I submitted a piece to the Sorry Everybody site, but I don't think they posted it. It was probably too hateful for their liking. Oh well. I had to do what I had to do...vent. I'll share it with you folks here when my internet connection at work works better. It's been flaky lately.
Chloe
Ethan
Wednesday, December 01, 2004
Thursday, November 18, 2004
2 weeks ago (about a couple days after the election) my friend had told me about the Sorry Everybody site, which Bpsnake mentioned in his blog yesterday. At the time that my friend told me about it, there was only 1 page of photo submissions by visitors to the site. Now there are 543 pages and counting. Each page has multiple photos of people apologizing to the world for the state of our presidency, his incompetence and our failure to vote him off. These submissions do not just come from our fellow disgruntled citizens of the US Of A, but also from people of other countries sympathetic with our situation. This site really shows the extent of our people's hatred of Bush. Having said this, I am still at a shock that he actually won enough votes for a re-election. What happened? I still don't understand. Or maybe I just refuse to.
Thursday, November 04, 2004
A commentary by Joan Ryan on today's SF Chronicle is really dead on about the presidential election. I would like to share it with everyone.
We Barely Recognize Each Other
By Joan Ryan
Like others in the Bay Area, I was huddled with friends around the television set Tuesday night, my son pressing a blue-donkey or red-elephant sticker on each state as the returns rolled in. As we held out hope for Ohio, one friend related a story that, in retrospect, helped me understand Bush's convincing victory as well as any I have heard.
A young man, my friend said, was walking door to door on her street a few weeks ago to raise money for the Kerry-Edwards ticket. When he knocked on the door of one house, the owner responded to the young man in a huff.
"I'm a Republican!'' she said. "Didn't you see my flag?''
That, in the end, is what it boiled down to.
Somehow, as Bush and his party cut taxes to the rich, sent young Americans to their deaths in a war based on untruths (and managed with stunning incompetence), reneged on its financial commitment to education, and plunged the nation into crushing debt, they became symbols of morality and patriotism. They sold themselves as the party of God and country, offering comfort to people who wouldn't need comforting if the Bush administration had not created the very problems for which it then offered spiritual refuge.
Give them credit. They are like PG&E nabbing the candle concession for a blackout the company caused itself.
It is a confounding time to live in a place like the Bay Area. Watching the returns Tuesday night, and listening to voters across the country, I saw that John Edwards was right about the two Americas. But the two Americas are not divided by money but by belief systems that have drifted so far apart we barely recognize each other anymore.
In exit polls Tuesday, morals topped the list of voter concerns, and an overwhelming majority believed Bush is more moral than Kerry. Thus the resounding victory for the incumbent.
Here in the Bay Area, we, too, place a high priority on values and morality. But clearly, many of us define morality differently from much of America. It is not about church membership. The evidence of morality is in one's actions, not one's Sunday-morning rituals. Morality means more than prayer and more than proclaiming a personal relationship with God.
It is social as well as religious. Is it moral to wage war on a country that did not attack us, and to wage it on false pretenses? Is it moral to stuff more money into the pockets of the wealthy while teachers buy their own crayons and patch their own classroom walls, and while people with mental illness live on the streets and in prison cells for lack of services?
Is it moral to deny two people the joy of committing their lives to one another in marriage? Is it moral to prevent scientists from pursuing cures to devastating diseases because of our leaders' personal religious convictions?
Our country has always included a mix of religious and political beliefs. But we shared a foundation of certain "truths to be self-evident'' that allowed us to meet on common ground. Today, I don't know. Our belief systems - - what is right and wrong, what is patriotic and what is not, what is truth and what is not -- are so different and so dramatically shape how we interpret news and information that we seem no longer to be living within the same culture.
I can't for the life of me, for instance, figure out how anyone could watch those three presidential debates and even entertain the thought that Bush is qualified to lead the free world.
I am puzzled, too, by the reaction to the bin Laden tape. When bin Laden showed up on a video just days before the election, I figured it would remind Americans that Bush had yet to capture the man responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks, that he got us sidetracked in Iraq, which had nothing to do with Sept. 11. Instead, the tape seemed to deepen many Americans' belief that ... what? Bush is doing such a good job on terrorism that we should renew his contract?
Some have suggested that the Democratic Party needs to reconnect with middle America and its values, that we should take a page from the Republican playbook and talk more about God and faith. Yes, the Democrats need to revamp their strategy. But I would hate to think we would try to win next time around by emulating politicians who get away with destructive and amoral acts by passing them off as directives from God.
Faith and flags won this election. But I haven't lost my belief in another f-word -- facts. They're bound to come back into fashion sooner or later.
E-mail Joan Ryan at joanryan@sfchronicle.com.
SF Chronicle - Thursday, November 4, 2004
Page B - 1
URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/11/04/BAGOK9LGGR1.DTL
We Barely Recognize Each Other
By Joan Ryan
Like others in the Bay Area, I was huddled with friends around the television set Tuesday night, my son pressing a blue-donkey or red-elephant sticker on each state as the returns rolled in. As we held out hope for Ohio, one friend related a story that, in retrospect, helped me understand Bush's convincing victory as well as any I have heard.
A young man, my friend said, was walking door to door on her street a few weeks ago to raise money for the Kerry-Edwards ticket. When he knocked on the door of one house, the owner responded to the young man in a huff.
"I'm a Republican!'' she said. "Didn't you see my flag?''
That, in the end, is what it boiled down to.
Somehow, as Bush and his party cut taxes to the rich, sent young Americans to their deaths in a war based on untruths (and managed with stunning incompetence), reneged on its financial commitment to education, and plunged the nation into crushing debt, they became symbols of morality and patriotism. They sold themselves as the party of God and country, offering comfort to people who wouldn't need comforting if the Bush administration had not created the very problems for which it then offered spiritual refuge.
Give them credit. They are like PG&E nabbing the candle concession for a blackout the company caused itself.
It is a confounding time to live in a place like the Bay Area. Watching the returns Tuesday night, and listening to voters across the country, I saw that John Edwards was right about the two Americas. But the two Americas are not divided by money but by belief systems that have drifted so far apart we barely recognize each other anymore.
In exit polls Tuesday, morals topped the list of voter concerns, and an overwhelming majority believed Bush is more moral than Kerry. Thus the resounding victory for the incumbent.
Here in the Bay Area, we, too, place a high priority on values and morality. But clearly, many of us define morality differently from much of America. It is not about church membership. The evidence of morality is in one's actions, not one's Sunday-morning rituals. Morality means more than prayer and more than proclaiming a personal relationship with God.
It is social as well as religious. Is it moral to wage war on a country that did not attack us, and to wage it on false pretenses? Is it moral to stuff more money into the pockets of the wealthy while teachers buy their own crayons and patch their own classroom walls, and while people with mental illness live on the streets and in prison cells for lack of services?
Is it moral to deny two people the joy of committing their lives to one another in marriage? Is it moral to prevent scientists from pursuing cures to devastating diseases because of our leaders' personal religious convictions?
Our country has always included a mix of religious and political beliefs. But we shared a foundation of certain "truths to be self-evident'' that allowed us to meet on common ground. Today, I don't know. Our belief systems - - what is right and wrong, what is patriotic and what is not, what is truth and what is not -- are so different and so dramatically shape how we interpret news and information that we seem no longer to be living within the same culture.
I can't for the life of me, for instance, figure out how anyone could watch those three presidential debates and even entertain the thought that Bush is qualified to lead the free world.
I am puzzled, too, by the reaction to the bin Laden tape. When bin Laden showed up on a video just days before the election, I figured it would remind Americans that Bush had yet to capture the man responsible for the Sept. 11 attacks, that he got us sidetracked in Iraq, which had nothing to do with Sept. 11. Instead, the tape seemed to deepen many Americans' belief that ... what? Bush is doing such a good job on terrorism that we should renew his contract?
Some have suggested that the Democratic Party needs to reconnect with middle America and its values, that we should take a page from the Republican playbook and talk more about God and faith. Yes, the Democrats need to revamp their strategy. But I would hate to think we would try to win next time around by emulating politicians who get away with destructive and amoral acts by passing them off as directives from God.
Faith and flags won this election. But I haven't lost my belief in another f-word -- facts. They're bound to come back into fashion sooner or later.
E-mail Joan Ryan at joanryan@sfchronicle.com.
SF Chronicle - Thursday, November 4, 2004
Page B - 1
URL: http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2004/11/04/BAGOK9LGGR1.DTL
Monday, October 25, 2004
Googi went to Cancun last week.
Googi had a lot of fun.
Googi did a lot of water sports (swimming, snorkeling, jet skiing) even though Googi can't swim well.
Googi swam at the beaches.
Googi swam in the hotel pools.
Googi played beach volleyball.
Googi jet skiied in the waters of Bahia De Mujeres (Bay Of Women).
Googi sunbathed.
Googi got a tan.
Googi got bitten by mosquitos.
Googi habla Espanol muy mal (speak Spanish very badly).
Googi spoke Spanglish.
Googi ate a lot of ceviche.
Googi ate a lot of seafood.
Googi ate a lot of spicy food.
Googi likes spicy food now.
Googi drank good margaritas with her dinner at Gory Tacos.
Googi ate Yucatan food at Labna in El Centro.
Googi ate Creole/Cajun food while listening to live jazz at Blue Bayou.
Googi ate lobster at Lorenzillo.
Googi ate good burrito at Burrito Shack.
Googi ate seafood at Italian restaurant called Casa Rolandi.
Googi ate a lot of Mexican food.
Googi missed Chinese food.
Googi drank good tequila.
Googi bought a bottle of tequila.
Googi went shopping at El Centro (Downtown).
Googi hated the annoying vendors who tried to pull Googi into their shops.
Googi hated the annoying timeshare agents who kept bugging Googi to listen to their timeshare pitches.
Googi visited the Mayan ruins at Chichen-Itza.
Googi climbed the 90 ft tall pyramid called El Castillo at Chichen-Itza.
Googi did not eat chicken pizza at Chichen-Itza.
Googi went to Isla Mujeres (Island Of Women).
Googi snorkeled at Isla Mujeres.
Googi did the Zip Line at Isla Mujeres on top of the waters of Bahia De Mujeres.
Googi was afraid to do the Zip Line because Googi is afraid of height and cannot swim well. But Googi went through with it. Googi is proud of herself.
Googi slept on hammock at Isla Mujeres.
Googi smoked her first cigar.
Googi hated the cigar.
Googi should try Cuban cigars.
Googi went drinking every night (now you know why Googi is writing like this - Googi killed a lot of brain cells).
Googi said "I'm not gonna drink tonight" every night but ... Googi drank every night.
Googi got a lot of freebies.
Googi likes freebies.
Googi should be careful of freebies.
Googi can get in a lot of trouble with freebies.
Googi said goodbye to paradise and came back to reality last night.
Googi is back to work today.
Googi doesn't want to work.
Googi wants to go back to paradise.
Googi is dreaming.
Googi had a lot of fun.
Googi did a lot of water sports (swimming, snorkeling, jet skiing) even though Googi can't swim well.
Googi swam at the beaches.
Googi swam in the hotel pools.
Googi played beach volleyball.
Googi jet skiied in the waters of Bahia De Mujeres (Bay Of Women).
Googi sunbathed.
Googi got a tan.
Googi got bitten by mosquitos.
Googi habla Espanol muy mal (speak Spanish very badly).
Googi spoke Spanglish.
Googi ate a lot of ceviche.
Googi ate a lot of seafood.
Googi ate a lot of spicy food.
Googi likes spicy food now.
Googi drank good margaritas with her dinner at Gory Tacos.
Googi ate Yucatan food at Labna in El Centro.
Googi ate Creole/Cajun food while listening to live jazz at Blue Bayou.
Googi ate lobster at Lorenzillo.
Googi ate good burrito at Burrito Shack.
Googi ate seafood at Italian restaurant called Casa Rolandi.
Googi ate a lot of Mexican food.
Googi missed Chinese food.
Googi drank good tequila.
Googi bought a bottle of tequila.
Googi went shopping at El Centro (Downtown).
Googi hated the annoying vendors who tried to pull Googi into their shops.
Googi hated the annoying timeshare agents who kept bugging Googi to listen to their timeshare pitches.
Googi visited the Mayan ruins at Chichen-Itza.
Googi climbed the 90 ft tall pyramid called El Castillo at Chichen-Itza.
Googi did not eat chicken pizza at Chichen-Itza.
Googi went to Isla Mujeres (Island Of Women).
Googi snorkeled at Isla Mujeres.
Googi did the Zip Line at Isla Mujeres on top of the waters of Bahia De Mujeres.
Googi was afraid to do the Zip Line because Googi is afraid of height and cannot swim well. But Googi went through with it. Googi is proud of herself.
Googi slept on hammock at Isla Mujeres.
Googi smoked her first cigar.
Googi hated the cigar.
Googi should try Cuban cigars.
Googi went drinking every night (now you know why Googi is writing like this - Googi killed a lot of brain cells).
Googi said "I'm not gonna drink tonight" every night but ... Googi drank every night.
Googi got a lot of freebies.
Googi likes freebies.
Googi should be careful of freebies.
Googi can get in a lot of trouble with freebies.
Googi said goodbye to paradise and came back to reality last night.
Googi is back to work today.
Googi doesn't want to work.
Googi wants to go back to paradise.
Googi is dreaming.
Monday, October 11, 2004
Friday, October 08, 2004
I recently watched two movies on DVD. I liked one of them a lot. But the other, I didn't. I'll talk about the one I didn't like first so that I can end this blog entry with a more cheerful note later.
What was the point of "Passion Of The Christ"? Besides raking in millions at the box office, what did Mel Gibson try to accomplish by making this film? Was there a "for the record" statement that he wanted to make? Or did he want to point fingers at a certain group of people for the sufferings that Jesus endured? I am not a religious person. I do not have a religious background. I'm not sure if it's my lack of biblical knowledge that prevented me from appreciating this film. To me, it was merely a gruesome portrayal of the torture cast upon one man. I saw it as two hours worth of a whip-by-whip, nail-by-nail account of the sufferings of Jesus Christ. Do people, followers or not, need such a graphic depiction of this biblical event in order to appreciate Jesus' sacrifice for mankind? There is a growing argument that the material carried on the mainstream media is becoming too violent and/or graphic for the good of the audience. This film feeds into that argument completely. For that, I didn't appreciate this film.
Unlike "Passion Of The Christ", I really enjoyed watching "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind". The plot is about a man wanting to erase the memories of his ex-girlfriend. But during the procedure he changes his mind and a struggle to hang on to the memories ensues. Rolling Stone calls it "a smart, sexy, and seriously funny comedy" and I totally agree. It's smart because of the complexity and uniqueness of the script. It's sexy because of the bizarre romance shared by the characters. It's serious because of the heartbreak that was experienced by the characters but felt by viewers. It's funny because of all the lighthearted dialogue and witty images. Writer Charlie Kaufman wrote this unique love story and director Michel Gondry immaculately transferred it onto film. Gondry created beautiful visuals to carry the story along. He accomplished this not with fancy special effects, but simply with creative camera angles and transitions. The success of this film owes very much to Gondry's creative visions. The acting in this film cannot be slighted either. Jim Carry and Kate Winslet deserve much praise for succeeding in roles they don't normally play. Overall, this is an excellent movie. I recommend it to all.
What was the point of "Passion Of The Christ"? Besides raking in millions at the box office, what did Mel Gibson try to accomplish by making this film? Was there a "for the record" statement that he wanted to make? Or did he want to point fingers at a certain group of people for the sufferings that Jesus endured? I am not a religious person. I do not have a religious background. I'm not sure if it's my lack of biblical knowledge that prevented me from appreciating this film. To me, it was merely a gruesome portrayal of the torture cast upon one man. I saw it as two hours worth of a whip-by-whip, nail-by-nail account of the sufferings of Jesus Christ. Do people, followers or not, need such a graphic depiction of this biblical event in order to appreciate Jesus' sacrifice for mankind? There is a growing argument that the material carried on the mainstream media is becoming too violent and/or graphic for the good of the audience. This film feeds into that argument completely. For that, I didn't appreciate this film.
Unlike "Passion Of The Christ", I really enjoyed watching "Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind". The plot is about a man wanting to erase the memories of his ex-girlfriend. But during the procedure he changes his mind and a struggle to hang on to the memories ensues. Rolling Stone calls it "a smart, sexy, and seriously funny comedy" and I totally agree. It's smart because of the complexity and uniqueness of the script. It's sexy because of the bizarre romance shared by the characters. It's serious because of the heartbreak that was experienced by the characters but felt by viewers. It's funny because of all the lighthearted dialogue and witty images. Writer Charlie Kaufman wrote this unique love story and director Michel Gondry immaculately transferred it onto film. Gondry created beautiful visuals to carry the story along. He accomplished this not with fancy special effects, but simply with creative camera angles and transitions. The success of this film owes very much to Gondry's creative visions. The acting in this film cannot be slighted either. Jim Carry and Kate Winslet deserve much praise for succeeding in roles they don't normally play. Overall, this is an excellent movie. I recommend it to all.
Monday, September 27, 2004
What a month. 2 projects came and gone. Fortunately they were completed rather successfully. Completing projects always gives me a great sense of accomplishment, but unfortunately I'm starting to feel tired. Not physically, but mentally. How much more stress can I handle? How much more frustration can I swallow? How much more advantage can I let my bosses take of me before I go insane? Being conscious of all the flaws in the system does not help me turn my back on all these nuisances either. Either it's time for me to leave or I need to take a long break. So what if I take a long break? Who could guarantee improvements when I return? The underlying problems in the company cannot be changed easily, if even possible. Guess my best bet is to find a new job. Honestly, I really wouldn't mind changing jobs, even if it means going into a new industry and starting off all over again from the bottom rung. But knowing how sluggish the current job market is, I know it will take some time for me to find something. No problem. However long it may take, I'll continue to believe there's light at the other end of the tunnel. In the meantime, I'll take short breaks here and there to help keep my sanity in check. Last month I took a few days off to retreat to Las Vegas and Santa Barbara. Next month I'm going to Cancun for a week. Hopefully these short breathers will help carry me through.
Friday, August 06, 2004
What irks you more, working with incompetent people or working with bossy people? It's my luck that I'm working with both, and it's the same person! Yes, this person is incompetent, yet bossy. Bad combination. The worse part is this person also has the power to override any of our objections. Good luck to us if we want to get any work done, let alone quality work.
Friday, July 23, 2004
I didn't realize I haven't blogged in such a long time. My last entry was about my friend's visit from out of town and my playing hostess. Well, he's since been gone and the pseudo vacation that he brought on to me had also come to an end. But one lingering effect still lives on – the 80s music mode that he had gotten me into. This self-proclaiming "80s Junky" friend of mine stumbled upon an 80s radio station while he was here. Listening to this station with him somehow recharged my interest in music from that decade. I have since been digging up music from the 80s wherever I can. What with my brother's old tape/CD collection and the internet to bring about songs like "Careless Whispers", "Seasons Change", "Shattered Dreams", "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun", "Foolish Beat", and of course, "Karma karma karma karma chameleon, you come and go, you come and go oh oh oh…" to play in the background as I blog tonight.
It's been fun digging up these old songs. Listening to them again in the present time has put me into a state of "recollection" and "rediscovery". "Recollection" because certain songs remind me of certain things. "Foolish Beat" reminds me of middle school. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" reminds me of staying up late on Friday nights to watch "Friday Night Videos". "Rediscovery" stems from the fact that many songs didn't really register with me at the time. Granted I was just a little girl then. I pretty much listened to music purely on a rudimentary level. As long as the tune was catchy, I liked it. Lyrics, underlying meanings, vocal or musical talents, all meant nothing to me. Listening to them now, on the other hand, I've discovered a whole new appreciation for some of these old tunes. "Suddenly, life has new meaning to me. There's beauty up above and things we never take notice of. Wake up and suddenly, you're in love." Wow! Beautiful.
Too bad not all my discoveries are as beautiful as the previous example. Namely, what on earth is "karma chameleon"? I've only just realized these were the lyrics, and title, to this catchy tune. Can you blame me? Back then the little girl in me tried my best to stay away from Boy George!
It's been fun digging up these old songs. Listening to them again in the present time has put me into a state of "recollection" and "rediscovery". "Recollection" because certain songs remind me of certain things. "Foolish Beat" reminds me of middle school. "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun" reminds me of staying up late on Friday nights to watch "Friday Night Videos". "Rediscovery" stems from the fact that many songs didn't really register with me at the time. Granted I was just a little girl then. I pretty much listened to music purely on a rudimentary level. As long as the tune was catchy, I liked it. Lyrics, underlying meanings, vocal or musical talents, all meant nothing to me. Listening to them now, on the other hand, I've discovered a whole new appreciation for some of these old tunes. "Suddenly, life has new meaning to me. There's beauty up above and things we never take notice of. Wake up and suddenly, you're in love." Wow! Beautiful.
Too bad not all my discoveries are as beautiful as the previous example. Namely, what on earth is "karma chameleon"? I've only just realized these were the lyrics, and title, to this catchy tune. Can you blame me? Back then the little girl in me tried my best to stay away from Boy George!
Wednesday, June 23, 2004
I have a friend visiting from out of town this week. So I've been playing hostess and showing him around. So far we've been to Fisherman's Wharf, the Coit Tower, Ghiradelli Square, the Haight/Ashbury district, and the Napa Valley wineries. Next we're targeting either a cruise on the Bay or a night tour to Alcatraz Island.
I have to say, as a regular resident of the Bay Area, I wouldn't be doing some of these things or going to some of these places if I wasn't taking a visitor around. Fisherman's Wharf? Coit Tower? Alcatraz? These are tourist traps. They're for tourists only. BUT...as I went to these places with him, I suddenly felt like a tourist myself. Suddenly I felt like I AM on vacation and I AM sightseeing. It's amazing. Maybe it's because I don't go to these places often, if at all. Therefore in a way they seemed new and fresh to me. At a gift shop in Fisherman's Wharf, I found myself fascinated by those pendants containing a grain of rice with your name engraved on it. I actually wanted to buy one. Even though I didn't buy it, this shows how deep of a "touristy mode" I was in to be fascinated by things in a gift shop.
My friend is in town for another 3 days. That's how much longer my role as a tour guide will last. I should really thank my friend for visiting and bringing on this sudden pseudo vacation for me. If only I didn't have to work this week as all this is happening. But of course, that's too much to ask.
I have to say, as a regular resident of the Bay Area, I wouldn't be doing some of these things or going to some of these places if I wasn't taking a visitor around. Fisherman's Wharf? Coit Tower? Alcatraz? These are tourist traps. They're for tourists only. BUT...as I went to these places with him, I suddenly felt like a tourist myself. Suddenly I felt like I AM on vacation and I AM sightseeing. It's amazing. Maybe it's because I don't go to these places often, if at all. Therefore in a way they seemed new and fresh to me. At a gift shop in Fisherman's Wharf, I found myself fascinated by those pendants containing a grain of rice with your name engraved on it. I actually wanted to buy one. Even though I didn't buy it, this shows how deep of a "touristy mode" I was in to be fascinated by things in a gift shop.
My friend is in town for another 3 days. That's how much longer my role as a tour guide will last. I should really thank my friend for visiting and bringing on this sudden pseudo vacation for me. If only I didn't have to work this week as all this is happening. But of course, that's too much to ask.
Monday, June 07, 2004
In reaction to JLo's marriage to Marc Anthony this weekend, bookies are offering 3-1 odds that the quickie marriage will dissolve by the end of the year. They are also offering 10-1 odds that JLo will marry more than eight times in her lifetime, beating Elizabeth Taylor. This is too funny! A little cruel, but definitely funny! How can anyone, even JLo, blame these bookies for recognizing viable opportunities to make a few extra bucks?
My question for JLo is...Why do you even bother? You know your own track record. You'll just be in and out of your lawyer's office signing papers. Why don't you just save yourself the time and energy and put them into better use. Oh, by that I don't mean another Gigli. Please!
My question for JLo is...Why do you even bother? You know your own track record. You'll just be in and out of your lawyer's office signing papers. Why don't you just save yourself the time and energy and put them into better use. Oh, by that I don't mean another Gigli. Please!
Wednesday, June 02, 2004
Speaking of license plates, I have a question. Those cameras installed at intersections to catch red light runners are set up to take pictures of the license plate of the offending car. From that they trace the licensed owner of the car as the red light runner. What happens when an offending car doesn't have plates, eg new cars who's plates have yet to come? How do they identify those cars/drivers?
Whoopi! The scratch on my car is gone. Woohoo! I took my car back to the dealer to put in a rear spoiler. Besides installing the spoiler, the nice people at the dealership threw in a free buff job to buff out the scratch for me. So now my car is as good as new. Then again it IS new. Heck, I've only had it for a month and my license plates haven't even arrived yet. Wonder what my plates will be. If I were to get custom plates, does anyone have any suggestion as to what I should get? Let's see your creativity people. :)
Thursday, May 27, 2004
Tuesday, May 25, 2004
I was up bright and early this morning. Actually, the "bright" part doesn't really translate cuz the sun wasn't even out yet when I left the house. Revision: I was up dark and early this morning. Reason was I had to monitor a very important technical switchover at the station. Fortunately everything transitioned smoothly. This is one big load off the shoulders, MY shoulders to be exact. This is yet another part of the improvements at work I mentioned in an earlier blog. I think I can soon start to relax a bit and enjoy the changes. God I need a break.
Monday, May 17, 2004
Massages...what's the big deal about them? Do they really help your body relax? My girlfriends and I went to the Napa Valley yesterday for a girls-only daytrip. To pamper ourselves, we decided to visit one of the local spas to each get either a massage or a facial. I opted for the Hot Stone Massage, which supposedly is a recent fad in the world of massage treatments. Here's a description of it that I copied from the spa's website: "Smooth stones are heated and are used to relax and massage muscle tissue, dissolving stress and melting away tension. The stones glide across your body in long, flowing strokes, while others are placed on various energy points. The radiant heat along with the stone massage releases deep muscular tension without pain or discomfort."
Oookay. I did it. Then were my stress dissolved and tension melted? I really can't tell. Because frankly speaking, I felt exactly the same AFTER the treatment as I did BEFORE it. I did not experience the relaxation that massage buffs rave about every time they come out of a massage. That feeling of "Oh that felt so good" was not experienced here. For me it was more like "Doh, that was money down the drain".
Now on to the "without pain or discomfort" part. True I didn't feel any pain or discomfort during the session. Kudos to the massage therapist for managing that. But I woke up this morning with sore and aching shoulders! What's up with that? Shouldn't the painless nature of it extend pass the immediate treatment itself?
I don't get it. I really don't. What's the big deal about massages?
Oookay. I did it. Then were my stress dissolved and tension melted? I really can't tell. Because frankly speaking, I felt exactly the same AFTER the treatment as I did BEFORE it. I did not experience the relaxation that massage buffs rave about every time they come out of a massage. That feeling of "Oh that felt so good" was not experienced here. For me it was more like "Doh, that was money down the drain".
Now on to the "without pain or discomfort" part. True I didn't feel any pain or discomfort during the session. Kudos to the massage therapist for managing that. But I woke up this morning with sore and aching shoulders! What's up with that? Shouldn't the painless nature of it extend pass the immediate treatment itself?
I don't get it. I really don't. What's the big deal about massages?
Thursday, May 13, 2004
That's right Wanwanha, I haven't been blogging. Guilty as charged. And the reason is of no surprise either - I've been submerged in work.
12 hour work days have been my norm. Enjoying a weekend off has become a privilege. Bringing work home is like a requirement. Somehow or another I've become this workaholic who, believe it or not, is not really complaining. As much as I want to regain my life (if I ever had one to begin with) I am getting much satisfaction from my accomplishments at work. My station has seen much improvements in the last few moonths and I am proud to be one of the major players involved in bringing on those improvements. Where we are now is where I've been hoping for us to be ever since I joined the company 6 years ago. 6 years! How's that for being patient or relentless?!
But it's not time to celebrate just yet. We've only just touched upon the surface of our goal. There are still many odds and ends to smooth out. Until then, "Workaholic" continues to be my middlename.
12 hour work days have been my norm. Enjoying a weekend off has become a privilege. Bringing work home is like a requirement. Somehow or another I've become this workaholic who, believe it or not, is not really complaining. As much as I want to regain my life (if I ever had one to begin with) I am getting much satisfaction from my accomplishments at work. My station has seen much improvements in the last few moonths and I am proud to be one of the major players involved in bringing on those improvements. Where we are now is where I've been hoping for us to be ever since I joined the company 6 years ago. 6 years! How's that for being patient or relentless?!
But it's not time to celebrate just yet. We've only just touched upon the surface of our goal. There are still many odds and ends to smooth out. Until then, "Workaholic" continues to be my middlename.
Monday, May 10, 2004
Sunday, May 02, 2004
I bought a new car this week. It's a 4 door sports sedan. A 2-door coupe is available in the same make and model. But I went for the 4-door sedan instead. This shows how much I've "matured". A few years ago, I would've chosen the coupe instead. Back then I would've seen the styling of the coupe as much more fun and wild. But now the coupe seems too kiddy and punkish to me. The present day me opts for the sophisticated styling of the 4-door sedan instead. Now I also find 2-door cars impractical. It's inconvenient when it comes to transporting passengers. But then again how often do I transport passengers? I usually drive around alone anyway. And since I don't have a family/kids yet, why do I have to worry about people crawling in and out of the back seat? But yet, I placed this criterion pretty high in my selection process. Basically, rather than fun, I went for convenience. Rather than wild, I went for sophistication and comfort (the spacious seats in the sedan are much more comfortable than the cramped up coupe). I am selling my spicy red sport coupe and have put money down for a silver comfy sedan. Daddy's little girl has definitely grown up.
Tuesday, April 20, 2004
Wednesday, March 31, 2004
Wow, it's the end of the March already. And I didn't blog at all this month. It's not that I'm losing steam with this online journal thing. It's because work has just been too hectic. I still have lots to do today, but I need to take a break. So here I am.
I read somewhere a little while ago that only 7% of internet users blog. That makes us a rarity doesn't it? Then of the 7%, only 2% blog daily. Oops, fell out of that elite group somewhere along the line.
Been doing a lot of hiking lately. Almost once a week. Almost. Not bad according to my track record. Would like to keep it up. But we'll have to see. Afterall, I'm a Gemini. One characteristic of a Gemini is that s/he is fickle. A Gemini jumps from one interest to another rather quickly. So who knows how long I'm gonna stick with this particular one?
I read somewhere a little while ago that only 7% of internet users blog. That makes us a rarity doesn't it? Then of the 7%, only 2% blog daily. Oops, fell out of that elite group somewhere along the line.
Been doing a lot of hiking lately. Almost once a week. Almost. Not bad according to my track record. Would like to keep it up. But we'll have to see. Afterall, I'm a Gemini. One characteristic of a Gemini is that s/he is fickle. A Gemini jumps from one interest to another rather quickly. So who knows how long I'm gonna stick with this particular one?
Wednesday, February 18, 2004
My applause to San Francisco for issuing marriage licenses to gay and lesbian couples. This is another much needed step towards equality for all. But is it true that the mayor may have overstepped his boundaries in ordering this proceeding? If it is, then I rather he had not done it. It's one thing to allow equal rights to all. But it's another to go about doing it in improper ways.
Politics have never been my forte. I am in the dark about its workings. Hence I have no idea what the political, maybe even legal, ramifications are surrounding this event. But I do know that the game of politics has its rules and procedures, e.g. propose bills, get them passed, then execute them. As a civilized society, it is important for us to follow procedures such as these. Otherwise what's the point of having rules and regulations at all? So if the mayor did misuse his powers in inducing this event, I'd rather he follow the proper procedures. That may take much more time, effort, and money to accomplish, but at least we wouldn't be criticized for it. Opponents of this unprecedented event call this a type of "lawlessness and civil disobedience". That just takes away from the joy and pride that are associated with this worthy cause.
Politics have never been my forte. I am in the dark about its workings. Hence I have no idea what the political, maybe even legal, ramifications are surrounding this event. But I do know that the game of politics has its rules and procedures, e.g. propose bills, get them passed, then execute them. As a civilized society, it is important for us to follow procedures such as these. Otherwise what's the point of having rules and regulations at all? So if the mayor did misuse his powers in inducing this event, I'd rather he follow the proper procedures. That may take much more time, effort, and money to accomplish, but at least we wouldn't be criticized for it. Opponents of this unprecedented event call this a type of "lawlessness and civil disobedience". That just takes away from the joy and pride that are associated with this worthy cause.
Friday, February 13, 2004
Babies, they're so delicate and fragile. My little niece, who's only 1.5 month old, went into the hospital last night. She has some sort of infection, either viral (less serious) or bacterial (can be serious). They took all sorts of fluids and blood from her for tests to isolate the main cause. But results won't be back for 2 days so they are keeping her in "urgent care" for a close watch until they know for sure what's going on. I went to the hospital to see her during my lunch hour today. My heart dropped when I saw her. First off, she has IV attached to her tiny little left hand. To hold her IV in place, the nurses made her a makeshift cast out of a tongue depressor and gauze. Casts don't even come that small but yet this small little soul needed one. Poor thing. Then on her other 3 limbs you could see the bruises and punctures resulting from all those needles poked into her. Meanies! Stop poking holes into my little TNT (her initials)! I know, I know. Stop being so squeamish. Those needles are necessary. How else would they know what's going on. Just hope the results come back good. Pray, pray, pray.
We don't know how she got this infection. We are guessing it was from the little party we had at home over the weekend to show her off to relatives. About 20 people came. Some held her, some didn't. Maybe she came into contact with this "bug" then. See how fragile babies are? Learn.
We don't know how she got this infection. We are guessing it was from the little party we had at home over the weekend to show her off to relatives. About 20 people came. Some held her, some didn't. Maybe she came into contact with this "bug" then. See how fragile babies are? Learn.
Sunday, January 25, 2004
It's 5:48am on a Sunday morning. What am I doing online blogging at such a time? Am I such a geeky technophile that I jump at every opportunity to crack open my laptop and blog away on any stupid little thing that jumps to mind? You can decide for yourself the answer to this question at the end of this entry.
About 45 minutes ago I woke up from my sleep to some terrible coughing. Who's terrible coughing? Mine. I was coughing for such a long time that apparently I had even incorporated it into my dreams. In my dreams I was engaged in a deep conversation with someone but it was constantly interrupted with my coughs. It slowly became annoying to the both of us. The annoyance continued for a while before I gradually woke up and realized that the conversation was in fact a dream but the coughs weren't. I was, in actuality, coughing long and hard during my sleep for some time already. If coughing hurts one's throat, I think I may have done some serious damage to mine already.
I am going through a cold. Apparently I'm at the coughing stage of it. The cough-my-throat-out-like-I-no-longer-need-it-anymore stage. I don't have any medicine to take for this cold or for this annoying cough because I didn't to go to the doctor. One, I've been very busy at work. Two, I've always hated going to the doctors. They're no help most of the time anyway.
So I got up at first and rummaged through our medicine cabinet to look for some cough medicine. Found a bottle of Dimetapp. But it expired way back in Dec 2002. Yikes. Tossed that in the trash. Rummaging some more, I found nothing else. Then as I went to the kitchen to get a drink of cool water to soothe my throat, I found a bottle of what seems to be prescription cough syrup prescribed to my dad. That also expired. But only 2 days ago. Since it's in the kitchen rather than stored away in the medicine cabinet, I think my dad is still taking it. From that I decided this medicine is still good. I took 2 teaspoons of it as the direction says. Yes, the minty syrup soothed my throat down a bit. Then I went back to bed.
It's been 45 minutes since I took the 2-day-expired cough syrup. I'm still coughing and I can't get back to sleep. There's nothing on TV. My eyes are too tired to read. What else is there for me to do as I suck on a cough drop to calm down my cough before I wake up the rest of the house with it? This was when I whipped out my laptop to go online. When IE opened, I remembered I haven't been blogging much lately. A friend of mine, who apparently reads my mumbo jumbo regularly (I don't know why), had complained to me last week that there's nothing new to read on my blog recently. So here's to you my friend (you have to be if you're reading this).
So back to the opening question, am I a geeky technophile to be blogging at this wee moment of the morning? Or am I just a whiny cat who takes in every opportunity to whine about my ill situations? You decide.
About 45 minutes ago I woke up from my sleep to some terrible coughing. Who's terrible coughing? Mine. I was coughing for such a long time that apparently I had even incorporated it into my dreams. In my dreams I was engaged in a deep conversation with someone but it was constantly interrupted with my coughs. It slowly became annoying to the both of us. The annoyance continued for a while before I gradually woke up and realized that the conversation was in fact a dream but the coughs weren't. I was, in actuality, coughing long and hard during my sleep for some time already. If coughing hurts one's throat, I think I may have done some serious damage to mine already.
I am going through a cold. Apparently I'm at the coughing stage of it. The cough-my-throat-out-like-I-no-longer-need-it-anymore stage. I don't have any medicine to take for this cold or for this annoying cough because I didn't to go to the doctor. One, I've been very busy at work. Two, I've always hated going to the doctors. They're no help most of the time anyway.
So I got up at first and rummaged through our medicine cabinet to look for some cough medicine. Found a bottle of Dimetapp. But it expired way back in Dec 2002. Yikes. Tossed that in the trash. Rummaging some more, I found nothing else. Then as I went to the kitchen to get a drink of cool water to soothe my throat, I found a bottle of what seems to be prescription cough syrup prescribed to my dad. That also expired. But only 2 days ago. Since it's in the kitchen rather than stored away in the medicine cabinet, I think my dad is still taking it. From that I decided this medicine is still good. I took 2 teaspoons of it as the direction says. Yes, the minty syrup soothed my throat down a bit. Then I went back to bed.
It's been 45 minutes since I took the 2-day-expired cough syrup. I'm still coughing and I can't get back to sleep. There's nothing on TV. My eyes are too tired to read. What else is there for me to do as I suck on a cough drop to calm down my cough before I wake up the rest of the house with it? This was when I whipped out my laptop to go online. When IE opened, I remembered I haven't been blogging much lately. A friend of mine, who apparently reads my mumbo jumbo regularly (I don't know why), had complained to me last week that there's nothing new to read on my blog recently. So here's to you my friend (you have to be if you're reading this).
So back to the opening question, am I a geeky technophile to be blogging at this wee moment of the morning? Or am I just a whiny cat who takes in every opportunity to whine about my ill situations? You decide.
Thursday, January 22, 2004
Happy Chinese New Year everyone! I love CNY. It's one of the rare times of year when everyone in my family comes home for a festive dinner together. My parents, brothers, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, the whole clan. Since we do not live together and since we all have our own busy schedules, it's hard to gather everyone together on a regular basis. We don't even get together for "big" holidays like Christmas or Thanksgiving. We say we want to but it never happens. But for CNY, we make it happen. It's no wonder CNY is my favorite holiday of the year. Now if only we can get the day off from work...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)