Oh, hello.

2010-04-28T09:45:00.001-05:00

Oh, hello. I have returned, very possibly. Are you excited about this? Are you worried it is just a tease? Do you want me to spill my guts? Do you want me to share knowledge? Shall I make you laugh?

Ice Cream review: Purely Decadent (coconut milk) Cookie Dough

2009-07-13T17:43:00.002-05:00

It doesn't work very well. I love coconut ice cream/sorbet, but I have learned I only like coconut in conjunction with specific other flavors. Coconut as a base for any flavor of ice cream doesn't work well.

The Cookie Dough flavor is a perfect example. I want to taste cookie dough, not coconut! The flavors compete and my tastebuds are not the winner. It doesn't help that the cookie dough pieces are not very big. :(

From now on, I will only eat coconut milk ice cream if it is with a suitable flavor: mango, lime, pineapple, chocolate, etc.

But I do, do, DO love the Purely Decadent Cookie Avalanche! SOooooooooooooooo good. (It's made with soy milk).

2009-05-25T19:10:00.002-05:00

Osteo

2009-05-12T17:56:00.003-05:00

Found out today I have osteopenia in my spine and femur, and I am one tenth t-score away from having osteoporosis in my femur.

Seriously.

THis is a result of my misdiagnosis and subsequent treatment with steroids for 3 1/2 years. At this point, I think I can safely say that my broken foot last summer was caused by the steroids. I have had numerous illnesses and infections that I've never had before, while on steroids, esp. this past fall and spring, and I think it was because of the steroids.

I would not be so upset if the steroids were something I should have been on. I would not be so upset if the doctor who prescribed me the steroids had not told me I didn't need to have a bone density because I was on such a low dose of steroids, it shouldn't be affecting me in that way (his answer for every problem I had - you're on such a low dose, it shouldn't be affecting that). I would not be so upset if when I had called and told him about my extreme fatigue and tremors he had not told me that it was not connected to the steroids.

My next step is to find out what the possibilities are for legal action. I don't know if I will end up taking any at all, but I would like to know what is the norm for this sort of situation. Do you guys have any advice? Thoughts? I am extremely conflicted about this.

oh hi.

2009-04-29T21:09:00.003-05:00

my computer is more or less fixed. the sound doesn't work, but it starts up. that's good.

I would post some pictures, but I have misplaced my camera/usb cable.

what else is new?

I think May will be a no-spending-money month, except for things I've already committed to (concert and camping). I have had bad money juju lately. a warrant for a ticket (expired inspection sticker) I took care of in 2003, but the city didn't process it correctly and I no longer have proof, so I had to pay $261.30. over $300 out-of-pocket medical (bronchitis and infection and prescriptions and co-pays and $100 emergency room visit). spent too much on my friend's wedding (hotel, shoes, gifts) (in retrospect). guy at waterloo said my debit card didn't go through, so I gave him my credit card, only to be charged on both my debit and credit cards. humane society is now having a problem charging my monthly gift, and I thought it was because I moved and the address on my card was different than what they had on record. so I went online to change it, but it won't update. I now have three pending donations which are showing as unavailable funds in my account. oh, yes, and spending too much on food and beverage, per my foodie habits. sheesh. oh, and $60 to apply for readmission to UT so I can take a free class cause I work there. that's pretty cool.

I hope to spend some time this weekend taking pictures, but it might be raining. if I do, I will figure out a way to post them on here and facebook for you all to admire. ha.

COMING SOON list of things

2009-03-19T18:42:00.002-05:00

I am looking forward to:

-temps in the 80s
-running and swimming
-slow at work
-camping
-maybe seeing cousins in summer (esp. Cory & Michelle, Erin & Anna)
-photography class
-paying off my hundreds and hundreds of dollars in med bills

And I would love a real vacation. Like, a two week trip. I just used 30 hours of vacation time for a stinkin' cold because I'm out of sick leave. Balls.

RE: COMING SOON

2009-03-19T18:25:00.003-05:00

Pam has the recipe book, maybe she'll post the recipe in the comments? Anyway, here's your story:

http://www.speakaboos.com/story/jack_and_jill (Click WATCH VIDEO).

2009-03-19T18:21:00.002-05:00

It is time for me to change my blog look. You know I like doing this. But I'm really wondering if I should even have a blog. Maybe now is not the time to decide - I've been super busy at work and sick, not really in the create-content frame of mind. I will ponder this and any of your thoughts are welcome. Should I just keep doing what I'm doing (empty promises?), should I have theme days (music on Wednesdays, film on Fridays, food on EVERYDAY), should I post a new photo everyday and just leave it at that? so many options.

2009-03-19T18:18:00.002-05:00

Patrick Wolf - Vulture

I like it! when I read he was doing bondage, etc., I was kind of annoyed. Seen it! Like a million times. But I enjoyed this, and I am looking forward to his new album.

COMING SOON

2009-02-10T22:34:00.007-06:00

a morbid tale. a recipe.

right here, don't go, stay tuned!

we had a real storm!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2009-02-10T22:34:00.006-06:00

FOR P: borscht recipe or I hope you like chopping vegetables for like, 30 minutes or trash vegetables are cheap, let's make a soup with them

2009-02-03T19:49:00.005-06:00

3 tbsps olive oil
1 onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, however
1/2 head red cabbage, chopped
1/2 head green cabbage, chopped
2 potatoes (about 2 lbs.), peeled and chopped
6 beets, 2" diameter, peeled and chopped
salt and pepper to taste
one small lemon (or 1/2 large) and extra
FRESH dill (do not, DO NOT use dried)
Rustic bread

Heat olive oil on medium heat. THROW in onion and garlic, cook for about 4 minutes.

*DON"T LET ANYTHING BURN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

add cabbage, stir around, heat until soft. may want to turn heat up to medium-high at this point.

add potatoes. stir around, heat about three minutes.

add beets. add water to cover vegetables. bring to a boil.

*this is when it gets real pretty!!!! i <3 pink

cook it for a while. add salt and peppa 2 taste. add juice of one lemon. just cook it until the beets are as soft as you like 'em (for me this was about an hour).

put it in a bowl. sprinkle fresh dill on top, serve with a lemon wedge and Rustic bread that you made yourself.

while you're eating, you may want to think about the tsar and his family and how really unfair it is that you work your ass off all day long, you're 28 and look and FEEL like you're 52, you have arthritis and pockmarks and rotten teeth, and you get to eat bread and soup almost every day of your life. that's the heart and soul of borscht. 'sup, serf.

My J Crew-whoreness is validated by the first wife and daughters

2009-01-20T22:18:00.002-06:00

I feel better now.

(look for pics on the internet - they are everywhere and I'm too lazy to put them up).

Obama shouts out to the godless

2009-01-20T19:10:00.002-06:00

"We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus — and non-believers."

Non-believers! Holla! That's me! I was so excited I almost jumped up and down in our conference room and said, "That's me!" I can't believe he (and his speech writer) acknowledged us. Amazing. LOVE IT.

non-believer is kinda funny, though. doesn't sound a little archaic? like how "heretic" sounds funny (to me). and I do believe - I believe in my ability to make better the lives of my family and people in my community and my earth and stuff like that. but hey, I'll take it.

Thoughts?

2009-01-10T11:41:00.003-06:00

THese are things I am thinking about doing (or commencing) in the near future:

1. Americorps in Atlanta or New Orleans
2. Teach English in Japan or China
3. Get my PhD in Comparative Literature from (first choice) Emory University (languages: French, Arabic, and Russian; studying science fiction and science/self identity)
4. MBA/MFA at NYU Stern/Tisch in their new dual-degree program for film producers.

These would all be after movie in Palestine. Not that I would do them all. But who knows?

Could I survive the robobt revolution?

2009-01-10T11:21:00.002-06:00

I've been thinking about teaching English in Japan, but I foresee a problem:

COuld I survive the robot revolution? Like, in the initial days as it is starting?

(from the journal IEEE Spectrum via the io9 blog.)

Dedicated to Stuart

2008-12-29T20:34:00.000-06:00

I miss you, Stu.

Happy holidays :)

2008-12-01T23:20:00.003-06:00

I am depressed about the holidays. The last seven holiday seasons I have spent with someone. Making plans to visit family reminds me that there is “family” I’m not going to see this year for the first time in many, many years. I used to think that people who got depressed during the holidays about not being in a relationship were just pussies. But now I get it.

To cope I’ve been listening to a lot of country music. And jazz. I made a turkey pot pie with leftovers!

Videos!

Here's Al Green doing one of Willie's songs:

Did I post this already? God, I love this song. This song absolutely kills me. Listen again:

And finally:

yes it is true

2008-11-06T05:54:00.002-06:00

I am up this early. have been up for a while now, since about 5 am. couldn't sleep. worked until 8 each night so far this week, will continue till the report is done. clocking 10.5 - 12 hours days. exhausting. you know when you do something all day long, or at least before you go to bed, very intensely, kinda worked up about it, and you stay in a half-sleep state doing that same thing. so in my head all night, I've been editing my 2,000 page report. printing it out. compiling it. staring at it on the computer, making changes. blech.

but it will be over soon. it will be overnighted on the 13th. sayonara.

2008-10-30T22:18:00.003-05:00

2008-10-30T22:16:00.001-05:00

ornette coleman hawkins

Just put your lips together, and blow

2008-10-04T23:59:00.002-05:00

I started whistling today. Spontaneously. I surprised myself: I was taken aback.

The last time I whistled - the only times I can remember whistling - I was copying a song, responding to someone's request to whistle, etc. It was a response, a retort, an answer to a request. Today it was spontaneous, joyful whistling.

I don't know if I've ever done this before.

Hmmm.

Cut Copy

2008-10-03T13:12:00.003-05:00

We saw Cut Copy Monday. They were great.

Here is there first North American TV performance. On Carson Daly.

I love the arm in the air thing he does - it's like, "I'm inviting you to dance."

Cory, oops, I mean Dan, looks so professional in his button down. And who is that crazy girl in the back standing on a bench? Does she have a cast on her leg? Why yes, she does, and she is STILL dancing!

(for those of you not in Austin, that was me at their show at Emo's). And the bass player that was at SXSW was not there, I think. I'm on my lunch break. forgive the weirdness of this post.

I love this video

2008-10-03T13:11:00.001-05:00

No! For battle come to me!

2008-10-02T21:11:00.002-05:00

Live blogging Star Trek: The Next Generation: Season 1: Episode 107: The Last Outpost.

Orgy of spending!

2008-09-26T20:38:00.000-05:00

I'm live blogging the debate.

Native American Powwow

2008-09-23T22:20:00.003-05:00

Be there or be square!

The 17th annual Austin Powwow and American Heritage Festival is on Saturday, November 1st. I am pretty sure Mom dragged us to the first one - it was in some tiny middle school gym, about a hundred people or so. Now it is huge. It's fun, they sell a lot of cheap crap, but the dancing, costumes, and drumming are great. So is the frybread. I'll probably be there at 10 AM to see the Grand Entrance dance which is neat. I think they do it more than once. I love the old men that sing and drum, they are super adorable with their old man faces and braids. Old men should always have braids. Or beards.

I'm doing a lame job describing this, but I'm ready for bed. Trust me! More info on their website.

I absolutely love

2008-09-21T16:47:00.002-05:00

the chairs. I adore them. I need them in my apartment.

BAH-GCH. Ba-ug-ckuh. tam-ber.

Bruno's like, Clavichords, la-ti-da. Gould is all, Step off, motherfucker.

Mr. F is in the house!

2008-09-20T18:53:00.000-05:00

Type your summary here

Type rest of the post here

Bjork and Antony: Dull Flame of Desire

2008-09-20T18:51:00.001-05:00

Love this video, especially the second part. The third part is freaky, but great.

which reminds me...

2008-09-16T21:45:00.002-05:00

Tracy Chapman reminds me of Joan Armatrading. You guys know her? LOVE HER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I wish I could sing like that. But I'm a silly white girl with weak vocal chords.

Another good song from same taping, Show Some EMotion (I used to sing this with my pops!):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Yqgqd4nkoc

And she reminds me of...Nina Simone.

Watch this when you have 11 uninterrupted minutes, watch this. I had never really heard this song until I watched this. Her face, her talk, her piano playing - she goes Chopin all over that song - are inspiring. To me.

Songs that made me cry when I was 7

2008-09-16T21:17:00.002-05:00

Nostalgia, people. It's a strange thing. For years I would think about this song as being one of the most meaningful songs of my childhood. My dad would watch MTV constantly in the 80s, and when this video came on, I was riveted. Hearing the song in the car, in the grocery store, watching the video, I would cry. Lots of tears, lots of staring out the window.

The song was a sort of hit, so it was off the radio and MTV within a year or so. I never knew the name of the song, nor did I know the band. Only the chorus stayed with me. Then, 11 years later, senior year in high school, I was reminiscing about favorite songs from childhood with a friend, and she new instantly the name of the song. Watching it now, it still made me cry BECAUSE I AM A LOSER. Okay, the song doesn't move me anymore, but my memory of my experience listening to the song is very strong.

Read on to see what it is. Be underwhelmed. Laugh at me. Then let's see if we can figure out why the song got to me.

Apologies, you have to go to the url: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MSyRFLlYnWI.

So, WTF? I have a few ideas about why it made me cry: the lovers across-time theme. I actually thought the refrain was, "I know you're out there somewhere/somewhere, out there/I know you're out there somewhere/somewhere in eternity out there." In reality, the refrain is: "...I know I'll find you somehow/and somehow I'll return again to you."

Now that I think about it, I know exactly why the Moody Blues' song made me cry. Just a year or two that song was released, I was sobbing like a fool in the movie theater because of this:

Oh. My god. Don Bluth was an evil monster. Mystery solved: sadness and fear about being separated from family becomes sadness and fear about being separated from loved one.

Here's another song that had me in tears every time I heard it in the car:

Fast Car also came out in 1988.

Hell hath no fury...

2008-09-16T07:46:00.002-05:00

like a horny rabbit.

Last night Stuart got friendly with my neck roll (the little pillow I have to help reduce neck strain/pain). It was on the floor sticking out from under my bed. Stuart straddled it and was going full steam ahead. Crazy FULL STEAM AHEAD!

I was at a loss. I haven't seen him engage in such a lustful act, and this time it was so desperate. Painful. I tried to gently slide the neck roll out from under him, and he held on with his front paws. So I pulled hard. I tossed it on the bed, and Stuart gave chase. I sat in my chair, pulled my feet up. He stood on his hind legs and peaked into my hands. He thought I still had it. He ran around the room for a bit before settling in Cottontail Cottage. Phew.

Colostomy bags and photos of Europe

2008-09-06T13:28:00.006-05:00

You guys, I went to see Lillie today (yes, that's her real name, I think it's fine to use it), and she had a colostomy! I haven't been to visit her in several weeks, maybe a whole month - August sorta kicked my ass - and so I finally went to see her today. She didn't recognize me, which I expected, but she was very agitated. She's always been such a sweet, happy person, always laughing. This was not normal.

I asked her how she was, she showed me her hand (which she fell on last November and hurt pretty bad - I guess it still gets achey), her stomach (right by her belly button she's got a little pouch of fat - she's gained weight since she's been there), her leg (also hurt in the fall), and touched her forehead and said "high blood pressure." This is all normal, but usually she laughs about it and forgets and we talk. This time she wouldn't let up. She talked about how she wasn't supposed to be there, she's 80, she should be somewhere with old people. They don't give her medication, they don't take her to the doctor when she's sick, they just give her a pill, she can't sleep because they're too loud, etc, etc. She was very distressed.

This was shocking to me. There was a wheelchair at the foot of the bed that I sat on while she talked to me. After about 10 minutes of this, I reassured her that I would be talking to someone about her situation. Then I pulled out my pictures from Europe and went through them and talked to her about it. She laughed quite a bit, smiling, made a few comments (she really liked the picture from Cinque Terre with P and the cat). Then I said goodbye. I just emailed her care manager, and I should be meeting with the both of them next week.

As I was walking out, her roommate asked if she could see the pictures. Her sister just went on a vacation to Greece, so she was interested to see those. She is a woman in her 40s (I think) who is bedridden. She doesn't seem to get confused, she can carry on a conversation, but she does a lot of exclaiming. "Oh, that's so beautiful!" "Oh my gosh!" She has a very soft southern accent, and I can imagine that if her situation wasn't as it was, she would be somewhat of a southern belle. She seems to be quite a flirt, wears her heart on her sleeve. In fact, she was really taken with the pictures of A! A new question for every picture of him. She asked me if that was my husband, I said no he was my boyfriend; she asked me if we were still together, I said no we broke up in March; she asked if there was any hope of getting back together, I said no, I was the one who ended it. The picture of him standing against the railing over a canal in Amsterdam (which is one of the better pictures I took), she said, "Oh, there he is again!" And the picture of him on the train to the airport, WITH A MULLET, the light streaming in behind him in a very angelic way (another good picture), she said, "Oh Laura, he's gorgeous!" HA HA!

So that was my morning.

I went swimming this morning...

2008-09-04T09:49:00.001-05:00

after so many months of not going. It was very nice, I split a lane with a really slow girl.

...teleport the whole planet here through music.

2008-09-03T18:29:00.001-05:00

I just requested this at the library. Can't wait to watch it! Afrofuturism! Crazy jazz! Science fiction! *LOVE*

2008-08-29T13:26:00.001-05:00

2008-08-28T18:51:00.000-05:00

Pretty good.

2008-08-28T08:33:00.000-05:00

Confessional

2008-08-14T22:39:00.004-05:00

More sharing! Chime in!

Sometimes when I'm in the bathtub I say to myself, "Laura, don't pee in the bathtub. You can wait until you get out." The water is so warm, I feel so relaxed, I'm always drinking water or green tea, so I always gots ta go. I know my pee won't hurt me, urine is pretty benign, but what bothers me is it just seems kinda lazy. "You can hold it."

Got that itch - no, not down there, in my brain

2008-08-14T21:04:00.002-05:00

P sent me this wonderful article on the neurological basis of itching and other sensations like phantoms limbs:

http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/06/30/080630fa_fact_gawande?currentPage=all

Please read it, then let's discuss! Continue to read my thoughts (ha ha, that sounds funny)...

Thoughts on itching article:

-I can feel pain sometimes by thinking about it, but only certain thoughts. Not stubbing my toe or bumping into something, but thinking about paper cuts or sharp things under my nails and slicing of the skin makes me feel it - I will often have a tingle reaction in the tip of my tongue and in my teeth!

-"Richard Gregory, a prominent British neuropsychologist, estimates that visual perception is more than ninety per cent memory and less than ten per cent sensory nerve signals." Amazing! Love it.

-"Children have used phantom fingers to count and solve arithmetic problems." Amazing!

-I was under the impression the phantom limb experiences only happened to people who had lost a limb, not to people who had never experienced the limb in the first place. Mirroring?

-I love proprioception! This is your sense that tells you where you are in space as you move or remain still. This is what gets all screwy when you get drunk and you have a hard time touching your finger to your nose. It is second only to balance as one of my favorite senses. I mostly like balance because when it gets f'ed up, your world is turned upside down and you are rendered almost helpless, it is so essential and so taken for granted. And also because we have rocks in our ears. Close your eyes or cover your ears. Now stand up and walk around. Sure, you might bump into something, but you can still walk around. Now spin around twenty times, get plenty dizzy, and try walking around - very difficult. Spin around and try to look at something, try to focus on a noise, even talking can be difficult - you are probably shouting! The vertiginous attacks of a disease like Meniere's is debilitating whereas blindness and deafness are not (not that I would want either).

-I love the plasticity of the brain. It is so beautiful, provides so much hope. The study involving phantom limbs and mirrors and retraining the phantom limb over a few months is inspiring, much like the stories of rehabilitating seemingly-paralyzed stroke victims. Love it!

BTW, I guess I should mention that for a few months now I've been thinking about a multi-part blog posting on Sound and Balance. I love sound and balance; I love that the ear houses both; I love that they are so intricately tied. There were two things I wanted to study in physical anthro grad school: evolution of intelligence and creativity (so the biological basis for both and possible fossil/ancient-dna evidence and primate neurological and hormone and behavior study/testing) and the evolution of the inner and middle ear in primates and euprimates. People: we wouldn't be able to walk upright if we didn't have the types of semi-circular canals we do! (and pelvis shape and knee joints, et cet-air-ah)....So, maybe in a few months you'll get to read my musings on Sound and Balance, including a post on secret government attempts to control us with sound waves!

Thoughts?

2008-08-14T17:55:00.004-05:00

My dad says the water polo team have the best bodies for male athletes at the Olympics. My mom thinks they look swollen. I don't know, my TV doesn't work. Thoughts?

Technology Vortex Dissipating...

2008-08-14T17:44:00.004-05:00

Crap! My A/C broke, I lost my iPod, my TV broke just before the opening ceremonies were starting, my computer has been running slow and having a few issues, and the internet connection I piggy-back on disappeared a few days ago!

~~~~~~I have been in a technology vortex~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BUt I think it is dissipating. My A/C was of course fixed week before last, still haven't found the iPod, 'puter still heading to a crash, BUt my TV is working intermittently and that generous/lazy/uninformed person with the open internet connection has returned! Maybe they're stealing my info? Well, if so, they haven't done much damage since March, so we're good for now.

Maybe I'll find my iPod??????????????????????????????????????????????????/

Thank Jah for Ex-Boyfriends

2008-08-08T07:59:00.004-05:00

Ludacris - Obama is Here

Great song and great video, in my opin

We Are the World in Japan

Celebrity impersonators! This may be the best video on YouTube period.

Which one is your favorite? I think my favorite is the Bruce Springsteen, but I love the roar from the crowd when the Cyndi Lauper comes on. When did they do this?

To Do List before I can start dating

2008-08-07T17:35:00.003-05:00

1. Buy new underwear
2. Have alien baby removed from uterus
3. Replace shower curtain liner

I guess I could also use a new bra, too. Dammit! Why does dating have to be so expensive? At least insurance will pay for task #2.

Holy Crap!

2008-08-06T09:12:00.003-05:00

Big Boi loves Kate Bush. Me too!

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/news/142781-big-boi-welcomes-us-to-the-world-of-luscious-left-foot

I also like his detailing the creative process.

Cry me a river - I lost my iPod! (And a question for you, my friends)

2008-08-06T07:31:00.008-05:00

True, it is only a shuffle (the old version - the shape of a lighter); true, it is most likely somewhere in my apartment; true, my radio and cassette player work in my car and I have iTunes at work.

But I need me my Kool Keith on my morning commute! In the last several weeks, I have been listening almost exclusively to his soothing voice and eloquent raps about robots, secretaries, the feds, spacemen, hot wings, and gynecological matters. I have no way of getting him onto a cassette. After I type this, I am going to put Black Elvis-Lost in Space and Octagonecologist on CDs. And Matthew.

So here's my question:

What is the most recent album/artist/composer/song/genre of music that you have discovered? That you love and can/couldn't stop listening too? How did you find it? What do you love about it?

I will post my answer later in the comments section.

Thanks!

PS At work I listen to Fine Girls twenty times in a row and daydream he's singing to me.

Tour of my apartment

2008-08-04T22:21:00.009-05:00

Hello Voyeurs: you want to see what it looks like inside my apartment? THis is when it was really messy a few weeks ago - it's cleaner now, but I don't want to take more pictures.

THis is my kitchen. I have an apron from Gourmet magazine.

My bathrrom:

You can see part of my TV. And all of my laptop!

Ikea bookshelf with lots of stuff - including *Donnie* - and look! another computer. I must be rich.

that's my bed. ah-cha-cha! and my old A/C unit. so many memories!

There's the front door. That's where you would walk in if you came over. All the quilts on the wall: it's like the American Folk Art Museum in here!

Miss L has an email address

2008-08-04T22:14:00.003-05:00

You can email me at MissLLovesYou@gmail.com.

Aw!

My new friend

2008-07-27T08:52:00.002-05:00

Yesterday I went to visit my friend Billy at her nursing home. I volunteer with the local group Family Eldercare. They do outreach with the elderly and mentally and physically disabled adults, specifically the individuals in these groups who have no family or friends to look out for them. In the worst cases, these people have been victims of neglect or abuse by family members or caretakers at facilities.

Billy is the most adorable person I know.
She has long white hair streaked with individual black strands that she keeps parted in the middle and held back by a green-jeweled bobby pin on each side. Although she was born in Round Rock and lived her adult life – she will be 80 in November – in Austin, her native language is Spanish and that is what she is most comfortable speaking. She thinks her English isn’t any good. It’s great as far as I can tell. Sometimes she doesn’t know what I said, but I usually find that if I speak slowly, use simple words, don’t run my thoughts together, and face her direction, she can understand me just fine. These are usually signs of hearing problems, but her charts say nothing about this.

She does have a touch of dementia or Alzheimer’s. This time she remembered very well who I was, I had seen her last Saturday, and she asked about her social worker with Family Eldercare. I have only visited Billy a handful of times, about thirty minutes a pop. So far we’ve just chatted about her health, her childhood, the nursing home, my job, etc.

Billy likes beer. She brings it up every visit. “Do you drink beer?” Each time she asks, she leans in and looks me in the eyes, very earnest. I usually say something like, Yeah, it’s good. I have some every once in while. Then she tells me how she likes it, but they don’t let her have it there. Billy would drink several beers a day. She drank at home and in the park. She was basically an alcoholic – she would buy beer and wander around the parks all day while the niece she shared a one bedroom with was working or out with friends. Then one day, drunk, she tripped over a tree limb in a park and busted herself up pretty bad. This can happen when someone is 78 and not drunk, so it’s amazing it didn’t happen to her sooner. This is how she became a ward of the state and now a ward of Family Eldercare.

Yesterday Billy asked me about beer. So, I told her that that morning I had made beer ice cream. She chuckled and turned her head. She couldn’t believe it, beer flavored ice cream! We were sitting in the TV room and there was a man in there on a lounge-style wheel chair and he laughed. He said his name is Tony. He seemed like a real sweetheart. The whole time Billy and I had been talking, I could see that he would sometimes look in our direction and other times make noises that seemed like he was responding to what he heard. It was difficult to tell as he did not have very good control of his body, his speech was very thick and slurred, and he had trouble focusing his eyes on anything. But like I said, he did seem very sweet. And I loved that he thought the beer flavored ice cream was pretty ridiculous. Shortly after that, two of the staff came by and asked if he was ready for his nap. He shook his head no and the man replied, “You know Mama wants you to take your nap, are you sure?” Still, Tony said no. It is not a very nice facility, there have been some minor neglect issues with some of the residents, and of course the staff is overworked and underpaid.

PS Her name isn’t really Billy, there are privacy issues and since this blog is open to the public, I didn’t want to use her real name.

2008-07-23T21:04:00.005-05:00

I will be posting more, be patient. Please no harassment! Not that anyone has, this is a preemptive request.

There are many posts in the works, I am excited about my future and YOURS, TOO.

I LOVE YOU ALL.

No comments on this, please.

Confessional

2008-07-23T20:56:00.003-05:00

I mentioned this idea to Jr and P the a few weeks ago and they liked it. This is a new recurring post item called "Confessional." The idea is you have a place to anonymously unburden yourself of whatever you wish. Or you can own your shit like I am about to do. So, if you did something you're not to proud of, list it here. You may find you are not alone. My confession is below.

Sometimes I don't blow my nose. I don't mean when I have a baby sneeze and nothing but air comes out. I mean, sometimes when I'm at home and I sneeze, I don't wipe my nose - snot dries on my skin. Around my nose, around my lips, wherever it went. Yes, it is gross! It's such a, I don't know, eight year old boy thing to do. Or such a catatonic thing to do. I'm just busy, distracted, whatever, I can't be bothered with such frivolities! P, does this mean I'm schizophrenic? Probably not, I still shower, paint my toenails, put my contacts in.

Anyway, that's my confession! What's yours?

Your brain won't believe what your tongue is telling it!

2008-07-14T20:05:00.006-05:00

I have truly been blessed by the gods. Just a little over an hour ago, they smiled down on me. They looked at my whole life, saw how hard I tried, saw how many times I failed, and they decided to bestow upon me a gift. A boon to my brain. A seed of inspiration. Light bulb.

Fuck yeah, I made the best ice cream ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Chocolate/Peanut Butter Vegan Ice Cream
(makes 2-4 servings depending on how Ziggy Piggy you get with it)

1/2 cup Dark Chocolate Dreams or your favorite choco-pb
between 1/3 - 1/2 cup agave nectar
1 cup soymilk
1/3 cup chopped semisweet chocolate or chips

Combine DCD, soymilk, and agave nectar in blender.

Blend.

Pour mixture in ice cream maker. Press "On" and wait. When it is cold and thick, but not too hard, add pieces/chips. When it is the consistency you want, eat it.

2008-07-14T08:03:00.003-05:00

Mwha ha ha ha ha!

Yes.

2008-07-08T18:34:00.005-05:00

I really wish I could see him/them live. I had tickets to a Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds show in September or October of 2001. You can guess why they had to reschedule most of the tour...anyway, I didn't make it to the rescheduled show. :(

I love this. Such a great song, and the performance is right on, and they sound so tight. LOVE. I listened to this song so much last year. Refuckindickulous.

Kuh-ute!

2008-07-07T19:38:00.001-05:00

I got another "Cute!" today at the library. It seems that among the bookish transient, this is the fave descriptive for a little lady like myself.

I want a fistful of love

2008-07-07T19:29:00.004-05:00

even a pinch or a shove would do...

I love YOU, Antony!

This is kinda how it is

2008-07-06T10:36:00.002-05:00

Before

After

As it is the summer

2008-07-04T11:28:00.004-05:00

Watermelon eating should commence at approximately 7:45 AM, monday - friday, and within two hours of rising on the weekends. Continue throughout the day. Include at least four ounces of watermelonade in the evening, but attempt to drink ten.

Follow this regimen from June until September and you will find your days and nights to be quite delicious. Recipe follows.

Watermelonade

cold watermelon
lime
agave nectar
salt
blending device

place watermelon chunks into a cup or bowl or pitcher.
blend until liquid.
add fresh-squeezed lime juice, agave nectar, and salt to taste.
optional: precede with a liberal shot of tequila.

the BEST news! (almost)

2008-07-02T19:53:00.002-05:00

Stole this from MSN:

Report: Shannen Doherty Considering '90210' Return
July 2, 2008, 5:54 PM EST

Zap2it.com

The folks behind the new "90210" are hoping to set up a reunion for the girls of West Beverly Hills High that includes Brenda Walsh.

According to an Entertainment Weekly report, it looks like Shannen Doherty is now thinking to reprise her role from the original "Beverly Hills, 90210" for the CW update premiering this fall.

Producers of the new "90210," Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah, have met with Doherty, who reportedly is interested, depending on the story and money offered.

Even of those issues are addressed, there are other concerns that make Doherty's participation tricky. Not only does she have a reputation for being difficult on set, but she famously had an angry tussle with Garth back in the day. It's difficult to speculate if any animosity would linger or if the two actresses' characters would even cross paths.

In the update, Garth as the grown up Kelly Taylor is now a guidance counselor at the high school, while Spelling's Donna Martin is the successful owner of a shop frequented by the WBHH students.

***The real BEST news would be hopping in a time machine and getting Brandon Walsh from the pilot. He was seriously hot with that mullet. I am not joking. (But I am ashamed.)

Quick Question

2008-07-02T09:27:00.005-05:00

If you had to decide between being the bride of Lucifer or the bride of an intergalactic villain, which would you choose?

You know how I love to travel, so it should come as no surprise that I would probably choose the intergalactic villain. However, my concern with this is that Lucifer would be totally ripped and gorgeous. Tough choice. What is sexier, magic or crime? Both have the potential to be very lame. Is the intergalactic villain a suave, Cary Grant kinda guy? Did hell freeze over or is it hott down there? You know I hate cold weather. Is space really cold? Which one would let me dress them? Who is a talker? Who could do me good and dirty?

These are my main concerns.

Boogaloo mashed potatoes

2008-06-30T13:23:00.003-05:00

I'm preparing for the King Khan show on Sunday.

mr. F

2008-06-29T16:25:00.005-05:00

he is here, right now, on my bed! don't believe me? here he is, as I am typing this post!:

and he gave me such sweet kisses when he came in. now he is sleeping. evidently he hasn't had anything to eat in a day and a half (by choice. remember, he is a dandy, and he prefers you call him 'trim' rather than 'gaunt'). yesterday andy and sam took friedrich for a walk to get breakfast tacos (in the afternoon), and andy said friedrich was panting hard and later limping. my poor little puppy monster!

andy was (I guess at this moment still is, I just can't see him) wearing these new maroon cords, I've never seen him in pants that colorful, and I told him he looked british. it's funny how sometimes when I see him I feel the impulse to kiss him, make out or something. part of me thinks it is just a reflex - seven and half years kissing and making out and what not with the same person must make some pretty deep neuronal pathways - but then I think about it for half a second and realize that I probably think about making out with most decent looking guys who are funny and nice and standing in my apartment in front of me. this fact is very reassuring.

Nirvana

2008-06-29T15:55:00.003-05:00

Just remembered I had a dream last night that someone (a younger acquaintance?) asked me if Nirvana was really "that good" and "that important to music."

Thoughts?

I wore a black armband that day at school (or the next day, didn't have the internets then, so probably the next day). Oh, I'm talking about when he killed himself in case that wasn't clear.

Before and After

2008-06-29T15:07:00.003-05:00

Here are two David Bowie videos for Space Oddity. I LOVED this song when I was a girl - it made me cry, so of course I loved it. Dad always sang along. I would turn my head and look out the window as tears welled up and eventually streamed down my cheeks. All I could think about was this man, facing emptiness, silence, looking it square in the eye unable to do anything about it. He loved his wife, he had a family, and he had to leave them behind. I just assumed he was sacrificing himself for the greater good. It always made me very sad.

Anyway, the top video is the original. I actually like this version of the song a lot, maybe better. It's a little less sentimental and more weirdo-cosmic - his voice sounds like what I imagine a shy robot would sound like. The bottom video includes the track you are familiar with along with a dyed and made-up Bowie.

PS I want a GC ground control hat.

I've seen my future, and I LOVE IT!!!!

2008-06-29T14:51:00.001-05:00

Random Words

2008-06-28T19:03:00.003-05:00

testing, testing. condom hemorrhoids ugly shoes and clogs I hate crocs!!!! mario batali

Post for P aka Twinkle Toes but NEVER Lenny

2008-06-26T22:13:00.010-05:00

Because you're my friend and you need to smile today.

Mmmmm.

PS

2008-06-26T22:10:00.002-05:00

The google ads for gas and bloating are super embarrassing. I think it's time to get my check for $6.37 and shut down the Adsense. Thoughts?

Coming soon...

2008-06-26T22:08:00.004-05:00

I am planning some (hopefully) interesting quizzes that will actually be CONTESTS. As in, if you get it right, I will give you, mail you, beam to you, a very exciting prize that will be good and not stupid.

Promise.

Who's excited?

I am my father's daughter

2008-06-26T21:46:00.007-05:00

I had lunch with my pops today, always enjoyable, and we both got to bitching about work. I want quit and move out of Austin. Whatever. Paris in 2011, baby! If I can last that long, maybe sooner, maybe someplace else in between. I'm thinking somewhere hot. Hotlanta? nola?

I explained that when I first begin a job, everything is new and provides constant stimulation for my brain whether it is challenging or not. Because of this I learn about the growth opportunities and imagine myself on a successful career track, promotions, enjoying every minute. I network, I learn the other jobs, I tell everyone it's a great job and I can see myself working there for years.

Within a few months, this enthusiasm has melted and refrozen into resentment. I hate the job! In the case this time, there are some very HUGE advantages to keeping my job: I make more than I deserve and it is enough for me to pay my bills, enjoy life, and start paying down debt; my coworkers are sometimes enjoyable; I have freedom; I have a boss that respects me. All great things. But all big picture.

I don't live in the big picture. I live day by day, and my coworkers do get on my nerves, the job is not challenging, there is tediousness, there are no windows, it's sooooooooooo boring, and I would rather be doing so many things with my time. It is such a struggle! I have to constantly remind myself that if I put my nose to the grindstone for a few years, I will free myself from the chains that bind me and be able to move, start a business, explore the world, whatever. But the grindstone hurts, yo!

As I explained this to Dad, he just shook his head and had a kind of sad/amused/conspiratorial smile on his face. You are truly my daughter, he said. He relates to the T. His job allows him enough freedom (at this point) to not be in the office everyday, and believe me, he takes advantage of that. That fact, along with having soul-crushing debt, is why he has stayed in his job as long as he has.

He says I need to be my own boss. The way my brain works and functions, I can't have a list of things to accomplish for someone else in his opinion. That is one of the reasons I pursued a film degree. I think it has a lot to do with how my brain works - that statement about new things being stimulating. That is why I like to travel. That is why I enjoyed long drives in the country when I was a kid - the constant changing scenery. That is why I was accepted to UT as a Russian major, changed to Film, tried double majoring in Film and American Studies, finished just Film, and went back a year later to first study History, then Cultural Anthropology, and that changed to Physical Anthropology. It's why I didn't go to grad school - I can't decide what the hell I want to study! Everything is super-exciting for a few months and then I burn out. I can't figure out how to get over the hump.

A Poll (in lieu of Quiz)

2008-06-23T21:36:00.005-05:00

What should you do while you are waiting for a laxative to work its magic? (I ask you to just stretch your imaginations, kids...)

A. Watch a bunch of youtube videos of bands you love and have not yet seen in person (black lips, pj harvey, patty wolf)
B. Watch a bunch of youtube videos and post several on your blog
C. drink a lot of water
D. drink some beer

E. eat several spoons of dark chocolate dreams but not much else cause you hurt inside
F. wish you were a kid again
G. practice the accordion and vow, for the hundredth time, that you will have it professionally cleaned and valves replaced and bellow repaired
H. eat a banana
I. do math homework
J. pray that you won't still be running for the turlet when you have to go to work in the morning
K. find God
L. pet your rabbit
M. unfind God
N. buy more toilet paper
O. eat a Popsicle after you turn off the fans and AC because you're cold - strawberry or tropical?
P. wish you were a kid again, or at least 23
Q. look at the digital photos on your camera
R. worry about money and upcoming doctor bills
S. play with your leftover lunch, don't eat it, because you're afraid the tofu and soba noodles may explode into your abdominal cavity forever ruining the possibility of getting back the stomach you had at 17 (not to mention that kind of explosion would most likely be lethal because you live alone)
T. skip a volunteer meeting (after telling the chairlady/friend that you weren't feeling well, it's not like you stood them up)
U. comment on your own blog posts even before anyone has read them

Okay, a lot of options, but that's the way life is for us middle class folk. at least for now, before the recession turns into a depression.

Like to this Cat, the only reality is death, Man

2008-06-23T21:17:00.004-05:00

love, love, love. watched it a meellion times. damn p-bear has the dvd. grrr.

and I swear I'm going to get one of those white circulatory system bodysuits. think them sell 'em at american apparel? HA, bitches!

Two of my favorite things on this planet

2008-06-23T21:02:00.005-05:00

When I was a kid, I loved Ben Vereen. And it wasn't because of Zoobalee-Zoo or whatever the hell that show was called. I hated that show. It was because I was Levar's bitch and I loved whatever he put in front of my face. And also because of All That Jazz, which for some reason my parents let me watch when I was a wee one (and now I wonder what exactly went through Roy Schieder's head as he passed on - Bye, bye life, I think I'm gonna die...).

Anyway, like I was sayin'...

Speaking of All That Jazz, here's a clip from when Bob Fosse guest choreographed on Reading Rainbow (that's him at the end):

I tried to convince my boss to show this during our bi-annual Office of the Vice President for Development meeting, but we didn't have time to fit it in.

sonographic!

2008-06-23T20:05:00.004-05:00

tomorrow I will have an ultrasound. a few weeks ago I was seduced by an alien...this is kinda what happened:

except I wasn't wearing eyeliner.

If that scared you too much, watch this:

City-State

2008-06-19T23:47:00.001-05:00

I think the U.S. should bring back the city-state. Thoughts?

New Song I Love

2008-06-13T07:39:00.004-05:00

When I was feverish yesterday and feeling sick, I looked around iTunes for some music to cheer me up. Looking at Ahmad Jamal, saw a track called, "Laura."

I vaguely remembered there may have been a standard-y sounding song by that name from the 50s or so, so I entered Laura in the search bar. Sure enough, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Charlie Parker (yeah!), Oscar Peterson (yeah!) and his Trio (yeah!), etc, all have record the song. But it's not a great song, it's a decent song.

Then I saw a name that piqued my interest: Vincent Gallo. Wha? Vincent Gallo recorded this song? Surely not. Well, no he did not, it's another song. I would like to preface this with saying I'm not a fan of his - but I'm not not a fan either. My knowledge is really limited to Buffalo 66 and the clips they show at the drafthouse before break dancing/hip-hop movies with him on that show from the 80s/early 90s, wearin' funny close and dancing. And The Brown Bunny, which I did not see (be careful when you google him, people - if you're at work, you may want safe search on).

The song is gorgeous. It's exactly the style of song I would want someone to write using my name, whether they know me or not. Very dreamy, sparse lyrics, like wee-hours of the morning kinda thing. And his voice surprised me also - very quiet, but he's not singing softly, and almost feminine. Just listen to the clip on iTunes! I bought the whole album despite the song, "I Wrote This Song for the Girl Paris Hilton," which is a good song. The whole album is good. It is all sparse and moody and quiet, not all the tracks have lyrics (thank you!), I was very surprised. Not because I expected it to be bad, I just didn't know what to expect. Anyway, I think I love it.

And there you go!

Let's find a place/A happy place/We can find...

Finally! The answer is...

2008-06-12T09:24:00.004-05:00

Yes, I am a little ashamed that I carried that much luggage for a 5-day trip. I didn't have my hairdryer, but I did take my laptop (which is huge and heavy) and two books in my suitcase. Also seven pairs of shoes. My excuse: weather called for sunny and rainy, and I had to dress for work and play. So I basically had two outfits for the three conference days.

Here is further confirmation:

And, no, it wasn't exactly 45 lbs. It was 44 point something, but I don't remember. Congrats to C, that's two in a row!

New Quiz!!!

2008-06-07T21:08:00.003-05:00

Okay, thanks to everyone who participated last time! Even though there was only one real guess, all 4 readers of this blog did comment, and the comments were superb. The question section of this quiz does not include a photo, but the answer portion will. Here it goes:

I just returned from a trip to Boston. I checked my baggage and took one carry on. My checked baggage weighed:

A. 24 lbs.
B. 38 lbs.
C. 15 lbs.
D. 45 lbs.
E. 69 lbs.

Good luck!

Drumroll...

2008-06-01T22:23:00.005-05:00

And the rabbit pooh is on the...left side! Good job guessing, Cory. Here is a closer look:

Yeah, it's out of focus. But trust me, the one on the right is the chocolate chip. You all will be pleased to know I tried out three pieces of poop before finding one I felt would cause adequate confusion.

Thanks for playing! Maybe I'll have another game next week.

YOU Decide!!!

2008-05-29T22:15:00.004-05:00

Which one is the chocolate chip, and which one is the rabbit poop?

While you are deciding, let me tell you about my new favorite fake cheese. It's called THE ORIGINAL Almond Chedder Style The Good Health Cheese Alternative by Lisanatti. Yes, it's made of almonds! Not milk, not soy, not rice (actually, it does have a tidge brown rice flour). And it is delicious. Here's a pic:

As you can see, I have eaten most of it. And, it Shreds, Melts and Tastes Great! While I cannot speak to the first two claims, I can tell you that it does, in fact, Taste Great!

Make sure to check back tomorrow when I let you know which is the chip and which is the poop!

Here it comes...

2008-05-27T13:05:00.004-05:00

Look at Phoenix and its parachute, heading down to Mars. Super cute!

Who wants to be Kurt for Halloween?

2008-05-22T20:24:00.003-05:00

I will go as Roland so I can wear the awesome ensemble (say frenchie-style) and do the awesome dance featured in the middle of this video. I believe this is the second time I have posted this.

I must have my young berries!

2008-05-20T19:35:00.003-05:00

I remember watching this with my sister before school - we must have watched this movie at least a few dozen times. I think I had the pink one and she had the purple (or the other way around).

Behold the Hugga Bunch Movie (in which the grandmother who is staying with the family gives the best hugs evah but the mean nurse wants her to go to a home with other old people so the girl goes through the mirror to Hugga Bunch land and tries to get the young berries from the witch who guards them so she can stay young forever and there is also an elephant that cries):

Oatmeal

2008-05-14T20:23:00.002-05:00

Tornado Warning
Statement as of 8:19 PM CDT on May 14, 2008

... A Tornado Warning remains in effect until 830 PM CDT for extreme
northeastern blanco... northwestern Travis... southwestern
Williamson... extreme southeastern Llano and southern Burnet
counties...

At 817 PM CDT... NWS meteorologists continued to detect a tornado.
This tornado was located near Marble Falls... moving east at 31 mph.

The tornado will be near...
Smithwick... 6 miles north of Spicewood and 9 miles south of Oatmeal
by 830 PM CDT...

The safest place to be during a tornado is on the lowest floor of a
building in an interior hallway... bathroom... or closet. Cover
yourself with blankets... pillows or even a mattress for better
protection.

A Tornado Watch remains in effect until 1100 PM CDT Wednesday evening
for south central Texas. A Tornado Watch also remains in effect until
200 am CDT Thursday morning for south central Texas.

Lat... Lon 3080 9823 3081 9822 3079 9817 3080 9815
3075 9787 3041 9807 3052 9840 3082 9826
time... Mot... loc 0119z 292deg 27kt 3060 9824

OMG! SPACE!

2008-05-12T18:26:00.002-05:00

Ladies, Watch for an important lesson

2008-05-12T17:30:00.002-05:00

Oh my god, those poor dogs, I really can't condone this, but I can't stop watching!

The real Puppy Bowl

2008-05-12T17:29:00.001-05:00

I've been busy

2008-05-12T12:54:00.004-05:00

Only 248 days to go!

2008-04-27T15:55:00.003-05:00

2009 is the International Year of Astronomy, people.

Visit the website to learn more about initiatives and programs, etc.

Watch the trailer-style announcement:

I'm super excited!

Super Crazy! Russian Cover-Up, Shuttle Almost Burns Up on Re-entry

2008-04-22T23:01:00.003-05:00

This is taken directly from Universe Today, article by Ian O'Neill (www.universetoday.com)

Soyuz Capsule Hatch Nearly Burned Up and Crew's Lives Were on a "Razor's Edge"

Written by Ian O'Neill

First, Russian space officials tried to cover up the emergency landing of the Soyuz descent capsule on Saturday. Then they blamed the crew for changing their flight plan without communicating with mission control. Compounding the problem, an official cited a bad omen as a contributing factor to the hard landing. Within a couple of days, the truth behind the Soyuz "ballistic re-entry" began to come to light. Today, even more shocking revelations are being reported, including how the escape hatch nearly failed during the uncontrolled, fiery re-entry…

On Sunday, the Universe Today reported on the off-target landing of the Russian Soyuz descent capsule carrying South Korea's first astronaut, Yi So-yeon, Russian cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko and NASA record breaker (for most time spent in space) American Peggy Whitson back from the International Space Station (ISS). The capsule had landed short of its intended target, 20 minutes behind schedule. The authorities later blamed the mishap on a change in flight plan and suggested the crew were to blame. Then, surprisingly, Federal Space Agency chief Anatoly Perminov placed some of the blame on the female dominant crew, saying women on board space missions were bad luck.

Yesterday, I reported on some updates to the drama that had unfolded. Apparently, even before the rescue helicopters had located the capsule, the Russian space agency publicised the crew's safe return, covering up the fact they had no idea where they were. What's more, the helicopters had been sent to the wrong location, and it was by chance that the capsule's parachutes were spotted. The capsule had landed in a zone reserved for emergency touch-downs and the crew suffered a "hard landing". Not being able to send a signal to mission control, the crew remained upside down, strapped to their seats for 25 minutes. Malenchenko was able to unlatch himself to get outside to use a satellite phone. Some news agencies reported that the parachute had even caught alight and set the surrounding vegetation on fire.

Today, even more revelations have been reported. According to an unnamed Russian space official, the capsule had entered the atmosphere in an uncontrolled manner. Rather than the capsule's heat shield taking the frictional re-entry burn, the escape hatch became exposed and bore the brunt of the high temperatures outside. The hatch sustained substantial damage. The antenna was also exposed to the heat, completely burning it up, explaining why the crew were unable to communicate with the ground. A valve that equalizes cabin with atmospheric pressure was also damaged.

"The fact that the entire crew ended up whole and undamaged is a great success. Everything could have turned out much worse. You could say the situation was on a razor's edge." - Anonymous Russian space official involved in the descent investigation.

Russian Federal Space Agency spokesman, Alexander Vorobyov, continued to downplay the series of events saying that antennae were regularly damaged during capsule re-entries. He rated Saturday's event as a "3", where "5" on the scale would be critical.

This troubled landing has naturally raised questions about the safety record of the Soyuz capsules currently being used. This is the second time in a row (and the third since 2003) that there have been serious problems during re-entry of Soyuz capsules. The official continued to say that there can be no guarantee that this will not happen again:

"Considering that this situation has repeated itself, it is obvious that the technological discipline in preparing space equipment for a flight is declining. There is no guarantee that the crew of a Soyuz spacecraft landing a half a year from now would not face the same difficulties." - Anonymous Russian space official

During the confusion as to where the Soyuz capsule had landed, there are unconfirmed reports that the U.S. Defence Department tracked the off-target landing and pinpointed its location for Russian helicopters. NASA is reserving comment until the Russian Federal Space Agency finds the cause of the uncontrolled descent.

Investigators suspect that the ballistic re-entry was caused by an electrical short in the cable that connects the crew capsule's control panel with the Soyuz descent hardware. A short circuit in this cable can automatically trigger the ballistic re-entry mode and there is little the crew could have done to prevent it.

Sources: The Associated Press, New Scientist

Crazy mad changes!

2008-04-22T22:39:00.002-05:00

Look, to the left and down - I've discovered widgets and RSS feeds. Amazing.

What can I say, I'm a little slow.

Oopsy-Doodle!

2008-04-21T20:11:00.003-05:00

Normal G-forces during re-entry during this day and age are about 1.5 g's. However, during the early NASA days of the Apollo missions, etc, normal re-entry g's were around 7 g's. Cosmonauts in 1975 had a problem with their Soyuz rocket in re-entry and experience 14-15 g's! That is crazy you guys, most people can't do anything with their body once they reach about 10 g's.

Haddaway and Dr. Alban

2008-04-20T12:39:00.004-05:00

I love this video so, so, much. This is transcendent:

Life

Did you hear? He's working on a new album with Dr. Alban (two good videos of him below). I'm not sure when it will be released, but its title is Crucified. Good luck, Haddaway!

Hello Africa

No COke

This will make you laugh.

2008-04-18T18:34:00.003-05:00

Miss L is stupid.

Before the new Cut Copy album came out, and before SXSW, I would listen to their songs on their Myspace page while I worked. I sort-of knew some of the words by the time I saw them play. So I'm there, second row, singing out loud with everyone else around me, "Got so horny/I fall in your dreams tonight." This was March.

Cut to today, I follow the Pitchfork link to AOL's music crap site, and here are some live Cut Copy performances (see below). I notice the song "So Haunted." He's SO HAUNTED, not SO HORNY. Geez, I feel like a dumbass. (BTW, they were a million times better than what you see below, but I still feel like I need to post it.)

Glasses

2008-04-17T18:18:00.005-05:00

So I left my gym bag in my car Tuesday, and it kinda fried my glasses. Very strange - my glasses and lotion bottle are totally warped, but the shampoo, conditioner, moisturizer/sunscreen, and contact solution bottles are unharmed! Oh, and the contact solution in the contact case had mostly evaporated. Very strange - it was as if a sunbeam had concentrated itself on one corner of my gym bag.

I can no longer wear the glasses. Rather, I can wear them, but they don't stay on my face well, the lenses look like they will fall out, and I would def not wear them driving. But do not fret, for this cloud has a silver lining: I put on my old glasses and I love them! So cute. I forgot. I will probably spend the buckers (if required, which I think it will be because the damage is pretty extreme) to get the others fixed next month. Economic stimulus? Oh! Brain flash: maybe it is covered under a warranty - it has been less than a year, after all.

Here are my new plants:
They have yet to flower, but that's because I just planted them Monday. Here are the flowers my mother potted for my birthday gift:

There are wine cups and alysum and some kind of lupine, I believe.

A little animation for you...

2008-04-10T18:55:00.003-05:00

From some of my fave old-timers.

I met the animator/painter/filmmaker of this one:

Her name is Joan Gratz and she was very sweet.

A scene from the oldest surviving feature-length animated movie (I believe this is true...)

And there is so much more!

Jules et Jim

2008-04-10T18:28:00.003-05:00

Can you believe I've never seen this? Tsk tsk. Well, I'm starting it in the next hour...

Oh no! God, how I love drama.

2008-04-08T21:10:00.005-05:00

Xiu Xiu video for F.T.W.

2008-04-08T13:29:00.001-05:00

http://www.pitchforkmedia.com/article/download/49811-xiu-xiu-ftw-video-premiere