A couple more things to check off that list over there: I did finally cook a real dinner (#25), even if it was pretty simplistic. And I also gathered friends for a party this summer---my first time entertaining in an apartment (#35). Lastly, I just sent out a paper that I wrote to several legal journals (#3). Hopefully, one will decide to publish it!

And I think I'm gonna cross number 32 off the list. I didn't go on any blind dates over the past year, but I did go on a few regular dates. I think my boyfriend wouldn't like it if I go on any blind dates, so...

There Are No Words....

I simply can't possibly add anything to the rousing debate about Virginia's proposed anti-cockfighting bill. You just must, must, must read some of these comments. If you have enough free time, you might try counting the number of references to terrorism. This was the highlight of my workweek.

Meet George Jetson...

I was watching Mythbusters today. I love that show. Jamie's mustache reminds me of Dr. Zoidberg on Futurama. You know:
Anyhow, they were trying to build a personal jetpack, and as part of their research they visited my beloved hometown of Davis. They went to see Professor Paul Moller, who it turns out has invented a flying car. That's right: Moller has, according to the Davis Wiki, "succeeded in developing the world's first and only feasible, personally affordable, personal vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) vehicle — the M400 Skycar." As you can see, it's awesome looking.


The Skycar's engine can burn "a variety of fuels," but apparently alcohol will be the top choice. It will travel 5 times faster than most cars. Downside: it's expected to retail at $500,000.

But, get excited world--flying cars mean THE FUTURE IS NOW. =) Next up, a Rosie the Robot-esque maid in every house.....Well, I guess we'll just have to see what the future brings.

I Got Tagged...

So here goes:

8 Random Facts

Players start with eight random facts about themselves.

People who are tagged need to write their own blog about their eight things and post these rules. At the end of your blog, you need to choose eight people to get tagged and list their names. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.


1. I am horribly and uncontrollably afraid of bugs. Strongly afraid of heights. Somewhat nervous walking on sidewalk grates. And mildly uncomfortable in elevators and on escalators.

2. Like someone else I know, I almost didn't make it into 1st grade. I couldn't tie my shoelaces, and I couldn't read time. I was saved by the school principal who apparently thought I was ready for hours of sitting in one space working addition problems. He was wrong.

3. My most productive time of day is around 4-7 pm. Coincidentally, this is also close-of-business at most places I've worked.

4. I am an experienced hula dancer. And yes, I will perform at your party. If you pay me a whole bunch.

5. On Sunday, I fell in love with Joe Stark. He's a guitarist I saw perform. Don't tell Francis.

6. I have never told anybody this, but I can still recite a portion of the Disney read-along version of Peter Pan by heart. And sometimes, I do.

7. I appear to be no closer to achieving my lifelong dream of attending the Oscars than I was 27.5 years ago.

8. I don't know 8 bloggers. So I'm only tagging:

KWilliams
Variations on a Theme
TSinister
Peanut Butter Burrito
Traveling Typhoon

(almost entirely people who I'm strongly guessing aren't interested)

Humidity Haiku

Washington DC
Bad hair days are plentiful
Cali girls can't deal.

Lost and Found

The theme for today: things that are MIA.

MIA thing #1: Um, that'd be me. Yeah, so I haven't blogged in a million years. I don't have excuses. I don't have reasons. I just wasn't into it. Now I'm thinking that I may move this blog or do something different with it. If I get around to it. Why? Just cuz.

MIA thing #2: All the appendices for this paper I'm trying to finish for work. Someone else wrote it awhile ago, but it needed lots of revision. I'm attempting to put it all together but can't find any of the documents referenced in the paper. Aargh. Oh, btw, the work I'm referring to is my summer law clerk job at a major environmental nonprofit in DC.

MIA thing #3: My mail. Oops. Turns out I gave everyone the wrong summer address for me. Haha. Genius.

MIA thing #4: Half of the novel I'm reading. So I've really gotten into this book, The Virgin Blue by Tracy Chevalier. And over lunch today, I got to a really exciting part where the characters were surrounded by people with pitchforks. I was enthralled. I looked at the next page, and realized that my book skipped 20 pages. I went to the bookstore where I bought it, and they agreed the book was defective. Unfortunately, they don't have any more copies. So I have to go to Barnes and Noble for a replacement. Until I get there, my characters are all stuck surrounded by an angry, pitchfork-wielding mob.

Ain't that just the way of things?

Heat Wave

It's supposed to be 67 degrees today. Unbelievable. It's like summer has hit around here. Everyone is so excited. I'm wearing a skirt. But it's probably going to snow on Saturday.

I think the sun deprivation is taking its toll. I seem to get depressed every winter, especially in Boston. Seasonal Affective Disorder sucks.

My spring break plans are particularly pathetic this year. The idea of planning something was too stressful, so I've done nothing. I'm probably just gonna hang out in my dorm room and work.

But I'm worried that I may actually go crazy if I don't get some sun soon. I might lose touch with reality and start wearing flip flops in snow or worse, start being as surly as some of the New Englanders I've met.

I have a light bulb that claims to mimic the effects of sun, but it doesn't seem to be helping much. I look at pictures of beaches, take St. John's Wort for a mood boost, and try to tell myself that this is all a fun adventure in "Winter Land." All ineffective.

Well, I guess I should just be grateful for our not-freezing weather while it lasts.

If You Click Here, You Will Be Rich...

...ly rewarded with artistic fulfillment.
http://designphoenix.blogspot.com

Blech.

As I type, my words are literally a blur. I have a fever. It sucks. After having had the stomach flu a few weeks ago and at least a few other bouts with illness this school year, I'm seriously wondering what I'm doing wrong.

I wash my hands religiously, I take vitamin C, drink orange juice, swallow Airborne tablets at the first sign of anyone around being sick. So why do I keep catching every single bug that goes around?

My first mistake is almost undeniably that I live in the dorms. It's pretty much a petri dish of disgusting illness. Also, I'm sure that I should probably shun anyone who so much as sniffles, but I have a tendency to get in long discussions with such folks.

Or maybe it's just a healthy childhood catching up with me. I almost never got sick as a kid--only threw up once, had perfect attendance in school most years because I never had a reason to miss. Perhaps I just haven't built up the usual immunity, and I'm paying for it now.
Sigh.

Unbelievable.

Now we all know that racism isn't dead, but sometimes something comes along that just blows you away. We all remember Mel Gibson's rant, Michael Richards' (Kramer) rant, but rarely do you see racism so spelled out and so public.

A young, male Asian columnist decided to publish a piece, entitled "Why I Hate Blacks" in AsianWeek, a San Francisco paper owned by the prominent Fang family (who used to own the San Francisco Examiner). It is possibly the most offensive thing I have ever seen published in a mainstream paper.

What's most amazing about it all is that he has apparently written and published racist crap before without getting fired. He has also written columns called "Proof That Whites Inherently Hate Us" and "Why I Hate Asians," and "Why Non-Violent Protest Will Never Help Asians." (To read more about the controversy: SF Chronicle article) Apparently, those weren't quite offensive enough for anyone to care.

It just takes my breath away.

[Update: as of 2/28/07: The SF Chronicle reports that the "Editor Regrets 'Hate' Column" ...but HE HASN'T DECIDED WHETHER TO FIRE THE MORON WHO WROTE IT!!!! Yeah, that sounds like regret to me. That is one of the stupidest things I've ever heard. For the only non-stupid commentary I've seen on this topic so far, check out this column.]

On a happier note, yesterday was my birthday, and I appreciate all the wonderful well-wishes I received! Thanks to everyone!

Blahs

I am suffering from the sudden onset of winter blahs. This could have something to do with the horrible snowstormy weather. But I think it has more to do with the fact that I got violently ill yesterday.

I had a bad case of either stomach flu or food poisoning. I was at the campus health center for hours on end. Yuck. Good news is that I'm feeling much better today. Hoping to be completely back on my feet tomorrow.

Luckily, in the midst of all of the wintry misery, I can rely on my joyous memories of a lovely long weekend in paradise. Puerto Rico was gorgeous (see sample photo). I greatly enjoyed meeting people and getting a feel for the world of consulting. I can actually picture myself enjoying that type of work a great deal.

I also managed to accomplish # 36 on my list ("Try one thing that scares me or is completely out of character for me") when I went swimming under a waterfall in the rainforest. It was a blast!

By the way, I can also cross off #4 (taking 3 steps to help the environment) because I have started unplugging appliances when not in use, turning off the water while I brush my teeth, and have become a green living representative for my dorm.

I also did #10, contacting a long lost friend, since I recently got reacquainted on Myspace with a pal from junior high. I accomplished #21 ("Go to the dentist"), but I will still have to go back again. Boo. And last, I finished the particularly daunting #30, by throwing out 2 items for each 1 purchased in December. Mainly, I accomplished that by buying very, very little.

Sorry this post was so ridiculously long. I guess I have to be bedridden before I actually get on top of things.

A Tale of Two Cities

I don't have work tomorrow because the weather folks are predicting an ice storm here. Austin is unprepared for such catastrophic weather conditions, so pretty much everything is shut down. Ah, winter.

Meanwhile, I'm looking forward to my trip to Puerto Rico. I will be going there for a long weekend in mid-February for a recruiting event sponsored by a consulting firm. I turned in an application and had an interview, and they let me know that I was invited on Friday. They will be covering all costs. =) Apparently, weather in the San Juan area in February ranges between lows around 70 and highs around 80 degrees. Ah, winter.

WoooooHooooo!!!!!

I'm going to Puerto Rico!!! Will post more later!

Deep in the Heart

Blogging today from Texas. I'm really enjoying my clinical experience here. Everyone is nice, the work is interesting, and the weather is fabulous.

Austin is an interesting city. Home to the University of Texas, Austin is filled with college students and is famous for its nightlife. It is also the capital of TX and known as a liberal haven in a conservative state. Supposedly, the city's unofficial motto is "Keep Austin Weird."

But what stands out to me is that Austin really reminds me of Sacramento. It's big and spread out. A big capitol building sits in the middle of downtown. It has a river that marks the beginning of the downtown region. And despite its motto, it seems no more "far out" than Sacramento.

I haven't remembered to grab my camera yet, but I'll try to post a few pics to capture my Texas odyssey in the next couple of weeks.

P.S. I've updated to the new version of Blogger. Let me know whether you like this new format. It looks different, but it also has new features.