Science vs. Romance

Ouch, my leg

Wed, 09 Jul 2008 07:19:35 GMT

Friday night, I fell between two rocks on Donner Summit thereby knocking one knee into a rock and bruising the heck out of it. Alcohol is a good anesthetic, namely beer of the pedestrian kind and Potter's Whiskey which becomes less nasty after said pedestrian beer.

On Sunday, my hike to Point Reyes last weekend left me sore in the neck, back, and shoulder area, but managed to keep my knees in tact. It looked like the compresses, arnica, advil, and the icings were working fine until today. I ran on the track as usual, with some mild aching in the knee area, but I seemed to maintain a decent pace. Around mile three, I leaped into the track stands to grab my water bottle and missed the plank by about a half an inch causing my body to flail over and hit the bench with my shin. I found a welt on my leg, but I kept on going due to my roommates relating of some 14 year-old girl persevering through some Crossfit Contest in Aromas. I applied ice on the battered leg when I got home. It still throbs and has a nice purple shade to it.

Bruises: 2
Liat: 0

At least my shoulders and back feel better?

Sweetest Decline

Tue, 08 Jul 2008 06:37:17 GMT

His large body enveloped my curvy frame, while I tousled his slightly greasy jet black hair. His arm reached across my belly to graze at my thighs and he told me I had nice legs. I reached for an explanation but could only reply with a thank you. "Thank you for doing this, I needed it," I muttered as if we had just made a business transaction. The coolness of the mountains and the warmth of his tan olive flesh felt good and had a strangely familiar newness. I knew this would not last long, because chemistry plays dirty tricks on people, and experiments like these are rarely repeatable.

I had to decide if he would lay there with me for the rest of the night and greet me with morning kisses while my sister made pancakes downstairs or go home while I lay comfortably in the bed I had borrowed. I had gotten used to the idea of sleeping alone and I didn't want to make our union more meaningful despite the fireworks, the hand-holding on the Suzuki, and the near-perfection of our first and only date.

So, off he went like a prowler in the night, cruising on a bike down the mountains. There would be no Facebook stalking as he had never owned a computer. There would probably be a small chance I would return to my sister's home later this summer and see him again, but I was doubtful. There was attachment, but more of the sinking kind, like a cool summer dip in the swimming pool where you know it has to end sometime.

Sober mind.

Dear America

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 20:14:12 GMT

Please follow what Japan is doing.

Thank you.

Perfect summary of this weekend

Mon, 07 Jul 2008 07:59:02 GMT

Kyle, Kofi, and I managed to hike at Point Reyes today, meaning I hit both the oceans and the mountains on my weekend journeys. As I was driving across the Golden Gate Bridge, listening to Joni Mitchell's "California" I decided that I dig living in Nor Cal*, even though I work in the city that has a giant turd statue. Even San Jose has its moments.

*This does not mean I am not seriously considering leaving California in a year

Dirty Pretty Things

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 08:18:11 GMT

Thursday, I went to Truckee and despite navigating through a horrible traffic nightmare, I made it by nightfall. We hung out in Reno at this weird upscale strip club and then went to a gay bar on the outskirts of town where my sister and I did cartwheels on the dance floor. The next day, we hiked part of the Pacific Crest Trail and found some remaining snow melt for snowball throwing. We had a barbecue and my sister and her husband's friends showed up. Then all of us off-roaded to the top of Donner Summit where people once struggled to make their way into California. This paved the way for some nibbling jokes as I sat and watched the fireworks below on the lake in some man's arms. The stars were clumped up like tiny geodes bathed in a sea of milk white dust and there were too many to even fathom counting. The Suzuki ride down was dangerous, but probably the most illegal fun I will ever have in my life.

Something I hadn't intentionally sought was received the night of the 4th. Although the moment was ephemeral, I was grateful that it had occurred if not a little bit embarrassed that my sister was around the entire time. The family gossip network is a dangerous thing.

Tomorrow, I get to go on a hike with some friends. Long and hard, just the way I like it.

Unique Experiences Meme from nibot

Sun, 06 Jul 2008 07:41:15 GMT

1. Unsolicited hitchhiking in Wales and England followed by trespassing into the house where Radiohead Recorded OK Computer (St. Catherine's Court)

2. Falling into a swimming pool fully clothed in a rainstorm and getting accidentally locked out of the house at the age of 12.

3. Off-roaded up a canyon in a Suzuki with no windows or doors

4. Played Acoustic Guitar with Cher, while sitting in her lap

5. Owned a pet toad for three years that moved through three counties and vacationed in LA

6. Hiked Masada in a rainstorm with pajama pants

7. Spent the entire night on a commuter train in Wales
Added:

"what are the three most bizarre things that have happened to you through absolutely no action of your own"?

1. Getting bitten by a Golden Retriever
2. Seeing Arnold Schwarzenegger give a press conference right below the building I was working at in Lawrence Berkeley Labs which is situated on a slope.
3. Getting cursed at a Japanese Buddhist temple in Asakusa, Tokyo and almost missing the train home.

Your job: Post this meme or ask me about any of these things and I will write a story about them.

Feeling Strangely Better

Tue, 01 Jul 2008 05:46:48 GMT

I had a delicious sushi dinner on Friday, which opened up a glorious weekend.

Saturday was a good day. Not in the sense that anything out of the ordinary happened, but I managed to enjoy the beautiful weather with a run down Stevens Creek Trail, eat delicious food, and get a body massage (ooooo..).

Sunday, I bought some things for organizing my room and art projects and had dinner and band practice with my buddy.

Today, I woke up and as I got into the shower, the creativity just bursted out of me. I came up with two ideas for songs, with lyrics and melodies. I worked on the existing melody of a song. I also came up with a blog idea/concept that would allow me to remain partially anonymous but still write cool atypical things.

I also maintained a vibrant, well-rested mood at work. I think exercise has a lot to do with this, which is a good reminder to keep things up and just take care of myself.

A bunch of non-cohesive ideas

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 17:48:57 GMT

I want to make a blog that chronicles urban archaeology, divey food joints, estate sale finds, reusing and food science/grandmothers recipes.

I have no idea what I should call this blog, but I am thinking of stealing the name Urban Archaelogy and going from there. I would also want it to be a team blog since I feel lazy sometimes and contributors would be good.

Edited:

I set up the address at urbanlore.blogspot.com

If you have article ideas or you wrote something, please let me know. Signup for blogspot and you can contribure.

On most Sunday nights

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 09:13:26 GMT

Its hard to get to sleep.

I stay awake until 2 am and show up groggy to work the very next day.

Next week is hard, but it is truncated. I will probably visit my sister in Truckee. I will hopefully do some lazy river rafting. I will definitely try to read more books.

DDR for Wii

Sun, 29 Jun 2008 04:50:37 GMT

The new DDR has:

Always-Erasure
Spin Me Round Like a Record-Dead or Alive
Disco Inferno
Rhythm is a Dancer
and 99 Red Balloons

I also own it. Excuse me while I geek the heck out.

Things I want to do this weekend or next

Sat, 28 Jun 2008 17:57:51 GMT

-Hiking
~~-Running~~
-Lazy river rafting
~~-Korean Day Spa~~
-Berry picking
-Clean my room In progress..finally
-Visit my sister

Long weekend

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 19:25:13 GMT

I have July 3rd and July 4th off. I need to do something about this, maybe some organized mayhem.

Who is with me?

Dealing

Fri, 27 Jun 2008 07:30:09 GMT

This has not been the best day, but I think everything is going to be okay.

I am strongly considering therapy. I stopped running for a while, and gradually my mood shifted from hum drum to what the hell is wrong with me.

I am not thinking about doing it because anyone slighted me or anything. I want to feel like less of a victim and more like a bringer of my own destiny. I also have some major control issues. It gets hard to convey my feelings to people, especially blogs and family members, without worrying them or getting multiple phone calls in response. I do feel like shit sometimes, and part of feeling better is coming clean about my lack of self-worth and then doing something about it. Friends are a good way of breaking the ice, but I like the idea of impartiality. I also like being productive, and I have been severely lagging in this department for quite some time (unless you count work).

However, I do now know that a cry for help to the right person will occasionally be answered with a visit from Mr. Scharffenberger. This can only do good.

Thu, 26 Jun 2008 20:40:47 GMT

Oil is expected to hit $170 a barrel this summer.

Maybe I should go buy some oil stock and then use my dividends for Carbon Offset credits.

Stuff White People Like #169 Claiming Ethnic Identity

Wed, 25 Jun 2008 07:22:58 GMT

This is what happened when I told St. Andrews Face Morpher I was really black.

They shrunk my nose because it was too Jewish.
Here's the link. Enjoy!
http://morph.cs.st-andrews.ac.uk/Transformer/

Seven words to live by.

Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:25:34 GMT

Shit. Piss. Fuck. Cunt. Cocksucker. Motherfucker. And Tits.

We'll miss you George.

Less enjoyable than salad days

Sat, 21 Jun 2008 04:32:10 GMT

nucleophile called me last night while I plopped down after 12 hours of work to announce his presence at a George Michael concert and then called me again when they played one of my England nostalgia tunes "Flawless". Thank you BBC Radio 2. Anyhow, I heart him for doing that. I found the video on you tube and it was absolutely flawless so here it goes:

Today was hotter than hot. My car temperature reached 103 degrees in the shade. Things overheated, despite the chillers because the chillers overheated. Right now, I feel like not interacting with people. Its mostly hormones and I will get over it, but I wish I had more energy to go to the city.

Urban dictionary name meme

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:08:53 GMT

From smoofy

Liat #1
1. a very snuggly hat that is too big, but feels just right.
2. talkative, neurotic and very lovable
1. "this liat is just perfect, even tho its a bit too big for me."
2. Man that girl needs to chill out, shes being such a Liat - but I like her anyway!
liats tails neuroses lovable hats
by Jess M Feb 20, 2008 email it 0 comments

Liat #2

Vlad the Impaler, one who is known as Vlad The Impater
Hey I wonder what Vlad the Impaler's theme is today
by Miles Mar 3, 2005 email it 0 comments

As I was leaving work

Fri, 20 Jun 2008 07:43:36 GMT

This is what the sky looked like.

Only a few more days until the hours of dusk go downhill again. I wish I could enjoy later dusks like this forever.

Wedding gaffe

Thu, 19 Jun 2008 05:52:56 GMT

At my sister's wedding I was told to give a speech. I had already framed this out in my head well in advance because the one thing about my sister's husband that I decided early on is that unlike her other boyfriends I did not want to kill him after talking to him for a few minutes. I thought this would be a funny revelation.

However..

Two of her ex-boyfriends were in the audience. One of them had technically never done anything to make me want to kill him. When I delivered the line, my sister immediately looked at them for a reaction. Womp womp womp.

Things I want to watch

Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:14:41 GMT

1. All of the X-files episodes up until David Duchovny started writing/directing
2. Mi Vida Loca and Clueless in the same sitting
3. More episodes of Look Around You.

RIP Toledo

Fri, 13 Jun 2008 05:31:20 GMT

You let me have three good years as your owner, although your age was undefined. You moved through three counties. You followed me to LA for a couple weeks. You visited my workplace and let me strap your case into the car seat while we drove together. You made me buy fresh crickets on a bimonthly basis and your presence gave me joy, even though you kept my boyfriends awake at night. You will be missed.

*Pours out a 40*

Freakinsomnia

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 06:33:54 GMT

The harder it is to stay awake during the day the more I find myself stalling to go to sleep.

Accomplishing my laundry and making dinner is the only thing I can do outside of work. They have kept me until 7:00 on good days, meaning days when I manage to get out of bed early enough to make it there by 8:30.

Eventually I need to find the energy to do some reading. I know that this energy can be located in a can of Rockstar, but sometimes life calls for more sustainable resources..like napping.

Neti pots

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 05:21:04 GMT

I have bad allergies, and today they were almost bail out of work bad. I blame it on this lovely, excruciatingly dry weather we have been having in Northern California and the trees and the pollen.

Before I resorted to living in a hermetically sealed tent for the rest of the summer, I purchased a Neti Pot at Whole Foods. A Neti Pot is basically a ceramic dish that you fill with saline water. The spout is pointed in your nose and you pour until warm liquid drips out the other side. This does not work quite easily, but after several tries you start to feel like your nose can irrigate. The cashier at Whole Foods told me to close my mouth or I might drown. I consider this sage advice.

One hour after working the Neti Pot, I feel like my nasal passages are clear. My eyes still burn, possibly because I am handing fun toxins at work, but I feel like I can breathe again. Breathing feels nice.

Good eats

Wed, 11 Jun 2008 01:33:14 GMT

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