About every two years I get invited along to go bowling somewhere. Usually, I give in (without much fuss) and try to have a little fun down at the alley. However, because I pretty much stink at the sport, it is hard to do. This is especially the case when the people you bowl with claim they aren't very good bowlers - then, just as soon begin to each get three strikes in a row, including the person you are dating.
After my fourth gutter ball (follwed by a fifth, sixth, and so on...), I realized that it may also be the choice of rental equipment that was holding me down. I was using the same bowling ball that the three men I was with were using. The lightest ball we could find, an eight pound pink marbled, had a thumb hole I could barely get my pinky in. I actually bowled with it for the first frame and the thing managed to pull my thumb out of the joint momentarilly as it left my palms. Giving up the pink, I had to settle for an 11-pound green pea thing for several more frames. Shameful frames at that.
My sixth frame complete, I went to go look at the ball racks for something in the middleground and settled for a 10 pounder. As I brought it back, the boys began eyeing it and ended up using is a great deal also during the last half of the match. Therefore, I still think I was bowling with a ball slightly too heavy for me. But that probably can't completely explain my 30 point game.
The bowling alley we went to was very nice, it was called Sea Bowl. Located in Pacifica, CA, Sea Bowl offers well lit lanes, video scoring screens, a nice enclosed bar area, and decent requisite bowling alley food. We settled for two pitchers of MGD and one order of garlic curly fries. I would have tried the hot dog, but I am now vegan until sometime this summer I finally feel cleansed and healthy.
Sea Bowl is expensive. It is $25 and hour plus shoe rental, which sets each person back about $12 not including beer or food.
Sunday, June 25, 2006
Thursday, June 22, 2006
Not a drop of milk, not a yolk, and no meat either
Hello people.
It's me, reporting from day six of a diet which approaches as close to vegan as a first timer might dare. Despite my strict adherance, I've not dropped any weight (my body is a superior survivor...i could maintain weight for a long time probably given just 500 cal a day).
I started this diet upon returning back from the US last Saturday. In Thailand, I was eating all kinds of meats and meat-products. I did not eat any cheese, though, and very little sugar. Therefore, coming home and starting the diet hasn't been so hard seeing that I've been without a lot of foods for more than a month anyway. In fact, it's been pretty easy.
For sanity's sake, I am allowed red wine and some dark chocolate. We all must find someway to enjoy ourselves, right?
It's me, reporting from day six of a diet which approaches as close to vegan as a first timer might dare. Despite my strict adherance, I've not dropped any weight (my body is a superior survivor...i could maintain weight for a long time probably given just 500 cal a day).
I started this diet upon returning back from the US last Saturday. In Thailand, I was eating all kinds of meats and meat-products. I did not eat any cheese, though, and very little sugar. Therefore, coming home and starting the diet hasn't been so hard seeing that I've been without a lot of foods for more than a month anyway. In fact, it's been pretty easy.
For sanity's sake, I am allowed red wine and some dark chocolate. We all must find someway to enjoy ourselves, right?
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Back for SE Asia Summer Music Picks:
June 19, David Jacobs-Strain, Biscuits & Blues, SF
June 22-25, Built to Spill, Slim's, SF
June 25-27, Neko Case, Bimbo's, SF
July 1, Band of Horses, The Independent, SF
July 15, The Devil Makes Three, GAMH, SF
July 20, Camera Obscura, GAMH, SF
June 22-25, Built to Spill, Slim's, SF
June 25-27, Neko Case, Bimbo's, SF
July 1, Band of Horses, The Independent, SF
July 15, The Devil Makes Three, GAMH, SF
July 20, Camera Obscura, GAMH, SF
Saturday, June 17, 2006
Photos of the journey
Greeting from Gate C7 at the Taipei Airport. Free wireless here and my three hour layover prompt me to update this page.
Here is a selection of photos from the Thailand trip. Most of them are from the fieldwork portion of the trip, which lasted from May 28-June 6. We stayed on the island of Ko Lanta Yai in Krabi Province.
I am not going to meticulously order these, so if the picture I provide is a little jumbled, I apologize. The field work we did was extremely interesting and I got to meet a lot of people, poke around their homes, go underneath their hotels, and ask people questions about their toilets. All in all, it was super fun.
This is the Reclining Buddha at Wat Po. It is the largest reclining Buddha is Thailand.
This is the Village Headman. He met him at the recycling facility and he then invited us to his house so we could look at the village well that is in his backyard.
These are your two main beer choices in Thailand, Chang and Sing-ha.
No, this isn't a Thai military officer. It's just a hired hand from the village to look important outside a new resort compound. It was too bad they had no idea all the photos we were taking were for the purpose of documenting unsustainable design. Ha ha ha...
We talked to people at the Elephant Trekking place. The elephants looked bored.
Powerlines sure do make that beach look darn purty!
Emperor Hirohito from Japan showed up on campus one day (two people to the right of the first white pagoda thingy). There were many dignitaries in Bangkok last week for the King's celebration commemorating 60 years on the throne of Thailand.
Here are five of the ten Thai students whose we really depended on to understand anything on the trip.
Here is a selection of photos from the Thailand trip. Most of them are from the fieldwork portion of the trip, which lasted from May 28-June 6. We stayed on the island of Ko Lanta Yai in Krabi Province.
I am not going to meticulously order these, so if the picture I provide is a little jumbled, I apologize. The field work we did was extremely interesting and I got to meet a lot of people, poke around their homes, go underneath their hotels, and ask people questions about their toilets. All in all, it was super fun.
This is the Reclining Buddha at Wat Po. It is the largest reclining Buddha is Thailand.
This is the Village Headman. He met him at the recycling facility and he then invited us to his house so we could look at the village well that is in his backyard.
These are your two main beer choices in Thailand, Chang and Sing-ha.
No, this isn't a Thai military officer. It's just a hired hand from the village to look important outside a new resort compound. It was too bad they had no idea all the photos we were taking were for the purpose of documenting unsustainable design. Ha ha ha...
We talked to people at the Elephant Trekking place. The elephants looked bored.
Powerlines sure do make that beach look darn purty!
Emperor Hirohito from Japan showed up on campus one day (two people to the right of the first white pagoda thingy). There were many dignitaries in Bangkok last week for the King's celebration commemorating 60 years on the throne of Thailand.
Here are five of the ten Thai students whose we really depended on to understand anything on the trip.
Monday, June 12, 2006
Saturday, June 03, 2006
Friday, June 02, 2006
I know more about an island 1/3 around the world than I do my own home
I've been on an island in Thailand for the last week studying its potential to improve its tourism sector to be more sustainable. This place has a ton of work to do. In the last few days I have done the following:
Visited the local landfill
Asked pressing questions about infrastructure provision to local community leaders
Watched how rubber is processed from a rubber tree forest
Visited a "green" bungalow development
Tried (but didn't) to enter an "anything but green" 5-star deluxe resort to do undercover work and ask the staff about maltreatment
Saw baby monkeys in the national forest
Got stung by migrating jelly fish in the Andaman Sea
Had a Thai massage at the Wat Po Thai Traditional Massage School in Bangkok
Ate a lot of Thai food
Ran into the former Mayor of Krabi City at a roadside foodstall (met him last year, he's an insanely rich developer who owns tons of beach property and his younger brother is the current Mayor)
Visited the Sea Gypsy villages of Koh Lanta
Had a meeting with the Governor of the Province
This list is only partially complete. I left out a lot of stuff. I will try to post some pictures very soon.
Good night.
Visited the local landfill
Asked pressing questions about infrastructure provision to local community leaders
Watched how rubber is processed from a rubber tree forest
Visited a "green" bungalow development
Tried (but didn't) to enter an "anything but green" 5-star deluxe resort to do undercover work and ask the staff about maltreatment
Saw baby monkeys in the national forest
Got stung by migrating jelly fish in the Andaman Sea
Had a Thai massage at the Wat Po Thai Traditional Massage School in Bangkok
Ate a lot of Thai food
Ran into the former Mayor of Krabi City at a roadside foodstall (met him last year, he's an insanely rich developer who owns tons of beach property and his younger brother is the current Mayor)
Visited the Sea Gypsy villages of Koh Lanta
Had a meeting with the Governor of the Province
This list is only partially complete. I left out a lot of stuff. I will try to post some pictures very soon.
Good night.
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Graduation, packing, non-B2B fun
Saturday morning (7am): Rachel retrieves her 1989 VW Fox from the tow lot at Brannan and 7th Streets. Yes, my car was towed. I had parked in the Richmond district and apparently was blocking a driveway by 15 inches or something. That night, I returned to my friend Adam's house around 1:00 am and my car was not in the place I'd left it 5 hours before. Luckilly, it was only towed, not stolen.
Cost: $215 to get it out of the impound lot and a $75 ticket from DPS. It is my first ever parking ticket in SF. At least I did it in style and got the full service tow treatment.
Saturday afternoon: Rachel and many others in the two year Master of City Planning program graduate! Brock Winstead delivers magnificent and cheeky student address. We all loved it. This blog writer did a good job in her responsibility to thank our staff, I even got a few laughs. Parent unit enjoyed ceremony, which ended with a nice reception with a variety of cheese cubes and toothpicks, overly frosted brownies, cut up fruit, and Martinelli's. We all left hungry, but probably thankfully, as all of us had dinner reservations elsewhere in two hours where we are served more than snacks and tidbits.
Sunday morning: Wake up to drippy rain, although sky looks promising. I can the idea to take my parents to do Bay to Breakers (dumb to miss it again this year) because I have a hacking couch and congestion. Of course, the weather continued to improve and the race would probably have been a ton of fun. I will have to make due with the collection of photos on the race site and from stories of my brave friends who wanted to drink starting at 8am on the streets of SF.
Sunday afternoon: Begin fiddling with my ipod that was recently replaced thanks to the Apple Care Insurance program. Damn thing was broken for months, and then Apple offers to allow people like me to buy insurance to extend factory warranty. Dumb idea, Apple. I just got my ipod replaced on your dollar.
Sunday evening: Go to target to procure items for month long trip to Bangkok and the rural south of Thailand. Yes, I know that they have everything I could ever want in Bangkok for much cheaper. Yes, I know that lugging this stuff across the Pacific and South China Sea is probably stupid. But I like MY stuff. And I will have it this way. Including my mini hairdryer that can switch to 220v.
I also looked at an apartment I may live in next year. It is almost to terrible to think about, but I may have to leave Bateman Street. Seeing as I am likely to rarely be home next year (7-8 hours a day to sleep, shower) throwing down the $780 + utils at the place I am currently in seems rather insane. I need to cut expenses. My friend Pedro has a cheap apartment with a room opening up. The only snaggle is that I won't be able to meet Garret, his roommate, before I leave for Bangkok. So I truly hope Garret doesn't find someone he prefers while I am gone. I think Pedro has the upper hand. This place has a washer/dryer and it is across the street from the Ashby BART station. There is also a place for me to park my car off the street. Plus, Pedro is a nice person and I think it would work out pretty well.
Time to go pack. The next time I write, it may be from the developing world.
Peace.
Cost: $215 to get it out of the impound lot and a $75 ticket from DPS. It is my first ever parking ticket in SF. At least I did it in style and got the full service tow treatment.
Saturday afternoon: Rachel and many others in the two year Master of City Planning program graduate! Brock Winstead delivers magnificent and cheeky student address. We all loved it. This blog writer did a good job in her responsibility to thank our staff, I even got a few laughs. Parent unit enjoyed ceremony, which ended with a nice reception with a variety of cheese cubes and toothpicks, overly frosted brownies, cut up fruit, and Martinelli's. We all left hungry, but probably thankfully, as all of us had dinner reservations elsewhere in two hours where we are served more than snacks and tidbits.
Sunday morning: Wake up to drippy rain, although sky looks promising. I can the idea to take my parents to do Bay to Breakers (dumb to miss it again this year) because I have a hacking couch and congestion. Of course, the weather continued to improve and the race would probably have been a ton of fun. I will have to make due with the collection of photos on the race site and from stories of my brave friends who wanted to drink starting at 8am on the streets of SF.
Sunday afternoon: Begin fiddling with my ipod that was recently replaced thanks to the Apple Care Insurance program. Damn thing was broken for months, and then Apple offers to allow people like me to buy insurance to extend factory warranty. Dumb idea, Apple. I just got my ipod replaced on your dollar.
Sunday evening: Go to target to procure items for month long trip to Bangkok and the rural south of Thailand. Yes, I know that they have everything I could ever want in Bangkok for much cheaper. Yes, I know that lugging this stuff across the Pacific and South China Sea is probably stupid. But I like MY stuff. And I will have it this way. Including my mini hairdryer that can switch to 220v.
I also looked at an apartment I may live in next year. It is almost to terrible to think about, but I may have to leave Bateman Street. Seeing as I am likely to rarely be home next year (7-8 hours a day to sleep, shower) throwing down the $780 + utils at the place I am currently in seems rather insane. I need to cut expenses. My friend Pedro has a cheap apartment with a room opening up. The only snaggle is that I won't be able to meet Garret, his roommate, before I leave for Bangkok. So I truly hope Garret doesn't find someone he prefers while I am gone. I think Pedro has the upper hand. This place has a washer/dryer and it is across the street from the Ashby BART station. There is also a place for me to park my car off the street. Plus, Pedro is a nice person and I think it would work out pretty well.
Time to go pack. The next time I write, it may be from the developing world.
Peace.
Thursday, May 18, 2006
Time at home spent doing not much is grand
Since Friday, May 12, at 6:45 p.m. I have "officially" been done with grad school. Sure, I had a few loose ends to tie up (which are done...as of today). But overall, for the last week I've had some time off. Well-deserved time off.
The end of my city planning grad school career came with momentous build up. I'd been up since Wednesday straight working on my board for our final design review for studio. Basically, from Wed morning until Friday afternoon, staight, with only two shower breaks and a couple trips to the local salad joint, I worked in studio doing a variety of coloring, scanning, plotting, more coloring and shading, and formatting. It turned out pretty good, visually. My presentation didn't have enough "meat" to really mean much (I had only shady estimates of housing units and parking spaces my proposal would create....that didn't please the panel of reviewers all too much). However, I was pleased. My board looked very good: very colorful, cheerful, and interesting.
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday I attempted to do work (those loose ends), but only until yesterday did I get my shit together. I sent off the final deliverable today at 9:50 a.m. I do hope my client doensn't attempt to reach me after this transaction.
On the bad side, I caught a sniffle. It is one of those itchy, runny nose things where you sneeze a lot and are uncomfortable, but otherwise you are fine. I hope I get over it before I have to get on that long flight to Taipai on Monday night.
In other news, my ipod replacement scheme is currently in the works. I just got word that Apple has received my unit and is being analyzed by the repair division. I do hope they get something to me by Saturday, Monday at the latest. I really need my ipod for Thailand.
The end of my city planning grad school career came with momentous build up. I'd been up since Wednesday straight working on my board for our final design review for studio. Basically, from Wed morning until Friday afternoon, staight, with only two shower breaks and a couple trips to the local salad joint, I worked in studio doing a variety of coloring, scanning, plotting, more coloring and shading, and formatting. It turned out pretty good, visually. My presentation didn't have enough "meat" to really mean much (I had only shady estimates of housing units and parking spaces my proposal would create....that didn't please the panel of reviewers all too much). However, I was pleased. My board looked very good: very colorful, cheerful, and interesting.
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday I attempted to do work (those loose ends), but only until yesterday did I get my shit together. I sent off the final deliverable today at 9:50 a.m. I do hope my client doensn't attempt to reach me after this transaction.
On the bad side, I caught a sniffle. It is one of those itchy, runny nose things where you sneeze a lot and are uncomfortable, but otherwise you are fine. I hope I get over it before I have to get on that long flight to Taipai on Monday night.
In other news, my ipod replacement scheme is currently in the works. I just got word that Apple has received my unit and is being analyzed by the repair division. I do hope they get something to me by Saturday, Monday at the latest. I really need my ipod for Thailand.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Monday, May 08, 2006
Gotta kick this habit...right after this post...
...I am the biggest procrastinator. It is going to KILL me. I've got to find a way to attain more focus when I need to be working on something.
Perhaps it is just because I am tired. Perhaps it is just because I don't really LOVE the project I am working on (no, it's actually not that...). Perhaps it is because I have writer's block. Perhaps it is because I have been working weekends for the last two years. Perhaps it is because I have been a socially and physically deprived human being for way too long.
All these things contribute to my inability to get my work done. I just spent an hour on ebay looking at messenger bags that I don't need. Then I began looking at pictures of Eva Longoria on MSN.com. I also looked at the IMBD site for the Golden Girls series. You do no even want to hear about the wasted time I've spent on Craigslist. I started out in Missed Connections and then ended up in housing for rent. I sent an email to someone about an ad for a room in a house. All the above occured while I am supposed to be writing this rather large, significant term paper. All the while, I've been distracted even more by my itunes and the logistics of finding a decent and worthwhile show to see at one of 8 music venues in San Franciso for next Tuesday evening.
I have web-induced ADD/ADHD. I am self-diagnosing. I should go to Web MD to see if such a condition exists.
How are you battling your web-facilitiated mental and health conditions?
Perhaps it is just because I am tired. Perhaps it is just because I don't really LOVE the project I am working on (no, it's actually not that...). Perhaps it is because I have writer's block. Perhaps it is because I have been working weekends for the last two years. Perhaps it is because I have been a socially and physically deprived human being for way too long.
All these things contribute to my inability to get my work done. I just spent an hour on ebay looking at messenger bags that I don't need. Then I began looking at pictures of Eva Longoria on MSN.com. I also looked at the IMBD site for the Golden Girls series. You do no even want to hear about the wasted time I've spent on Craigslist. I started out in Missed Connections and then ended up in housing for rent. I sent an email to someone about an ad for a room in a house. All the above occured while I am supposed to be writing this rather large, significant term paper. All the while, I've been distracted even more by my itunes and the logistics of finding a decent and worthwhile show to see at one of 8 music venues in San Franciso for next Tuesday evening.
I have web-induced ADD/ADHD. I am self-diagnosing. I should go to Web MD to see if such a condition exists.
How are you battling your web-facilitiated mental and health conditions?
Thursday, May 04, 2006
Sleeping all day
What a damn waste of a day!
With time being a rare commodity these days, I just wasted all my valuable time coupons. I got up at 8, proceeded to go back to sleep, tried to get up, checked email, got coffee, came home and napped again, and then took a shower. It is now 1:00 pm. I have to be at school in 2:10 in order to fill out a class evaluation form for a colloquium series I rarely attend on Thursdays. Usually I am in Oakland in boring meetings all day. But if I don't get to school and fill out the eval form, there is a risk I won't get credit for the class. Although, I think that is not true because the evaluation forms are ananymous. Maybe I shall stay here. It is all very negotiable.
But today I slept. I also trimmed my bangs.
I hate days where from the get go I am struggling to get my shit together.
Graduation countdown: 16 days
With time being a rare commodity these days, I just wasted all my valuable time coupons. I got up at 8, proceeded to go back to sleep, tried to get up, checked email, got coffee, came home and napped again, and then took a shower. It is now 1:00 pm. I have to be at school in 2:10 in order to fill out a class evaluation form for a colloquium series I rarely attend on Thursdays. Usually I am in Oakland in boring meetings all day. But if I don't get to school and fill out the eval form, there is a risk I won't get credit for the class. Although, I think that is not true because the evaluation forms are ananymous. Maybe I shall stay here. It is all very negotiable.
But today I slept. I also trimmed my bangs.
I hate days where from the get go I am struggling to get my shit together.
Graduation countdown: 16 days
Tuesday, May 02, 2006
Coon audacity
Yes, this is another raccoon posting. Procyon lotor has once again tested the Bateman Street boundaries.
About 2 min ago I am sitting at the table, debating about how to begin this project that is due tomorrow, and I heard a suspect shuffling sound on the front porch. The motion detector light was not activated despite the fact there was clearly something less than 3 feet from me. Whatever it was, it was moving around the cat food bowl with mighty vigor.
I opened the front door with great exclamation and the lone clever coon jumps off the deck and turns around in the driveway. He looked at me. I looked at him. He sized me up. I sized up him. It was strange because usually these things travel in coon posses. Appparently, this one has been abanoned by its fellow coon brothers and sisters. (Poor thing)
Now in the driveway, the damn beast proceeds to get on its hindquarters and begins to approach (walking upright!) the edge of the deck, looking hopeful I will put the bowl of food back on the porch. It even attempted to shimmy up the porch side. I leered at the damn thing, it made a noise, and galloped into the street.
That said, the food contents have been removed from the porch and I am wondering when and if this species knows how to operate a door knob.
About 2 min ago I am sitting at the table, debating about how to begin this project that is due tomorrow, and I heard a suspect shuffling sound on the front porch. The motion detector light was not activated despite the fact there was clearly something less than 3 feet from me. Whatever it was, it was moving around the cat food bowl with mighty vigor.
I opened the front door with great exclamation and the lone clever coon jumps off the deck and turns around in the driveway. He looked at me. I looked at him. He sized me up. I sized up him. It was strange because usually these things travel in coon posses. Appparently, this one has been abanoned by its fellow coon brothers and sisters. (Poor thing)
Now in the driveway, the damn beast proceeds to get on its hindquarters and begins to approach (walking upright!) the edge of the deck, looking hopeful I will put the bowl of food back on the porch. It even attempted to shimmy up the porch side. I leered at the damn thing, it made a noise, and galloped into the street.
That said, the food contents have been removed from the porch and I am wondering when and if this species knows how to operate a door knob.
Thursday, April 27, 2006
Eating and drinking strange chemical things
Over the last few days my diet has take a south turn to what many people would be ashmamed about. I find it slightly amusing.
Last night I drank 32 ounces of Diet Peach Tea Snapple and ate Frosted Mini Wheats from an oversized economy cereal bag. Tonight, I guzzled something called "Vault Zero". It functions to deliver a high dose of caffeine to my system. Caffeine is needed: I've slept about 4 hours in the last two days. I had a meeting to go over edits with my Master's project client today at 3:30 pm and I literally fell asleep at my chair while he was babbling something to me about "demand-driven workforce strategies." I could actually feel my eyes closing and my balance shifting, but I could not resist the pull to rest.
I also bought a chocolate bar from downstairs. Vault Zero and Hershey's! I also have an old fashioned box of Cracker Jacks with me. I am very healthy.
I am listening to Destroyer. I need their albums.
Last night I drank 32 ounces of Diet Peach Tea Snapple and ate Frosted Mini Wheats from an oversized economy cereal bag. Tonight, I guzzled something called "Vault Zero". It functions to deliver a high dose of caffeine to my system. Caffeine is needed: I've slept about 4 hours in the last two days. I had a meeting to go over edits with my Master's project client today at 3:30 pm and I literally fell asleep at my chair while he was babbling something to me about "demand-driven workforce strategies." I could actually feel my eyes closing and my balance shifting, but I could not resist the pull to rest.
I also bought a chocolate bar from downstairs. Vault Zero and Hershey's! I also have an old fashioned box of Cracker Jacks with me. I am very healthy.
I am listening to Destroyer. I need their albums.
Late night sloat-tunes
It is 3:46 a.m. and this music is my only companion here at Wurster Hall tonight. It's kind of...hmmmm....very cool.
Anything upbeat sounding is cool at this point.
My PR is less than 24 hours to its happy little grave!
Anything upbeat sounding is cool at this point.
My PR is less than 24 hours to its happy little grave!
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
I just drank 32 oz of diet Snapple....and other tales from Wurster Hall
We're officially in high gear, ladies and gentlemen.
I am VERY behind in a lot of work. Projects that should be nearing 70% completion are at a dismal 15-20%. However, my master's project is in a better state. It's at about 93%. In fact, even if I don't squeeze out those last 7 percents, it will (must) get turned in this Friday. For I shall host a party for all my classmates to mark the date we have all (mostly) finished this major stepping stone. It shall be grand. Right now, I am taking a mental inventory of leftovers we STILL have from our last party in December...which was a ton of fun, I might add, but left us with a whole lot of remnant Yellowtail!
Tomorrow I shall also get my haircut.
Multi-tasking and procrastinating. These two activities shall generally characterize the pace of my life for the next several weeks. There will be little sleep, much snack food, overload of caffeine, and social life repression.
I am VERY behind in a lot of work. Projects that should be nearing 70% completion are at a dismal 15-20%. However, my master's project is in a better state. It's at about 93%. In fact, even if I don't squeeze out those last 7 percents, it will (must) get turned in this Friday. For I shall host a party for all my classmates to mark the date we have all (mostly) finished this major stepping stone. It shall be grand. Right now, I am taking a mental inventory of leftovers we STILL have from our last party in December...which was a ton of fun, I might add, but left us with a whole lot of remnant Yellowtail!
Tomorrow I shall also get my haircut.
Multi-tasking and procrastinating. These two activities shall generally characterize the pace of my life for the next several weeks. There will be little sleep, much snack food, overload of caffeine, and social life repression.
Tuesday, April 25, 2006
What I will be doing M-F next Fall
My new status as a graduate student of landscape architecture will prove to be challenging when I begin the three year master track program next fall. Here is what I am slated to do:
M-W 9am-1pm LA 101 Fundamentals of Landscape Design Studio (yes, that is 4 hours of class twice a week)
M-W 6:30-9:30pm LA 134A Drawing Workshop (yes, that is another 3 hours of class on the same day as the 4 hour studio!)
T-Th 11-12:30pm LA 111 Plants in Design (we must learn about the leafy greens)
T-Th 12:30-2pm LA 170 History and Literature of Landscape Architecture
On top of this I was considering applying for a GSI position in City Planning which would be M-W 2-3pm and Friday 9-10am and 2-3pm. Four hours of teaching and sitting in an Intro to City Planning class in exchange for my fees (about $3700 a term). Is it worth it? It remains to be determined...I am really strapped for money, though.
This is why I am so busy I have no time to go out, exercise, wash my clothes, or go on dates, do any yard work, or keep in touch with family. This is why life as a graduate student generally is equal parts joy and indescribable pain.
M-W 9am-1pm LA 101 Fundamentals of Landscape Design Studio (yes, that is 4 hours of class twice a week)
M-W 6:30-9:30pm LA 134A Drawing Workshop (yes, that is another 3 hours of class on the same day as the 4 hour studio!)
T-Th 11-12:30pm LA 111 Plants in Design (we must learn about the leafy greens)
T-Th 12:30-2pm LA 170 History and Literature of Landscape Architecture
On top of this I was considering applying for a GSI position in City Planning which would be M-W 2-3pm and Friday 9-10am and 2-3pm. Four hours of teaching and sitting in an Intro to City Planning class in exchange for my fees (about $3700 a term). Is it worth it? It remains to be determined...I am really strapped for money, though.
This is why I am so busy I have no time to go out, exercise, wash my clothes, or go on dates, do any yard work, or keep in touch with family. This is why life as a graduate student generally is equal parts joy and indescribable pain.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
They know more from the television box
I was back in Portland this weekend for a bridal shower. After the shower festivities were completed, I headed to my brother's house where there was a birthday party for my little nephew, Everett. Everett is six. This I didn't know for sure before I looked at the cake and read the "Happy 6th Birthday, Everett" message. Don't think I am a bad aunt, because I am not. It is just hard to keep track of how old they are because they are much larger than normal children. Everett could be a seven or eight year old. His brother Alex is only 14 and he is about 6'2. The daughter Emily is actually of normal child size, I think, at 9 years old.
Over dinner, which consisted of BBQ hamburgers and chicken, I sat around the table with my mother, stepfather, brother, and two of my uncles on my dad's side. I was tired so I wasn't in the mood to lead the table talk, so I just decided to observe my family unit to see where they'd go conversationally.
The talk turned toward television, of which I have absolutely no clue about. I am familiar with the names of some of today's popular shows, and perhaps even about their concepts, but I have not watched a television show regularly since late '04. I have no idea who is on television nowadays and I have an shadier idea of what networks feature what programs.
People were going around the table admitting their television weakness. My brother sheepishly admitted to loving American Idol and that he feels it is ok since he is also a musician. This set the table off. Apparently, everyone there is a big fan of American Idol. All these people are 55+ excluding my brother, who is 37.
Soon a debate began to form, my mother citing an objection to one contestant she considered to be a rapper, although I am sure his identity is actually more nuanced than she afforded him. My stepfather then chimed in making a comment about one fo the female contestants and provided some illustrative aspects about her visual appearance over the last several weeks. He apparently approves of her physically but feels her range is limited. My brother then began to advocate on behalf of someone named Katharine McPhee. The name caught my ear because I am a fan of the writer John McPhee, but I soon surmised they are probably unrelated.
All this is kind of boring but here I am writing about it. The question remains: Do I have an objection about my mother, uncles, stepdad and brother being dedicated fans of AI? Should I have suggested they tune into something like Frontline instead? Don't my parents realize that this show is unlikely to turn out anyone who will really CHANGE or have an IMPACT on music today? After all, all of these contestants are vying to become a mainstream musical breakthrough. The last I looked, Kelly Clarkson was playing at some place in Reno and then a couple back to backs in Fresno. It might be me, but I don't consider these places where many musical breakthroughs happen at all, if ever.
Over dinner, which consisted of BBQ hamburgers and chicken, I sat around the table with my mother, stepfather, brother, and two of my uncles on my dad's side. I was tired so I wasn't in the mood to lead the table talk, so I just decided to observe my family unit to see where they'd go conversationally.
The talk turned toward television, of which I have absolutely no clue about. I am familiar with the names of some of today's popular shows, and perhaps even about their concepts, but I have not watched a television show regularly since late '04. I have no idea who is on television nowadays and I have an shadier idea of what networks feature what programs.
People were going around the table admitting their television weakness. My brother sheepishly admitted to loving American Idol and that he feels it is ok since he is also a musician. This set the table off. Apparently, everyone there is a big fan of American Idol. All these people are 55+ excluding my brother, who is 37.
Soon a debate began to form, my mother citing an objection to one contestant she considered to be a rapper, although I am sure his identity is actually more nuanced than she afforded him. My stepfather then chimed in making a comment about one fo the female contestants and provided some illustrative aspects about her visual appearance over the last several weeks. He apparently approves of her physically but feels her range is limited. My brother then began to advocate on behalf of someone named Katharine McPhee. The name caught my ear because I am a fan of the writer John McPhee, but I soon surmised they are probably unrelated.
All this is kind of boring but here I am writing about it. The question remains: Do I have an objection about my mother, uncles, stepdad and brother being dedicated fans of AI? Should I have suggested they tune into something like Frontline instead? Don't my parents realize that this show is unlikely to turn out anyone who will really CHANGE or have an IMPACT on music today? After all, all of these contestants are vying to become a mainstream musical breakthrough. The last I looked, Kelly Clarkson was playing at some place in Reno and then a couple back to backs in Fresno. It might be me, but I don't consider these places where many musical breakthroughs happen at all, if ever.
Monday, April 17, 2006
It's a *Full House* of *Growing Pains*
I was listening to the radio or surfing the internet the other day and something prompted me to find out what Kirk Cameron is up to lately. I knew he'd become a Jesus freak over the past five or so years, but suddenly I wanted to know MORE. With the grand Oracle, otherwise known as the Internet, I am able to quench my thirst for knowledge with a few clacks of the keyboard:
"Kirk Camereon" "evangelical"
There were my search terms.
This is what I found: Please enter via The Way of the Master
I'd recommend following the "I am a Christian" prompts, even if you aren't one. I mean, unles God is really watching, then you can lie here. It would be cool if the web site actually had the ability to detect liars or imposters, and you'd be sent directly to virtual hell.
Then my curiousity shifted to another member of the Cameron household: Candance Cameron, otherwise known as D.J. Tanner from ABC's Full House. It appears as though Candace is doing her own Internet-based work for the man (men?) upstairs. However, I am suspicious because the site also functions as her marketing platform for her tawdry acting career. I give it to Candace, though, she looks pretty good and very fit!
Next on my list of "where are they now" was another Full House alum, Jodie Sweetin, also known as the precocious Stephanie Tanner. (Anyone recall the phrase, "Oh, that is so RUDE!"???) It appears as though Jodie was once on the road to uprightness, marrying a police officer at age 20 (don't you love it?). However, her path took a dark turn and she became addicted to meth. It looks like Jodie is pulling through though. I actually HIGHLY recommend the little video link from her appearance on Good Morning America. I was really surprised at how adult, with-it, and well-spoken Stephanie Tanner is. She is rather adorable, too.
See? Meth addicts can amount to something in America...they just need a second chance.
I didn't bother looking up what happened to Uncle Joey or Uncle _____ (I forget his name).
Bob Sagat, who played the all-knowing Danny Tanner, is pretty effin' cool! That guy is twisted if you've ever seen him do stand-up comedy. And it looks like he is also attracting a church of his very own, though I am not surprised.
"Kirk Camereon" "evangelical"
There were my search terms.
This is what I found: Please enter via The Way of the Master
I'd recommend following the "I am a Christian" prompts, even if you aren't one. I mean, unles God is really watching, then you can lie here. It would be cool if the web site actually had the ability to detect liars or imposters, and you'd be sent directly to virtual hell.
Then my curiousity shifted to another member of the Cameron household: Candance Cameron, otherwise known as D.J. Tanner from ABC's Full House. It appears as though Candace is doing her own Internet-based work for the man (men?) upstairs. However, I am suspicious because the site also functions as her marketing platform for her tawdry acting career. I give it to Candace, though, she looks pretty good and very fit!
Next on my list of "where are they now" was another Full House alum, Jodie Sweetin, also known as the precocious Stephanie Tanner. (Anyone recall the phrase, "Oh, that is so RUDE!"???) It appears as though Jodie was once on the road to uprightness, marrying a police officer at age 20 (don't you love it?). However, her path took a dark turn and she became addicted to meth. It looks like Jodie is pulling through though. I actually HIGHLY recommend the little video link from her appearance on Good Morning America. I was really surprised at how adult, with-it, and well-spoken Stephanie Tanner is. She is rather adorable, too.
See? Meth addicts can amount to something in America...they just need a second chance.
I didn't bother looking up what happened to Uncle Joey or Uncle _____ (I forget his name).
Bob Sagat, who played the all-knowing Danny Tanner, is pretty effin' cool! That guy is twisted if you've ever seen him do stand-up comedy. And it looks like he is also attracting a church of his very own, though I am not surprised.
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