Playing with that, I was like - oh my God. This!
- DJ Rana Sobbany, after using the Groovemaker app on iPad
Commantary: Not the most articulate person in the world, is she.
Tips for Finding Happiness in Your Daily Life
10 years ago
Friday, December 31, 2010
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Snippet 189
[Watching the fireplace blaze]
V:
This is like TV before there was TV, huh?
RJ:
Yeah, but the plot isn't very good.
V:
It's all inevitable demise, huh?
V:
This is like TV before there was TV, huh?
RJ:
Yeah, but the plot isn't very good.
V:
It's all inevitable demise, huh?
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Quote 237
I always knew I was a degenerate. But I didn't know it was macular.
- David Levine, caricaturist, painter, 1926 - 2010
- David Levine, caricaturist, painter, 1926 - 2010
More Alimentary Adventures 10
This tealight holder is a ball of Himalayan salt.
Shark, seasoned with Himalayan salt and pepper, with sides of mango ginger sauce and ponzu.
Quote 235
What is so motivating about disagreeing and so uninspiring about agreeing? And as we all contemplate that question - happy new year.
- Mick LaSalle, in response to a reader of his column who thinks he has "missed the boat"
- Mick LaSalle, in response to a reader of his column who thinks he has "missed the boat"
Deep Thoughts (Not By Jack Handey) 25
The current pope is Benedict XVI. That's the sixteenth.
Seriously, Roman Catholics, come up with some new names, will ya?
Seriously, Roman Catholics, come up with some new names, will ya?
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Snippet 187
V:
My hairline looks like it is receding.
RJ:
You have a high forehead. Your hairline is not receding. It's just where it is.
My hairline looks like it is receding.
RJ:
You have a high forehead. Your hairline is not receding. It's just where it is.
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Snippet 186
V:
Did you get enough sleep?
RJ:
I think so.
V:
Did you sleep well?
RJ:
I don't know. I was asleep.
Did you get enough sleep?
RJ:
I think so.
V:
Did you sleep well?
RJ:
I don't know. I was asleep.
Monday, December 20, 2010
Self-Bestowed Christmas Present
Inspired by my friend Viviana* two Fridays ago who twisted her long hair into a bun and elegantly secured it with a two-prong maple fork bought at an Art and Wine (she even gave me a demo when i expressed amazement), i searched with "hair fork" and found this:
Handcrafted, every piece is unique.
It turned out a lot huger than i had envisioned, but it held my fine hair very firmly. For the first time, i have options other than the old faithfuls: elastics and claw clips (not even all of the latter work). Combs, barrettes, none would stay put. Trust me, i was devastated in the 80's when my banana clips would slip sliding away! All these years i have eyed other girls who can casually pin their hair up with a plastic Papermate ballpoint pen and felt insanely envious. I've felt inadequate, inferior.
Well no more!
That said, for even tension all over the scalp, nothing beats an elastic. Preferrably Goody Ouchless. :-)
*Not her real name
Handcrafted, every piece is unique.
It turned out a lot huger than i had envisioned, but it held my fine hair very firmly. For the first time, i have options other than the old faithfuls: elastics and claw clips (not even all of the latter work). Combs, barrettes, none would stay put. Trust me, i was devastated in the 80's when my banana clips would slip sliding away! All these years i have eyed other girls who can casually pin their hair up with a plastic Papermate ballpoint pen and felt insanely envious. I've felt inadequate, inferior.Well no more!
That said, for even tension all over the scalp, nothing beats an elastic. Preferrably Goody Ouchless. :-)
*Not her real name
Jamaican Wings
These are delicious! A wonderful mix of spices. Out of the oven, they're perfect - crispy skin and meat so tender it falls apart! Kudos to Target for making some affordable yummy things!
Hakka Noodles
Indo-Chinese flair from a gem of a local chaat place.I've said it before and i'll say it again: Gotta luv California!
Perch
A wet bird rests temporarily outside our bathroom window, catching a break during the rainstorm.
Cochinita Pibil Redux
RJ does a variation
on both the cut
and the marinade
Very aromatic!
The pork just falls apart. Beautiful.
on both the cut
and the marinade
Very aromatic!
The pork just falls apart. Beautiful.
Loco Moco
Another Hawaiian first! Yay me!Editor's note: this is excellent hangover food.
Note that i said "food". Not "cure".
Sunday, December 19, 2010
Blitzen
Definitely battling a case of the blues this evening.
I feel that I haven't posted anything of significance in a long time. I don't feel connected to all my senses all the time. As told to Denisse earlier, I feel as if I have surrendered autonomy. Or lost a sense of it.
It's a classic case of spiraling down. First i received news of the fam not gonna be in town for Christmas. They won't return till late Sunday. Then Monday morning RJ and i are leaving town.
Hate the thought of missing the boys' present-opening.
Then there's the logistics of getting the presents to them before their departure. It's gonna be raining all week. My confidence in driving has been diminishing to say the least. My eyesight has been going and last week i finally succumbed and had glasses made. They may not be ready by Christmas.
It's all wrong.
I feel more disjunct than ever.
Some days are harder than others. I've just proven that scoring two pairs of Ugg boots online at a discount of 33% and 28% respectively does NOT buy you happiness.
Denisse has been expressing concerns of loneliness during the glitzy season, too. Since my mother has been going back to school to perfect her conversational Mandarin and English, i don't hear from her much anymore. Used to be: i see an email from her, i cringe, "What now?"
Just can't please me, i guess.
Then there's the fam. My bro and Elsie don't seem to even reply to emails anymore.
I know for a fact W is swamped at work, juggling the demanding job and family, and Elsie is running around for the boys like a headless chicken, seldom having a moment to herself. I swear it's a miracle the woman has not completely lost her mind.
Last week, when i had a few hours to spend with her (and then blessed with a short while with AC), she appeared quite frazzled at times. She couldn't retain a train of thought. She was all over the place. 3 minutes after we had arrived at her home after having picked up AC, i asked, "Did you want to leave the garage door open?"
No, she hadn't intended so. So unlike her. The previous week she'd entered the house, forgetting to disarm the alarm system until the last minute, screaming for AC to get out of her way.
I told her later i'd never seen her as busy as now.
"Things are more hectic now than when i had a full time job!" She exclaimed. I believed her. It was evident.
For months (more like close to a year) i've lamented about how many activities she's enrolled the boys in. Tae Kwon Do/Little Gym, piano, swimming, Chinese school... Due to their tight (impossible) schedule i don't even attempt to set up lunch with them anymore. I know she means well - she is doing her best to enrich their lives. But how about a little breather now and then, a little play time? You know, so they can be kids?
On this day Elsie confided in me that recently OC's developmental delay has gotten under her skin.
"One night, i was talking to W about it, and i started to bawl," Elsie confessed. "I had cornered myself in a bad place, repeatedly questioning, 'What have i done wrong?'"
Compassion washed over me. On the outside, Elsie has it easy. A big house, the husband works, relatively financially secure. All the dinner parties she throws for us, all the merriment, booze passed around, disposable tablecloth, toss things in the dishwasher at the end. No worries, ay? Wrong. Worries come with being human. She is not much different than you and me. I didn't know the weight on her shoulders. I was not to judge.
"You know it's perfectly natural to blame oneself in this situation," i offered.
She seemed to have overcome the worst moment. Thus far.
Elsie has never been a girly girl. She's as no-frill and sensible as they come. She takes after her mother, God bless her soul.
I never once considered that Elsie, too, would break down and cry because she, too, would feel powerless and in despair at times.
Just like me.
For that i am grateful. And i'm glad they're taking this trip, and turning Christmas upside down.
I feel that I haven't posted anything of significance in a long time. I don't feel connected to all my senses all the time. As told to Denisse earlier, I feel as if I have surrendered autonomy. Or lost a sense of it.
It's a classic case of spiraling down. First i received news of the fam not gonna be in town for Christmas. They won't return till late Sunday. Then Monday morning RJ and i are leaving town.
Hate the thought of missing the boys' present-opening.
Then there's the logistics of getting the presents to them before their departure. It's gonna be raining all week. My confidence in driving has been diminishing to say the least. My eyesight has been going and last week i finally succumbed and had glasses made. They may not be ready by Christmas.
It's all wrong.
I feel more disjunct than ever.
Some days are harder than others. I've just proven that scoring two pairs of Ugg boots online at a discount of 33% and 28% respectively does NOT buy you happiness.
Denisse has been expressing concerns of loneliness during the glitzy season, too. Since my mother has been going back to school to perfect her conversational Mandarin and English, i don't hear from her much anymore. Used to be: i see an email from her, i cringe, "What now?"
Just can't please me, i guess.
Then there's the fam. My bro and Elsie don't seem to even reply to emails anymore.
I know for a fact W is swamped at work, juggling the demanding job and family, and Elsie is running around for the boys like a headless chicken, seldom having a moment to herself. I swear it's a miracle the woman has not completely lost her mind.
Last week, when i had a few hours to spend with her (and then blessed with a short while with AC), she appeared quite frazzled at times. She couldn't retain a train of thought. She was all over the place. 3 minutes after we had arrived at her home after having picked up AC, i asked, "Did you want to leave the garage door open?"
No, she hadn't intended so. So unlike her. The previous week she'd entered the house, forgetting to disarm the alarm system until the last minute, screaming for AC to get out of her way.
I told her later i'd never seen her as busy as now.
"Things are more hectic now than when i had a full time job!" She exclaimed. I believed her. It was evident.
For months (more like close to a year) i've lamented about how many activities she's enrolled the boys in. Tae Kwon Do/Little Gym, piano, swimming, Chinese school... Due to their tight (impossible) schedule i don't even attempt to set up lunch with them anymore. I know she means well - she is doing her best to enrich their lives. But how about a little breather now and then, a little play time? You know, so they can be kids?
On this day Elsie confided in me that recently OC's developmental delay has gotten under her skin.
"One night, i was talking to W about it, and i started to bawl," Elsie confessed. "I had cornered myself in a bad place, repeatedly questioning, 'What have i done wrong?'"
Compassion washed over me. On the outside, Elsie has it easy. A big house, the husband works, relatively financially secure. All the dinner parties she throws for us, all the merriment, booze passed around, disposable tablecloth, toss things in the dishwasher at the end. No worries, ay? Wrong. Worries come with being human. She is not much different than you and me. I didn't know the weight on her shoulders. I was not to judge.
"You know it's perfectly natural to blame oneself in this situation," i offered.
She seemed to have overcome the worst moment. Thus far.
Elsie has never been a girly girl. She's as no-frill and sensible as they come. She takes after her mother, God bless her soul.
I never once considered that Elsie, too, would break down and cry because she, too, would feel powerless and in despair at times.
Just like me.
For that i am grateful. And i'm glad they're taking this trip, and turning Christmas upside down.
Wednesday, December 15, 2010
Lunch with Elsie Today 2
Elsie found this fusion hot pot place and took me for a spin.
Skewers in spicy Szechuan broth.
Our skewers:
Beef stomach
Beef tripe
Conch
Fish dumplings
Enoki
Cilantro
Grilled lamb with cumin and sesame
Skewers in spicy Szechuan broth.
Our skewers:Beef stomach
Beef tripe
Conch
Fish dumplings
Enoki
Cilantro
Grilled lamb with cumin and sesame
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Lunch with RJ 10
Scotch eggs and Cran Shandy
Soft-boiled quail egg in crispy sausage. The best of both worlds, texture-wise. I could've had two orders all by my bad ass self.
Brisket
Grilled albacore with romanesco, oyster mushrooms and crostini
