You know how I sometimes describe to you guys "what I do" as a sort of glorified carnie? Well, this week I've left the glory behind, y'all. I'm ACTUALLY IN a big-top tent. Also? It's about 40 degrees and POURING. I just spent 14 hours in a tent, wearing 2 shirts, a fleece, cords, a scarf, a hat, Uggs, and fingerless gloves. And those are my inside clothes. I blew out the entire electrical circuit today by plugging 2 space heaters into the same power strip. It's so windy INSIDE my tent that the entire exhibitor lounge blew over. And the tent is starting to leak. It is not awesome.
So, today was the day to turn our thoughts to Martin Luther King Jr., the man who said "an injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." Good egg, that Marty. I can't do a lot of observing, as I must get to sleep now, as I have another Day o' Fun planned in the big top tomorrow. Hey, Uncle Al, remember when we went to see James Taylor under the stars? Like, 1999 maybe? I think that was the first time I ever saw you have a beer. Anyway, here's a shout-out:
Let us turn our thoughts today
To Martin Luther King.
And recognize that there are ties between us~
All men and women
Living on the earth
Ties of hope and love
Sister and brotherhood.
That we are bound together
In our desire to see the world become
A place in which our children
Can grow free and strong.
We are bound together
By the task that stands before us
And the road that lies ahead
We are bound and we are bound.
Cheers~
Monday, January 21, 2008
Wednesday, January 16, 2008
sicky-poo
Well, kids, I'm back home. It's warmer than Boston (also warmer than when I left SF last week) and for that I am grateful. I even had to take the extra blanket off my bed! Yay! Work was mind-numbing but nice to see everyone, and then my 4 days with Ashley turned into SickFest 2008- we both laid on respective couches in varying levels of fever, sore throat, and sinuses, mixing cocktails and cold medicine with reckless abandon while watching Alias Season 5. And trust me- you need to be drugged to watch that crap. UGH.
Only home for a couple of days- need to get busy on straightening up my world today-- mail and cleaning and whatnot, so tomorrow I can do some laundry and put in a shift at the yoga studio before leaving for San Jose on Friday. February will be busier than I anticipated (or wanted) but whaddya gonna do? Up and at 'em, George McFadden- I need to go to the market so I can whip up something saucy for Brian's birthday on Friday (which I will celebrate Thursday at midnight since Friday is my travel day).
Movie update: We watched 2 really REALLY dated computer movies at Ashley's-- Hackers, which might be one of the most horrific movies I have ever seen, but got the "+" for including Angelina and first hubby Johnny Lee Miller, Fischer Stevens, Lorraine Bracco, Jesse Bradford, Matthew Lillard, AND Felicity Huffman, and The Wizard, which is all its awesomeness, surprised me with Jenny Lewis!! I never put two and two together before- but she was all over the map in the 80s- including Ben's first kiss on Growing Pains. Oh, and a glimpse of pre-pubescent Tobey Maguire in a mullet. Simply stunning.
ETA: There was also a late-night viewing of Fido, possibly the randomest zombie movie ever made, and I finally saw Ratatouille on the airplane, and I loved it.
Only home for a couple of days- need to get busy on straightening up my world today-- mail and cleaning and whatnot, so tomorrow I can do some laundry and put in a shift at the yoga studio before leaving for San Jose on Friday. February will be busier than I anticipated (or wanted) but whaddya gonna do? Up and at 'em, George McFadden- I need to go to the market so I can whip up something saucy for Brian's birthday on Friday (which I will celebrate Thursday at midnight since Friday is my travel day).
Movie update: We watched 2 really REALLY dated computer movies at Ashley's-- Hackers, which might be one of the most horrific movies I have ever seen, but got the "+" for including Angelina and first hubby Johnny Lee Miller, Fischer Stevens, Lorraine Bracco, Jesse Bradford, Matthew Lillard, AND Felicity Huffman, and The Wizard, which is all its awesomeness, surprised me with Jenny Lewis!! I never put two and two together before- but she was all over the map in the 80s- including Ben's first kiss on Growing Pains. Oh, and a glimpse of pre-pubescent Tobey Maguire in a mullet. Simply stunning.
ETA: There was also a late-night viewing of Fido, possibly the randomest zombie movie ever made, and I finally saw Ratatouille on the airplane, and I loved it.
Tuesday, January 08, 2008
resale therapy
So, my girl Erin is a self-professed shopaholic, and is keeping a 2008 LJ on everything she buys. I think that's a brilliant idea, if for no other reason than it's cataloging for her, and everything seems a bit more shocking in black and white than in your head, lol. I try to do that with food every once in a while and I think it's a good practice. Anyway, it made me want to tell you guys about one of my own New Year's Resolutions, which is to buy ummmm, most of my clothes, say 80%, at the resale shop.
I'm not a huge fan of shopping at all, but what girl doesn't like having new clothes? And my wardrobe is sadly ill-equipped for San Francisco. My quintessential hot-weather uniform of knee-length bohemian skirts and wife-beaters tanks has no place in this climate. Goodbye, cropped pants. My "winter" clothes from NY are too hot. I can pretty much never wear flip-flops (or really, even high heels). It's rather sad, and extremely inconvenient, as for the last 4 months I've lived in jeans, hiking boots, and my Champion hoodie over a t-shirt over a long-underwear shirt. I need to re-work my entire wardrobe to live here- in light layers, non-jeans, sweaters with 3/4 length sleeves, thin scarves, and comfortable shoes.
ANYway, as I clearly can't afford to buy a whole new wardrobe, I am piecing things together rather slowly. And as much as I would like to buy all American-made clothes, well, that is rather cost-prohibitive as well. BUT, by buying thrift, resale, & used- I can save a little dough and keep that 12-year old in Bangkok from having to make another one. And oh, I say 80% because obviously undergarments, yoga clothes, and a few other key items will have to be new.
So yesterday, I went to Crossroads, (IMO, better than Buffalo Exchange, albeit a little snotty) with two $20 bills. I tried on 10 shirts/sweaters. Six of them fit, 4 did not. Here's where I decided to go through my 6 items, do some math, and figure out how many of the 6 I could have for my $40. Turns out, all six were marked 1/2 off. WHAT?! Since when does that happen? Usually my favorite thing is the most expensive. For kicks I looked at the 4 that I didn't like and not one of them was on sale! Crazy, mixed-up opposite day in the dressing room!
Anyway, turns out that I had to dip into my wallet for an extra $3.28, but for the grand total of $43.28, I bought a lime-green and white striped Gap sweater, a navy and cerulean Roxie sweater, an Anthropologie navy cardigan with rainbow buttons, a striped Gap t-shirt, and two 3/4-length pullover tops of indeterminable brand. (I only mention the brands not because I care so much but to illustrate how much money I saved. That Anthropologie cardigan alone was probably $120 when it was new.)
Anyway, I need to get on with my day and get to yoga so I can eat, shower, and pack - devote a little thinking to why it 15 degrees warmer in Boston than San Francisco and wondering if it will stay that way - and empty trash and refrigerator so I can leave for a week. I'm on the 11:25p red-eye so I'm sure I will sleep fitfully tonight. But I'm going to wake up in Massachusetts. Always freaks me out a little.
I'm not a huge fan of shopping at all, but what girl doesn't like having new clothes? And my wardrobe is sadly ill-equipped for San Francisco. My quintessential hot-weather uniform of knee-length bohemian skirts and wife-beaters tanks has no place in this climate. Goodbye, cropped pants. My "winter" clothes from NY are too hot. I can pretty much never wear flip-flops (or really, even high heels). It's rather sad, and extremely inconvenient, as for the last 4 months I've lived in jeans, hiking boots, and my Champion hoodie over a t-shirt over a long-underwear shirt. I need to re-work my entire wardrobe to live here- in light layers, non-jeans, sweaters with 3/4 length sleeves, thin scarves, and comfortable shoes.
ANYway, as I clearly can't afford to buy a whole new wardrobe, I am piecing things together rather slowly. And as much as I would like to buy all American-made clothes, well, that is rather cost-prohibitive as well. BUT, by buying thrift, resale, & used- I can save a little dough and keep that 12-year old in Bangkok from having to make another one. And oh, I say 80% because obviously undergarments, yoga clothes, and a few other key items will have to be new.
So yesterday, I went to Crossroads, (IMO, better than Buffalo Exchange, albeit a little snotty) with two $20 bills. I tried on 10 shirts/sweaters. Six of them fit, 4 did not. Here's where I decided to go through my 6 items, do some math, and figure out how many of the 6 I could have for my $40. Turns out, all six were marked 1/2 off. WHAT?! Since when does that happen? Usually my favorite thing is the most expensive. For kicks I looked at the 4 that I didn't like and not one of them was on sale! Crazy, mixed-up opposite day in the dressing room!
Anyway, turns out that I had to dip into my wallet for an extra $3.28, but for the grand total of $43.28, I bought a lime-green and white striped Gap sweater, a navy and cerulean Roxie sweater, an Anthropologie navy cardigan with rainbow buttons, a striped Gap t-shirt, and two 3/4-length pullover tops of indeterminable brand. (I only mention the brands not because I care so much but to illustrate how much money I saved. That Anthropologie cardigan alone was probably $120 when it was new.)
Anyway, I need to get on with my day and get to yoga so I can eat, shower, and pack - devote a little thinking to why it 15 degrees warmer in Boston than San Francisco and wondering if it will stay that way - and empty trash and refrigerator so I can leave for a week. I'm on the 11:25p red-eye so I'm sure I will sleep fitfully tonight. But I'm going to wake up in Massachusetts. Always freaks me out a little.
Sunday, January 06, 2008
that's our Jamie!
Well folks, I seem to be back in the land of the living. I got my hair cut, so I feel more like my old self. Seriously, next time I say to any one of you, "I think I'm going to grow my hair out long again," just please, remind me, I always hate it. I just look better with shorter hair. Period. The end.
I got a new job, of sorts, which is pretty frackin' sweet. I'm doing a work-trade program at the Inner Sunset Bikram studio. I go in a couple of times a week, work the desk for 30 minutes signing people in and such, then after class, wipe down the mirrors, mop the floor, and throw some towels in the washer. In exchange? All the yoga I can do. Translation? About $130/month. It's sort of killing two or three birds with one stone, so to speak, since it gives me something to do when I'm home (idle hands, you know), saves me some money, and I'm back in yoga! I love it. Bonus: one of my sometime job responsibilities is to walk Sailor, the 5-lb black teacup poodle with the rastafari hairdo. Pet therapy!
I'm leaving on Tuesday night for Boston. Two days of work and 5 days of play with my pal Ashley. I am really looking forward to it. Movie update: I finally saw The Departed yesterday, and yes, it is as good as everyone says it is, and then tonight I saw Juno and even though I went in a little jaded, it warmed my little cold shriveled heart. Truly, I loved it. Can Allison Janney do no wrong?
I got a new job, of sorts, which is pretty frackin' sweet. I'm doing a work-trade program at the Inner Sunset Bikram studio. I go in a couple of times a week, work the desk for 30 minutes signing people in and such, then after class, wipe down the mirrors, mop the floor, and throw some towels in the washer. In exchange? All the yoga I can do. Translation? About $130/month. It's sort of killing two or three birds with one stone, so to speak, since it gives me something to do when I'm home (idle hands, you know), saves me some money, and I'm back in yoga! I love it. Bonus: one of my sometime job responsibilities is to walk Sailor, the 5-lb black teacup poodle with the rastafari hairdo. Pet therapy!
I'm leaving on Tuesday night for Boston. Two days of work and 5 days of play with my pal Ashley. I am really looking forward to it. Movie update: I finally saw The Departed yesterday, and yes, it is as good as everyone says it is, and then tonight I saw Juno and even though I went in a little jaded, it warmed my little cold shriveled heart. Truly, I loved it. Can Allison Janney do no wrong?
Tuesday, January 01, 2008
2008
I woke up this morning... blue. Odd, since it is a really beautiful day, I got plenty of sleep, I feel great, and nothing is really wrong with me. I love fresh starts, new beginnings. January 1st should elate me.
But yet, here I am, sitting cross-legged in my warm bed with a hot cup of coffee, crying. I supposed if I really thought about it I could tell you exactly why I'm crying, but I think there are far more reasons for me to be happy than sad, so I'm not sure why the latter is dominating me this morning.
But it is, and I am. So there you have it. Sometimes I resist blogging if I don't have a cheerful story to tell or some witty repartee to impart. But not today. Happy New Year.
But yet, here I am, sitting cross-legged in my warm bed with a hot cup of coffee, crying. I supposed if I really thought about it I could tell you exactly why I'm crying, but I think there are far more reasons for me to be happy than sad, so I'm not sure why the latter is dominating me this morning.
But it is, and I am. So there you have it. Sometimes I resist blogging if I don't have a cheerful story to tell or some witty repartee to impart. But not today. Happy New Year.
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