January 31, 2009

Love Lockdown?

Something interesting that I came across here today:

"An interesting lovebird tradition in Florence includes a bridge and a lock. When a couple is in love, they go to a bridge and write their initials onto a lock and clamp it onto the bridge, locking their love together forever. Recently, it's been found that the locks are ruining the old bridges and the police have been cutting them off. I wonder what happens to the lovebirds the moment the locks are cut?"

And what happened to all of the keys...

January 29, 2009

AWESOME



Let's zoom in on this awesomeness:




Someone REAL thinks that I am a DOCTOR.

January 26, 2009

Acid stomach and sweaty palms

Things are happening.

I have some major decisions to make about the direction that school and work are going to take in the next year or so. Well, really from now until I graduate. And I don't have a large window of opportunity to make them.
These decisions are probably going to have the biggest impact of any that I've made in my life so far. And I'm talking about decisions that I, and I alone, have made. This doesn't include my parents shipping us off to the midwest, though it was traumatic.

And I'm a little scared, and unsure, and just totally nervous and confused.
So can I handle the pressure? Uh... We'll see.

January 24, 2009

Julia Child might save my life

My mom came into my room at around 8am (I know, how is it possible that I could be awake that early, right? It's jet lag or something - I've been asleep at 11, awake at 8 every day this week. But you know what? It's kind of awesome being able to be awake before 1/2 of the household for a change.) this morning to find out what kinds of shenanigans I was getting into. She literally popped her head in, looked around suspiciously as though she were trying to sniff out the sex deviant who was surely hiding in my room, narrowed her eyes, and said, "Hey! ...why are you laughing?" At first I just stared. Had I really been laughing? Then I held up my book.

As though just seeing the cover could somehow magically relate to her the utter hilarity that is Julie Powell. I can't remember the last time I laughed this hard while I was reading... in all likelihood it was while reading a Meg Cabot book, because (let's just be honest) they're funny as hell. But even then, it's been a few months at least. But even taking into account "Queen of Babble", "Julie & Julia" is one of the funniest books I've ever read. Yes, it's a book about cooking... but... it's SO much more than that. The woman just appeals to me - she writes about the turmoil of being a Democrat during the year after 9/11 (and having to work in a government agency), food, cooking, her crazy-ass friends, FOOD, her funny husband, living in the ghettos of NY, Julia Child, hating work, being freaked out by homeless people, and food. And how good food tastes. And how many sticks of butter she'd like to eat on a daily basis.
See? And if there was any doubt about her awesomeness, my thoughts were put to rest when she compared one of her friends to Rosalind Russell's character from His Girl Friday. I don't need any more of a description than that - I know exactly what she's trying to say. Yes, I'm only - what? - a third of the way through? But thus far the jig has yet to be up, and I'm still laughing my way through every chapter.

January 22, 2009

Cruel Girl

I came across this band The Red Button a while ago, a year at least, and I instantly loved this song - it's very 60s and totally fun! Seth Swirsky's voice is very Lennon-esque. I haven't brought myself to buy the cd on itunes yet, and I haven't found a torrent that I can download, so maybe
it's time to plan another trip to Amoeba?

January 13, 2009

Looking at flickr

and I noticed something kind of funny

Here's a screen cap of the webpage:


Zoom in a bit:


Poor Sarah.

January 9, 2009

sex on fire and my upgrade

I got an album (or SEE-DEE, as Rob so nicely put it) from Summer a few years ago called "Youth & Young Manhood". I really liked it... something about the lead singer's voice was really appealing, and still is, even though their whole sound is different now. They just sounded raw and real. They sounded like this:


In fact, that was my favorite song off of the album.
Now they sound like that kind of, but there are major differences. They sounded old to me before, like they could easily have fit into the music scene 40 years ago. But I still like the band. I'm in the process of listening to Only By The Night, so if I feel so inclined, I'll write about whether I hate it or love it.

In other news, I've been thinking about upgrading my flickr account to Pro so that I can keep putting pictures up. I have about 20% of my month's worth of space left and that's not enough for anything, really. Thoughts? Suggestions? Is it worth it if nobody looks at my flickr page?

January 4, 2009

Sunday Video

I loved Whitney when I was a kid, so here's hoping that she really does make that comeback. If we can let Britney back into our hearts, SURELY there's room for Whitney. You go girl!

January 3, 2009

Year in Review!

1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
Started working in a lab
2. Did you keep your new years' resolutions, and will you make more for this year?
Um, no. I don't think so. Since I can't remember it, then I'm sure I broke it. I'm contemplating a resolution, but I won't talk about it until I figure out the logistics...
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
Veronica's sister!
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Not anyone close to me, personally. I was really saddened when Paul Newman passed, though.
5. What countries did you visit?
No countries, unfortunately. Things are going to change soon, though... I can feel it.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Hm... a different car. Fully functioning.
7. What date from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
November 4th, of course!
8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Riding my bike to school during the summer before the advent of my tailbone inadequacy.
9. What was your biggest failure?
Sucking at my first upper-division classes. C+ in Cell Bio, man. Not a good sign.
10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
I jacked up my tailbone in September and it has yet to heal. Just recently I sprained my knee, I think. Or twisted it. That should count because it was a few days before New Years. Yeah, I'm a mess.
11. What was the best thing you bought?
Tickets to Washington DC!
12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Hillary Clinton's for sure after Obama was nominated. I've never seen someone work so hard to help someone else get what they themselves really want. She's incredible. And now Secretary of State! Omg and Tina Fey. Love.
13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
The people who voted yes on Prop 8. Ugh and Sarah Palin. God.
14. Where did most of your money go?
Food, sadly enough. Since I've started working on campus, I find myself eating out with my co-workers several times a week. And those guys like to eat good. I should really try to cut back this quarter...
15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
Getting a Democrat in office, of course!
16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
Hm... this question is hard. My music tastes change all the time. Maybe "Right as Rain" by Adele.
17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder?
Happier, I think. At least in most aspects of my life.
ii. thinner or fatter?
Probably around the same, maybe a little fatter. Which sucks because I lost a few over the summer, but then gained it all back in my post-injury depression.
iii. richer or poorer?
Richer? Or at least in a better position to make more money. I guess I technically have more money, but I still feel strained because I have to figure out what to do about my car...
18. What do you wish you'd done more of?
Traveling
19. What do you wish you'd done less of?
Complaining.
20. How did you spend Christmas?
Hung out at home with my family and then went to my uncle's in Buena Park for dinner
22. Did you fall in love in 2008?
Yeah... with a new type of shampoo. Personally, no.
23. How many one-night stands?
Le sigh
24. What was your favorite TV program?
30 Rock!
25. Do you hate anyone now that you didn't hate this time last year?
Dislike. Hate's a little harsh.
26. What was the best book you read this year?
Wow I honestly don't know what the say. Evelyn Waugh's "Brideshead Revisited" was an absolutely riveting book.
27. What was your greatest musical discovery?
I have to agree with Karen: Flight of the Conchords is awesome. But I also want to throw in Amy Winehouse. I got her cd "Frank" and was totally surprised by how good it it.
28. What did you want and get?
A camera! Well, I bought it for myself but whatever. Oh and Casey got me those cool goggles. I need to try those things out!
29. What did you want and not get?
Wall-E. No one got it for me!
30. What was your favorite film of this year?
Wall-E. Mamma Mia is a close 2nd.
31. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
God, I don't even remember. I'm sure I spent it having fun with friends though. 20.
32. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Having been able to study abroad for a quarter.
33. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
Messy, but slightly more together than last year. At least it seems to be going in the right direction.
34. What kept you sane?
Being able to laugh so hard I almost peed my pants when my sister and I watched 30 Rock or the Office and baking pies.
35. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
hmm... Dominic Cooper.
36. What political issue stirred you the most?
The presidential election.
37. Who did you miss?
Adrian. She was in Europe for 1/3 of the year!
38. Who was the best new person you met?
Johnny, the grad student I work for. He's great!
39. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
Struggling to figure things out alone is way more beneficial than having someone simply tell you the solution to your problem.
40. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year:
"Baby, I'm stuck in the middle, and I don't know why." - Rachel Yamagata, "1963"
Exactly.

January 2, 2009

Peggy Sue Got Married

One of my all-time favorite movies... too bad it was with Nicholas Cage. What a pity. Love LOVE Kathleen Turner!