Morsels of Peach Souffle

Spiritual hair

2012-02-13T17:30:00.000-08:00

To get it under control, I got my hair snipped today. It’s weird how hair grows. For days and weeks it obeys with the aid of some product, and the next (and subsequent) days, it’s got a mind of its own, mainly with the one goal of looking as bad as bad can be. I looked and felt emphatically unattractive. This in conjunction with a pre-existing dark cloud wrapping me, I was feeling desperate enough to chop it off ala Halle Berry style.

Instead of embarking on anything drastic I might regret later, I pulled out a print-out of a few styles I’ve liked over the years and brought it to the hair salon. It was right after lunch and no other customers were around which enabled Lisa to attend me with extra care.

It seems she recently underwent a spiritual rejuvenation – she’s a Buddhist and recently shaved her head for some ceremony to promote her parents’ happy reincarnation – and spoke with me differently than in the past. Her benevolence that day and her sharing of personal stuff, in turn, made me feel comfortable to open up to her. I don't usually like to talk with strangers about particular personal issues but I suppose the cup had runneth over this time. The armchair psychology session with someone who’s lived a bit of life provided some much needed relief from months of overwhelming stress. The tears would not abate. Before I knew it I was almost late with the school pick-up. With a big hug, I was revived with not only a nice hairdo but, for a short time, also some soothing of the spirit, empathy, and compassion.

Butter London

2012-02-10T11:39:00.000-08:00

My fashionista friend, Ro, is giving away Butter London 3 Free Nail Lacquer Vernis in The Black Knight. Check it out and enter here!

Father and Dumplings

2012-01-29T11:24:00.000-08:00

It's rare that we talk about the girls' maternal grandfather. They know I was my dad's favorite because this is what I tell them. That he clapped when I was born but made a gesture of dissatisfaction when he learned he had a new baby boy (my big brother). They know their grandfather spent a lot of time with me when I was small, when he was well, doing things like bringing me on his grocery shopping trips in Chinatown, walking me to grade school in the mornings, waiting for me everyday when school let out, buying me treats, such as popsicles or candy, down at the corner store. My brain has images of myself snuggling up to him as he sat in his favorite chair in the living room, watching him puff on his cigarettes, standing beside him as he played mahjong with his usual posse consisting of three musty-smelling old gents, making him unexpectedly laugh so hard when I rattled off some random Chinese diddly where I'd picked it up I know not (fee doot doot, sow noot noot, jiu jiu yew loy siy see foot).

Also, this man loved to read - we have that in common. We'd regularly go to the particular bookstore on Waverly Place where he'd borrow book series on a regular basis. I can still smell the bookstore. While he'd select his reading material, I'd browse the romance manga. Sometimes he'd buy me one. Thank goodness he never looked inside because he'd be shocked at the risque stories and images. They'd be written in Chinese but that didn't deter me.

One night I mentioned to younger girl-child that her grandfather was born in 1908, two years after the Great San Francisco Earthquake. She exclaimed that was over 100 years ago. It's funny that I never really thought about it in those terms until she'd said those words. I told her about how he left his village in Guangdong province when he was 20 and came to America. Out loud, I wondered what he did when he landed in the U.S. I ought to know this. To girl-child, I clarified that he didn't check into a hotel upon arrival and then set out sightseeing. He came here to work, but where was here? I already knew he didn't settle in SF until around the time my mom emigrated from Hong Kong. He was likely working in San Diego for a while, but doing what?

On Saturday, I brought mom to my house for a cooking lesson. She was to demonstrate how to make a couple of my favorite Chinese pastries. While I had her trapped in my car for an hour, I decided to ask her about my dad. I've attempted this in the past on numerous occasions but she didn't always cooperate. I explained that in America, some people find it important to understand their roots and who were their ancestors. My ABC kids should know as much info as there is available and my mom was the link. Although talking about the past often conjures unpleasant family politics, I think in small part her willingness to talk might also owed to wanting to avoid other sensitive subjects.

This conversation was a long time in coming. I have a better picture of the life my father led from when he arrived on these shores until I was born. Still missing important details which I hope to eventually dig up. One thing I learned was that dad worked in a restaurant in Nevada from the time around WWII to the late-50's. In what city, I haven't discovered yet except that it was a "couple" of hours' drive inland from Reno. The existing restaurant was purchased by my grand-uncle who had his family work in the business.

For the longest time the connection between one set of "cousins" on my dad's side was a mystery - like why their dad was called yee-sook (father's younger brother) when he was not in fact my dad's younger brother, but a cousin. I think in the Chinese family hierarchy you would refer to the son of the eldest grand-uncle as uncle (sook since he was younger than my dad). Something like that. Glad to have that clarified. It only took me this long to seek answers.

Red and Gold

2012-01-21T18:04:00.000-08:00

San Francisco City Hall

49er Fever is contagious. The NFC championship game against the New York Giants will be played out tomorrow. Hope we'll - they'll - succeed to have follow 2 more weeks of Niner Fever and Bay Area sports talk radio stations droning ad nauseam about the team, statistics, coaches, players, past players, past owners, accolades, and sometimes bizarre listener calls. Okay, the only reason I was even tuning into KNBR AM680 this last week was to try to win a pair of tix to tomorrow's game. No success there which leaves me to enjoy the game at home before heading to a restaurant for dinner to celebrate CNYE with the in-laws. This particular restaurant has 2 TVs in the dining room and though I've not seen them powered on in a long time, I hope they'll make an exception tomorrow evening. If not, I'm shit outta luck for part of the 3rd and 4th quarters. Not the end of the world. But still....

Books of 2011

2012-01-07T14:12:00.000-08:00

Hi-ho. Back to offer my book round-up for 2011. The grand total for books read last year is 245.

Even after taking into consideration the books I read more than once (16) and the ones I could not find it in my power to torture myself to complete (4), I still exceeded my 2010 count of 196 books.

Which 4 books I couldn’t suffer? They are: The Thousand Autumns of Jacob De Zoet by David Mitchell, Fool by Christopher Moore, The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy by Mary Lydon Simonsen, Beneath a Starlet Sky by Amanda Goldberg & Ruthanna K. Hopper.

There were a few books I strongly disliked, but with perseverance, managed to get to the last word. I didn’t want to develop the habit of dropping a novel the instant the thought occurred, but it’s safe to say there’s hardly any danger of that happening. Two years ago, I pushed aside only 7 books so I did very well in 2011. Sometimes even reading the inside and/or back covers can’t prepare you for what’s to be encountered within the pages.

The 33 books of 2011 that impressed me are:

The Handbook for Lightning Strike Survivors by Michele Young-Stone

Fated by S.G. Browne

Mr. Rosenblum Dreams in English by Natasha Solomons

The Book of Tomorrow by Cecilia Ahern

Rosie Dunne by Cecilia Ahern

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones

Dune Road by Jane Green

Jemima J by Jane Green

Second Chance by Jane Green

The Old Romantic by Louise Dean

Hero by Perry Moore

There’s Cake in My Future by Kim Gruenenfelder

The First Husband by Laura Dave

The Arrivals by Meg Mitchell Moore

Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Everything She Thought She Wanted by Elizabeth Buchan

Dream of Ding Village by Yan Lianke

Then Came You by Jennifer Weiner

Girls in White Dresses by Jennifer Close

The Iron King by Julie Kagawa

Toothless by J.P. Moore

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma

Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

The Immortal Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

The Night Eternal by Guillermo del Toro and Chuck Rogan

The Scorpio Races by Maggie Stiefvater

Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins

Vamped by David Sosnowski

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

The Strangers on Montagu Street by Karen White

The Duff by Kody Keplinger

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer by Michelle Hodkin

Stories that converted literary classics or used popular literary characters or historic figures and spun them into the horror genre:

Jane Goes Batty by Michael Thomas Ford

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After by Steven Hockensmith

Emma and the Vampires by Jane Austen and Wayne Josephson

Jane and the Damned by Janet Mullany

Henry VIII: Wolfman by A.E. Moorat

Virtually all books were borrowed from the main library. I purchased off-price 2 books (at a Borders bookstore closing sale):

Dead as a Doornail by Charlaine Harris

A Total Waste of Makeup by Kim Guenenfelder

I read 2 memoirs in 2011:

Bossypants by Tina Fey

Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother by Amy Chua

In 2011, I read one book of poetry:

The Hunchback of Neiman Marcus by Sonya Sones

In 2011, I read one non-fiction book:

Cinderella Ate My Daughter by Peggy Orenstein

I read one book that was a Pride and Prejudice derivative:

The Perfect Bride for Mr. Darcy by Mary Lydon Simonsen

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: Dreadfully Ever After by Steven Hockensmith

I read 63 books as part of 22 different series.

I read 5 books of fiction concerning angels or fallen angels: Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor, Hush Hush, Crescendo, and Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick, Coffeehouse Angel by Suzanne Selfors,

I read 16 books with stories concerning the fae:

Darkfever, Bloodfever, Faefever, Dreamfever, and Shadowfever by Karen Marie Moning

The Iron King, The Iron Daughter, The Iron Queen, and The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Glimmerglass, Shadowspell and Sirensong by Jenna Black

The Immortal Highlander and Spell of the Highlander by Karen Marie Moning

Midsummer Night by Freda Warrington

Highland Hunger by Hanna Howell

I read 2 books concerning witches, 3 books concerning zombies, 5 books concerning werewolves/shape-shifters, 13 books concerning spirits, and 32 books concerning vampires.

In 2011, I read 20 books in the historical fiction genre.

A few novels I'm looking forward to reading in 2012 include:

Third Grave Dead Ahead by Darynda Jones - Feb

Jane Vows Vengeance by Michael Thomas Ford - Feb

Lucky Bastard by SG Browne - Spring

Insurgent by Veronica Roth - May

Deadlocked by Charlaine Harris - May

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare - May

Undead and Unstable by Mary Janice Davidson - June

Clockwork Princess by Cassandra Clare - Dec

Hugh Hush # 4 - Fall

The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer #2 by Michelle Hodkin - Fall

The Old God by J.P. Moore

Daughter of Smoke and Bone #2 by Laini Taylor

Movies of 2011

2012-01-05T15:45:00.000-08:00

Here's a recap of my movie entertainment for 2011.

161 - The total number of movies viewed in 2011.

27 - The total number of 2011 movies viewed in 2011.

26 – The number of 2011 US movies viewed.

44 - The number of 2010 movies viewed in 2011.

2 - The number of made-for-TV series viewed (Downton Abbey, True Blood Seasons 2 and 3).

3 - The number of documentaries viewed (Last Train Home (China), Orgasm Inc. (USA), Conan O’Brien: Can’t Stop (USA)).

20 - The number of films viewed in May, the busiest movie-viewing month.

1 - The number of films from Russia viewed (Night Watcher).

4 - The number of Japan films viewed (Map of the Sounds of Tokyo, Rain Fall, Departures, Sayonara Itsuka).

6 - The number of Hong Kong and/or China viewed (Last Train Home, Cell Phone, True Women for Sale, Brain and Bullet, China Strike Force, Bodyguards and Assassins).

7 – The number of films from South Korea viewed (Treeless Mountain, The Housemaid, The Man from Nowhere, The Servant, Paju, Over the Rainbow, The Chaser)

14 - The number of films from France viewed (Coco Chanel & Ignor Stravinsky, Heartbreaker, Chambermaid on the Titanic, The Last Mistress, I’ve Loved You So Long, Three Colors: White, The Illusionist, Change of Plans, The Sentiment of the Flesh, Mademoiselle Chambon, Heading South, I Do, The Princess of Montpensier, Private Property).

104 - The number of US movies viewed in 2011.

14 - The number of countries of which movies I viewed (Denmark, France, Greece, Hong Kong/China, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Russia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Taiwan, UK, USA).

4 - The number of animated films viewed (Tangled, 9, The Illusionist, Jackboots on Whitehall).

63 - The number of dramatic films viewed.

29 – The number of comedy films viewed.

30 - The number of films viewed via streaming.

81 - The number of films on DVD borrowed from the local library.

7 - The number of films viewed on the big screen (Black Swan, Something Borrowed, Bridesmaids, Midnight in Paris, Captain America, Drive, Twilight Breaking Dawn, Part 1).

6 – The number of Harry Potter films viewed (Chamber of Secrets, Prisoner of Azkaban, Goblet of Fire, Half-Blood Prince, Deathly Hallows Part 1 and 2).

4 - The number of films based on super-heroes or crime fighters viewed (Captain America, Thor, Transformers: Dark of the Moon, Green Hornet).

1982 - Oldest film viewed (Tron).

Films viewed in 2011 that stood out: True Grit, Drive, Crazy Stupid Love, The Princess of Montpensier (France), 3:10 to Yuma, Source Code, Buried, The Man from Nowhere (Korea), The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (Sweden), Downton Abbey (UK), Hanna, Michael Clayton, Sucker Punch, The Servant (SKorea).

The trend is I'm viewing more films every year and I'm accessing more movies from the library. On the decline are the number of films from Japan, South Korea and HK/China. The causes of this downturn is I'm buying fewer Asian movies on disc and the switch last summer to Netflix's stream-only program, whose Foreign - Asian category is sorely wanting.

Here's my movie recap by-the-numbers last year.

Thank you for reading.

Nuts

2011-12-25T15:40:00.000-08:00

Everyone should be aware of the nutritional value of nuts and their importance for one's overall diet. Tree nuts are often good sources of protein and fiber and are high in healthy fats. They also contain several vitamins and minerals. Peanuts are often included with nuts, though they are really a legume. Like all plants, nuts and legumes contain no cholesterol. Nuts, especially almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, some pine nuts, pistachio nuts and walnuts, are heart-healthy, may lower bad cholesterol, and may reduce the risk of heart disease. For those watching their weight and caloric intake, the fat, protein and fiber in nuts help you feel full longer, so you may eat less during the day.

In the past, the only nuts I ate were the ones that come wrapped in chocolate and waxed paper, e.g. Peanut M&Ms, Hershey's milk chocolate and almonds. Even with the hard-to-resist chocolate, these were rarely eaten mostly because I was concerned about the sugar (candy's not good for anyone) and because I had this belief that nuts would have an effect on my adult acne because nuts are "yeet hay."

One day on impulse I grabbed a bag of trail mix at the market. The idea that chocolate M&Ms sprinkled with the nuts was an inducement. The certainty that I wouldn't bite down on candy every bite was encouraging. I'd sprinkle an ounce of trail mix into my bowl of oatmeal in the morning. The raisins (I add extra raisins separately) and chocolate helped to sweeten the oatmeal so I didn't have to prrepare it with added sugar. The nuts made me feel sated a little longer until lunchtime. In the afternoon I'll snack on another handful to tie me til dinner.

I've been eating nuts for months now and am glad that I've seen no adverse effects on my skin. I've had to dispel girl-child's fear of nuts that I brainwashed her into believing so she'd be willing to snack on them. Of course, her body's unique and her teen acne - which, I believe, is a whole other animal than adult acne - may or may not increase. My experience should mean something though and hopefully she'll reap the benefits of nuts.

Glutinous rice balls

2011-12-24T17:00:00.000-08:00

Once I put in my "request" last week to Mom about putting together for me a care package of tong yuen, it was no competition which event I looked more forward to. Savoring this hot bowl of soup and chewy, glutinous rice balls or Christmas Day to finally roll around and get over itself. On the eve of the eve of Christmas, I brought Mom to dimsum at a nicer Chinese restaurant, at which time she handed over a large container of the soup and another container of the uncooked glutinous rice balls. Couldn't wait to get home to gobble it down.

I think the reason I'm not feeling Christmas so much this year is because 1) I managed to avoid the stores by keeping visits to a minimum, and also 2) inuring myself to the sounds and sights of yuletide cheer wherever I did go. When stores start hailing the commercial Christmas holiday at Thanksgiving - or before, in some instances - it's easy to become desensitized to the whole celebration. I don't expect it to be any other way. So, what I can do - and teach the kiddies to do if they're up for it - is to experience Christmas spiritually.... and once we've done that we can look forward to the end-of-year deals.

Tong yuen festival time comes around only once a year and this little pleasure warms my heart more than that other thing on most everyone's mind this time of year (see above). I'm still not talking about the NFL football play-offs, escapes to Hawaii, or reuniting with loved ones. There's great delight in tong yuen because of the rarity in which it is eaten and of who's prepared it. Mom's delicious tong yuen conjures memories of the simpler and carefree time of my youth; when my body could take in without undesirable side effects to my blood sugar level multiple servings of the stuff. That she's still on this earth and able to prepare it is that for which I am thankful, again, this season.

Patchwork

2011-12-16T10:26:00.000-08:00

Recently underwent an allergen patch test. This is where small amounts of various common allergens are adhered to your skin via a large patch - 3 patches in my case, 27 allergens - on your back to test for allergic reactions. This test is different from skin tests performed by allergists in that the allergen patch test administered by a dermatologist is concerned with things like substances that come into contact with the skin, as opposed to foods we eat or particles we ingest.

What prompted me to undergo this test was a persistent rash that developed a little while ago. Neither over-the-counter nor prescribed medications from a family doctor seemed to work. Turned to a specialist who prescribed another form of topical corticosteroid which seemed to provide relief one week only to have the problem recur the next when I stopped the meds thinking the problem was gone. My skin was subjected to an uncomfortable, vicious cycle these few months. There was even a biopsy done somewhere in there.

I decided to go with the patch test to get to the bottom of this. Doctor taped the patches onto my back, marked me up with a medical marker, and left me to it for 48 hours. There were some itchy moments during that time. It might've been the tape or the chemicals bugging me whenever my back was pressed against something, or just the fact of having foreign objects plastered to my back. A serious reaction would result in fluid-filled blisters but I didn't have the sensation that was happening (whew). And no showers either. After 48 hours, another visit to the doc's office where the patches were removed, more ink to ID the grids of allergens, a quick exam, and I was on my way again for the next 24 hours to see if any further reactions would occur. It's a process!

So what did I learn? I am allergic to cortisone - tada. I've only been using it - in topical prescription and non-prescription form - for years. Ack! Cortisone's only like the most common go-to drug whenever a skin irritation is involved. What's been happening was the cortisone seemed to be working only bc it was suppressing the itching as well as any allergic reaction, and when I stopped using the drug the irritation returned along with inflammation from the reaction. I am so glad we figured this out. Now maybe I'll finally get somewhere with the little annoying rash.

There were a couple of additional allergens I won't mention that we discovered I should avoid, and a lot of ink that I needed assistance in scrubbing off my back. Where is Daniel Wu when you need him? I'm convinced he's the most effective for this sort of clean-up. ;p

Hello SHINee

2011-12-14T07:40:00.000-08:00

This one song may have converted me to a K-Popper. Ignore the excessive and obnoxious cloying of pretty-boys in the video and focus on the music.

Stood outside a side entrance of MGM Grand LV under darkening skies and lowering temps as the time drew nearer for the pop stars to materialize on the red carpet. I had to remain alert for the lucky toss of a free T-shirt or poster. The excited crowd, comprised mostly of squealy teenaged girls, were well-behaved and nary a jostle did I have to endure. Exchanged pleasantries with a couple of moms in my immediate vicinity. The event hosts trying to keep the crowd roused. The deejay kept us entertained with continuous, pulsing K-pop music throughout and then the moment came to the opening synth notes of this particular song, and then I "felt" it. Enough to where all other noise and thoughts of my aching back and legs evaporated as I concentrated on listening in earnest. It was weird.

B2ST Shock Fiction Beautiful

2011-12-09T13:16:00.000-08:00

Here's a longer video of B2ST, performing live in a first-ever at Las Vegas. The boys sing Shock, Fiction and Beautiful.

B2ST Breath

2011-12-09T13:07:00.000-08:00

Ought to post my videos here as an FYI. ;)

Here's the one with B2ST performing Breath at the first Billboard KPop Masters concert in Las Vegas.

A peek at live K-pop

2011-11-28T13:54:00.000-08:00

The much-anticipated music event on Black Friday arrived and we were off to Vegas via Spirit Airlines. Never heard of this company until shopping for flights. Hadn't heard of any serious flight mishaps from Spirit so figured it was probably all right to use them. Super-budget fares but you pay as you go for the necessities, e.g. 3 levels of pricing for seats based on location and leg-room, carry-on bags, checked bags, and in-flight refreshments including water (!). It's bare bones in terms of conveniences and comfort. Almost surprised they didn't have passengers pushing the plane out onto the runway. Check out these vinyl seats on Spirit, or are they leather? Vinyl would be cheaper.

It was impossible to check-in online the day before even though that's what they advise. They must deliberately disable anyone from logging in to their site bc it threw up when I tried numerous times. I tried with my password, the Spirit flight confirmation # and an account # but no dice. I requested my "forgotten" password to have it, or a new one, emailed but one never came. This isn't too bad because this just means going through the hassle of checking-in at the airport counter and printing boarding passes then. However, come next year, Spirit's going to start charging to print boarding passes at the counter.

The day before traveling, and rather belatedly, I read a few consumer reviews for Spirit. The stories I came across - including the inability to login to their website - had me worried. Couldn't help feeling nervous about using this outfit for fear of unnecessary charges, cancelled flights, rude workers, etc. that the bad reviews talked about. Fortunately, my worries were unjustified as everything went totally smoothly and we arrived on-time (on both flights). I was a happy flyer.

Feeling glamorous in a flashy hotel, lah. When we reached the entrance to the MGM Grand, there were bunches of young Asian girls milling about anticipating the arrival of one of their crushes/stars. A trio of long hair, super-skinny jeans and fresh faces informed me they were expecting B2ST who just touched down at the airport. I did note a couple of frazzled-looking, Asian photographer-types toting expensive camera equipment at the airport's Arrival area. We had time to spare so girl-child and I hung around the lobby for a chance to see the tired, young faces of her favorite K-pop band. After 45 minutes, did we see them? Not a chance.

Next up after checking-in was the Billboard KPOP Masters red carpet event taking place at MGM Grand only on Day 1. Both girl-child and I were armed with cameras to better our chances of actually capturing something decipherable. We took up positions in different places as well.

A first red carpet event for us. The privileged press get up front and effectively block the riff-raff's view. The host talked to each group who posed at 3 spots. The only other celebrity to show up was an Omar Miller who's from CSI: Miami (who?). Between the two of us, with my height advantage and steady arms, I managed to snag the better shots of the artists and I'll just post a few.

B2ST. Also known as Beast. Girl-child's hearththrob, Yoseob, is second from the left. The best-looking member, perhaps, is missing. I can't even name him. He was busy filming his series. Wonder if the other members are jealous or feel any resentment.

G.NA. Gina's Canada-grown.

TVXQ. There used to be 6 or 7 members in TVXQ; now they're whittled down to these two.

The KPOP Masters concert began punctually at 8pm. There was an opening number by Jabbawockeez. They were frontrunners or won America's Got Talent and were doing a gig nearby.

B2ST were up first performing 4 songs - Breath, Shock, Fiction and Beautiful. I noticed K-Pop groups do a lot of calisthenics, er, choreography when they perform and is enjoyable to watch. Never a dull moment.

4Minute

Sistar. Loved their glittery gold dresses and dance moves.

MBLAQ

Brown Eyed Girls performing Abracadabra

TVXQ

The tour shirt. The organizers approached this first-ever event conservatively, offering only one t-shirt, one poster and one picture book for sale. Day 2 featured Shinee which is another popular boy band and whose song "Hello" I'm currently enamored with. I heard that they ran out of shirts on Day 2.

The entire show was about two and half hours and it was a lot to take in with a combined seven artists/groups. One camera battery gave out mid-concert and the other just barely squeaked by to the finale. Luckily B2ST were on first and girl-child managed to record their entire performance. I wish she hadn't zoomed in on Yoseob so much. Lol.

I believe this concert was one of the first of its kind in the US to bring together so many artists in such a large venue. Day 1 was barely attended which must be somewhat of a disapppointment considering the arena has over 16,000-seat capacity and roughly 25% seats were filled, if that. There was a VIP event initially organized - at $150 a pop - but was cancelled due to low interest. Buying cheap seats for the show worked out for me but there were many unfortunates who paid top dollar ($300+) for floor seats many of which were later opened to anyone with a ticket (minor stampede ensued). Had this event been organized/promoted farther in advance beyond just the six weeks, I think they would've gotten more publicity and increased the event's visibility. Promoting a concert happening the day after Thanksgiving and targeted at teen girls is also a bit of a difficult sell.

We had a fantastic and memorable time. It's good to be exposed to new things. I have to admit I was a little xenophobic about K-pop for a long time - there is that language barrier - but I'm glad to say I've acquired an appreciation for the music (but not the hip-hop) and the artists. I now also have something I can talk with girl-child about... not that I foresee that happening much.

Turkey

2011-11-28T07:36:00.001-08:00

Did something different this Thanksgiving with the turkey - split it down the middle before baking. Not a whole lot of logic behind it except to promote faster cooking...but isn't conducive to any stuffing, which is fine cos I don't usually do a stuffing. Left in the little temperature doodad that came installed in the frozen bird. It never popped out to indicate the meat was cooked which is a reason there's a huge cut by the thigh where I checked for done-ness. For some reason this turkey tasted better than all previous turkeys. :)

New ride

2011-11-22T19:15:00.000-08:00

Got that car I never wanted (Not complainin'!). We'd been toying with the idea of getting a small hybrid. I did not prefer the "small" part. Well, almost anything's smaller than the cars that occupied our garage last week. Finally decided to downsize and upgrade to a Toyota hybrid. If it hadn't been for the earthquake/tsunami earlier this year, we may have acted sooner. Also, the $1000 instant cash rebate wasn't going to hang around forever...or perhaps it may depending on Toyota sales leading into December.

When owning the car was just an idea, I'd been thinking about a red one but in the end let Mr. Peach roll with pearl white. Actually, there were no reds on the sales lot which says a lot. From experience it's hard to resale a red car. Now we'll look just like everyone else on the road in their little Toyoter Priuses.

The above is a quickee shot I took with my phone right before I test-drove the car that eventually came home with me. After the photo was uploaded on various sites, I was impressed by its perfectness. So perfectly-positioned and no cropping!

Mr. Peach said he woke up in a cold sweat when the impact of what he'd done when he bought the car had finally hit him. He said he felt empty and was missing his Lexus luxury sedan of six years. That car did become to feel too big. A boat, it was. In fact, so smooth that it induced motion sickness in girl-child after 5 seconds riding that car.

Does the fact that hubby's in no danger of being elbowed out of the way to get behind the wheel say something? Not even at times reaching 100 mpg? I still love my car even with the warning lights that light up more often and in a portentous way. This is the other reason we got the Toyota - my luxury SUV is beginning to act up. Dangit. When it goes, it will be downsized.

Handling a smaller car is something to get used to again. The stereo speakers leave much to be desired after rockin' out in the SUV's cabin with the Bose. Ugh.

Vanilla leaves

2011-10-30T17:33:00.001-07:00

In recent baking news I whipped up a batch of leaf-shaped vanilla shortbread for the little ones (this time deviating from heart shapes to be "seasonal"). This is one of the simplest recipes I have for a treat the kiddies go hog-wild over. It uses, um, an unhealthy amount of butter and a generous amount of sugar. I can dress them up with colored sugar crystals or leave 'em bare. It doesn't matter what they look like because they'll be gobbled up just the same.

The occasion for pulling out this recipe was girl-child's return to normal foods on the heels of nearly two weeks of a very boring low-iodine diet. The low-iodine diet was imposed for medical reasons and, thankfully, temporarily. Foods we take for granted were necessarily made scarce, such as dairy, most breads, burgers, chips, candy, etc. Girl-child was a trooper throughout yet we both counted down the days she could have her tasty favorites like potato fries, sourdough bread with loads of butter, milk, and mint chocolate chip ice cream. In the middle of her restricted diet, girl-child asked that when she returned to normal foods, could I bake her favorite vanilla shortbread. Of course I can, baby. You did good.

Lord of the Rings concert

2011-10-23T10:20:00.000-07:00

Attended an LOTR: The Fellowship of the Ring concert this weekend. Purchased the tickets back in July to attend with littler girl-child. She's wild about the books, movies and original soundtracks for all three films. Back in June she was immersed in playing the music on her piano - and sometimes the violin - and I'd wondered whether her interest would hold for the next three months. Well, she still plays the music on her instruments, yet even had her interest in playing waned she'd certainly enjoy experiencing the music played live - via symphony orchestra, chorus, boy's choir and soloist - to the movie.

Gotta have subtitles when the music gets loud.

Everyone's in on this one - soloist, chorus and musicians.

There were a few goodies from the film on display.

L to R: Numenorian helm, Elendil's helm, High Elven helm.

L to R: Gimli's helm and battle axe, Moria Orc helm, Sauron's helm and gauntlet.

L to R: Sam's feet and ears, Shards of Narsil, Legolas' white knife.

Baddies.

Looking forward to concerts for The Two Towers, The Return of the King, and The Hobbit film.

KPOP

2011-10-22T09:27:00.000-07:00

I've got this little do to look forward to next month. The sooner I get October over and done with, the better. This month has been a bear and I'm hoping by the time we head into November, things will be looking brighter. So I'm so looking forward to the Thanksgiving break and to this show which, by the way, is a gift to my beautiful girl-child - who's been so understanding amidst the current storm - and our chance to bond over this unprecedented outing.

The only group on the list I know about is Beast (B2ST) and the reason I know about them is because girl-child has their posters and pictures taped to her bedroom walls. She's enamored with the member named Yang Yo-seob. It was she who informed me of this mega-concert taking place in Las Vegas. It wasn't the first time she's mentioned a show in which Beast was performing. This time, however, I went ahead and bought the tix as a surprise. She was very pleased, to say the least, and she might just be nice to me until the day of the show. haha.

I asked her if she'd feel embarrassed to attend this concert with me, the parental unit. She said she wouldn't be because I was pretty. She's smooth. And truthful, right?? ;D

I think she's going to love her first concert.

Red bean yumyum

2011-10-07T12:59:00.000-07:00

Mom made me some red bean goh. She made them because I complained about the pastry shop always selling out of their red bean pastry whenever I get there - which is to say never early enough. Not sure of the ingredients - I should know it! - but it was delicious. There's a lot of red bean in the center which could be seen if these were flipped over. Not too sweet because that's the way I swing. Because I've got this thing against white sugar, I only ate a corner while the fam gobbled up the rest. Through trial and error, mom's perfected the recipe. I ought to learn how to make this.

summer of ice cream

2011-09-10T18:16:00.000-07:00

I'm actually not a big fan of ice cream. There may be gallons of the stuff in the fridge at times, like in the summer, and it would be safe from me. For desserts if I do indulge, I usually go for the more decadent sweets like cakes or souffles or tiramisu (!). If we're out at the mall or strolling by shops. it's the kiddies who get to eat the stuff. Ice cream doesn't do much for me. Until the summer of 2011, that is. It seems like more ice cream has passed through my lips in the last few months than at any other time over age 17. I was having to workout harder and more often to burn off the extra calories.

OK, a grand total of 4 trips to creameries isn't much to worry over my waistline. A scoop or two here and there on travels or while out and about ain't gonna give me a heart attack. The good, rich stuff made with real milk. It's a lot for this peach though. I've always been nothing but a picture of self-restraint (self-denial?). :D

Some dainty ice cream treats. Live a little already!

I still have to get my paws on some good mango ice cream. Oh, and I used to lurve pistachio flavor!

Relationships change

2011-08-26T16:30:00.000-07:00

I'd sorta let these accumulate atop my DVD player. To be shredded and recycled. It stops here though. After years and years of a relationship that's been mostly physical, we've gone exclusively to electronic. Not cool that Netflix decided to charge nearly double for the plan I had a month ago. I get they want more customers to stream and I hope the company has plans to improve their streaming selection. Their library consists of mostly older, unpopular stuff right now. This didn't prevent me from creating a long queue but it's a queue of less-compelling titles which has not inspired me to watch any of them any sooner. This streaming plan is starting out totally under-utilized.

Something I did recently was to acquire my own library card. For the last few years I'd been using my kids' cards to borrow books and DVDs. The new card has been designated for requesting newer DVDs. And it's all free if I can endure the wait and being limited to a maximum of 10 holds at any time. There's always Redbox. I'm sure gonna miss my European movies.

Split

2011-08-26T16:23:00.000-07:00

It's been ages since I've had a banana split. Likely not since my high school days when I last sat down at a Peppermill Restaurant in Daly City and underwent self-inflicted torture. Their splits had all the bells and whistles but was served on a round platter and under a mountain of whipped cream. Perhaps the scoops of ice cream weren't overly-generous and were standard-sized but one couldn't tell under the white goop of artificial chemicals, er, whipped cream.

Took the little ones to a Knudsen's Creamery, a family-owned ice cream parlor and restaurant over in Castro Valley. To make myself feel better that summer break is coming to an end, I needed a treat served up, pronto. It was a tough call between a scoop of mango ice cream and the banana split. I had all lunch to decide.

Here's what they call the Banana Junior. It sure looked like a regular split except for one-half of a sliced banana instead of the whole fruit.

This is before....

After,,,.

I was a happy diner. It was a little tight around my strained tummy for a bit. No guilt except it'll be just vegetables for dinner.

Bollocks

2011-08-08T16:37:00.000-07:00

I woke up one morning thinking about the department store I'd spent hours browsing in as an early-teen. Couldn't place the name - it is one of those long-gone stores. My friends and I would occasionally visit the mall that housed this store and we used to run-walk through it to reach the bus stop located at its back entrance. The store was once an anchor inside Stonestown Shopping Center, the mall which was later renovated and renamed Stonestown Galleria.

My buds and I used to take the bus to any number of nearby malls. Just partaking in the ol' pastime of hanging out in the relative safety of a mall. Eat some junk, spend a little scarce money on stationary, clothes and trinkets, meet up with friends and acquaintances, kill time. Some kids congregated everyday after school and on weekends at such places. I remember sometimes feeling intimidated walking through a mall and getting stink eyes from complete strangers of similar age and gender. Even the admiring looks from boys of similar age was not worth the risk of being confronted by the more aggressive girls itching for anything to break the monotony of their teenage existence.

Sleepy, pre-renov Stonestown, as I recall, didn't have a whole lot to intrigue a girl. And the place was so dead. For us, the no-name department store and 2-screen theater were probably the only attractions. The store was upscale and provided hours of amusement as we browsed through the different designer merchandise. I used to think this would be the type of place I'd shop in when I grew up. My friends and I would peruse the evening dresses to locate the perfect styles to wear to hypothetical proms and formals with our crushes. ;p I purchased at this place the most perfect, leather flats everyone admired. There was even a moment I thought I'd be jumped at a club just for these flats.

The name of the store didn't come to me right away. "Bollocks" kept coming to mind but that obviously couldn't be it. I forgot about it until later when I came upon the word "bollocks" in a book I'd been reading. Took a moment for the noggin to recall that the retail store was none other than Bullock's. It was a shocker to drive a couple of years later to Stonestown fully expecting to spend some money at Bullock's and then finding the place had shuttered.

Conference biking

2011-07-25T12:03:00.000-07:00

Missed a ferry to Angel Island from Fisherman's Wharf on Sunday. Doh! A good thing I hadn't purchased tickets in advance. The time just ran away from me before I was ready to get my butt on the road. It's a small production every time we set to go adventuring. Must prepare a meal plus snacks for the littler girl-child due to her food sensitivity. I don't want to take chances with fare everyone else eats that we take for granted. It was great to learn that she can handle Boudin cheese pizza. Great, indeed!

Wanted to check out the newly-dedicated Wall of Honor at Angel Island Immigration Station, do a little hiking in the state park. Will have to try again.

While we were leaving the Wharf, we saw this strange contraption manned by 5 people making its way down the street. Never seen such a thing and it looked like a something I exclaimed we have got to try. It's called a conference bike. Designed by a Swede (figures, right?). Cos it's a good device for team-building and holding conferences on. ;P

We didn't get a chance to ask the riders where they rented this thing. It doesn't move as fast as a bike, which is a good thing. There is one driver and everyone pedals. The riders we saw didn't even have on head protection which I find a bit risky, especially around Fisherman's Wharf - drivers here are just as unpredictable as they are anyplace else, if not more, bc they're all looking for parking. I predict we will play on this. Hopefully this summer. ;)

Captain America

2011-07-22T20:37:00.001-07:00

Promised the girlies I'd bring them to a movie on Friday - for being good little people all week - and it was oh-so-hard selecting from the current offerings at the cinema. Obviously, anything rated R was out of the question, as was anything animated because I didn't fall in like with either Cars or Kung Fu Panda the first time. In fact, I avoided them until we were subjected to them at a couple of house parties, compliments of Netflix (boo to their new video plans). Talking, CG animals, not my cup of tea although I'm certain Zookeeper would've amused the kiddies. No fan of Harry Potter - the kiddies haven't seen any of the previous 6 films yet they've re-read the books. That left Captain America and Transformers 2 at the cineplex I'd targeted.

I chose Captain America even though I knew next to nothing about the movie and it being such a new release. I came across some positive remarks (and the opposite for Transformers) and Rotten Tomatoes also gave it a pretty decent rating so that was good enough for this movie Friday. Come to think of it, CA is my first super-hero movie I've seen all year.

I thought it did a good job depicting CA's beginnings as a scrawny yet enormously patriotic and heroic weakling who can't even enlist to join the forces fighting in WWII, to someone who suddenly finds he can...and also do a few other things. I used to read superhero comics that included CA but I never came across the issues on how any of them became what they became.

Lots of explosions, a little fighting, armies of masked baddies dressed in dark clothing, a head baddy with a superiority complex, a little insanity and a skin problem to go with that, a mystical crystal with unfathomable power, and stunt or two. I noted that they included one As-Am soldier (from Fresno) - and one Af-Am, btw - among CA's support team.

The film seemed to spend time developing a story rather than stringing together a bunch of smoke and mirrors stuff I've come to expect from a summer blockbuster about superheroes. I thought it was neat how they superimposed Chris Evans' face over the scrawny actor's face, although it might've worked better if they made his facial features more realistic in scale. I felt his face looked too big for the scrawny guy head. Just a little.

The story is set in 1942 but ends in 2011. I suppose CA needed the 70 years to recuperate from his near-death experience, and so future CA films could get away from WWII backdrop.

Anyway, it was a movie I enjoyed. I don't like coming out of a theater regretting the decision of buying that ticket. Can't imagine any benefit from seeing this thing in 3D. 3D is so overrated.

Traveling rice cooker

2011-07-10T12:30:00.000-07:00

Have rice cooker will travel, we Asians like to say. Actually it was my first time bringing this appliance on a trip. Unfortunately, due to girl-child's very special diet, it may be something that we'll bring along more often. Might need a smaller unit though. Girl-child is not picky about food but parts of her body do happen to very often inexplicably object. It's frustrating, to say the least, and it's taking a while for the experts to get a grasp on what's behind her reactions from eating almost any food.

Rice cookers are so versatile. You can cook up soups, vegetables, noodles, lots of foods. I'll remember to pack some dish soap and a sponge next time.

Vegas

2011-07-02T09:02:00.000-07:00

After a dull 4+ hour drive out of Los Angeles and through the Mojave Desert, with a pit stop at Barstow (Route 66), we made it to Las Vegas.

Between hubby and I, we've come to this town for work countless times. Sure enjoyed having that expense account. Hence, LV was never a destination for pleasure. What for, we're not gamblers, know what I mean? It's been many years since either of us visited and I was curious about the 1) drive from L.A. and 2) the changes along the Strip.

The plan was to make the visit brief, long enough to see the Strip by day and by night. We appreciated the fact that all the hotels offer free self-parking so we could spend as much time as possible surrounded by air-conditioning. And so economical. No passes to mass transit to purchase or cabs to tip. 115-degree temps can bring down a person not accustomed to oppressive heat. The hike from the hotel doors to and from the carparks was insufferable. Thank goodness we'd always find parking in lower floors in the shade.

During the day I checked out the interior and shops of a few of the newer hotels. Much splashier than the what I've seen before. The newer, upscale resorts improve the Strip and construction of more is currently going on.

Registration/lobby at The Bellagio. These colorful discs look like they were inspired by the glass creations of Chihuly.

The Venetian's streetscape and gondola.

Registration/lobby at Paris Las Vegas.

Women's room at Paris Las Vegas.

All-you-can-eat desserts, in the buffets were a treat! I had my fill of tiramisu and prime rib. Yum.

Platters and platters of sweet things.

The ceiling of the The Forum Shops at Caesar's Palace used to fascinate me. The way the mall and "sky" would go from day to night and back. The new resorts had the same skyscape, however theirs didn't seem to change in lighting at least not while I strolled under it. So, the Forum Shops ceiling may still be unique to the Forum Shops? I regret a little that I didn't drag the gang to show them or have a look-see. Didn't check out the white bengal tigers at the Mirage or the lions at MGM Grand either.

Las Vegas by night is something to behold. Again, hubby and I left the wee people at the hotel and explored a bit. Managed to miss every outdoor attraction put on by the hotels, including the fountains at Bellagio, the erupting volcano at the Mirage, the pirates at Treasure Island and whatever else goes on. By day or night, lots of large images of women and their parts hanging out of skimpy outfits. Plenty of raucous young people imbibing on the sidewalks.

Perhaps the next time to visit Las Vegas would be at a cooler time of the year like winter. Maybe go on the local excursions to the Grand Canyon or the Hoover Dam. And get in and out by plane instead of driving.

La-la land

2011-06-26T12:59:00.000-07:00

My idea of riding on Europe's Orient Express was overruled so instead we made a quick visit to L.A. and Sin City by automobile.

A girl can get a lot done when she gets into Disneyland at 8:00am. Instead of running up against crowds at the attractions notorious for long lines, we found ourselves on rides rather immediately, making it feel momentarily like the "happiest place on Earth" even with a whimpering, reticent girl-child tugging at my person ("I don't wanna go on that riiide, mommy."). Mr. Peach wisely stayed at the hotel to enjoy his morning java before meeting us later in the morning.

Pirates of the Caribbean and Haunted Mansion are nothing like I remembered. They look like they've been updated some time between '95 and now. A Fast Pass didn't seem necessary at Indiana Jones Adventure but it came in handy by the time we checked-in at Space Mountain. Until our check-in, It's A Small World provided a respite.

So bummed Matterhorn Bobsleds wasn't working. While I initiated the kiddies to Pirates, Mansion and the jostling thrills of Indiana Jones and Space Mountain, Matterhorn would've completed their high-speed, older kid, Disney experience. Boo.

I blinked on purpose.

Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters had a short line.

Best attraction by far were the Davy Crockett's Explorer Canoes. The fewer electronics, brain agitation and noise, the better as I approach my dotage. Also could be because it was my first time pretending to row a canoe. It's a good thing the artificially-colored water didn't stain my clothes as there was much splashing going due to mis-syncopation of many oars.

We left the park in the evening but Mr. Peach returned for the fireworks for which he's got a thing. I left the kiddies in the hotel room and joined him afterward to get my time in on thinking there'd surely be a shorter wait at 10:30pm. Nothing doing but at least it was night and much cooler so the 35-minute shuffle to the front seemed to go by quicker. Also got to sit in the updated Peter Pan's FlightFinding Nemo Submarine Voyage which I had been curious about. During our last visit in '05, this attraction had been under construction. The subs are still a huge bore.

The parade was terribly middling. Have I become too discerning? Nah. It was smaller in scale than in the past. Disneyland park was actually quieter than expected. Must be due to the recession or was it too early in the summer for the rest of the world to descend upon the place, or both?

At a shop in Downtown Disney.

A major highlight of L.A. was in Koreatown where Mr. Peach split his finger open when it got in the way of a car door trying to shut. To hear him tell it, there was much bloodletting - with splatters on the car to prove it - but no pain. Neither the kids nor I were there to witness any of this. No stitches required. I was afraid he'd lose his spirit for the rest of the trip. Thank goodness he didn't. I is a good nurse.

It may be many years before these gals visit this place again.

Ice cream

2011-06-10T14:24:00.000-07:00

Finally got around to visiting a Fenton's Creamery. There exists only two locations and I found myself at the creamery in Vacaville, California. Up there to attend a high school graduation a few days ago. If it weren't for the outlet mall and Fenton's, I might have skipped the event. Also since I'd be the lone driver, I was not so hot about utilizing my mad night-driving skills. Yet, how often does a niece graduate h.s.? Well, probably twice (this and the one in another 2 years), so here I was.

Fenton's brings to mind a similar place back int he day I used to hang, Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor. The same vibe and food, if not more cheery (ragtime music!). It was fun going past the candy section and resisting the temptation of the multi-colored and tasty goodies on one's way to the cashier. The waitstaff would give this weird speech and sing a birthday tune for anyone celebrating and willing to draw attention to themselves. At one time a crush worked there and bff and I would eat there just to look at him (bff had the privilege of home visits due to him being a best bud of her older brother). The ice cream creations were delicious but I think I'd say this for any place that served sundaes, splits and floats.

We noshed on a few burgers, half & half (onion rings and fries), and ice cream. The burgers were ordinary and I got through most of mine (left half the bun) before sampling some world-famous ice cream and sherbet. I don't recall the last time I've had rings. The strawberry cheesecake ice cream was rich and delicious. Girl-child enjoyed her Rainbow sherbet.

Pretty dress

2011-06-03T11:37:00.000-07:00

Came upon this pic of a Hollyweird starlet in a very cute dress. What occurred to me when I saw it? I thought the dress would make an excellent choice for girl-child's junior or senior formals which, incidentally, will come around in oh...a few more years. Providing she attends. Hah! I could have it custom-made for her, it wouldn't cost that much. It's short and flirty - they don't wear gowns to these things anymore. And we/she could feel confident of a great fit and nobody else at the function wearing the same dress. Aside from the bare shoulder, I like how it manages to cover-up, the scalloped hem, and the solid bodice underneath the sheer. Not sure if she's as big a fan as I of lace, yet, on closer inspection it's not your traditional lace. Hey, who's wearing the dress, her or me? haha. I'll suggest she leave her hair down, yes. :)

The thing with the sleeve is a nice touch. Don't know who's the designer...not that it matters. Girl-child will probably balk at the whole lot.

Blue box

2011-05-25T07:44:00.000-07:00

Brought home a few goodies that won't stick around for long. If I can control the urge to wear these myself, they'll go to the intended recipients to celebrate their successful completion of a California public high school. There are a couple of silver charm bracelets and a silver pendant. I'd better ship them soon. I think the baubles will impress less than the cachet associated with almost any piece coming out of one of these blue boxes.

Night of the Living Trekkies

2011-04-24T08:28:00.000-07:00

Been reading some downer of novels lately and felt it was time to indulge in some silliness instead. Do depressing stories get you melancholy? I get like that sometimes and combine that with any little tension at home, it's a bad mix. Even with all the ways the humans lose their lives and the impending doom in this zombie story, you know it's going to end just fine.

A brisk and humorous read.

I wondered why girl-child was hounding me with questions about this book. She's hardly ever curious about what I've got my nose in and I ended up telling her the plot up to whatever point I reached in the book. She also learned for the first time about Star Trek lore. Whenever I pick it up, she's instantly at me again. I even offered her the chance to read it as soon as I was done thinking she'd jump at the chance (she loves reading almost as much as I). Little did I know that girl-child was actually spooked by the cover art. I guess she wanted to know what it was about to allay her fear. It didn't help much because at bedtime she begged not to sleep alone. She's never done this before (!). Poor baby. I saddled big sis with her and left lil sis to manage the bumpy floor (rug in big sis's room) on her own.

Good curry

2011-04-16T08:59:00.000-07:00

Deep-fried, bread-like edible with medium-spicy curry sauce. I accidentally dropped my camera into my soup to get this photo. Doh! It still works.Doh!!

There's this restaurant along the peninsula that a friend had introduced to me a while back. A "cha-chon teng" which means...Hk-style diner? Only recently did I notice this dish sometimes being enjoyed by diners. After skipping over this item the last year - the main reason being the herculean avoidance of yummy deep-fried foods - I finally found room (gave in to temptation) for it at lunch. The bread's good but the curry sauce is better. It's the same Japanese-style curry sauce you can create using something I happen to have at home. Good to know. I don't cook curry often because one girl-child is worried about her skin and the other has the pesky food allergies.

WonderCon 2011

2011-04-06T13:17:00.000-07:00

Something to see in San Fran. WonderCon 2011, the comics and popular arts convention, has been around for 25 years. Thought I'd check it out because a) I wanted to take advantage of the best weekend weather in weeks and b) admission was cheap. Kids go free! :)

I'm dressed as Batman. :)

So I get in there and think, again, that these days comics are pretty irrelevant to me. Girl-child likes her manga like Legend of Zelda, Happy Clover, Pokemon, and other cute characters targeted at children. Through WonderCon, I thought she could get a glimpse of some of the comic characters I read when I was her age. The iconic action heroes, e.g. Superman, Batman, Ironman, Hulk, etc. - were well-represented. DC Comics and Marvel Entertainment had significant booths at the entrance to the exhibition hall. DC debuted their Green Lantern movie trailer. There were many, many cosplayers of characters utterly foreign and unfamiliar to me. :-p We enjoyed a little time in Nintendo, finally finding a place to sit and play on a couple of their game consoles.

Sat in on a couple of panel discussions, one whose topic was the current state of the kids comics industry and the other on the state of Asian-Ams in pop culture. I had looked forward to listening to the words of Diana Nguyen and Jen Wang of Disgrasian in the second panel but unfortunately neither one of them materialized amongst the panelists per the program guide. Boo.

The panel discussions afforded the opportunity to read the WonderCon program book cover to cover. I discovered that comics conferences allow for an autograph area where obscure celebrities can congregate and sell their images and autographs. The pics below are a few celebs familiar to me on-sight. Elvira: Mistress of the Dark was present but when I turned to her table she had just stepped away. I recognized Herbert Jefferson, Jr. who played Lt. Boomer in the original Battlestar Galactica. I missed John Stanley who hosted a TV show called Creature Features. I used to get my frights watching that at 11:30pm on Friday (I think) nights.

Is the character who played the Soup Nazi 16 years ago known for anything else? Probably not and that's why he's here at WonderCon.

Lou Ferrigno refused to look in my direction or at my camera...because I didn't look like a typical fan nor did I buy anything.:-P I used to watch his TV show, Hulk. He's still in good shape.

That tall guy who appeared in a James Bond movie as a steel-toothed villain. Richard Kiel.

These two are definitely relevant to girl-child and me.The Amazing Race is one of the family's favorite shows. Seeing the "goth team" in real-life brought me the closest to TAR that I'll ever get. They either won the TAR million or their numerous endorsements enabled Vyxsin to enhance her bustline. ;-]

Cosplay

R2D2 and his replicas were all over the place.

Skullbunnies

My childhood was a typical one filled with comics. At least on appearance it was typical because all my brother's and my friends had their little stashes of favorites that we'd sometimes share and swap. There used to be small shops around SF where I'd pay 25-cents for a comic book amongst the candy and trading cards. My favorites were Richie Rich, Archie and the Gang, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Josie and the Pussycats, Hot Stuff the Little Devil, Wendy the Good Little Witch, the superheroes (Superman, Batman, Aquaman, Fantastic Four, Wonder Woman, Ironman, Batman, Captain America, Supergirl), and a few more I can't recall. Good times.

New ice

2011-03-29T07:25:00.000-07:00

Update on the domestic icebox situation.

Out with the old.

In with the new.

Spacious.

Gleamy and shiny and sexy.

This GE better "bring good things to (my) life." It's really a Samsung since Samsung manufactured it, eh?

A design beef I know I'll occasionally have with this beauteous thing is the way the water nozzle on the dispenser is angled. Instead of it pointing straight down, it's angled inward. Coupled with the relatively smaller space allowed under the dispenser itself, it's hard to fill something with a narrow opening, say a regular-sized 500ml water bottle, without spillage. Quite impossible, actually.

Until I get used to it, out of the corner of my eye it would appear as if I'd left a door open. It gleams and reflects the daytime light so well. Have to force myself to refrain from doing a double-take. The GE has a door alarm after all.

Cold milk

2011-03-14T13:29:00.000-07:00

The fridge is on the fritz. It didn't take me by surprise since I've been hearing it making unusual noises for the last couple of weeks. I put in the warning to the hubby so he could do his usual research before a new purchase. Who woulda known it'd die so now?

If it were me, I'd have already bought one at Sears. Hubby's more comfortable in spending a few hours (or days, if we can afford the time) to make price/feature comparisons and then to locate any good sales. If he doesn't do this, he gets no satisfaction and I'd have to hear the resultant mumblings for a long time. So, it's better to let him do his part.

In the meantime, I got permission from a friendly neighbor to use some space in their fridge. This neighbor knows what we're about bc they recently had a similar problem. For a few days, they stored their perishables at our other neighbor's. :-) This neighbor figured out how to repair his own refrigerator. He works in IT or somesuch for BART during the day. Such a handyman and good to have as a neighbor. ;p

Neighbor suggested we look at the unit that drives the fan. That's the part he replaced in his own fridge. Hubby futzed around with the fan (and managed to make a small hole in the freezer floor) and now the fridge seems to be working. I'm not sure if it will continue to function as it should so we'll most likely move forward with getting a new one. I won't be bringing my displaced food back home but we did buy a little time. If only deliveries could happen the same day of a purchase, you know what I mean?

The last time a fridge broke down, I didn't notice it for days. I might have fed my then-baby bad cow's milk. :( Poor girl. She didn't even complain. This time, if girl-child hadn't retrieved a frozen popsicle snack only to find it melted in its wrapper, we wouldn't have found out when we did. There was time to save most of the food. I am missing my convenient, cold milk.

Books books books

2011-03-06T11:49:00.000-08:00

Having just finished reading The House on Tradd Street by Karen White, I now have the task of picking another book to read from my To-Read stack, which is more like 2 stacks, which comes to around 14 books. This doesn't include the few books I have on hold and ready for pick-up at the library.

I don't want to think about my stack of magazines. I have 2 subscriptions I signed up for as part of a school fundraiser and kind of pretend the stack doesn't exist. lol.

The House on Tradd Street is set in Charleston, South Carolina and about a realtor who inherits a historic fixer-upper from an old, prospective client whom she'd met with only one who passes away. The thing is the house is haunted and the woman's got that sixth sense where she's aware of the them - makes them reach out to her. She has a mystery or two to solve and I found this book enjoyable. I'm a sucker for ghost stories and this book held my attention so much that I completed it in 2 days.

The nearest Borders book store is slated to shut its doors has a clearance sale in progress. That's where I picked up the smaller stack pictured above. That puts them on a lower priority to the library books on the desk. And The Hobbit (which I own) is forever under that desktop stack.

A couple of weeks ago I decided to re-read the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris. It only took me about a week and a half to read all ten of them and I kept 2 in my To-Read stack in the event I want to revisit them. ;) They seem to make more sense upon second reading. It's really too bad that I'm caught up in the fantasy for the reason that the HBO cable series will begin airing season 4 in June and I don't have HBO, which means I may have to tie myself over to the S.4 DVD release in May '12 with the books and seasons 1-3 DVDs. Or just put them out of my mind until this time next year.

Chinese show on ugly

2011-02-24T16:02:00.000-08:00

Mr. Peach is hooked on the Chinese "Ugly Betty" or Ugly Wudi. I try not to tune in but I can tell it's got its moments. Mr. P sometimes laughs at the most inane things such as the tired hi-jinks we've seen so many times elsewhere; things you know to expect and are about to hit you like a sledgehammer.

I'd heard about this comedy series a year or two ago. Never thought I'd actually get to view it. The main premise, I gather, is that the Betty character is a fish out of water. She's educated and book-smart and judging from the reactions of those around her, considered hard on the eyes. She's naive, uncultivated, backwoods, but is hard-working, persistent and usually comes out triumphing over diversity. She works in a modern, fashion-forward ad office with attractive, snarky (mean/disagreeable) people whose behavior and actions don't phase her as it would were she sharper.

Not only is this 2008 series known for its copy of the American Ugly Betty but it seemed to step into new advertising ground with its liberal use of product placement.

I like the way the series looks on TV. I don't know how to describe it except that it looks like it's been filmed like a movie instead of like some US (General Hospital) and HK soap operas I've seen. I have virtually no video production knowledge to know the lingo or even to describe it, however, the pic above sort of shows what I mean. Looks like a screen capture from a movie, doesn't it? Just an observation....

Too much data

2011-02-10T07:48:00.000-08:00

For the 2nd time in the last year I've entertained myself with a temporary feature on my mobile phone - data access. woohoo! Both times were for a period of 30 days. I must say it's been wondrous having instant access to so much that is available on the web but, alas, it's not enough to make me willingly pay the required monthly service fee. I prefer "free." Free is wheee! LOL. Besides, with the amount of time I spend in with my laptop, it's overkill also being connected on the mobile.

With the feature's looming termination, I partook a grand finale time of it connecting on Facebook to discuss the Super Bowl game, the halftime show, the multi-million dollar commercial ads, upcoming movies and the weather during the event. Sunday evening found me thumbing away on my mobile during the family's second CNY dinner out. Not the best of manners at the table and yet my excuse is that nobody paid any mind, at the same time being a dreadful example to the little people. lol. Considering this was the evening of "Super Bowl XLV", I gave myself a pardon. We had one phone tuned to ESPN for instant game updates and one phone busy on FB. We were grateful for having a data plan at that time to say the least. It's no wonder the dinner was over so quickly.

I wonder about those Facebook friends who have the compulsion to broadcast their every move all day long. TMI, is my perspective. What is the psychology in calling attention to our every move - where we're getting a java fix, who's keeping us company, what retail store we're in, what we're eating, etc? For some friends it's become a bad habit. I'll bet it's like a reflex for them, this instant gratification. These people are apparently getting something out of this twitter culture of ours, whether it's to entertain, feel important and/or get attention, because they keep doing it. lol.

If a mobile data plan were in place and I actually knew how to share to the FB world the I'm-at-so-and-so-with-so-and-so (with the applicable links to the respective profiles) status, I think I might be in danger of doing the exact same thing. LOL. Or maybe not because.... Who am I kidding? I've yet to evolve.

Winter play

2011-01-25T11:28:00.000-08:00

Am really enjoying the sport of skiing at the moment. Can only think I'm enjoying myself more this time than any other is because I'm doing it with girl-child at my side. I wonder if I'd enjoyed skiing if I lived in one of those cold, frosty places where they get traditional winters.

The first time skiing with girl-child down the same run was for me something special. I get sentimental about some things and this will be a day to cherish. It happened very quickly (those green-beginner slopes can be so short!) and I think girl-child thought the day was pretty special herself too. We rarely do any outdoor sport together and she's so good at it so it was kinda cool. At her age, she's still fearless and not daunted by challenges. Her goal is to ski the black diamond slopes and the sooner for her the better. She's so competitive with her friends. I think the more advanced slopes will require skills beyond her favored snow-plow method, and she'll have to take them on without me. If only I still had the knees of a 20 y.o....

The ski resort's got a deal where someone can take a total of three lessons (on 3 separate days) to earn a season pass. Also, lesson #2 and #3 for kids costs only $25 and includes all equipment.This could work for us - at least the girl-child. Hubby's enjoying snowboarding although he felt lesson #1 didn't teach a whole lot of much use, whatever that means. He may as well also take advantage of the 3-fer-pass.

And unlike that other ski trip 2 weeks ago, my rental skis did not go missing. May have had something to do with where I put them down this time. Some place a bit more secure where only lift-holders have access.

Northern California is experiencing a rather dry January. It hasn't rained in nearly 2 weeks and the temps are actually on the mildly-warm side. This is bad news for the snow pack in the Sierras. Looks like rain in the next week also isn't likely. The ski resorts have snow-making machines so I wonder how that'll work out. Can I go ski this weekend?

Books of 2010

2011-01-12T12:14:00.000-08:00

Holy moley. I almost can't believe I went through 196 books last year.

I was surprised to have outdone my 2009 count of 122. My reduced writing activities and general online time-wasting may have contributed to the increased output. I'd like to say I utilized a nifty speed-reading technique I picked up from a semester in junior high. I took a class called "Reading Improvement" and the only reason I signed up was to get the A. I recall nobody taking the course seriously and the newer teacher being quite humorless and angry most of the time. I felt sorry for that woman. The one method I can remember - glancing quickly at one-half of a sentence at a time- requires the utmost concentration which isn't something I easily conjure.

To be fair, I could not complete 7 out of the 196, however much I deigned to try. Sometimes it's not meant to be. Sometimes my brain can't take in the printed words arranged in certain ways. ;p Or they're as boring as heck and just feels like my time is being wasted. Even when I give up you won't find me jumping to the final chapter to discover the ending. Not my style.

Which books I found simply impossible to complete? They are: Mrs. Lirriper by Charles Dickens, Nana by Emile Zola, Once on a Moonless Night by Dai Sijie, On the Road by John Kerouac, Jane and the Barque of Frailty by Stephanie Barron, Absurdistan by Gary Shteyngart, and The Moonstone by Wilkie Collins.

There were quite a few titles I found enjoyable but the ones I marked as stand-outs in my little spreadsheet last year were (in no particular order):

The Brief History of the Dead by Kevin Brockmeier

The Unseen by Alexandra Sokoloff

The Girl's Guide to Hunting and Fishing by Melissa Bank

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey (Jack Nicholson)

The Corset Diaries by Katie Macalister

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen (2011 movie!)

Washington Square by Henry James

The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

Something Borrowed by Emily Giffin (May, 2011 movie)

Baby Proof by Emily Giffin

Lilith by Jean Plaidy

The Brightest Star in the Sky by Marian Keyes

The Help by Kathryn Stockett (movie!)

The Monsters of Templeton by Lauren Groff

Jane Austen in Scarsdale by Paula Marantz Cohen

Elegance by Kathleen Tessaro

The Tower, the Zoo and the Tortoise by Julia Stuart

Rich Boy by Sharon Pomerantz

The Nanny Diaries by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus (never saw the movie)

Dedication by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus

Dead As a Doornail by Charlaine Harris (for turning me on to the Sookie Stackhouse series and to True Blood TV series)

Simon the Coldheart by Georgette Heyer

The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

Stories that converted literary classics or used popular literary characters or historic figures and spun them into the horror genre seemed to pique my interest:

Mr. Darcy, Vampyre by Amanda Grange

Jane Bites Back by Michael Thomas Ford

Dawn of the Dreadfuls by Steve Hockensmith

Jane Slayre by Sherri Browning Erwin

Little Women and Werewolves by Louisa May Alcott and Porter Grand

Android Karenina by Leo Tolstoy and Ben C. Winters

Queen Victoria: Demon Hunter by A. E. Moorat

Dracula in Love by Karen Essex

Frankenstein's Monster by Susan Heyboer O'Keefe

Mansfield Park and Mummies by Jane Austen and Vera Nazarian

Virtually all books were obtained from the library. I purchased off-price 8 titles:

3 titles by Sheila Rosalynd Allen: The Meddlesome Ghost, The Helpful Ghost, and The Passionate Ghost; 3 titles by Kathleen Tessaro: Elegance, Innocence, and The Flirt; Wuthering Heights by Charlotte Bronte, and The Matchmaker in Perigord by Julia Stuart.

A few novels I'm looking forward to reading in 2011 include:

City of Fallen Angels by Cassandra Clare - April

Dreams of Joy by Lisa See - May

Dead Reckoning by Charlaine Harris - May

Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare - Sept.

Gold Boy, Emerald Girl by Yiyun Li

Movies of 2010

2011-01-02T10:06:00.000-08:00

Just a recap of my 2010 entertainment in the form of movies.

137 - The total number of movies viewed in 2010.

26 - The total number of 2010 movies I viewed in 2010.

23 - The number of 2010 US movies viewed.

2 - The number of made-for-TV series I viewed (Emma, True Blood Seasons 1 and 2).

2- The number of films of the stand-up format I viewed (Aziz Ansari Intimate Moments for a Sensual Evening, Jim Gaffigan: King Baby).

4 - The number of documentaries I viewed (Objectified, Earth, Babies, Joan River: A Piece of Work).

20 - The number of films viewed in July and December, the busiest movie-viewing months.

1 - The number of films from Slovenia viewed (A Call Girl, 2009).

3 - The number of Japanese films viewed (Hush!, Scrap Heaven, Air Doll).

9 - The number of Hong Kong and/or China collaborations I viewed (Yip Man 2, Echoes of the Rainbow, The Drummer, Shinjuku Incident, Overheard, Written By, The Personals, The Message, Sophie's Revenge).

13 - The number of films from France viewed (Coco Before Chanel, The Piano Teacher, The Last Day, The Girl on the Bridge, A Prophet, Nathalie, My Mother's Castle, Nelly and Monsieur Arnaud, Swimming Pool, Water Lilies, Exterminating Angels, Paris, How Much Do You Love Me?).

15 - The number of countries of which movies I viewed (Argentina, Austria, Australia, Chile, Hong Kong/China, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Korea, Slovenia, Sweden, UK, USA).

4 - The number of films employing traditional animation viewed (How to Train a Dragon, Shrek Forever After, Toy Story 3, Despicable Me).

3 - The number of films using stop-motion animation viewed (Fantastic Mr. Fox (USA, 2010) , Mary and Max (Australia, 2008), $9.99 (Austria, 2008)).

1 - The number of black-and-white films viewed (The White Ribbon (Germany, 2009)).

82 - The number of US movies viewed in 2010.

9 - The number of films viewed on the big screen (How to Train a Dragon, Shrek Forever After, Toy Story 3, Up in the Air, Percy Jackson and the Olympians: The Lightning Thief, The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader, Twilight: Eclipse, Inception, Salt).

13 - The number of films viewed via streaming.

6 - The number of films with vampires viewed (Let the Right One In, Thirst, Twilight: New Moon, Twilight: Eclipse, Daybreakers, Vampires Suck)

5 - The number of films set in wartime viewed (Inglorious Basterds, Green Zone, The Hurt Locker, A Woman in Berlin, The Message).

6 - The number of movies originally released in the 1980s viewed (Empire Strikes Back (1980), Ghostbusters (1982), The ET: Extra Terrestrial (1982), The Return of the Jedi (1983), Back to the Future (1985), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1989)).

6 - The number of movies on VCD viewed (Shinjuku Incident, Overheard, Written By, Echoes of the Rainbow, Air Doll, The Message).

1977 - Oldest film viewed (Star Wars, aka Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope).

To read my previous year's movie-viewing recap, find it here. :-)

Snowman

2010-12-18T09:39:00.000-08:00

Got my crafty on and helped to make little snowmen the other day. With white tube socks, rice - brown and white, rubber bands and hot glue. Managed to not glue my fingertips together or to scorch them cos that melted glue and the metal tip of the glue gun gets uncomfortably hot.

After first filling tube socks, my next responsibility was as glue-master for a bunch of little kids and their snowmen decorations. Some of the kiddies were extremely creative - skirts, capes, crossbody bags, dog collars, funky hats, arms, etc. - some had no idea what to put on their socked snowmen beyond the 2 eyes. For one boy I suggested his snowman sport one of them doodads that are like music players. He says not exactly enthusiastically, 'okay.' If I went to town with one of the boys' snowmen they wouldn't care. Although they'd run out of allotted decorations. lol.

Unfortunately I'm not particularly creative either so I did without the added pressure on myself. Forget being ambitious. Just get their bead/bell/eye/pom-pom/felt affixed onto the exact spot the kids points to and we're golden.

Auto show

2010-12-06T07:54:00.000-08:00

Visited the SF International Auto Show on a chilly November afternoon. Around Thanksgiving. Under the gleaming fluorescent lights in the main halls of the the Moscone Center were the current models of the regular cars. Like an indoor auto sales lot on carpeting and without the desperate salesmen. This kind of show is our opportunity to get behind the wheel of vehicles we admire or are curious about, provided they aren't roped off like some of the more exotic models.

There were a dizzying number of makes and models, most of them 2011 models. Mercedes was conspicuously absent and so were their SMART cars. I had wanted to check out the interior of one of those tin cans.

There were the usual hot rods, classic cars and aftermarket vehicles. blahblah

The highlight of the evening for me was getting to drive the all-electric Nissan Leaf inside one of the halls. Listened to the Nissan rep's spiel before getting to zip quietly around an indoor "course" while admiring the front-panel full of lights. This zero-emission, battery on wheels seats 4 and can go upwards of 100 miles per charge.

Liking the Mini Cooper. Didn't used to before attending the auto show. I think the hubby favorably commenting on this maje changed my mind.

Liking the oversized meters in some of the Minis. :D

The Dead books

2010-11-24T09:27:00.000-08:00

I've been engrossed in the Charlaine Harris's Sookie Stackhouse series of mystery books.

At the library one day I spotted a whole bunch of them on the return-to-shelf cart. Someone was apparently really into them. The covers caught my attention with their amusing imagery of cartooned, caped vampires and a blond girl cavorting with various creatures. They looked like they'd pack more fun than the staid graphics typical of mystery thrillers, e.g. earnest man in shadow running from or toward something. Don't judge a book by its cover. LOL. Yah, I read the inside flap or back cover, then judge.

Not until I was nearly done with my first reading of a book from the series, Dead As A Doornail, and described it to a friend that I discovered this was the source material for the HBO series, True Blood. This is only significant bc at one time I was wondering what the plot of True Blood was, being a moderately popular cable show about vamps and having, from what I've heard, liberal nudity. I hadn't ventured learning more by looking it up online.

I must say I'm quite digging the books and yet don't feel a compunction to watch the TV series. I do, however, visualize Anna Paquin, Alexander Skarsgard and Steven Moyer as the main characters during my reading. Actually, I may be a bit curious about how the TV show may or may not handle some of the situations the books describe. I'm certain the show's writers have come up with unique stories for the TV series.

Sookie Stackhouse (Paquin) is a young woman living in Bon Temps, LA, working as a barmaid and mixes with vampires, werewolves, shapeshifters and some humans. She's also a telepath which makes her stand out to the supernaturals. Sookie's romantically tied to Bill (Moyer) and Eric (Skarsgard), the area sheriff of vampires and that brings her many adventures. The stories are layered and filled with unexpected twists (they're mysteries, after all). The writing is sharp and humorous.

Dead As a Doornail, chronologically, probably occurs in the middle of her series. I've read all the books published following DAD. Now I'm starting at the beginning, Dead Until Dark. I need to look up how many there are in total. I've gone through 6, have 3 more on my desk. Shouldn't be too many to track down after these....

Twilight parody

2010-11-07T09:27:00.000-08:00

At the library, this cover caught my eye.

The vampire saga has inspired Harvard Lampoon for the first time in 40 years to publish a parody novel based on the series. The book claims to be "complete with romance, danger, insufficient parental guardianship, creepy stalker-like behavior, and a vampire prom." The main characters are called Edwart Mullen and Belle Goose.

It's exceedingly silly. :)

Learn new stuff

2010-10-26T09:58:00.000-07:00

Learned a new term recently. Always wondered what it meant.

RBI

Baseball thing. Go Giants!

The other day I checked out World Series ticket prices on craigslist.org. Around $400-500 a pop for nosebleeds or way out in left field. There are tix for standing-only (didn't know these existed) for much less, relatively speaking.

Rather a delayed reaction - my becoming a spectator to the sport of baseball. I could care less what was happening out at AT&T Park until 8 days ago. Better late than never. :) I do not have the stamina to stretch my attention or interest for an entire season. Can't help but to have orange pride right now and I somehow already own a nice cap. The success of the Giants take minds off the dismal 49ers (American football).

Rick Riordan love

2010-10-21T16:48:00.000-07:00

I'm going to see Rick Riordan when he visits the Silicon Valley. He's the guy whom we can thank for authoring the book on which this year's fantasy film The Lightning Thief was based. Girl-child and her little friends also enjoy the rest of the books in his Percy Jackson series about Greek myths, as well as, the Kane Chronicles.

There's been only one title, The Red Pyramid, published under the Kane Chronicles - which are about ancient Egyptian gods, magicians, and monsters - thus far and you bet I have my eye out for the next one to come out (spring!).

Girl-child hasn't yet gotten into his 39 Clues series. She isn't a big fan of mysteries right now.

This will be our first visit together to a book signing. The guy's just released his latest in Percy Jackson adventures, The Lost Hero and only took girl-child a couple of hours to speed-read. She's excited to meet one of her favorite authors.

The last book signing I attended was when John Sculley, then the CEO of Apple Computer (iPod!), came to my college campus to sign copies of his autobiography, Odyssey. Still have it. When I told my little friends that an Apple CEO signed a book for me, they were very awestruck and for a brief moment I felt myself being slightly elevated in their eyes. Then I told them it was not Steve Jobs (bc, apparently, many think this guy can do no wrong, and he doesn't). lol.

If you want your babies to enjoy reading when they grow up, you start them out young. Read to them on a regular basis early - before they've even learned to crawl! Seriously.

Let the right ones in

2010-10-11T10:25:00.000-07:00

Watched 2008's Let the Right One In a few months back. Loved it. Thought it was a helluva horror movie. It was adapted from a 2004 bestseller and eventually got around to reading it. Enjoyed the book, as well.

The story centers on the relationship between a 12-year-old boy, Oskar, and a 200 y.o. vampire child, Eli. It takes place in Blackeberg, a working class suburb of Stockholm, in the early 80′s. When Eli's "father" makes the ultimate sacrifice to protect Eli, Eli's left alone to find her own blood supply. She turns to Oskar and he must make a decision.

Unlike the same-same plots of gory death scenes that make up American movies of the same genre, this work focuses on emotional drama and the darker side of humanity, dealing with issues such as bullying, drugs, theft, pedophilia, prostitution and murder as well as the supernatural themes.

The award-winning film impressed so much that I had to read the novel. I had an inkling that the book would have more scenes and more reveals than a movie could ever pack. In the first few chapters, the book read like a play-by-play of the film I saw and then around the halfway mark, things got interesting. Needless to say, the minimalist film left out a lot of the gruesome scenes from the book, many of them having to do with Eli, but also a few lee-tle details about the characters.

The American remake of the Swedish film is in cinemas now and I've read that it's practically an identical film, scene for scene, but in English. I think it's hard marketing this horror film in the States bc the 18-34 crowd expects something in the vein of Nightmare on Elm Street/Underworld/Texas Chainsaw Massacre, whereas, for the 35-over crowd horror is like their last choice. The one trailer I saw was, I thought, a little misleading. In any event, I look forward to viewing Let Me In when it comes to DVD (even though I should be supporting it at the cinema....).

By the way, the final scene in the Swedish movie was *great.*

For the curious...and as my efforts should not be wasted ;p ...I've included spoilers from the book below.

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Beware: SPOILER!
Eli is short for Elias. She's a he, not a girl as the film implies. He can fly and shape-shift. Someone cut off his penis some time ago. Oskar knows he's a boy. The older man (father) is a helper/caretaker and does not die when he falls out the hospital window after Eli drinks his blood. He's more like an undead - zombie. He finds Eli and wants to screw him; he's so in love with him cos he's a pedophile. Eli fights him off and locks him in a room in the basement. A human also accidentally gets locked in there with undead. In pitch darkness, human uses a trophy to bash undead and keep it at bay. We see Eli's daytime resting place in the bathroom. At least 2 more humans are killed before the final scene.

Around

2010-09-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

Have had to stay indoors for a couple of days...due to a condition I'm currently enduring. Actually, I can venture out but I'd rather not contend with stares. haha. It's weird being in this self-imposed confinement. Cabin fever!

I'm suffering from library withdrawal. I find comfort whenever in walking by my desk and seeing a stack of novels that need be tackled. When I'm slogging through a particularly less-than-riveting book, the stack of unread books beckoning me is my motivator to hunker down and get through it so I can move on to something hopefully better. When I commit to a book, it's rare that it goes unfinished so that's not an option (but it happens!).

I'm down to one unread novel. It's my lonely paperback copy of The Hobbit. I placed it on my desk (where it acts as such the sturdy base for the novels I'm constantly bringing back and stacking on top of ;P) so I don't forget about it. I only bought it 8 years ago. Back then I plowed through the LOTR trilogy books in 9 days but felt too drained afterwards to take on The Hobbit.

On to DVDs, I recently watched a French prison drama, A Prophet. It won last year's grand prize at Cannes and was nominated for 2010 Best Foreign Film by the Academy Awards. It's about a young guy in prison who gets protection by working for the mob group who own the prison. He learns how to read and learns about organized crime within and outside the prison, which includes drugs, murder and something about casinos. In his 6 years behind bars, he moves up in the mob's hierarchy. The fact that he's part Arab also serves to his advantage in the prison's microcosm of ethnic divide. Made me look up Corsican. Recommended.

You live in a Utopia

2010-09-09T07:29:00.000-07:00

This missive recently crossed my path:

When I was a kid, adults used to bore me to tears with their tedious diatribes about how hard things were. When they were growing up; what with walking twenty-five miles to school every morning....Uphill... Barefoot...BOTH ways, yadda, yadda, yadda.

And I remember promising myself that when I grew up, there was no way in hell I was going to lay a bunch of crap like that on my kids about how hard I had it and how easy they've got it!

But now that I'm over the ripe old age of thirty, I can't help but look around and notice the youth of today. You've got it so easy! I mean, compared to my childhood, you live in a damn Utopia! And I hate to say it, but you kids today, you don't know how good you've got it!

I mean, when I was a kid we didn't have computers or the Internet. If we wanted to know something, we had to go to the damn library and look it up ourselves, in the card catalog!!

There was no email!! We had to actually write somebody a letter - with a pen! Then you had to walk all the way across the street and put it in the mailbox, and it would take like a week to get there! Stamps were 10 cents!

Child Protective Services didn't care if our parents beat us. As a matter of fact, the parents of all my friends also had permission to kick our ass! Nowhere was safe!

There were no MP3's or Napsters or iTunes! If you wanted to steal music, you had to hitchhike to the record store and shoplift it yourself!

Or you had to wait around all day to tape it off the radio, and the DJ would usually talk over the beginning and @#*% it all up! There were no CD players! We had tape decks in our car. We'd play our favorite tape and "eject" it when finished, and then the tape would come undone rendering it useless. Cause, hey, that's how we rolled, Baby! Dig?

We didn't have fancy crap like Call Waiting! If you were on the phone and somebody else called, they got a busy signal, that's it!

There weren't any freakin' cell phones either. If you left the house, you just didn't make a damn call or receive one. You actually had to be out of touch with your "friends". OH MY GOD !!! Think of the horror... not being in touch with someone 24/7!!! And then there's TEXTING. Yeah, right. Please! You kids have no idea how annoying you are.

And we didn't have fancy Caller ID either! When the phone rang, you had no idea who it was! It could be your school, your parents, your boss, your bookie, your drug dealer, the collection agent... you just didn't know!!! You had to pick it up and take your chances, mister!

We didn't have any fancy PlayStation or Xbox video games with high-resolution 3-D graphics! We had the Atari 2600! With games like 'Space Invaders' and 'Asteroids'. Your screen guy was a little square! You actually had to use your imagination!!! And there were no multiple levels or screens, it was just one screen... Forever! And you could never win. The game just kept getting harder and harder and faster and faster until you died! Just like LIFE!

You had to use a little book called a TV Guide to find out what was on! You were screwed when it came to channel surfing! You had to get off your ass and walk over to the TV to change the channel!!! NO REMOTES!!! Oh, no, what's the world coming to?!?!

There were only six channels 2,4,5,7,9,11 and 13 was on VHF.

There was no Cartoon Network either! You could only get cartoons on Saturday Morning. Do you hear what I'm saying? We had to wait ALL WEEK for cartoons, you spoiled little rat-finks!

And we didn't have microwaves. If we wanted to heat something up, we had to use the stove! Imagine that!

And our parents told us to stay outside and play... all day long. Oh, no, no electronics to soothe and comfort. And if you came back inside... you were doing chores!

And car seats - oh, please! Mom threw you in the back seat and you hung on. If you were lucky, you got the "safety arm" across the chest at the last moment if she had to stop suddenly, and if your head hit the dashboard, well that was your fault for calling "shot gun" in the first place!

See! That's exactly what I'm talking about! You kids today have got it too easy. You're spoiled rotten! You guys wouldn't have lasted five minutes back in 1980 or any time before!

Regards,
The Over 30 Crowd

I would add:

I don't know what part of where the writer lived as a kid but I thought it was universal that there was weekday, after-school children's programming.

I actually had access to a staggering 9 channels: 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 20, 26, 36, 44. I used to think it'd be disastrous if I were the one to break the channel knob on the b&w TV set. My brother and I used to argue who'd get up to change the channel, and, of course, that task used to land on me.

No one heard of cordless phones. No privacy when you're talking with the sweetheart or BFF. Or if you were like me, you procured a long extension cord that you'd tediously coil back up when you were through with your "private" call.

Throw in cameras too. Single-vision cameras. The kind that used film if you were lucky enough for someone in the family to even own a camera. You'd take a couple of pics and wait until the whole film roll was used up and developed (which might take months or years if you were like me and it sat in a drawer to "wait for more"). No instant gratification. Otherwise, it was commit to memory, honey, or nothing!

Inception's kicks

2010-08-19T08:41:00.000-07:00

This helps to explain many things about Inception. I understood the dreams and stuff but didn't connect the events they'd trigger at each level to produce the kicks. I think I would've gotten it if I viewed the film a second time. ;P

Enjoy! See it here.

One thing I distinctly recall going "Hm, how'd he do that?" during my viewing of the movie was when Arthur (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) somehow transported his bundled batch of sleeping people out of the hotel's lift and onto the roof of the cab. How'd they fit through the elevator opening? Loved the movie, btw.

Oakland Museum

2010-08-19T08:37:00.000-07:00

Paid a visit to Oakland Museum of California the other day. Mainly to check out the Pixar: 25 Years of Animation exhibit that I'd heard about. Spent most of my time at the museum in that exhibit checking out all the artwork. Walls and walls of pencil drawings, digital paintings, collages, molds, etc. Am amazed at the talent of the Pixar artists utilizing the simplest of tools - pencil and paper. Wow.

The wide-screen Pixar artscape (movie) was also pretty awe-inspiring, coming close to projecting 3-D animation without the use of clumsy glasses. Not everyone can stomach this sort of effect.

Everyone must have a favorite Pixar movie or movies. Mine happen to be Finding Nemo and Up. The others are well-liked and admired with Cars at the very bottom. I think Owen Wilson's voice had something to do with its low ranking. I don't know why..... Maybe it's the characters as cars, too.

The rest of the museum was OK. There is the California History collection and a California Art collection. Kinda skipped through them.

An Eclipse in the morning

2010-07-07T19:35:00.000-07:00

Whoa, I actually went to a midnight, June 30 showing of Twilight: Eclipse and it was nothing like I’d ever been a part of. I'm pretty good at not being swept up into any of the day's pop culture phenomenons. Heck, I've never been compelled to take part in anything that began after midnight except perhaps New Year's Eve parties - which technically begin before the stroke of midnight - in my younger days.

At San Jose's Santa Row's Cinearts cinema, five of six theaters were devoted to a 12:15 a.m. screening of Eclipse. I don't know if this cinema scheduled a 3:00 a.m. screening as well. The queue wound orderly in a closed off portion of the Cinearts parking lot. The people - young and old, male and female - were out in force with their T-shirts, bags, blankets, etc. Close to the time of being admitted into the theater, workers hawked their Twilight T-shirts and who knows what else.

I thought it'd be fun to socialize with a few friends who happen to share an interest in the story - along with a couple thousand others with a similar mind - before checking out the much-hyped film. To me, being with amiable friends was an event in itself. The novelty and craziness of it and our healthy respect for the books made it the more interesting. :-) We all chucked our families and kids aside to... hang out. I have to give props to one of the ladies for getting in line at 5 p.m.! I joined her much later in the night.

Aside from the as-expected bevy of high-pitched, squealy teens (who seemed to all be seated directly behind my seat, Argh) and a decidedly mediocre movie, I had a blast (in spite of the movie's quality). I'm amazed I didn't doze bc it was so past my bedtime. Zzz. Perhaps I need to watch it again when I'm fully alert. My opinion of the film may improve. Critics have said this third installment is the best of the bunch so far but as of this moment, I'm still liking the first film best of all.

Vu-vuuu

2010-07-07T19:29:00.000-07:00

This thing is called a vuvuzela horn, huh? What an... interesting name. Cos it makes a vu-vu sound? Okaaay.

I had one of these things when I was a kid (didn't we all?). We tooted this horn around the house and probably into one another's ears when one of us wasn't looking. haha.

It conjures images of my brother and I blowing the horn out our second-story window. The mischievous exercise was to wait for unsuspecting pedestrians and "BOOOT!" (that's what I think it sounds like) to rouse them from their reverie. We'd hide when the victim looked up. We were awful at times. ;P

Other than that, we didn't derive much else in entertainment from it.

One thing that used to bug me about having soccer playing on TV was the vu-vuing noises emanating from thousands of spectators blowing such a horn. The insistent, constant humming had a way of getting on my nerves. However, for some reason during this year's World Cup, the noise no longer phases me. It's like my ears have lost their sensitivity to the annoying buzz and I'm no longer compelled to clutch my head in agony. ;p Of course, turning down the set's volume would've alleviated the torturous sound too.

Music that doesn't cost a penny

2010-07-07T19:19:00.000-07:00

I'm such a late bloomer with so many things. The latest is free music. To think that I had been buying my music up until very recently!

I recently got back into the music "scene." Just the listening part, that is. Ever since I came into possession of an mp3 player - and only after someone gifted me with a $50 iTunes gift card several Christmases before that - music buying was sporadic and only if a track or album greatly moved me. As such, my library of downloaded music was pretty non-existent.

Then I learned there exist free online programs that "convert" youtube vids to audio-only files that could then be downloaded onto music players. Imagine that! :-) And so easy to use.

I imagine these kinds of apps are upsetting, to put it mildly, to some industry folks. Reminds me of my Napster days, when my downloads ate up almost entire hard drives on my computers at work. heehee.

I use listentoyoutube.com a lot.

There are now tracks by Big Bang, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Charice, Justin Bieber, and many unknown Japanese artists taking up real estate on my laptop's hard disk. Er, none of those are allowed on my Ipod, believe me. ;-)

Aircraft complaints

2010-06-12T10:37:00.000-07:00

Was reading about air traffic control. There was a section in the book with real passenger aircraft maintenance complaints and problems as submitted by Qantas pilots, and the solutions recorded by maintenance engineers.

Problem (P): The problem logged by the pilot.
S (solution): The solution and action taken by the engineers.

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in the cockpit.
S: Something tightened in the cockpit.

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet/minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're there for.

P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number three engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

:D

Bobby Lee comedy

2010-05-17T13:31:00.000-07:00

If it hadn't been for Facebook, I wouldn't have known Bobby Lee'd be in town performing at the Punchline. Been meaning to catch him this lifetime. I'd not seen any part of his act anywhere but instinctively knew I'd get some big laughs when I did. I was not disappointed. He's such a physical humorist which I'm sure many of you already know. He doesn't just flow from one story after the other. He was the reason I used to sometimes tune into MAD-tv on free-TV...if I had managed to stay awake at that late hour.

Two other acts preceded him. First, there was the un-funny Edwin Lee whom I pitied while waiting through his excruciating routine. He was followed by the funnier Nick Yusef who had better energy and... jokes. Finally, Bobby emerged in his weathered, yellow T, tight black jeans with ample butt cleavage, and red sneakers without shoelaces. I would later understood why this was his choice of clothing.

When we were seated, I mentally cringed at our seats 2 tables from the front of the little stage because I feared being singled out by a comedian for whatever reason - the way I laughed, the way I sat, the way my drink squirted out of my nose. I don't know if this was a blessing or a missed opportunity in Bobby Lee's case but I was saved from seeing him flash his pubes, twice, by the big head of the patron in front of me.

Bobby pranced, postured, paced and pontificated to satisfying effect. I think I wiped away most of my eye make-up along with the tears from zestful laughing.

His closing bit involved going nearly naked. I suppose I've seen enough of his body from some of the MAD-tv skits that there was nothing left to imagination, though it was interesting seeing up close how smooth and soft his skin is. ;P

For his close, Bobby picked out a male participant for whom he would perform a lap dance to go on stage. But before all that, he asked for the participant's vital stats starting with name and living. When Ryan Lin (the participant) said he was a student, Bobby's face lit up with a knowing glint. I think most of the Asians in the room knew what Bobby was thinking. So Bobby asks, "You go to UC Berkeley?" Righto! "What are you studying?" "Pre-med." For some reason, the audience roared with laughter. That along with Bobby's gesticulations of the "Of course you doooo!!! You're Asian!" variety. Anyway, this must sound not the least bit humorous but it was, I swear. ;-)

I didn't think my companion, who is not Asian, got the subtext of the bit above so I explained it to her later. She now understands the Asian-parent-the-world-over's wet dream. ;P I suppose this is any parent's wet dream but you must know the stereotype of Asians being the most studious and very industrious.

Surprised to learn that Bobby's 38. He said he'd have to put his lap dancing days behind him soon because of his age. I can't see him giving up this shtick. ;)

Overall, an entertaining evening despite feeling that perhaps Bobby was not totally into the night's gig.

The little, funny man.

If you want to meet a girl....

2010-05-04T11:53:00.000-07:00

To get the attention of a lady, may I suggest one of these pick-up lines? ;D

Do you believe in love at first sight or should I walk by again?

I miss my teddy bear. Would you sleep with me?

Excuse me, I need your phone # to give my friend so he'll know where he can get a hold of me in the morning. (Hello! Mobile phone!)

There are 265 bones in the human body. How'd you like one more?

If it's true that we are what we eat, then I could be you by morning.

Let's bypass all the bullshit and just get naked.

You're so beautiful, I'd never kick you out of bed...unless you wanted to do it on the floor.

The word of the day is legs. Let's go back to my place and spread the word.

If I told you that you have a beautiful body, would you hold it against me?

My magic watch tells me you're naked - wait, maybe it's a few minutes fast.

Do you live on a chicken farm? No? Well, you sure do know how to raise cocks.

If I were you, I'd have sex with me.

Let's do breakfast tomorrow. Shall I call you or nudge you?

How about you sit on my lap and we'll talk about the first thing that pops up?

That outlooks looks good on you...but it would look a lot better in a crumpled heap next to my bed.

Do you have a map? Because I keep getting lost in your eyes.

What do you say we go back to my room and do some math. Add a bed, subtract our clothes, divide your legs and multiply.

Do you wash your pants with Windex? Because I can really see myself in them.

There are a lot of fish in the sea, but you're the only one I'd like to catch and mount back at my place.

Screw me if I'm wrong, but have we met before?

Didn't anyone tell you that you wanted to sleep with me? I thought you knew.

I hope you know CPR because you take my breath away.

Are those space pants, because your ass is out of this world.

If I tell you my name, will you scream it while I pleasure you?

Great news! I've just received government funding for a four-hour expedition to find your G-spot.

Wow. You with those curves and me with no brakes...

How would you like your eggs in the morning?

Coach Totes for a cause

2010-05-04T11:49:00.000-07:00

COACH recently launched a “Star Totes” charity event inviting celebrities to put their art on a Coach tote for an online auction. All proceeds go to the Jackie Chan Charitable Foundation. Celebs who lent their time and creativity included: James Franco, Julianne Moore, Christina Ricci, Karen Mok, Vanness Wu, Edison Chen, Jackie Chan and more.

See the bags here. Most of them were done up extremely well and with care.

I'm liking Cameron Diaz's tote.

This is the saddest-looking design. By Kristen Stewart. Compared to the effort of the other celebs, it looks like she didn't even bother to try. :-(

Gift from a dead man

2010-04-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

With Qing Ming festival last week, I made the annual visit to my favorite cemeteries. This time we persuaded the in-laws to go during the weekend of rather than their usual weekend after. Not sure why they say it's their custom to go after QM. Is it because of the crowds or their people's tradition? Nevertheless, we happened to be available and insisted we go on the weekend of, on a Saturday, and in the early-afternoon (they like to go late).

The forecast called for showers this weekend but there was a respite on Saturday and the weather turned out very nice. Usually when we do this, it's chilly, windy and foggy - typical cemetery weather (;p). We arrived in time to catch the conclusion of the free food giveaway at Woodlawn Cemetery.

Woodlawn is posh enough to hold an annual Qing Ming celebration complete with lion dancers, prayers with Buddhist monks and free Chinese food. The food organizers were tearing-down and heaping platefuls of the last of the food to any takers. The roast pork was tender and lean, the chow mein was fair but the egg rolls and punch were only fit for consumption by the trash bin. Overall, the fair weather and food made the festival at Woodlawn a more pleasant outing than usual.

The next stop was up the hill to the decidedly less posh Chinese Cemetery. No neat fields of cut green grass or paved paths here. Father-in-law always puts together a package (incense, flowers, paper money, a paper watch) for my ancestor so we can do the rounds at the same time for both sides of our families. I had asked him once and now he undertakes it every year. It's much appreciated.

While we instructed FIL to sit tight in the car, I set up the offerings around my dad's grave. Picnics, gravestone-cleanings and chattering were going on around me. Seagulls hovered overhead and I wondered if I'd end up a victim of their droppings. As I waited for the hubby to find shelter from the wind to start a light for the incense, I offered up reminisces of my dad to the little people. Sometimes it's the same stories or sometimes a "new" memory returns to me.

FIL got antsy in the car and decided to join us. Actually he usually is out there with us because he likes to be in charge of this sort of thing. When hubby returned with his handful of lit incense, he thought he spotted what looked like a $100 bill on the ground behind my dad's gravestone. But before he could orient himself to pick it up, an 80+ y.o. man swiftly, nimbly swooped in, not unlike the hungry seagull flying above my head, and furtively tucked it away.

The two men were clucking away about finding money and there I was searching about trying to spot it. Well, of course there was no money left on the ground to look at as it had already been spirited safely away into someone's pocket.

The funny bit was how hubby exclaimed he couldn't believe how fast were the reflexes of his octogenarian dad, not to mention how sharp still is his vision. The old man literally swooped in and picked it off from hubby on the approach! =D

That evening, we dined at a restaurant with the in-laws and my mom. We thanked Mr. TDT (my dad) for the night's meal.

Spring is finally here

2010-03-23T12:44:00.000-07:00

Winter's over! Had to celebrate with a big, fat, scrumptious apple pie under the California sun.

Couldn't wait for it to cool down before helping myself to a lee-tle sliver. The crust was purrfect. The process involves around an hour of being on the feet and makes my knees feel creaky. Don't think I'll ever tire of this dessert or of preparing it.

Completed my first U.S. Census questionnaire the other day. I was surprised at how simple the questions were - just the 5 basics: name, gender, address, birthdate, race, and where we live most of the year.

The only other Census I was involved with occurred when I was a preadolescent and I was on the phone for a very long time being asked a seemingly endless series of very specific questions. That was the first and, up until last week, the last time ever having anything to do with a Census. These things take place every 10 years yet where were the PSAs and questionnaires the other times? Who knows.

3 Films

2010-02-25T12:09:00.000-08:00

I'm slowly making inroads into my films of "quality" (or of critical acclaim) in my Netflix queue. Three films I highly recommend are The Hurt Locker, District 9, and In The Loop.

The Hurt Locker. I didn't know about wanting to watch a war movie but this one's more than just a war movie. It's not about strategies and combat and politics or watching soldiers go down as their limbs are blown off and blood squirting out at every angle - something to do with how ovaries are totally repelled by this sort of fare (unless it's in Chinese, dress the characters in historical costumes and has subtitles ;P). The film's about a squad of 3 whose job is to locate and deactivate improvised explosive devices (IEDs). It's about the 3 men's psyches in their mega-dangerous jobs. It's tight, it's tense, it's masterful in dropping the viewer in on an aspect of real-life modern warfare in the Middle East that most of us couldn't have imagined. No off-putting, fancy camera-work. Gritty. Excellent. Hope it picks up the key Oscars.

District 9. I heard the title and vaguely knew it was about aliens. I think I ignored it bc I had assumed it would be about how Earth had to defend itself against an aggressive alien race. The film was a pleasant surprise. It's the aliens who are helpless as their spaceship breaks down over Johannesburg. They aren't aggressive (although they're "ugly" and powerful) and are moved by the Multi-National United forces (a business) into shacks in District 9. They're there for years and years, until District 9 is deemed overcrowded and the locals have become resentful of having aliens in their backyards. When the MNU go in to hand the aliens their eviction notices (!), that's when the trouble starts for one particular MNU agent/scientist. The film starts out like a documentary then changes into a narrative. I thought the concept was original and the acting and dialog worked.

In The Loop. This film is a wicked black comedy about the maneuverings of the the concerned officials (and their lackeys) in the UK and the US governments to persuade or dissuade each other about launching an invasion in the Middle East. Actually, it's less persuasion bc that would mean they're actually considering the issues of a real war than it is more about egos and one-upping the other. Everyone seems to be a buffoon or an idiot. The dialog is fast and the profanity is crazy. Gotta love the profane, British metaphors. The film's hilarious but also depressing bc you just know some of this absurdity (and accompanying buffoonery) actually exists within our governments.

Snow Fan

2010-02-14T08:50:00.000-08:00

Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See.

Hugh Jackman and Li Bingbing have signed up to be a part of the big-screen adaptation. Directed by Wayne Wang (remember him?). I see Jun Ji-Hyun, or Gianna Jun, is also involved.

I've read this and thought it very good. I have read all of Lisa See's novels. Can't recall exactly where in the story there'd be the need for a megahunk like HJ to make an appearance (officer during the war, perhaps?). A little tweak over here...a tweak over there, etc. ;p I suppose TPTB would have found a way to re-imagine the book, especially to get the movie off the ground. I look forward to the final product, I think.

Objectified

2010-02-14T08:43:00.000-08:00

I recently watched Objectified (2009), a documentary about "our complex relationship with manufactured objects and, by extension, the people who design them. It’s a look at the creativity at work behind everything from toothbrushes to tech gadgets. It’s about the designers who re-examine, re-evaluate and re-invent our manufactured environment on a daily basis. It’s about personal expression, identity, consumerism, and sustainability."

What's a doc about industrial design without the inclusion of Apple Computer? A design head from the company was prominently featured. blahblahblah. Apple's been on the game in terms of industrial design - and products, some would insist - for a long, long time.

Something I came away with after watching Objectified. To me, these have always been regular ol' toothpicks.

The blunt end has the nice carvings. Never thought much of it, until Objectified demonstrated that this is how these specially-designed toothpicks are to be properly utilized:

Well, I'll be...! The notched end is designed to be easily broken off to allow the toothpick to rest on it. Brilliant.

Movie news

2010-01-22T11:55:00.000-08:00

Some recent movie news that peaked my interest:

21 Jump Street movie in the works. Jonah Hill is part of the cast. Hm. That foul-mouthed, lonely guy from Superbad and the earnest hotel worker in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. The TV show introduced me to Johnny Depp's amazing facial bone structure.

Wuthering Heights gonna be remade. As much as I enjoyed the novel, I think I've only read it once because it was quite intense for me when I read it for the first time at age 14. I'm sure I won't feel the same now but I think I'm gonna skip Heathcliff's and Catherine's torture all the same.

Paranormal Activity sequel is unavoidable. I haven't yet seen the original-made-for-$11K. Netflix says "very long wait." I'm pretty certain the sequel will have a little bit more put in to make.

That pregnancy self-help book, What To Expect When You're Expecting, to be made into a movie. About 7 couples who, I presume, are in one stage or another in the family way. This was my bible for the first kid; not so much the second cos I had everything down. ;)

Pirates of the Caribbean 4 (On Stranger Tides) to start filming over on Oahu and Kauai this summer for a release next summer. Jack and Barbossa on the hunt for the mystical fountain of youth. Hawaii for me this summer? lol

Porn parodies from the good folks at Hustler on the way: This Ain't Avatar XXX, This Ain't Glee XXX, This Ain't Curb Your Enthusiasm XXX, This Ain't CSI XXX: Chatsworth. They've already released This Ain't Star Trek XXX. :D Hmm....curious.

Let The Right One In was nominated for a 2010 BAFTA under "Film Not In The English Language category." This is only significant to me because out of the 5 films nominated, I actually saw this one. It's a vampire movie but also more than that. A 12-y.o. kid finds friendship and gets some idea on how to deal with a couple of pesky bullies.

I've been meaning to check out the novel, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Someday I'll get around to it. Thrillers and crime novels don't seem to get much of my attention. The film version's on the verge of being in cinemas which is cool. What's even cooler is that the whole trilogy has been adapted in a timely manner - Dragon Tattoo will be out in March, in Sept and The Girl Who Played with FireThe Girl Who Kicked The Hornet's Nest in November. I like the planning and commitment...and faith... put into the development of these, apparently, wildly popular books.

And have you heard about Kevin Spacey's Inseparable? Also stars Daniel Wu...but you don't hear DW talking about it here or anything. A black comedy. Yes, do a comedy for a change. Please!

And this piece on the Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn adaptation is, I found, effing hilarious. Don't make the jump if you're worried about story spoilers.

Movies of '09

2010-01-13T19:03:00.000-08:00

It's January.... which calls for a review of my 2009 movies. :-)

124 - The total number of films watched last year.

3 - The number of made-for-TV series I viewed (Lost in Austen, Little Dorrit, P&P).

1- The number of films of the stand-up format (Jeff Dunham: Spark of Insanity).

16 - The number of titles/films viewed in June, the busiest movie month (Pride & Prejudice, Death Note, Death Note II: The Last Name, The Orphanage, Pineapple Express, Sukiyaki Western Django, The X-Files, Time, Up, Tokyo Gore Police, The Motel, McDull: Prince de la Bun, Run Fatboy Run, L'Auberge Espagnole, Chiche Bombon, Now and Forever) .

7 - The number of original titles/films viewed in November, the fewest movie month (Little Dorrit, Air Buddies, Rough Cut, Linda Linda Linda, Maid of Honor, Twilight, Late Ozu: Equinox Flower).

2 - The number of documentaries I viewed (Michael Buble Meets Madison Square Garden, The Great Happiness Space).

1 - The number of films from Mexico viewed (Rudo y Cursi).

31 - The number of Japanese films viewed (Bright Future, Flower and Snake, Love and Honor, Train Man: Densha Otoko, Death Note, Death Note II, Tokyo Gore Police, Spirited Away, Honey and Clover, Samurai Fiction, The Great Happiness Space, Castle in the Sky, Tokyo!, Totoro my Neighbor, Gemini, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, Man, Woman and the Wall, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, The Geisha, Firefly Dream, Azumi, Happy Flight, Schoolboy Crush, Onmyoji II, Doing Time, An Autumn Afternoon, Princess Mononoke, Genghis Khan: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea, Tokyo Sonata, Linda Linda Linda, Late Ozu: Equinox Flower).

16 - The number of Korean films viewed (An Affair, Dream, A Tale of Two Sisters, Temptation of Eve: A Good Wife, Sad Movie, Lover's Concerto, In Between Days, Time, Now and Forever, Frozen Flower, The Classic, Singles, White Valentine, The Good, the Bad, the Weird, Texture of Skin, Rough Cut).

14 - The number of countries of which movies I viewed (Argentina, Chile, HK/China, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Kazhakstan, Korea, Mexico, Spain, Taiwan, UK, USA).

1 - The number of musicals viewed (High School Musical).

9 - The Number of animated films viewed (Spirited Away, Castle in the Sky, Totoro my Neighbor, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea, Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind, Princess Mononoke, Avatar, Up, Coraline).

39 - The number of US movies viewed.

12 - The number of Hong Kong and/or China collaborations films I viewed (Ip Man, Red Cliff II, Happy Together, Young and Dangerous, Beyond Hypothermia, Painted Skin, PTU: Tactical Unit - Human Nature, Once Upon a Time in China, The Way We Are, Ashes of Time Redux, McDull: Prince de la Bun, Ocean Flame)

5 - The number of films viewed on the big screen (Angels and Demons, Up, Avatar, New Moon, Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea).

1 - The number of films viewed on an airplane (The Day the Earth Stood Still).

3 - The number of films viewed via streaming (Cashback, The Great Happiness Space, Man on the Train).

4 - The number of films viewed on the same subject (Genghis Khan: To the Ends of the Earth and Sea, Mongol, Nanjing: City of Life and Death, Nanking)

11* - The number of films based on a book or comic (The Reader, P&P, Confessions of a Shopaholic, LOTR: Return of the King, Twilight, New Moon, Death Note, Death Note II, Angels and Demons, Train Man: Densha Otoko, Brideshead Revisited). * I'm sure there are more films based on literary works that I've viewed of which I'm unaware and don't feel inclined to research.

1958 - Oldest film viewed (Late Ozu: Equinox Flower).

2009 reads

2010-01-08T11:23:00.000-08:00

I went through 122 novels in 2009. This number is up from the previous year's 88. I may have read a few of them multiple times (the Twilight saga - should I be embarrassed about this? ;p). My average was 11 titles per month. Virtually all books were borrowed from the main library which is so conveniently located quite nearby.

I'm not very good at retaining what I've read (it's not like I'm studying for anything ;] ), so it's rather difficult to say which novels were favorites come year end. For this reason, upon completing a book, if I've been impressed I leave an asterisk next to the book in my Excel spreadsheet. Since the list is so short for 122 books, I fear I may have gotten lazy with the asterisks. The novels I did single out, in no particular order, were:

Anybody Out There by Marian Keyes
Prep by Curtis Sittenfeld
American Wife by Curtis Sittenfeld
The Dim Sum of All Things by Kim Wong Keltner
Free Food for Millionaires by Min Jin Lee
Twenties Girl by Sophie Kinsella
The Pursuit of Alice Thrift by Elinor Lipman
The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenberger

I've talked about a couple of books here and here.

Often the case is if I find one novel by an author interesting, I'll read his/her other works. A few writers I explored more in-depth in '09 include Elinor Lipman, Madeline Wickham, Norah Lofts, Lauren Weisberger, Sophie Kinsella, Curtis Sittenfeld, and Sharon Owens.

Most of the books I choose are fiction. I should think about someday expanding into self-help or non-fiction for my edification.

A few titles I'd like to get to this year include Pride & Prejudice graphic novel, Vampire Darcy's Desire, A Foreign Affair, The Secret Bride, and The Phantom of the Opera, to name a few I may have jotted down while going through a bookstore. Yes, kinda on the fluffy side.

I accomplish most of my reading at the gym. If I'm engrossed in the book, the time flies and I may lose concept of time... and lose track of calories burned. I might be on a machine 2x my usual time - a good thing.

Can I be in love?

2009-12-20T09:07:00.000-08:00

... with boots?

I'm so fickle.

A couple of months ago, I was fairly enamored with these boots.

I spent a little time to become acquainted with them; gave them the once-over numerous times, to see if they were a right fit for me. Soon, I came to realize they weren't what they were made out to be. I felt it wouldn't work out with them in the long run. Even before I decided to return them (gotta love return policies of US retailers), I was on the verge of changing my mind numerous times. But I knew myself and that it'd be best to cut them loose.

I knew I'd find my new love soon. Actually, I had spotted them back when I acquired the abovementioned, wrong-for-me pairs. At the time, they were ridiculously snobby...and pricey. I thought I'd wait and, perhaps, come back when they were more amenable to my wallet. In the end, my infatuation never went away, my patience won out, and I brought them home to mama.

Both the brown and black are with me now. Got them in brown first and after a couple of trips together, decided something still was missing. Inside, I knew the black pair was also meant for me.

Pretty lullaby

2009-12-20T09:00:00.000-08:00

Before I saw the movies, before I read the books, I once heard the movie Twilight's original song Bella's Lullaby on the radio's classical station. I instantly loved it. Something with the piano and melody. Very beautiful. While I listened to it in my car, I didn't know until the song was over what it was called and who wrote it. I thought, "Hey, that movie has some good music." That was the end of that.

A few weeks after that one time hearing the song, I watched Twilight. I rather enjoyed the movie's original score. So much so that I paid a visit to the local music store the other day and bought the piano sheet music for the film. To try to learn that song. I haven't touched a piano in.... a lo-o-ng time. I might be a bit hindered in that I've never had formal piano instruction. ;p

We'll see how far I get at self-teaching. The music looks simple enough...for the treble clef. The bass clef is, er, something quite gnarly. My fingers can't even reach them notes.

Here's what Bella's Lullaby sounds like:

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AAg-ZM5bkk

My attempt will never sound like this.

Thanksgiving 2009

2009-11-30T13:04:00.000-08:00

I give thanks for all that I have. I can't say that more elegantly.

This was my big meal on Thanksgiving Day.

I had made a couple of reservations at fancier locales in Manhattan but was somehow steered to a Korean bbq of beef (and chicken) in Koreatown instead. Koreatown is about a 10-minute walk from the hotel. It might have been a longer walk as I did not gauge any of my travels on foot. However long it takes to walk 8 blocks. Good opportunity (though not an entirely effective way) to air ourselves out from the cooking smells clinging to our persons.

A few of the sights I took in on Thanksgiving Thursday:

Part of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. Or as close to it as I could get. That's Ronald there reminding us to skate on concrete to one of his many establishments. And to be sure to prepare for cold temps on that outing.

I was by Hello Kitty's side the day before to witness her being inflated with helium. She's sort of a handful because it took aheckuva long time to get her different parts big and buoyant. I couldn't stick around to take time-lapse images cos I was cold and starving and needed to duck into a nearby cafe (World Cafe) to get some hot, barley beef soup.

Le Penseur (the Thinker) at Columbia University. Such a fine, fine campus that ivy-league university. Every hard-ass, Asian parent's wet dream is for their child/children to attend one of these (or similarly-prestigious) schools for their undergraduate or graduate studies. Me included.

It was a complete coincidence that we located that diner from the past's excellent and still-hilarious Seinfeld show. Tom's Restaurant on 112th Street was serving a Thanksgiving prix-fixe meal all day and a bargain at that. We had just chowed down on burgers, french toast and milkshakes at Deluxe so we didn't eat here. I suppose we could've just stopped in for a cup of joe. Oh well. It's not like the interior was ever used in the comedy. ;p

We stopped by here before we took a brisk walk through a part of Central Park South. The barricades erected for this morning's parade were just beginning to be disassembled. Strong smell of horse around this area. P-u.

We then hoofed it to Rockefeller Plaza and saw this large Swarovski crystal display. Kinda pretty in a grossly oversized way.

I'm glad we returned to the Plaza because, this time, the fountain and its lights were on, shining brightly on Prometheus. A couple of nights ago, it was dark and scaffolded and ugly. They had finished setting up the holiday tree whose lights are officially to be "lighted" on 4-Dec.

We strolled by the Radio City Music Hall on our way to a subway. There was a show going on and can be heard out in the streets. Not sure who or what was playing.

Macy's. A very big store. Many holiday window displays. Bizzy.

One block down from Macy's and we arrive at Korea Way or Koreatown. It's pretty small...compared to Chinatown... and seems to be comprised of only 2 or 3 blocks. Lots of young, Korean-speaking people come here so the food must be good (?). I had no complaints. I did pass by a video store and I totally forgot to go in after dinner to check out the newer DVDs. Darn.

Tricky S

2009-11-15T13:55:00.000-08:00

There was a recent mishap on the S.F. bay bridge. Not the one that unexpectedly shut down the bridge for nearly a week last month. The one where a semi went over the side of the bridge and plunged 200-feet to the earth.

The truck driver had been going about 50mph, 10mph too fast, while negotiating the new S-curve when his truck went over the concrete barrier. His load of cargo - Asian pears - also played a part in hurling the truck over the edge.

I've driven across the bay bridge since the S-curve was installed last Labor Day weekend. At our very first encounter, we were expecting to ride over "some new section of the bridge" but didn't know exactly where or when we'd be introduced.

For us, that tricky section seemed to come up pretty suddenly and unexpectedly. We were driving at night and on the lower-deck. For a split-second, I thought my SUV was going to tip over because of the sharp curve and the speed in which we were traveling.

I can see it's very easy to enter the S-curve at an excessive speed because the bridge is, after all, virtually straight save for a slight bend coming off of Yerba Buena Island. From what I recall from our bridge crossing, there were no blinking caution signals (that scream "look at me! read me! obey me!") on the approach. There may have been a sign or 2 but probably not as prominent as it should've been.

Seems this new stretch of bridge has flummoxed at least 43 other drivers as that's the number of accidents that have occurred since its installation. It's short, it's curve-y and we drivers can't be too careful.

My heart goes out to the family of the trucker. What a way to go.

Face massage

2009-11-15T13:51:00.000-08:00

I like getting facials every so often. The cleansing, hydrating and massaging feel real good. The steaming and extractions - not so pleasant. But these are exactly why I do facials, post-treatment scars included.

I went to a new place recently. Kinda "in the neighborhood" and run by Chinese ladies in a chic little shop that has the day-spa environment. Not one of those places where there are sinks and cots behind curtains. Attractive prices and noon specials.

What is it about the face massage that is so soothing and comforting? It doesn't feel nearly as nice when I administer it on my own face. The sensation from the light pressure of the esthetician's fingers below my temples is some kind of pleasantness. The whole massage thing never lasts long enough.

There's this one move she did that befuddled me though. After she had wrapped a warm, moist towel around my face after the final mask, I was a little startled when my head received some hearty whacks, 4 or 5 times. It was her fingers....for waking me up? I dunno. haha. I'll ask next time. I'm sure it's got something to do with calling my spirit back to my body or my facial nerves or...whatever. :)

Friction block product

2009-10-28T12:08:00.000-07:00

Flipping through a foodie magazine, I discovered this interesting product:

While cushion liners help ease the pain from wearing high heels or uncomfy shoes, Band-Aid Friction Block Stick is supposed to address the rubbing and irritation that can lead to blisters on your sensitive foot spots. Could be especially helpful with those new, stiff shoes. Apply Friction Block on your feet... or any other part of your body. It becomes an invisible band-aid. The product claims it will prevent excessive friction and won't stain or make your feet (or other body part) feel slippery. I'm sure this is only for external use. ;)

Blister Block must be the other product name it goes by.

Hm, gotta wonder how the "invisible" friction guard stays adhered to the skin when being not-so-softly rubbed against a shoe or what-have-you. With all the pretty women's shoe styles that are murder on the feet (and calves and spines and...), this friction/blister block product might help to, at the very least, ease some of the superficial pains and abrasions.

Dozen

2009-10-28T11:52:00.000-07:00

A couple dozen donut holes.

Don't know when was the last time I had a fresh donut. I only ate 6 out of the bag. Saved the rest for the wee ones to fight over. I like to occasionally surprise them - treat them - with a little junk food. They don't think about what foods they put into their bodies and that's the way it should be.

So sweet (ugh!) and yet so tasty.

More than a dozen Kisses.

It's a tough time with Halloween around the corner. This month I've shown amazing self-control around the candy brought into my home in preparation for the witches, princesses, ghouls and superheroes who will come knockin' on my door. It could be because I've stocked stuff (Tootsie Rolls and Reese's) that are hardly faves. The packages haven't even been opened (pilfered) by anyone (er, only I know where they are ;p). In years past, I did not have the will power to keep from dipping into the stash of individual-sized Snickers bars or Hershey's chocolates (bars and Kisses).

I'll just help myself to the chocolates the kiddies bring home from Halloween because they're bad for their little teeth. ;) After Halloween, I may find myself swooping in to pick up some clearance Kisses.

Half a dozen apples.

The other day I had put together the first apple pie for autumn 2009.

I don't like waste which is why there's often a bunch of cutouts made with the left-over dough on the face of my pies. This guy weighed about 10 pounds and would be gone in one day, which caused much complainin'.

On the subject of tissue

2009-09-28T11:06:00.000-07:00

These days, I'm getting used to this new development:

They've updated the tissue SIZE.

Quilted Northern Bath Tissue has gone through some changes. Besides the change in the sheet size, I wonder what other updates they slipped in there unnoticed by the consumer, e.g. sheet density, total yards, etc.

For years I used to stock the house with Charmin. They did something with the product which made me to turn to one of their other selections. That other product had a problem with our low-flows. I sought Quilted Northern.

Times are leaner. Consumers must be flocking to lower-cost alternatives like the warehouse or generic tissues. Do we really need such large tissues - ~4.3" squares, 2-ply - to get the job done? Georgie-Pacific must not think so. It's economics. Calling it sustainability sounds better.

"Sustainability is about doing more with less..."

- From GP's Social Responsibility Report

Hm. "More?"

Not a completely bad thing. Just getting used to the change - such big gaps on the tissue holder. Is this less-is-more going to be a trend? I've checked other brands and they all seem to still have 4+" sheet sizes. Will review them again when I need to re-stock.

Can you imagine someday tissues going under 4" ? That's a scary prospect. They probably already do this in other parts of the world. Cos the US is filled with waste and wasters...and people with larger behinds. haha.

Offbeat stuff

2009-09-16T12:26:00.000-07:00

Good gracious. Now you can own your own plush toys that look like tiny microbes — only a million times actual size. Fun and educational, yes!

They're between 5 - 7 inches high. Acquire them individually or in sets. Check out the site and collect your favorites.

l-r: Chlamydia trachomatis, Syphilis, Gonorrhea, Herpes Simplex 2

Chicken Pox varicella-zoster virus

Salmonella

Swine flu (H1N1 virus)

There's a whole bunch more at giantmicrobes. I've read that the Centers for Disease Control offer some of these plushies for sale at their gift shop. ;)

Visa funny dances

2009-09-16T12:16:00.000-07:00

Saw these 2 "funny dance" commercials recently at a Chinese restaurant that has an annoying LCD-TV in the dining room. What a youtube sensation, that guy.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GfOmaj-gDoI&feature=related

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TmebtUX-CuQ

Apparently this campaign has been running for awhile over in parts of Asia. I hadn't seen it until now. Wonder why it doesn't play in the US.

Do you read me?

2009-09-03T22:33:00.000-07:00

My Y is slowly gettin' around to the 21st century. Nearly a year ago the gym was revamped to include updated fitness equipment including a better assortment of free weights, weight machines, bikes and treadmills. It feels must more pleasant being in this room over the clinical feel and look of the old one. The tired, electronic machines often were inoperable because of some breakdown.

Following the remodel, the air and heating systems were replaced. New wooden tables and chairs replaced the upholstered seating and square tables in the lobby. A new granite counter at the reception table. I didn't fail to notice the new flat-screen computer monitors, and probably new computers attached to them, on everyone's desks.

What were members introduced to this past week? A magnetic card swipe scanner to be used with new magnetic membership cards for all.

Before this week, members who came for the gym or classes were required to sign in and out on a piece of paper. With the new system, Neil the front-desk guy can more easily track the comings and goings of members and whether they're updated on their monthly membership fees.

Although I'm more a creature of habit and not easily persuaded to accept changes, I couldn't argue with the new card system being a better system. I can get used to being required to carry another piece of plastic. It seems every other institution is pushing their membership card to get you to keep returning and racking up valuable "points." I have a slot in my purse where I keep a few of them "just in case." At least the Y card is of the smaller size.

When I was shown how to operate it (like I needed that), it worked fine, no problem - one swipe through the swiper and it beeped and the red light lit up. Subsequent visits and swipings did not go as smoothly. It seemed to be getting worse!

I could tell Neil was getting frustrated with the little doodad. I can imagine a majority of the seniors complaining about its difficulty of use and Neil having to hold their hands, so to speak, swiping their cards...and not working too well for him either. Actually I don't have to imagine bc as soon as the seniors step into the gym, they start mouthing off how much of a pain in the arse it is to do. Some of them have already given up trying, choosing to hand their cards directly to Neil to swipe for them. :D.

The way I've been getting it to work is to hold my card in the reader slot and move it back and forth along the track until it beeps. Takes about 8 - 10 back-and-forths. It's not painful to do this to check-in but the reader really ought to do a better job than that. Perhaps it's defective. No idea. A few more tweaks and checking-in will eventually be seamless.

In the woods

2009-08-25T16:48:00.000-07:00

The attractions about the Bay Area, along with warm sunshine, brought us to Muir Woods the other day. This national monument is named after John Muir who was, among other things, a conservationist, philosopher, author, scientist and co-founder of the Sierra Club. He also got Yosemite and the Grand Canyon protected.

President Theodore Roosevelt proclaimed the place Muir Woods National Monument in 1908, making it the 7th National Monument and the first created from land donated by a private individual (William Kent). It began with 295 acres and today it's at 560 acres.

Coast redwoods thrive here because Muir Woods is located within California's fog belt. Some of the redwoods here are at least a thousand years old and over 250 feet high, with diameters over 14 feet.

The great thing about hiking at Muir Woods is there are paved, mostly level, trails on the canyon floor. We were among many groups of young and old, strollers and crutches, all able to enjoy the wonders of this forest in relative comfort and ease. They're even wheelchair-accessible! The trees provide ample shade and being so close to the coast, the temps are usually on the cool side.

There are 3 paved trails to follow. We took the 2-mile, looped Hillside Trail that, like the other 2 trails, ran adjacent to Redwood Creek, only we were up the hill. Persons having trouble physically staying on a narrow path or cannot resist the urge to hurl themselves over the edge should avoid this trail. ;p

The Hillside Trail is supposed to take about 1.5 hours to complete. I'd say we took no more than 1 hour and 28 minutes to walk it. ;p

Redwood Creek behind me. My t-shirt got a lot of lingering looks. It was either that or my braids. ;P

I first stood in front of this display when I was 7 or 8. This cross-section of a redwood uses the tree's rings to illustrate a notable events between the tree's birth in 909 A.D. and its death in 1930.

John Muir in wood.

The crystal-clear water in Redwood Creek glistens under the sun. Felt like removing my shoes and getting my toes wet.

Stinson Beach is nearby Mount Tamalpais where Muir Woods is located. Just the day before there was a shark sighting here. Beach-goers were advised not to swim in these waters, although wading by the surf was okay.

Seafood pasta for my hiking efforts.

The Boardwalk

2009-08-25T16:31:00.000-07:00

Found myself at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. Can't even recall the last time I visited this place. It's a seaside amusement park next to a nice stretch of beach. A wharf with better sit-down restaurants and shops is within walking distance to extend your visit to this part of Monterey Bay.

We arrived around lunchtime. The skies were shrouded in the last of the morning fog. I was famished (and getting a little jittery) yet before I dare put any food into my belly, I had to take in a thrill ride or two.

This is when I tackled the Giant Dipper roller coaster. Despite numerous visits to the boardwalk, I'd not ridden on this antique, wooden coaster (85 years old; the 5th oldest in the U.S.). Unbelievable, right? The intrepid blogger in me wasn't going to let me escape the experience this time.

It's not that stomach-churning considering it was built in 1924 and the train only offers a lap restraint. It was thrilling the first 10 seconds as the train wound around tracks in absolute darkness. More thrilling still as it ascended the tracks. One gets lifted out of one's seat throughout, rather unnerving. I liked how my Giant Dipper action photo turned out. I didn't purchase it.

Pretty coaster, innit? It no longer sits on the water like it did in the early days.

The Skygliders. These are always cool to ride in.

My lunch. Chili cheese cancer-dog. Hubby had a cancer-dog on a stick. Only once a year and it was pretty small.

I'd not seen this ride anywhere before. It's supposed to duplicate hang-gliding. Riders lie on their bellies on a sheet of metal.

The Sea Swings. I can handle this one but I sat out. Before the boardwalk, the little ones had been bugging me to take them to Gilroy Gardens where there's a similar ride under a less-colorful, faded mushroom exterior design. This one's definitely much nicer to look at (although the colors aren't very vivid in this photo).

It seems the amusement park replaced a couple of the rides for toddlers with newer ones for slightly older youth. The little bug/sea creature and the airplane (?) rides I last saw - and my child once rode on - have disappeared. I didn't expect and was pleased to see updated rides. The ferris wheel was too tame for anyone in my party to want to ride.

I enjoyed the upbeat 70's, 80's and 90's music blasting out of speakers along the boardwalk. Keeps you movin' and to the beat.

We had all of the ice cream on the big sign.

I wouldn't touch a deep-fried Twinkie with a 10-foot pole. Sorry. Who's had one?

Little light-house on Monterey Bay.

Wicked-ness

2009-08-17T12:54:00.000-07:00

Had the pleasure of taking in Wicked, the untold story of the witches of Oz, over the weekend. It's the story about the friendship between Glinda and Elphaba before The Wizard of Oz and how one became known as the Wicked Witch of the West and the other the Good Witch. And what could come between these two BFFs but....a man? (Sigh).

The performances and the show were quite fantastic. Kendra Kassebaum and Teal Wicks played the main characters and we were treated to the esteemed Patty Duke as Madame Morrible. Loads of humor, some animal activism and several twists involved.

The biggest laugh aloud scene for me was when Glinda, in her pre-Good Witch, student period, was giving tips to the green, pre-Wicked-Witch Elphaba on how to become popular. The music number was called "Popular" and Glinda showed her the "Toss, toss" (of the hair) move. I've found on Youtube that Kendra's done this whole number slightly differently than the show I'd seen and, unfortunately, the Toss Toss in those clips aren't as hilarious as what she did on my show. It was actually Teal's exaggerated and screwy imitation of Kendra's Toss Toss that elicited the big laughs. It would've been nice to see it up closer than the view my seat afforded.

The musical brought me to the Orpheum Theater for the first time. It's a shame the "theater district" in SF is in a shadier district of the City. It's a good idea that for visiting this theater one should keep the gems at home and wear comfy shoes (like running shoes, perhaps? ;p) to make one's return to her car a little more expedient. heehee

I learned that this musical is based on Gregory Maguire's novel. I think I'll check it out, if not for me for my little one.

About sciences

2009-08-10T19:29:00.000-07:00

Visited the new California Academy of Sciences the other day. The old facility was demolished and rebuilt into a state-of-the art facility. Gone is the stuffy-looking, neo-classical facade and in with the imposing, concrete and glass block of a structure.

Used to come here on field trips as a child; probably the first and only museum I'd ever been in in my younger years. I remember once, on a whim, visiting the old museum on a date - we were admitted at either no charge or reduced charge within 45 minutes before closing and speed-walked through the whole thing which wasn't that hard since the place wasn't (isn't) that big and we didn't stop to read any placards on any display.

The new Academy of Sciences has been opened for over a year. It was nice being able to get out there under the drizzle to see what the fuss is all about.

My friend, the T-Rex, is still here.
Its friend the blue whale was also floating nearby hanging from the ceiling. There actually weren't too many ancient bones around. Even with the Kimball Natural History Museum under the same roof. Hm.

The Rainforest exhibit was kinda cool. It was, uh, hot in there (as would be expected). ;p
Funny (or not) story - we're walking up the spiraling path and we spot this beautiful blue butterfly on the path floor. A bunch of us stopped in our tracks to admire it and to angle our cameras. A clueless visitor (a foreigner! and a senior citizen) walks right through us....and S-T-E-P-S on this little guy! The adults in the stopped group audibly gasp.

Clueless visitor didn't realize we had all been looking, er, down at something in the first place and decided to try to bypass us. The above snapshot is the "after" of being stepped on. I saw the woman plant her foot on the front end of the butterfly, yet, it doesn't look demolished, although....where's its other antennae?

I'm thinking its head was saved by the gap between the woman's shoe's instep. When I checked back from above/upstairs, the butterfly was no longer on the pavement. I'm wondering if it survived.

I mention that butterfly-stomper was a foreigner bc we couldn't tell her fast enough that she was making a big mistake. Also, might it be that in her native country (Canada? France?), the customary way to treat stopped crowds in a museum is a little different than what we do?

This is the Morrison Planetarium with its digital, domed projection system. The program they had running, Fragile Planet, was made sublime and amazing by the sheer size of the "screen" and the immersive technology. I actually felt a little motion-sickness at times but it was all good.

As soon as I entered the Academy of Sciences, I knew to quickly acquire free passes to one of the Planetarium's program (runs every hour). They run out fast; unless you don't mind waiting for or returning to a showing hours (and hours) later.

In the African Hall, we find a bunch of familiar dioramas of various animals and live African penguins.

This Foucault Pendulum is another old friend.

This albino alligator must've been fed recently. It wasn't up to moving too much; mostly napping.
Above the Swamp's water:

Below the Swamp's water's surface:

Leafy sea dragons in the aquarium.

Spiffy automatic hand dryers in the restrooms. If only the restroom doors were automatic. But that's OK, I usually push them open with a leg or an elbow.

The Academy also incorporates a unique and ecological Living Roof that not only is rich in native fauna but also is designed to keep the interior cooler with minimal artificial energy.

From atop roof we have a nice view of the neighboring DeYoung Museum. They currently have a King Tutankhamun exhibit going on. King Tut's mummy, however, along with his gold mask and other fragile treasures, are back home in Egypt.

I was impressed with the facility's Cafe which had a multicultural menu. No burgers and hot dogs here - elsewhere maybe. Instead visitors can choose from chicken or beef pho noodles, Indian dishes, steamed chicken bao, tacos, pasta and sandwiches. And as would be expected, a bit on the pricey side.

In the old Academy, there was an earthquake exhibit with pictures and notes about the Big One (magnitude 7.8 earthquake) that rocked the city on April 18, 1906. There was a room where visitors could stand on a platform that simulated what it felt like to be standing on the ground during a 7.8 magnitude earthquake. Fun times; those were the days - the exhibit, I mean.

Jane Austen with monsters

2009-08-06T20:03:00.000-07:00

I'm looking forward to reading this book.

If you recall, the first (last) monster-ized Jane Austen work I read was Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. SSSM is from a different author - Ben H. Winters, and perhaps it'll be as outrageous (highly likely ;p) and less of a clunker as PPZ. It's been a while since I've read S&S so maybe it's time I read it again though SSSM.

From the publisher of Pride and Prejudice and Zombies comes a new tale of romance, heartbreak, and tentacled mayhem.

Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters expands the original text of the beloved Jane Austen novel with all-new scenes of giant lobsters, rampaging octopi, two-headed sea serpents, and other biological monstrosities. As our story opens, the Dashwood sisters are evicted from their childhood home and sent to live on a mysterious island full of savage creatures and dark secrets. While sensible Elinor falls in love with Edward Ferrars, her romantic sister Marianne is courted by both the handsome Willoughby and the hideous man-monster Colonel Brandon. Can the Dashwood sisters triumph over meddlesome matriarchs and unscrupulous rogues to find true love? Or will they fall prey to the tentacles that are forever snapping at their heels? This masterful portrait of Regency England blends Jane Austen’s biting social commentary with ultraviolent depictions of sea monsters biting. It’s survival of the fittest—and only the swiftest swimmers will find true love!

SSM is available September 15.

Fox friend

2009-08-06T19:59:00.000-07:00

Some interesting wildlife for neighbors.

Looks like I've got a gray fox lurking about. Seems many furry creatures like to climb my fence in their search for food. This fox sometimes hunts with a partner. They once came right up to my patio door, as if they were peeking in. Someone I know hopes the foxes are catching as many squirrels as possible.

I'd like to someday capture a pic of the skunk that likes to fumigate my yard and the surrounding environs. Actually, I'd like to shoot that skunk(s) that tends to fumigate my yard and the surrounding environs.

The neighbor insists this is a coyote. I insist it's a fox. We're somewhat concerned - she more than I - that it'll drag one of our daughters away. She's got twin girls; what's one less? haha. ;)

There are calories in burgers?

2009-07-27T19:46:00.000-07:00

I'm actually not a calorie-counter. Being on the slim side (thanks mom & dad) and having a conservatively-moderate daily activity level - which hasn't always been so - I've lived by the motto eat only when hungry...and stop before my tummy feels full. This also hasn't always been so.

When it comes to eating to satiate some psychological need, or to replace boredom; that's never been my thing. There have been times when I've eaten to the point I felt my stomach would burst (high-quality buffets, anyone!) but that propensity stopped when I left my teens behind.

Nevertheless, after some fine calorie talk introduced by hubby the other day, I decided to look into how many calories I should eat to maintain my weight. Or to lose weight if I so desired. The amount of calories one needs depend on several factors such as current weight, gender, age and activity level.

According to this calorie calculator, it estimated I burn around 1900 calories/day. If I want to maintain my current weight, I can consume this many calories per day. If I want to lose weight, I need to eat less than 1900 calories/day; and conversely, eat more calories to gain. Okay. That's informative.

If I were to take this seriously, I'd have to go into counting my servings and calculate the number of calories in each type of food I eat every day. Not gonna do that. I'm content knowing I have healthy eating habits, don't skip meals and exercise regularly. I'll occasionally indulge in some high-caloried foods and then make up for it in exercise or eating smaller portions the next day or 2.

It disturbed me for a half-minute when hubby read somewhere that a burger from Chili's was about 1000 calories. I thought, surely, that count must include the french fries that accompany the burger. haha. Right before writing this blog, I checked the nutrition info for their menu (I never look at this stuff) and learned the more accurate numbers - my usual Old Timer burger (no cheese) item has 820 calories, while hubby's Mushroom-Swiss burger carries 1070 calories.

820 versus 1070.

Those numbers seemed rather high and they are were one to consume these things regularly, along with other similarly high-caloried goodies. Not to worry though. Hubby and I can take comfort in knowing we only eat heavy dishes like burgers only occasionally, followed by exercising our heads off. ;P

Magical post-its

2009-07-08T11:20:00.000-07:00

Thought this art project was crazy brilliant!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpWM0FNPZSs

Beauty tubes

2009-06-25T16:46:00.000-07:00

I recently tried the new L'oreal Double Extend® Beauty Tubes™ Technology Mascara. This is my first time using a "tube" mascara and I would have to say it is one of the best mascaras I've tried. And so easy-to-own - the last time I checked online for a tube mascara, it was over $100 per tube (yikes).

The reason I applied Beauty Tubes on that particular day was because I wanted to wear a product that would easily wash off. No worries about removing using eye makeup remover or the required rubbing around the sensitive skin around the eyes. I've found when I think I've done a good job removing all the waterproof mascara, the next day I still have a bit of raccoon eyes in the morning. Yuck.

Another problem with my other long-lasting mascaras (Maybelline Great Lash and Max Factor 2000 Calorie) are they can smudge throughout the day should one accidentally rub one's eyes - or not. Double-Extend does not smudge.

The Beauty Tubes mascara has 2 formulas - one that nourishes (primer) and the other colors. They both go on smoothly and effortlessly - swish, swish - and seemed to dry instantly.

The result? Beauty Tubes really lengthened my lashes as if they'd been enhanced with fake lashes. One thing I'm blessed with are plentiful upper lashes and this mascara made them quite astonishing, even without the aid of a lash curler. Made me wanna flutter and bat my eyes all day long and at no one in particular. ;-P

The only thing with Beauty Tubes is that although you may achieve incredible lengths (and spikiness), incredible volume isn't part of the package. I'm totally fine with that.

It took me a few seconds to figure out how to wash the mascara off. I used a wash cloth wet with warm water placed over my eyes to soften up and break down the tubes, followed by gently taking off the flakes with my fingers. No rubbing.

Good stuff. A good cosmetic makes me happy for a little while (last time was with Prescriptives Multi-Finish Compact Foundation). ;-)

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies

2009-06-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

What Janeite would not be intrigued (or lured) by (yet another) by-product of Jane Austen fiction industry? I couldn't resist.

Pride and Prejudice and Zombies is a wacky take on the beloved P&P story. The back-drop of this 18th-century Hertfordshire involves the existence of the unmentionables (zombies) who have been terrorizing England for over 50 years. With 85% of the original text retained, the rest of the story is infused with bloody confrontations with the undead, whose origin is not known, or physical confrontations with the living.

You should not be surprised to learn that all 5 young, Miss Bennets have been schooled in the deadly arts in China (not Japan!) with Shaolin masters. Mr. Darcy is also also highly-skilled (he trained in Japan) and his sister, Miss Darcy, hopes to achieve similar mastery as a slayer of the undead.

Which of our beloved characters succumbs to the "plague"? Can you believe Mr. Darcy split Mr. Bingley and Jane because he thought, among other things, that she had been stricken with the plague? There's also a cannibal in the story, but who is it?

There are a number of graphic illustrations which help to visualize the violent events unfolding in the novel. The book is quite hilarious, however, at times I felt it was not the breezy read as I had anticipated.

Books coming to film

2009-06-03T19:53:00.000-07:00

Interesting. Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami is being adapted for film. What's the novel about? Read about it here. Norwegian Wood was my first Murakami. I thought the mood generated from the book sometimes a bit down - what with suicide and mental health issues facing a few of the characters.

Kenichi Matsuyama (Death Note) will play the lead male Toru Watanabe and Rinko Kikuchi (Babel) will play Naoko the girlfriend. It's being directed by Tran Anh Hung. Projected release is Fall, 2010.

Am still waiting for the film adaptation of Ha Jin's "Waiting." The novel is about Lin Kong, a soldier in the Revolutionary Army, who finds himself waiting 18 years to divorce his wife for another woman all the while fearing prosecution for being with the woman he wants to marry. The film's leads are Takeshi Kaneshiro and Zhang Ziyi, is being directed by Peter Chan, and is "in-production."

ZZ and TK's last collaboration, House of Flying Daggers.

ZZ will play the pained, waiting woman well. We'll be seeing both characters at times getting a little frustrated, to say the least. I liked Waiting, as well as, Ha Jin's other novels.

Marshmallow fun-gun

2009-06-03T19:49:00.000-07:00

Introducing the Executive Mallow Blaster. This things fires large marshmallows from up to 40 feet away. Awesome!

Something tells me I'd dislike being the target of a marshmallow from 10 feet or 40 feet away fired with this thing. I would rather play target practice with the Mallow Blaster.

There's also a mini-marshmallow Mallo Blaster. $28.

There seem to be quite an assortment of marshmallow "guns" available. They don't look like they're too painful to use or be a target of one.

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RgWib9yAZCg

I heart lotus flowers

2009-06-03T19:23:00.000-07:00

A friend of hubby's is into amateur photography. He quite often sends us links to new pics that he's posted. His most recent update includes a series on lotus flowers. I usually take a cursory glance at his photos but his lotus flowers held my attention as they are a favorite of mine.

The flower is similar in structure to a tulip - my other favorite - where the wide, oblong petals form a cup or bowl shape and its stems are thick and rise up. Lotus flowers only come in hues of pink - neat factoid!