 2005. It's nearly midnight on December 22nd, seconds away from the very beginning of the 23rd--the day of our now 3rd take off to Hilo, Hawai'i.

i am overjoyed at the thought of Christmas morning with the two little ones filling the house with giggles and joy. That said, there is a bittersweet feeling that i no doubt will be trying to conceal.

Without going into too much explanation and detail, my grandparents house will be going up for sale in late 2006. This house where i spent every summer of my life from one years old until 22 years--will be soon reduced to a visceral memory. Goodbye to the creaky wooden floor, the tattered shoji doors, the ocean view, the intricate zodiac front door handle, the slippery orangey garage floor...

At the end of the day, or should i say, when we take our last breath of air on this planet, it matters very little what material objects we possess. Least of all what kind of house you occupied, invested, or grew up in. So it goes.

When you're a child, you feel the house you're most connected to will always be there. It never occurs to you that the wealth of your memories might not always have tangible footing in a particular room or hallway. As an adult, the memories seem to blend together powerfully into a quick film in my mind. It feels mildly devastating to think the house will soon reside solely in memory.

Here's a thought that soothes me: Perhaps one can feel OK to let go of a house when it is certain that its former inhabitants have taken flight. In that sense, i've recently seen my grandparents together laughing and happy in my dreams. I'm quite certain that they're continuing their world travels together. i think they're pretty much over the house. i hope to be as well...someday.

Positive bouyancy for this holiday season--that's my mantra.

A few songs that are tiptoeing quietly through the air here:

Misguided Angel---Cowboy Junkies
Love it when a song of theirs comes out of nowhere on the ipod shuffle. Comforting sadness.

Where's the Ocean---Toni Childs
First heard this song in 1993. It haunts me to this day. What do you see when you hear this song? i imagine a very foggy beach in the late morning or late afternoon. The time just before the sun comes up or goes down. And when i say it haunts me, it means i totally love it.

Perfect Skin---Lloyd Cole
"...she's inappropriate but she's much more fun..."

Pennylane Productions is signing off for the year but before i go:

Resolutions for 2006:

1. Eat more carbs
2. Italjet scooter (wait, that's not a resolution, but it is one less car...)
3. More acupuncture
4. More drums
5. Definitely more surfing
6. Less sneezing (see #3)

World 66

I've come across a great website allows you to create a map of all the countries you've been to in the world, in the U.S., and in Europe. This is a map that represents those countries i've visited. You can create a map of all the states you've visited, all the Canadian provinces you've visited, and all the countries in Europe you've been to. All of the countries i've been to in this image represents 14% of the world, according to World 66.

I have yet to travel to South America and Africa and would like to wholeheartedly. Top of my list: Salvador de Bahia, Brasil and Ghana, Africa. Also: Taiwan, New Zealand, Turkey, Finland, Shanghai, Ecuador, Cambodia, Belize, Honduras, the Truk Islands and the Seychelles (Anse Source d'Argent....)

To everyone i know living in different corners of the United States, Europe, and Asia --all the best for the holidays! Hope to see you in 2006 : )

Rotation

Go local:

1. Hunan Village, near the Grand Avenue Theater
Totally American Chinese--most die hard H. Villagers are non-Asians who order veggie noodles, sweet and sour chicken, and moo shu pork. What makes this one of my favorites is the fact that they make the absolute best hot and sour soup in the Bay Area. The level of spiciness tends to vary from really spicy to mild. The dishes other than the aforementioned soup are unremarkable, but you'll enjoy the ambiance here. My favorite part about Hunan Village is the owners. They've run the restaurant for 15+ years and know their regular customers by name. They've observed children grow from toddlers to high school students. Their hospitality, warmth, and friendliness is unmatched. An excellent choice for mid-week days when you're hungry but uninspired and too lazy to cook. They'll always greet you with a smile and you'll be glad you stopped in.

2. Jong Ga House, 372 Grand Avenue
The owners were part of the restaurant "Koryo Sushi" on Telegraph. Apparently once that restaurant got on its feet, the owners quietly slipped out the back door to open this one. It's located in a residential area, so you're not able to grill your kalbi. Excellent, efficient friendly service even when it gets really busy. In my past life at Mills College, i sometimes accompanied my Korean students here. They trekked here weekly and often brought their French, Taiwanese, Japanese, and Brasilian friends. My favorites: mandoo guk soup, chop chae, dolsot bi bim bap, dobu jigae, and barbeque chicken. Cappy loves the cold noodles they serve just after you order, the fried flatfish and the barbeque shrimp. Jong Ga staples: i happily use the basic Korean i know, i always think i'm seeing someone who looks just like me before i realise it's my own mirrored reflection (duh...it gets me every time), and i feel empty and lost if i don't eat here more than a few times a month.

3. Drunken Fish, 3314 Piedmont Avenue
Don't let all the bottles of sake fool you. This is a Korean joint. Those too tired to get back over the bridge on a Friday night can experience Korean freestyle sushi at it's best. Tantalizing? You have to see it to believe it: TNT roll, Shrek roll, Mexican Roll, Titanic roll. Avoid all the "Japanese" entrees, miso soup, and most appetizers. Go right for the obnoxious and inappropriate rolls that double as food art. I mean this endearingly. Where else can you check out the REI bridge and tunnel lesbian fashion (so sexy) as you ponder the architecture of the Titanic roll you just bravely ordered. Please say you hear the sarcasm and yes, i'm so going straight to hell. Forget about quick service--just don't order your mini-monstrosities all at once. Once you accept the uncommon mixtures...avocado with spicy tuna deep fried with salmon and teriyaki sauce--you can then really enjoy it. Just don't bring/go with your Japanese friends straight off the jet. Or do...you'll be amused with their subtle derisive glances at the Shrek roll dropped off at the table next to you. You can remind them that they do put CORN on pizza and stuff potato salad in sandwich buns.

4. Los Cantaros Taqueria, down the street from Jong Ga House on Grand Avenue
This is the new tacqueria that opened up just down the street from Jong Ga House. Apparently, this space has been about four or five restaurants in the last fifteen years. We think they've finally created a keeper. Not bad: Veracruz salad, chicken mole, chips/salsa, homemade tamale specials, enchiladas, and sopes. Take out is a good option on busy nights. It's not Pancho Villa in the Mission, or La Corneta in Glen Park, but the food is fresh and the people are friendly.

5. Full House Cafe, 3719 MacArthur Boulevard
In my humble opinion, Full House is the best breakfast cafe in Oakland. They do ordinary things really well. Best breakfast items: cornmeal pancakes, pecan waffles, huevos rancheros, chicken/beet scramble, and their above average diner coffee. Also, their fabulous grits is an alternative to house potatoes and fruit. And they make bacon extra crispy if you request it. The best part about Full House is the diverse group of people. Gay/straight families, young hipsters, chatty old school war vets, artists, hung over Mills students, etc. Note: hit up an ATM first. It's a cash only joint.

There are others i've probably forgotten. i'm only listing reasonable quick go to places when we're hungry but can't be asked to put something together at home. In a future blog, i'll list all of my favorite restaurants in the Bay Area and beyond. Or maybe i'll list a few now:

1. Bouchon -Yountville
2. Chenery Park-Glen Park
3. B44- Belden Lane
4. Gombei- San Jose Japantown
5. Koryo Sushi-Berkeley
6. Saul's Deli -Berkeley
7. Pomelo -Snowy Valley The Cuban Fried Rice plate absolutely.
8. Jeanty at Jack's The "Soft Boiled Egg and Escarole Salad with a Warm Bacon Vinaigrette" is to DIE for. Again and again.

Zap

i'm waiting for cappy to finish something on her computer so we can get going here. The time thing still doesn't work on my blog but i can reveal that it's early Friday evening and we're off very soon. i will stop writing when it's time to go.

Totally self-indulgent quirky lazy jibberish:

-i like seeing Christmas movies when it's nowhere near Christmas, and not so much when we're in the midst of the holidays

-i love eating dried mango. The big bags from Cebu at Costco are my new favorite thing

-Arizmendi pizza with yams, purple onions, goat cheese, and pecans is divine. Unforgettable.

-i admit that i would like to see Coldplay in concert. i found out that Chris Martin and i share the same birthday. A singing Pisces elf. And i don't care if they're overproduced, overly serious, insufferable, annoying, and loved by kids in high school. Ugh. i love their music. Chris Martin has a slight lisp, have you noticed that?

-Great Christmas memory: Waking up when i was 7 or 8 and seeing a new Barbie Townhouse fully set up in my room. It would have been nice to unwrap it, but it was a spectacular thing to wake up to.

-If i could zap myself anywhere in the world today, i'd go here: Mukaitaki (minus the sakurasashi and koi...) Zap, zap, zap!! Not working.

P.S. Special shout out to my Kiwi friend Graham in Fukushima-shi. Stay warm and enjoy some Tohoku ramen for me!

Sounds

What is that sound? That similar guitar line, that new wave pop sound, it's so familiar. Who does it remind me of? A little research shows that everything comes back to the Beatles.

So let's start with my new favorite band, the Killers....

The Killers were influenced by Duran Duran, who were influenced by Blondie, who was influenced by David Bowie who was influenced by the Beatles...

Same as above for the below:

Yeah Yeah Yeahs---Blondie---David Bowie---the Beatles
Franz Ferdinand---Joy Division---David Bowie---the Beatles
Arcade Fire---David Bowie---the Beatles

If i were in a band today, i'd say my influences are:

Duran Duran, This Mortal Coil, The Beloved, Crowded House, and New Order. What kind of sound would that be? Moody dance music that is best enjoyed behind the wheel or while twirling at home with a glass of wine. Of course withe the glass of wine set down before pre-twirling... Like i'd be in a band again--but why not, life is too short to not do what you love. Right now i love the drums. Right now i love many things.

Recent favorite songs:

All These Things That I've Done--The Killers
Maps --Yeah Yeah Yeahs
Reptilia --The Strokes

i absolutely love The Killers these days. i've not liked a new group this much since i discovered the Postal Service. And i've not liked a singer like the groovy Korean girl Karen O. (of the Yeah Yeah Yeahs) since i first heard Hope Sandoval a long while ago.

Note:
Somehow the time function is not/hasn't been working properly on my blog. i have no idea what time will appear below...

Recently

It's all about the little things:

-Visiting with Cappy's Mom and my parents this month. Good times.

-A week long break from Boot Camp.

-Re-connecting with my long lost friend Michael via Hipster. i first met him at a JET conference at the Portopia hotel Kobe in 1994. We lounged about for 2-3 days in various seminars, enjoying the time away from our small towns. We were on the lookout for other LGBT life forms, laughing at/with quirky Canadians, and chatting up Ingrid from London.

-A new Cafe Del Mar CD

-Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Repeat viewing needed, especially for the first 15 minutes. Though, i missed the house elf situation with Hermione and a lot else that wasn't included in the film.

-A bit of Christmas shopping done early.

-A very odd dream where i was salsa rollerblading in my elementary school gym. i was totally smoove and wearing all brown.

-Pistachio gelato from Ciao Bella at the Ferry Building.

-The Tubular One's red rain jacket and the happy way she flaunts it.

-Consuming Gia's biography like potato chips. Perfect bart reading. Now i've got to see the movie which i've totally not seen yet.

-My new happy boots.

And another Tuesday gone...

Pidgin

pidgin n. (pjn) A simplified form of speech that is usually a mixture of two or more languages, has a rudimentary grammar and vocabulary, is used for communication between groups speaking different languages, and is not spoken as a first or native language.

My friends have always told me, "Your parents have an accent." Unless they were from Hawaii, they may have assumed my parents weren't native English speakers. My parents speak pidgin English but they switch to standard English when not around others from Hawaii. After studying linguistics in grad school, i was finally able to tell my dad that he was not just a Kona boy who never lost his accent, but one who is bidialectal and therefore linguistically complex. Ha! That's exactly what he said.

My favorite comedian: Rap Replinger "Poi Dog"
I listen to bit of Poi Dog at work sometimes when i need a good laugh...

Match the numbers and letters:

1. Who wen cockaroach da cookies?
2. Geev um!
3. Try wait!
4. No talk li'dat!
5. I go talk to you bumbye.
6. Shoots!
7. No make A, eh?

A. Hold on!
B. Try not to make a right fool of yourself!
C. Who ate/stole all the cookies?
D. Talk to you later.
E. Don't speak in that manner, it's unbecoming!
F. Bring it! (Give it your all)
G. Sure, I'm game!

Check your answers here! (Thanks Tara!)

i speak pidgin:

-with my parents and extended ohana
-with certain friends from Hawaii
-with Desiree but not Trinity
-when i'm tired and can't be asked to speak properly
-at times with Cappy (who is picking up pidgin slowly but surely)

Aloha and Happy Thanksgiving!

Seattle

Top 10 things i love about Seattle:

1. The crisp chill

2. Ivar's Fish and Chips especially that chowder...

3. Friendly drivers. Though, sometimes friendly to a fault.

4. The Cascade Mountain backdrop behind the city

5. Thai Ginger. The best Thai food outside of Bangkok

6. The energy, the laid back friendliness, diversity, quirkiness--think back of pre-dot.com San Francisco...

7. The Harvard Exit Theater

8. Linda's Tavern

9. Capitol Hill

10. Pike Place Market


Today:

Dim Sum for Dad's birthday and then Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire...individual popcorn bags for me, my mom, and Cappy. Just say no to extra salt and butter i say. Maybe no popcorn. After dim sum at Sea Garden, there's usually no need to eat for 3-5 days.

Boom Boom Chak

Think for a second. Can you name one thing you really love to do and could happily do it everyday--but have not really done much of it in your life? It has to be something exciting yet meditative, challenging, yet easy to learn and totally fulfilling on a psycho-emotional level? It's also something that has ruined lives as well as created them. Now, do you have that thing in mind? Or, possibly more than one thing?

For me, this describes the way i feel about the drums. Those who know me understand my drum thing. When i see a drum set, am near a drum set, or am playing around with my electronic drum set--it's always an exciting thing. Perhaps i was born with the excitement of drums in my blood. Maybe my birth peeps were rhythmically inclined. Or maybe i was a drummer in a past life. Whatever the drum thing is, i have it. It's an extremely meditative and wonderful thing.

My first drum "lesson" was in Nishi-Aizu, Japan. My teacher was the drummer of the town band, "Paradox." By day Sato-san delivered chocolate milk and peach juice to places like the town offices and the board of education. I went to his studio a few times a week. i learned a basic beat and played that to his keyboard rendition of every Beatles song you can think of.

i had my first proper drum lesson last night. i could go on and on about it. One hour felt like about ten minutes. My teacher has a studio in the building that houses Moulton Studios and Club Seen magazine at Polk and Sutter. This drum lesson was like visiting a remote tropical island. Absolutely heavenly, but impossible to live there. Ahmed convinced me that i could fly into the island pretty regularly and that it didn't have to be a once a year fantasy vacation hour. So now, with regular lessons i might be able to add a few more new beats to my "boom boom chak tiss boom boom chak..."

Pennylane Productions is bracing for some Jupiter in Scorpio action. Apparently, i have from now until November 2006 to be consumed with inspiration.

My Favorite Piscean

Last night as i left work there was a breeze that passed over the parking lot that felt atypically tropical. i heard the nearby seagulls at the shore and felt a wave of nostalgia. Not sure for what precisely. My thoughts wandered to the days i spent in rural Japan. I was in the midst of my 20's and had a lot of time to read, think, and smoke. A lot of smoking, unfortunately. One writer that kept me positively buoyant was my favorite Pisces gal, Anais Nin (1903-1977). This woman really knew how to use a diary.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes of hers. Each of these have been profound at different times in my life--especially the Japan/Korea years and thereafter:

"We don't see things as they are, we see them as we are."

"Throw your dreams into space like a kite, and you do not know what it will bring back, a new life, a new friend, a new love, or a new country."

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."

"If you do not breathe through writing, if you do not cry out in writing, or sing in writing, then don't write, because our culture has no use for it."

"Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one's courage."

"Living never wore one out so much as the effort not to live."

"People living deeply have no fear of death."

"There are many ways to be free. One of them is to transcend reality by imagination, as I try to do."


Are there any other Nin fans out there? Reply silently, telepathically, or anonymously. i'll take calls off air.

Lucky Penny

i am superstitious and overly conscientious of things like:

-Voices that ring out from nowhere in native american museums
-Attending to salt that falls out of a dispenser
-Black moths that appear on door screens
-Prescient dreams
-Black cats
-Deja vu
-Lucky PENNIES!

Recent Lucky Penny Story:

While walking along the shore of Lake Tahoe this past weekend, i saw a bright shiny penny in the middle of the turtle grass a.k.a. Thalassia testudinum--the blades are large and flat, kind of like golf grass. Knowing that we were heading to Reno later in the evening, i happily picked it up.

Hours later the pennylane crew arrived in the heart of Reno. We walked through the Silver Legacy to the casino of Circus Circus. Agreeing to meet in an hour near the escalators close to the slot machines, i set out on my way to fortune and glory. My first stop was a roulette table. i bet on the day of my birthday, and won. Beginners luck. Cappy cheered me on, "It's the lucky penny!" After the thrill of winning $5, i needed a slight break from gambling. i then watched Cappy slay everyone at the blackjack table. OK, she won a few hands. Well, she won occasionally. Well, let's just say the dealer Arlene from New Jersey had a good night.

i wondered how Sandra and Leti were doing. i stopped by the roulette table where they had parked themselves. They seemed excited with some wins here and there. i took a seat at their table and thought about placing a bet on the two green numbers. With my lucky penny firmly in my grip, i quietly pushed my chips up to the line that straddles green 0 and 00, and took a deep breath...

People all around were putting chips down all over the number grid. The roulette dealer then waved her hand over all the chips on the table, "No more bets please!" She then tossed the little white ball on its way around the roulette wheel. i looked away from the wheel and after a while it started to slow down. i was chanting "green, green, green!" in my head. The little white ball bobbed around from number to number like a freaked out popcorn kernel. It finally slowed down and settled on the green 0!!! Completely stunned, i asked the dealer to cash me out.

i did not think it could happen again, but decided to try again. i was caught in the temporary addictive thrill of winning. i wandered over to a completely empty roulette table, and plunked down chips--again for either the green 0 or 00. Yes, i hit it again. This time, the little white ball landed on the green 00. Again, i cashed out immediately.

So i won twice. Unbelievable. How much did i win? All total about $300, but considering i only spent about $50, i was very happy.

It was steak and lobster for all of us, courtesy of me, and my lucky penny. i'm going to write something cheesier than Fondue and French brie here, but i don't care....

Mid-sized rental car for the weekend: $95
Travel size shampoo/conditioner: $6.50
Roadtrip dinner at In and Out Burger: $12
4 Mexican hot chocolates by the lake: $9

Being able to treat my friends with unexpected winnings: Priceless

A Night with the Larry Mullen Band

Yeah, i wish i took this photo... i was lucky to have worshipped in the church of Bono for a few hours on Tuesday night. It was a true rock and roll show with amazing pixel light curtains, and a wonderful playlist. Bono and Edge were en fuego. And, there was an amazing stroke of luck that i'll get to in a minute...

Firstly, i have to say that neither MLK, Bad, nor The Unforgettable Fire was played. All was forgiven (by me) when i heard the first few chords of a song i adore. It was way underplayed in its day: One Tree Hill. Although Bono seemed to have forgotten the words to most of it, it was a brilliant three minutes.

Back to our gorgeous stroke of luck....

Cappy and i were happily settled in our unreasonably pricey nosebleed seats in section 202. The unforgiving roof even curled over our heads, blocking our view to those directly across from us. In order to see the stage, try doing this: look down and to the right on the floor three feet away from you. Let's just say i could "crush" the whole stage with my thumb and forefinger. All that notwithstanding, we were giddy and loved the set by Damian Marley.

So it was about 15 minutes until U2 was to come on. The buzz and excitement in the arena was palpable. Suddenly some guy runs up the stairs and shouts out to the section to the right of us. Immediately, people jumped out of their seats, grabbed a ticket from this man, and tore down the stairs. Worried that they might be tickets to the floor (not inside the now full ellipsis) i didn't really worry about it. After a few minutes of watching people in the right section flying down the stairs, my fabulous Cappy stood up and hiked up a few stairs to see what was going on...

The next thing i know, she's shouting, "give me your ticket, give me your ticket..." i hand her my ticket and in exchange we were given two seats to section 107. For a clear idea of where we were and where we ended up, look here. Look where it says section 202. Now find section 107. We were about 4 rows up from the floor. Perfect. Front and center. An already amazing night became magical. Two minutes later, the lights dimmed. And Bono appeared about 100 feet in front of us.

i've said before that i admire my girl's intuition and quick action...well, tonight i became an even bigger fan of U2, and Cappy too!

Note: We found out later that U2 generally buys out many tickets in the best sections, and then releases those seats shortly before the show--to obviously prevent severe scalping and ticket profiteering. Then, the venue staff picks a severe nosebleed section, and lets those folks exchange their tickets for the best seats in the house.

So thank you Larry Mullen and your bandmates, for the amazing seats and thrilling show.

Dig Dug and Turkey

Does anyone else but me enjoy playing Dig Dug on a Game Boy? i'm totally addicted. It's a great game to play on the bart. It wakes me up better than coffee and i see tunnel patterns during the day whenever i look up from my cpu screen. Another favorite game: Galaga. Totally reminds me of Waikakea Plaza's Fun Factory (Hilo, Hawai'i) circa 1982. Other than Tetris, i can't be asked to play any other video games that are out now. They confuse me and bring out a side of me that is distinctly Korean in nature.

A friend just got back from a month long trip all over Turkey. Over the years, i've been lucky to meet many Turkish students who have been the warmest and most generous people i have met. i've not yet been to Turkey but i'd like to. Did you know that a typical Turkish breakfast is fresh tomatoes, white cheese, black olives, bread with honey and preserves, and sometimes an egg omelettes? This sounds wonderful to me.

97% of Turkey lies in Asia, but it is grouped as a European country for the World Cup...and for their bid to join the EU. Many Turkish people tell me that they see Turkey as a Middle Eastern country. i had my Turkish coffee grounds read in Paris a few days before 9/11. Thankfully, it was a nice reading that has since proved to be unbelievably accurate. Also, in Turkish, "C" is pronounced like a "J."

My friend Ozlem in Istanbul says:

-Girls like to play basketball in Turkey, but not soccer
-All kids in Turkey love hamburgers, hot dogs, and French fries.
-Hockey is not a popular sport in Turkey
-People do not eat turkey sandwiches in Turkey
-You pronounce the city "Izmir" like this: Iz-Meersh
-The hero of Turkey is Mustafa Kemal Ataturk. He established the Republic of Turkey and saved the country from attacks by other countries.

All of this information is related to a work project i'm currently involved with.

Speaking of work:

It's recording time again. I'm looking to cast voice talent (read: my friends and acquaintances) for interesting bit characters. Specifically, i need people who have accented English, or not. i'm currently seeking: Thai speakers of English, a man and woman w/a British accent and/or a Scottish accent, and/or an Irish accent...and anyone else with a velvety smooth kid friendly voice. If you've ever wanted to do some fun voice over work, or have in the past--talk to me.

MLK

A funny and true story:

My co-worker Peter was attending a service at Glide Memorial Methodist in San Francisco earlier this year. He brought his parents, who were visiting from New York. In the middle of the sermon, a woman came to the front to pass a note to the Reverand Cecil Williams who muttered, "Yeah, OK, at the end..." When he was done, he called out to the crowd, "OK you can let that young man step forward now..." A short man wearing all black and dark glasses made his way to the front of the church. Realising it was Bono, a small wave of cheer and gleeful shouts also made its way to the front of the room. He stood at the front and declared Reverand Williams "The Pope of San Francisco." Bono then proceeded to sing "It's a Wonderful World" acapella.

By this time people were on their feet, cheering and singing along in wide-eyed amazement. Peter's parents were totally caught up in the excitement too. Imagine an older Jewish couple bobbing up and down, singing along "....I see skies of blue..." clapping and cheering. It wasn't until the end that Peter asked his mom and dad, "Wasn't it amazing to see Bono here?" "Who's Bono?" asked his mother and father in unison. Cute.

The crew at pennylane productions have finally put away the codeine and tylenol. i've finally stepped out of my flu fog. For the past 8 days, my life has been all about: cough syrup, soup, tons of water and juice, no patience for reading, a few mind-numbing and awful MTV shows (Real World, TRL, Laguna Beach...i know, pretty disgusting indeed) and little or no appetite whatsoever.

It's odd how your body weakens. You nearly forget what it's like to be healthy and going about your daily routines. i was dying going up and down the stairs--hello, there are like 5 of them. i was a bit over zealous this morning by attending Boot Camp. It was windy and arctic, but i'm feeling more amongst the living more now than i have in a while.

And i'm happy to say i'll be seeing U2 tonight for the third time since the early 90's. This will be Cappy's first time, and i know she'll love it. If you've seen them in concert, you know firsthand how they can make an arena feel like a small venue. You experience that "band + audience = one" feeling. Cheesy, i know, but i really don't care....

Possible playlist tonight:

Main Set: City of Blinding Lights, Vertigo, Elevation, The Electric Co., The Ocean, I Still Haven't Found, Beautiful Day - Many Rivers to Cross, Miracle Drug, Sometimes You Can't Make it On Your Own, Love and Peace or Else, Sunday Bloody Sunday, Bullet the Blue Sky, Miss Sarajevo, Pride, Where the Streets Have No Name, One - MLK

Encore(s): The First Time, Who's Gonna Ride Your Wild Horses, With or Without You, All Because of You, Yahweh, 40

If they play "MLK" tonight, it will be worth the whole arena experience and the fact that i don't know much of their stuff since the Joshua Tree. Hearing "Bad" will be unbelievable and very much appreciated. But hearing "The Unforgettable Fire" will certainly be a religious experience for sure.

Damian Marley, son of Bob, is the opening act. In this tour, loads of musical guests have been known to appear. In Las Vegas, Mary J. Blige and Brandon Flowers from the Killers shared the stage.

i wonder who will appear tonight...

At Home

New site discovered: Generation Kikaida

New favorite song: "The only one" Readymade FC

New movies out that i want to see: None

New cereal at home: Maple Brown Sugar Mini Wheats

Newly added Friendster friend: Kochun

Exciting new Trader Joe's discovery: French Truffles (thanks Lorrie!)

Recent itunes puchase: 4 Strings

Days taking spoonfuls of Codeine cough syrup: 3

Number of extremely odd dreams since the above: 4

Number of days until i return to work: 1 or 2

Days until Hawai'i holiday: 54

New Calling

This year i morphed into a smarmy Goth Captain Manson. Cappy became "Elvira the Mortal Immortal." A swashbuckling goth pirate and a vampire seductress. We took our alter egos on the road for a night of debauchery and public acts of wackiness. i pillaged for drinks and yummy appetizers. Cappy distracted people with her deathlike pallor, and brought a 17-month old bumblebee to tears on two occasions. Good times. Not good however, for a budding flu bug that's kicking me down as i type this.

Back in the day, pre-play dates, gps, ebay, and kid leashes, my brother and our friends would set out for hours into the neighborhood on Halloween. After a few hours, we'd return home with our large plastic pumpkin buckets filled to the brim. We'd turn over the pumpkins in the living room and meticulously divide up the candies. All candies sour, apple, cinnamon, and those nasty Necco wafers to him, and all chocolates, lollies, and chewy things for me.

Costumes of yesteryear:

-Jaws 4th grade
I was very sick a week before Halloween, but felt better the day of. By the time my mom and i got to the local drug store, the only costume left was Jaws. Great. The entire costume was packed into plastic bag which consisted of: a plastic shark mask, and a plastic frontal cape with "JAWS" written across the chest and a peaceful beach scene. i was a walking billboard for the movie. People didn't know if i was a girl or boy. My dad walked me around to a few houses on our block. We went to Universal Studios that year. i somehow ended up with a Jaws beach towel. It was a Jaws year and i hated Jaws, actually. Can i type that one more time in this paragraph? Jaws. Jesus.

-Cowgirl: 5th grade
All was fun and games until a neighbor hooligan sprayed shaving cream all over my new sheepskin leather vest that my grandparents sent over from New Zealand. i had a real holster and a cool hat. It was the early 70's--clearly, i had no role models.

I've forgotten most other costumes after that--fast forward to the 21st century--

-Crystalline Daniels, last year
Crystalline was my assigned character at our friends' Honky Tonk Homicide Murder Mystery dinner party. She was the town hussy. i had a faux leather/cheetah mini skirt, cowboy boots, and a pink webbed shirt. i poured whiskey shots for people all night. Cappy was Twyla Fleetwood, Bingo pro and trailer park owner. Sexy.

I'm feeling it's time for a wardrobe overhaul. Would love to rip all the Banana Republic out of my closet and be a goth pirate year round.

That's it, i'll create a new line, what do you think of:

Corporate Goth
Business Pirate Casual
Executive Goth
Smart Pirate Goth

Guidelines for my new line in the workplace:

Goth Pirate Casual is crisp, dapper, and should look appropriate even for a chance meeting with a CEO. It should not look like cocktail or party or picnic attire. Avoid pastel or khaki; Goth Pirate is classic rather than preppy.

Basics: Leather pants tucked into laced up boots, , and a non-pressed long-sleeved, buttoned solid shirt are safe for both men and women. Bauhaus t-shirts, unwrinkled, are an appropriate choice if you know the environment will be quite casual, outdoors, or in a very hot location.

Shoes /belt: Wear a leather belt and leather shoes. Athletic shoes are inappropriate in most occasions except for athletics.

Details: Everything should be clean, well pressed, and dark black. Any black after a few washings may not be your best choice. Note: velvets and shimmery fabrics suitable for parties are totally appropriate for long days at the computer.

Jewelry: If you choose to wear other jewelry, do not be conservative. Removing earrings and piercings are not acceptable. For conservative industries, wear more black than usual. Observe others in your industry to see what is acceptable, then go for the opposite.

Accessories: Keep your choices savage and leaning toward the questionable. Gravitate towards extremes of style and color.

Cosmetics: Keep makeup heavy and dark. A bit more is usually better than none for a polished business goth look. Maintain extremes of nail length and polish especially in conservative industries.

I might have to put off my Foley Artist/Zamboni Driver dreams here. i think i've discovered my new calling...

Jupiter in Scorpio

According to Penny's preferred astrologer Jonathan Cainer, Jupiter enters Scorpio this week and will remain there until November 2006.

Generally, this Jupiter in Scorpio thing most strongly affects these three signs: Scorpio, Pisces, and Sagittarius. i'm a Sun and Venus Pisces, and have my rising in Scorpio for my sins. Flooded with water. Too much water. I'm in for a ride, a waterslide, slip and slide, riptide, maybe totally mollified?

Prepare for a phase of growth and inspiration, says Mr. Cainer. The last time Jupiter entered Scorpio was November '93-December '94. At this time in history, Penny trekked through Thailand, met a girl in Paris, and visited Seoul for the first time. And in between that, she smoked a lot of cigarettes, became telepathic, and had recurring dreams of North Carolina.

Penny says, "What's in store for me this time around, Jupiter?"

1. The re-kindling of my drum dreams, and subsequent re-start up of my band, "d.v.l.?"

2. A dream drive around the rink in my own pink pennylane zamboni?

3. I'll quit my job and totally get into foley artistry?

4. Completing a half marathon by my birthday?

5. Witnessing Cappy make her professional dreams come true, and being inspired to do the same?

6. i'll join the San Francisco Commonwealth Club so i can tour San Quentin. A co-worker did this. i'm fascinated--with San Quentin, not the Club.

7. Seriously, a half marathon. A mini triathlon?

Hey folks, Wednesday, 3 a.m. GMT. Jupiter in Scorpio. The madness begins....

Radio Show

Listened to a great show on NPR this morning on our way back from San Jose. It was called "Finding Home: 50 Years of International Adoption." The stories were from Korea, Guatemala, and China. The photo above shows Korean babies on their way to the States, courtesy of Holt, an evangelical Christian adoption organisation.

Earlier this morning, we shuttled Cappy's mom to the San Jose airport. She's off for a week long boat cruise aboard the "Spirit of Discovery" on the Columbia river. We then stopped for lunch at my favorite Japanese restaurant in the Bay Area, Gombei. Gombei is the real deal. No funky cream cheese and salmon 49er rolls here. It's the best Japanese food in the Bay Area.

So we're heading up on 880 from San Jose and this radio program starts playing on NPR. It was heartwarming, truthful, and at times very sad.

Many adoptees agonize over their lost identities, search for their birth families, and loss of cultural identity. Although these are not light issues, it is also never true that life with blood relatives is perfectly happy and trauma free.

Listening to some of the adoptee stories reminded me of the most wonderful thing about adoption--gaining a family and an opportunity for a better life.

If you get a chance, have a listen.

Nitrous

Dreaded message that swept into my voicemail yesterday:

"Hi, this is Carol from Dr. Vicki's office. This is just a reminder of your 8.30 dental appointment tomorrow morning. See you then, bye!"

Lovely. i totally did not see that one coming. i hadn't written it down in my calendar for obvious reasons. i went back to work. My happy mood left quietly out the back door. Later in the day, i received another voicemail. Carol, again:

"Hi again, this is Carol from Dr. Vicki's office. Just want to let you know that our nitrous machine is not working properly, so it will not be available for your appointment tomorrow. Hope that's OK!"

OK? What is the world coming to? The nitrous machine is not working properly?? What will they offer instead? A shot of whiskey? Some rope to tie around my arm for distraction? Nitrous, along with Vicodin, are what i call consolation prizes for an hour's worth of torment. Take those away, or the prospect of either, and you've got Penny with a 1978 kind of attitude..."i don't want to go! You can't make me!"

What happened to the nitrous machine?? i started to visualise the possibilities. Maybe someone forgot to turn it off before leaving the office, leaving a slithering hissss to flood the office overnight. Maybe the next morning Carol was leaving messages to patients like "Heeeeeeyyy, it's Carol! You gonna come in for your filling tomorrow? You know you love it! Wheeeeeee! That's what i'm talking about!" Frightening--on many levels.

So anyway, it turned out this morning that there wasn't enough time for the procedure that needed a shot (hence the nitrous...) This is both a blessing and a curse. i am spared today, but i have to make yet another appointment.

In a few weeks it will be another round of "Hey it's Carol from Dr. Vicki..." another pre-procedure night of anxiety, perhaps another whiny blog entry, another reluctant trip up Park Boulevard...

Let's hope that the nitrous machine gets "fixed" by then!

Baby Like Heroin

The title of this blog is not to imply that babies enjoy narcotics, but rather how many women in my age range seem to need a baby like heroin. Insane. Crazed. Desperate? Obligatory? Fulfilling? Life changing?

My good friend Kelly's baby is now able to sleep in her crib which opens up a new life dimension for her--hopefully one where creative work and/or reading can have a chance to resurface. Kelly can finally have a bit more down time, time to watch movies, catch up on correspondance, etc. And selfish me--here i am writing in a blog about all the glorious foods i've indulged in this past weekend, thinking about my upcoming drum lessons (!) and whether or not i should put our wetsuits away...

Many women i know in my age range have either just given birth or have serious plans to make this happen in the near planned future. Why has the baby bug not bitten me? Has it? Am i really smart or excessively selfish?

Our friends recently got an English Bulldog puppy called Winston. i've never met such a cuddly, warm, and loveable dog in my life. His two daddies were fussing over him this past Sunday like a mother with a newborn baby. Perhaps i could go that road. Raise a puppy. Less psychological damage, no diaper changes, simple needs. Then i realised that some dog breeds live for only seven years. So when i'd finally get the hang of being a dog mom, its lifespan would swiftly come to a close?!

So what kind of mother would i be?

There's a Happy Mom at my work who gives out unsolicited progress reports (or UPR's) of her baby. Typical scenario: You wander into the kitchen, wanting to just grab a coffee and get back to your desk. Happy Mom is in there, lurking about for an audience. If you make eye contact, you can't help uttering those magic words, "So how's the baby doing?" Let's face it, saying this is just asking for it. After the basic UPR rundown, she'll then turn to anecdotes. Here's where it gets really tricky to get away--it's probably now going on 15 minutes and all you wanted was a cup of coffee. Happy Mom winds you up with the promise of the funniest story in the world. Usually it turns out to be something about the kid putting a magnet on the refrigerator. Now i wonder, if/when i become a mother, will everything my child does be the funniest and most amazing thing?

So what about being a mom?

i was on my way back from Beijing, standing in the extremely confusing and crowded airport. Apparently there was an Air France flight headed back to Paris. As i looked around, there were many happy French couples holding beautiful baby girls in their arms. It suddenly hit me, how amazing it must be, to travel across the world, and return home with a new family member. It's what my parents did, back in 1970. i thought of how excited they must have been--driving down to Eugene, Oregon to pick me up on a plane that took off in Korea.

Fast forward through the customs line, the waiting area, and two hours into the flight back to San Francisco. i got up from my seat to walk around a bit. As i was stretching, i saw a little baby, standing on her father's lap, facing backwards, in my direction. This baby looked so excited, as if she knew where she was headed, and what lay ahead of her. She suddenly looked up at me with her cheery eyes, and noticed i was looking at her too. She bobbled up and down, and continued to look at me. Her eyes were consoling, reassuring, definitely communicative--then she broke out into a huge smile that was just for me. It was as if her look conveyed a simple message, "it's OK, i'm not that bad, i won't drive you crazy, look how much fun a baby could be...!"

OK so then it was cynical penny, 40,000 feet up in the air somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, no longer cynical but cheery, teary, and weary. Mostly teary!

Perhaps what scares me is that maybe i'll be the Happy Mom in the kitchen cornering co-workers with my lengthy UPR's, maybe it will be me blogging about my kid's first words, feats, and first steps?

i guess maybe growth in life is measured by the different reactions and sensations we feel to things we've considered over and over again in the past?

Malasadas and Ice Cream

Do you ever have days where you feel like eating everything including the tablecloth? This past sunny Saturday was one of extreme hedonistic indulgence with the Sharlita, the Cappy, and the newly de-furred Tubular One --i'll defer this explanation for now...

Our adventure started out Saturday morning with a hearty breakfast at Chloe's in Noe Valley. We had amazing egg scrambles with jarlsburg cheese, avocadoes, tomato, salmon, bacon (not all together), razor thin extra crispy bacon, walnut wheat toast, and orange juice. The coffee was just right, and the wait for a table not long at all.

We then trekked over to la casa de Sharlita. The Tubular One explored every square inch of the apartment punctuating each room with the "tik tik tik tik tik" sound of her little paws. Seemingly satisfied with the space, she settled down on the black and white checkered kitchen floor.

A little later in the day, it was off to Linda Mar beach in Pacifica, this time without our surfboards and wetsuits. Unfortunately so...there were no crowds, great waves, and spaces abound in the parking lot. Above the cove, a small circle of sun beat down on the surf, as a ring of surrounding grey clouds looked on. After unsuccessfully scaling the wall to the beach, the Tubular One raced out to dig to her heart's delight. She showed off her tennis ball retrieving skills, and rushed out to the shore's edge only to turn back at the very last minute.

On our way out to visit our foster pony, P-Middy, we stopped at the Linda Mar shopping complex. As i was turning the car into the intersection, i suddenly and joyously remembered that we were very close to L & L Drive Inn. i shouted out "Fruit Punch!" while maneuvering the car into the turning lane. We indulged ourselves with portuguese sausage and barbeque chicken musubi, fresh malasadas (nothing like the malasadas at Tex's Drive Inn in Honoka'a of course, but very good) and chicken katsu saimin. Hello, are we 16 year old teenagers?

Later that afternoon, after feeding a bag of carrots to our equine friends (carrots were the only thing we didn't inhale today), we found ourselves standing in line at Mitchell's...cherry vanilla, red raspberry, and white pistachio ice cream were the flavors, each dipped in chocolate in a small waffle cone. Very exciting.

And if all that wasn't enough, later that night for dinner....just kidding. After the ice cream late that afternoon, i didn't eat again until noon on Sunday.

Sometimes it's the sun and happy company that makes everything taste so wonderful. The only one who missed out on all the treats was the Tubular One. Speaking of her, i will get back to the previously deferred de-fur situation--

Our vet friend Sandy turned us on to a "Shedding Blade," something i've renamed as a "Fur Saw." It's a rounded metal contraption that actually slinks off clumps of loose fur. The Tubular One went from tubular to skeletal in less than three minutes. Her mommies will be sneeze free, until the next de-furring session (probably tomorrow) Fur will no longer reside in our space as a condiment.

Good times.

Fall

Fall is finally here, at least it feels that way today!

Last night was round two with the pod of Poppers. We clustered like bumblebees and stripped the ball from each other at times. From the sidelines, Cappy noted that it was a “kick and run” kind of game. You can generally see “kick and run” soccer games on Saturday mornings in the suburbs—you’ll see 4’ players in pink jerseys running between hockey sized goal posts. When I think of it, what were they thinking in the early 70’s? I recall playing soccer in 2nd and 3rd grade using regular sized fields and goal posts. No wonder we clustered and never scored any goals, the field was way too big!

So anyway, though I actually managed to stay on the field for most of the game, it’s never fun to lose to a crap team. I noticed that many women on my team, as well as the opposing team, are soccer moms—not in the sense that they support their soccer playing kids, but they’re actually moms gone wild on the field. This amazes me. i know i mentioned the soccer moms before. For some reason I have this weird idea in my head that once you’ve given birth, things like soccer are out of the question. Clearly, I’ve got to sort my life out.

Tonight I’m hanging out with my friend Bob. I first met Bob in Seoul, in an internet café near the Kyobo bookstore. I was grounding out cigarettes in the coffee ground-wet napkin ashtray, and Bob was busy working on the legal aspects of our friend Sang-Woon’s new nightclub idea. Months later, Bob and I took the overnight ferry from Pusan to Shimonoseki, Japan to renew our Korean visas. On the ferry, I remember staying up all night playing hwatu (go stop card game) with all the chain-smoking harmonis. In Seoul, we hung out on the roof of our yeogwan eating melon popsicles, and talking about travels in S.E. Asia. I had to keep reminding him that the Canadian woman down the hall was called “Bardee” and not “Barney.” It’s funny, the little details you remember about people.

Anyway, I’m looking forward to Christmas and New Years in Kona and Hilo this year. We’re looking forward to plate lunch picnics at Lilioulakalani park, snorkeling, running around with the niece and nephew, Hapuna beach, a flume ride, and Itsu’s ice shave.

Is it December yet?

Don't Repeat After Me v2

Eeeewww...

-Let's DO this!
Predominantly a dude phrase, it needs to be extinguished.

-Low-hanging fruit
A corporate idiom that sounds vulgar and makes me cringe whenever i hear it. For example, "Let's go for the low-hanging fruit first and revisit the other issues later." That just kills me.

-Perch, Dwell, Cohabitate, Stumble, Frolic, Summer, Nest, Gravitate, Canoodle, Percolate
All of these verbs, when referring to humans in action. It's nails on the chalkboard to me and i'm really not sure why?

-Omelette Station
Seen in buffet restaurants, usually written in neon lights. Not sure what is worse, seeing/hearing these words together or the aforementioned lights.

-Good luck with that!
Usually in response to impossible situations. It's so dismissive, though it cracks me up to hear it.

-Up the Ante
Also sounds vulgar.

-Want to grab some lunch? OR Want to grab a bite to eat?
As annoying and in the same category as: "That's what I'm talking about" and "Good to go."

OK, there, now i feel better.

Heavy Rotation

Headphones today:

Precious- Depeche Mode
i play this one constantly, hopefully i won't get too sick of it

Nothing Stays the Same- Elastica
justine frischmann...those dark eyes...

Transatlanticism- Death Cab for Cutie
If i could draw my favorite type of music i would sketch this song

New Forms-Roni Size/Reprazent
Best played as loud as possible

Sea of Sin (Sensoria Mix)- Depeche Mode
Aquatic, dark, and lovely

Simarik-Tarkan
Turkish Pop...pretty flirty tune

Ducks

Here's a picture of the Oregon Ducks walking all over the Stanford Cardinals. We're sitting 30 rows up from the 50 yard line surrounded by Stanford alumni. Our friends Christy and Sarah were nibbling on chicken sandwiches and nursing endless lemonades while Cappy and i dealt with overflowing mustard and relish from our colossal hot dogs. We enjoyed the first half, but after half time, it was like watching a junior varsity high school team (Stanford) scrimmaging against the varsity (Ducks) team.

It was summer hot with barely a breeze. We cheered on the Ducks and thankfully didn't make any enemies in the process. That said, many of the Stanford alums sitting behind us quietly exited in the middle of the 3rd quarter. As we were walking out of the stadium we overheard a sad Cardinal fan exclaiming into her cell phone, "it was misery...misery, just misery!"

Final score: Ducks 44 - Cardinals 20

Kathleen would kill me, but i didn't wear any green and yellow...Luckily, Christy represented for me with her green sleeved shirt.

Until yesterday, i had only been to a couple of college football games in the fall of 1989. I remember enjoying the whole autumn feel of it. The light grey clouds, leaves, smell of burning leaves, and the happy energy of the crowds. I remember sipping coffee and Bailey's with a heavy wool blanket draped over my lap. i never paid attention to the game though, and usually left at halftime.

Yesterday however, it was a bit odd melting in the sun while eating frozen lemonade. My yearly football fix is done. We loved the game and the concessions. Good times.