the tech guy loaded iTunes onto my computer, and told me I could put music on it and share my library if I wanted. they left me alone for about two and half hours. I have my own phone and recorded a message. I can (eventually) decide what my hours will be. the supply closet door remains open at all times, I can get stuff without asking. they will order me a lamp or clock or new chair or whatever I need to be productive.
you know what all this means?
they TRUST me! my employers don't think I'm trying to steal from them, get away with not doing work, or that I'm a child.
wow.
8.30.2007
first day
8.28.2007
things
I think I am re-turning French. it's in my blood. if I had a holodeck, I'd make it 19th century northern france, on the coast, maybe brittany, and I'd have people over for a fire, calvados, and stew. 
and we'd all probably have terrible skin and consumption, but I'd play us something somber on the violin, and we'd reminisce our youth and the warm summer months, recalling fishing with papa. if I make a turkey loaf, will people come and eat it with me? what I really want is rabbit pot pie, because everyone's eating rabbit in movies and on TV.
watch out stu - just kidding.
8.24.2007
*possibly (for some viewers) egregious amount of patrick wolf pictures* apologies in advance...
so I've been playing around with my keyboard - it can do lots of stuff! I've always wanted to play the accordian. old school french troubadour. I have no idea how much they cost, but I just might invest in a used one in the next few months. I wonder if I still have my old guitar? maybe I could get that back from sarah if she's got it. it seems that it's pretty easy to pick up a used violin in this town. my sister's x-fiance had a few, and they're really fun to play with. the range of sounds you can produce is so different than those you get hitting random keys on a piano. I like.
can you tell I've been bored? enough tv already! I tried watching an episode from season 1 or 2 of beverly hills 90210 the other day - the one where brandon gets on the tv show - but I couldn't finish it! I feel like I've seen all the episodes already, I carry them around in my brain as part of the pop-culture collective unconscious. I have collected almost ONE HUNDRED post-it notes of ideas for scripts, an opera, novel, graphic novel, installation piece, songs, all written while I was at work. a burst of creativity that lasted 30 seconds. stopped typing and turning pages briefly, wrote it down, then back to work. I guess I should sift through all of them and see if there is anything that moves me, any idea that I connect with enough to develop.
I think instead of investing in expensive clothes, I'm going to start learning how to make my own: sewing, creating/following patterns, and learning about working with different fabrics. I remember the tiered skirts my granny pat used to make for my sister and I. simple and fabulous.
yes, I absolutely love this last picture.
so I read the his fourth album will have a lot of political material inspired by his recent touring in the US. whatever the subject matter, I'm sure I will love it. now I just need to track down a copy of wind in the wires...
8.16.2007
perseids
so here's how it all went down:
p's parents house in g'town. a little more light pollution than expected, but all in all, not bad. about 2.5 - 3 hours viewing. we were in her driveway on some blankets, she decided to nap, I couldn't. I listened to my ipod and watched.
4 earthgrazers! I hadn't ever seen one before. they left a glitter path across the sky. yeah!
in total, about two dozen meteors. I don't think I've ever seen more than three before.
and you know what I realized? I LOVE STARS!!! I love the sky, I love being outside, I love frogs and bugs that sound ridiculously loud. I vow to make more time to do this, even when there is no meteor shower. maybe once a month at the new moon.
before next month comes around, I will figure out how to take good pictures.
8.08.2007
I did it!
I start my new job Thursday, August 30th. I'm very excited, and so is my soon-too-be new boss. That is just super.
8.06.2007
little updates
phone interview for a job today - didn't do so well! I do better when I can see a face, eyes.
um, I'm thinking about entering a recipe contest with a variation on my "this is good shit!" cake. yes, I will invite certain individuals over for taste-testing.
perseids peak this sunday night! as of now, just partly cloudy skies forecasted, keep your fingers crossed. it's a new moon that night, and that is a huge improvement over last year (or the last shower I tried to watch which was in the spring, I think).
interview tomorrow with the job I'm most excited about! I will be on the ball for that one, no kidding.
I'm looking forward to watching the shows we recorded from shark week. yeah, I know, but seriously there had better be a lot of shark teeth-in human flesh action or I will be disappointed.
started reading a sci-fi book, the first in a long time, recommended from a reading list. like the plot, and I've only read the first few chapters, but now I remember why I find it difficult to get into genre lit - the quality of the writing is lacking. it's not one of the legendary authors, so I wasn't expecting anything revelatory, but I was hoping for some finesse.
must read: in africa a thing is true at first light and a lie by noon... started it, but never finished, and a conversation saturday reminded me of the potential.
ciao!
7.30.2007
Bad girl
I ordered stamps from the post office last Monday. They arrived today. TODAY, one whole week later. And in a gigantic priority mail envelope. WTF? The postal worker came to our mailbox everyday except Sunday. That means they had five chances to bring me stamps from where they work, I don't get it! If someone knows more about this mystery, please tell me.
Not all bad news, Andy rearranged the furniture to how I suggested last year. It looks awesome! Our living room feels so much bigger, and the TV no longer dominates everything - I am happy.
And good good news: I got a call for a phone interview that will happen on Friday. I applied for this job over a week ago, and it's one I'm super excited about. But I'm not going to say anything more yet.
Ow, my wrists hurt. No more typing!
7.23.2007
Don't ask me about the job search anymore, plz. Seriously.
This afternoon I was really upset about my job situation. I've applied to at least 17 jobs since May 15 - maybe 20 - and I've only had interviews at two different places. At those two places, I had very positive feedback about my resume and interview, and was invited back for a second interview both times. One of my professional references also said my resume/cover letter was great.
SO WHAT THE FUCK?!?!?!! Why can't I get a job? Over two months, almost 20 resumes, and only two bites? I am incredulous. And frustrated. And tired. Some days, I'm at my wits end. I keep repeating in my mind, "Tomorrow someone could call," and telling myself I'm doing everything I can by applying to a few new places a week, following leads from former coworkers and bosses. But those pep-talks only last so long - and my work week is 40 hours. Forty hours of monotony. Forty hours of soul-crushing monotony that also happens to be chipping away at my body, part by part.
Sometimes I hate this city so much. Move back to California, fuckers! All those tech douche-bags brought their significant others who have taken and are taking my jobs! AGH!
So anyway, how bout this weather? Right now it's raining and I'm outside on my balcony. Very soothing. Our pool is closed. I wonder if it is unclean.
7.09.2007
I'm in a dark period
You guys, it's really bad. For the last two months, I haven't been able to buy Good chocolate, only the cheap stuff. I had to begin repayment of my student loan in June. Made quite a dent in my grocery budget.
These are dark times...and it's all this guy's fault:
7.07.2007
Pwetty Pwetty Pwinceth
Friedrich hadn't been to the vet since last January (as in '06). He's a healthy, indoor dog, so that's no big deal. Howevah, I stopped buying him his heartworm/flea/tick medication last fall. I know, bad mom. It was so expensive at our vet, and to buy it anywhere else for cheaper, you must have a prescription from the vet. And for about a year, things have been just great!
But last week, we found a few flea bites on his tummy, and I woke up with a flea bite on my foot. Fleas love me, so I knew it couldn't be too big of a problem, or I'd have red welts all over me. So Pandy-Bear, the sweetheart he is, took Mr. F into a new vet for an appointment yesterday. He does have a few fleas, but he is parasite and heartworm free. So we gave him a fifteen minute bath today, and he'll start his meds next week!
The funniest thing is that Pandy-Bear said the women at the front desk thought Friedrich was a girl! They said he looked very feminine. Awww, how adorable - I luvs my little dandy!
6.28.2007
Spring Awakening!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Oh my god, you guys, I am so in love with this musical! The soundtrack, at least. I listened to it twice today at work, and the day before that, and before that. I am ready to hop on a plane to New York and go see it! Who's with me?
It's based on a play written in 1891 about German teens discovering sex and their bodies. It's got teen pregnancy, masturbation songs, gay lovin', and sadly, icest, abortion, and suicide. The music is written by Duncan Sheik. Remember him? He did that song Barely Breathing, back in the day. Here's some videos from the website (www.springawakening.com). It won 8 Tony awards, including Best Musical! Yeah!
What it's about and interview with Duncan Sheik!
Bitch of Living Music video
6.12.2007
BUg(s) in the Rice
Last night I made some brown rice. It's been in the pantry for a while, but not more than 2 or 3 months. There were a few cobwebs in the bag. Little teeny strings - I wouldn't have noticed except some rice was hanging from it. I made the rice anyway. It would cook any bug that was in there, and from the looks of it, the bugs would be really small (I didn't see any).
So the rice was done and some cooked bug was laying on top. It was brown and about a centimeter long. Looked kinda like a shrimp. Took it out and ate the rice with stir fry. Yummy!
6.11.2007
By the time I'm 70
Someday I hope to be able to play songs I've heard a few times on the piano. I just think that would be so much fun. Nothing perfect, but to be able to pick out the melody, add some chords. At least enough to sing along with.
I was thinking this earlier today while listening to my iPod at work. How long it would take to develop this skill, I have no idea. Several years, at least. Lots of practice, continued practice, not skipping a few months here and there.
What else would I like to do? It would be nice to know another language inside and out. I want to dream in French, tell jokes in Cantonese! I'd like to have a book published, and I'd like to have a screenplay turned into a film shown at multiple theaters (not just at festivals). I'd like to have art hanging in a museum. I want to live in a few somewhere elses for a year or two at a time, but always have a home to return to. There's probably more for the list, but those are the big things. For the moment, anyway.
6.03.2007
Year in Review
So it's not officially mid-year yet, but ohs well, I gonna do this anyway.
January: I don't remember...Oh! I got a shitload of extra days off from work due to the death of former Pres Gerald Ford and bad weather. Was very nice, and I had a really fun time walking in freezing rain around the neighborhood. No one was out, and I almost fell right when I passed the only other person out. Very funny.
February: I started really walking a lot, think I was going about every day. Had fun in my thesis class. Work started getting boring. Desperation sneaking in...
March: Decided at last minute to apply for grad school. Still walking, but some major issues towards the end of the month with my legs. Health problems, minor and confusing. Frantically trying to work the last numbers for thesis. Beautiful spring, those peach tree blooms smelled more amazing to me than anything else has pretty much ever smelled.
April: Crashed and burned. Major health problems, confused, confused, confused! Didn't talk to friends for a few weeks. Sat this one out. Couldn't walk or turn pages. Fam came over for birthday, brought yummy food and cake. Waitlisted for grad school. Got better towards the end.
May: Just making up for lost time. Didn't finish thesis, didn't do presentation, finally a social life again. No more sick time left! Started walking again mid-month. Mucho improvement health-wise, but still a ways to go. So mysterious, this illness. Back to thesis with my bud.
June: So far, can't complain. Thanks for the snacks, guys!
5.21.2007
Definition of Miss L
Miss L -- [adjective]: Similar to butter in texture and appearance 'How will you be defined in the dictionary?' at QuizGalaxy.com |
5.17.2007
Good book
Moth Smoke, by Moshin Hamid.
A good book! I didn't love it starting out, but it turned out to be a pretty amazing read. The main character is on trial for murder, and we follow him on his downward spiral from a month or two before the trial. He loses his job, has an affair with his best friend's wife, starts selling drugs. It takes place in Pakistan among the educated and status obsessed in the city of Lahore. His account is mixed with chapters from the perspective of the other main characters of the story.
The writing is at times beautiful and inspiring. The main character is an anti-hero figure, but intelligent and easy to identify with. Hamid doesn't get all Chuck P on the reader. What I mean is even when the situation is bleak, the writing elevates it above typical angsty, "we're screwed in modern society" verbage. The heart of the story is much more about an individual in a specific time and place, not simply a person as a victim of a culture with misplaced values (although that is an aspect).
I definitely recommend!
5.14.2007
Your help is needed...
What should I listen to? I get to listen to my iPod at work, so I'd love suggestions of musicians, books on tape, podcasts, etc.
Thanks in advance for your help!
C. Y. A.
One day several years ago, at some relative's house, I was goofing around with my sister and cousins, and I knocked over a glass bowl or something like that from a coffee table. I don't remember if it broke. What I do remember is immediately exclaiming, "Sarah!" as if she had been the one to knock over the bowl. I was a teenager. I was reflexively covering my ass.
I tell this story to illustrate that I do understand how sometimes it just happens. We go on the defensive. We haven't been accused of anything, but know it's coming. Or maybe we just go around with a chip on our shoulder, or we are guilty (of something similar?) and are rightfully defensive. So I understand. I do it too.
I am so sick of hearing it at work! All day long, it's "Well, Someone did this first," or "But Someone told me," or "I was told by Someone that Someone blah blah". No one is willing to just say, "Okay." There's always a big explanation, a shifting of blame, or some mysterious Someone involved that will never be named. Do they fuck up that often? Do my coworkers feel that threatened? Am I just so new that I have yet to feel the boot of management up my ass? Maybe after working there for 10 years, they take simple questions as criticism. The work has become personal. Or maybe they are just like me, reflexively covering their ass. I don't know. I just wanted to bitch.
5.10.2007
Dearest Brandon,
Where the fuck are you? You were supposed to be here yesterday ... Oh, well. I guess I can forgive you once you get here. I'm sorry for being upset, it's just we have so little time left. I'm graduating college (again), you're still in junior year at West Beverly - seriously, we live in two different worlds. These last few days we have are precious. Like your face.
Here are some tips for the future: Kelly will break your heart. So will Emily and Susan - pretty much every woman you will ever meet in L.A. Steve is a loser, he'll get you into trouble again and again. You should follow your sister to Europe, because other than Donna getting a stalker, life in Beverly Hills will continue to get lamer and lamer with each passing season. Stay away from racing cars. Don't grow a beard, facial hair makes you look like a pussy. Speaking of, Dylan will return to claim everything you've worked for.
But before all that, we have a few days left.
Ciao,
Miss L
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