Yes, it's been very slow here. That doesn't mean nothing's been happening - I just haven't deemed it ready to write about. However, here are some recent thoughts:
Rape Aren't we all tired about this Akin/Ryan/Romney GOP debacle? Still, this - from jezebel.com - is one of the best articles I've read about how America has tried to legislate abortion by defining rape. Just let women make our own choices about our bodies.
Topless Neighbor You read this post, and now you've come back looking for something new and tit-tillating, but there's nothing to tell. I haven't seen her, and to his great relief, neither has the DH.
New Neighbor They are directly above us. I'd like to shoot them, as they get on the treadmill AT 7:30 AM ON SUNDAY! This is one of the few days I get to sleep in. Apparently, the treadmill comes with the apartment, because I've heard it through the last 3 occupants.
More to come, I just have to finalize it all in my mind!
In the mean time, you may want to take a look at my other blog, Soos Lives to Eat. After all, we all need to eat, at least twice a day.
Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
July/August - What I'm Reading
It took me months to get a library copy of Walter Isaacson's biography of Steve Jobs. While many have talked about this book, I think School Library Journal's review did a good job of putting it in context, and explaining why teens should read it, too. I decided not to buy my own copy, and I'll nudge the debate about eBooks by saying that even though it's 600+ pages long, I can't imagine reading it on a device.
In an earlier post, I wrote about how smart people do dumb things. Well, Steve Jobs was that: creative, obnoxious AND a "riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma". Isaacson says that Jobs stood at that nexus between the humanities and science, the arts and technology. While he was always fascinated by electronics, he went to liberal arts Reed College. If he hadn't dropped out, he wouldn't have audited a calligraphy course which influenced the fonts (typefaces) in the first Macintosh, and those in all other computers. As an aside, Reed is one of the handful of schools I considered applying to.
_____
I'm also reading "Darth Paper Strikes Back" the sequel to "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda" by Tom Angleberger, about folded paper and middle school. Why? It's fun!
And I'm reading "Runny Babbit" by Shel Silverstein, because the next storytime is August 18th, National Bad Poetry Day. Writing bad poetry, I've discovered, is very hard. So we'll concentrate on rhyming words, visual rhymes, Spoonerisms and the creative process. And I love to tickle children's minds!
Read this: Anil Gupta and his search for innovation - I love this! There is creativity and invention everywhere. Now, if only they could find innovaton for their power needs.
See? In my universe, it's all related, circular - comes back around!
In an earlier post, I wrote about how smart people do dumb things. Well, Steve Jobs was that: creative, obnoxious AND a "riddle wrapped in a mystery inside an enigma". Isaacson says that Jobs stood at that nexus between the humanities and science, the arts and technology. While he was always fascinated by electronics, he went to liberal arts Reed College. If he hadn't dropped out, he wouldn't have audited a calligraphy course which influenced the fonts (typefaces) in the first Macintosh, and those in all other computers. As an aside, Reed is one of the handful of schools I considered applying to.
_____
I'm also reading "Darth Paper Strikes Back" the sequel to "The Strange Case of Origami Yoda" by Tom Angleberger, about folded paper and middle school. Why? It's fun!
And I'm reading "Runny Babbit" by Shel Silverstein, because the next storytime is August 18th, National Bad Poetry Day. Writing bad poetry, I've discovered, is very hard. So we'll concentrate on rhyming words, visual rhymes, Spoonerisms and the creative process. And I love to tickle children's minds!
Read this: Anil Gupta and his search for innovation - I love this! There is creativity and invention everywhere. Now, if only they could find innovaton for their power needs.
See? In my universe, it's all related, circular - comes back around!
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Hilo Getaway
After six hectic weeks of the summer reading program, presentations and craft sessions, it was wonderful to get away for a few days.
It had been 6 years since I'd been to Hilo on my way to a conference in Kohala, and 2 years since the DH had been there with family for a reunion. It may be true that the weather there may be changing - aside from the usual, expected, morning, afternoon and occasional evening shower, there was only one day when we experienced a strange, Kamuela-like whiteout while we ate lunch.
How did we spend our days? We walked the streets of Hilo, stopping where storefronts caught our attention. Some of us played with flags.
We spent a day in Kamuela: had stew luau at Hawaiian Style Cafe, read, drank coffee at Waimea Coffee Company, had dinner at Merriman's, where they treated us to a glass of anniversary champagne and dessert!
We hung with the DH's cousin, and everywhere we went with her, she knew someone, and stopped to share a word. In our opinion, she's the Queen of Hilo, our official food consultant, and tells us she is the first to respond when someone passes away or is in the hospital! The last time, DH came home with ten pounds of rambutan; this time, we brought back opihi (still very much alive!), frozen lychee, homemade Portuguese sausage and more.
We flew back to Honolulu and reality, shared opihi with relatives and friends, and spent a lovely Bastille Day evening in the country, at a cheese dinner at the only dairy left on Oahu. More here.
How did we spend our days? We walked the streets of Hilo, stopping where storefronts caught our attention. Some of us played with flags.
We spent a day in Kamuela: had stew luau at Hawaiian Style Cafe, read, drank coffee at Waimea Coffee Company, had dinner at Merriman's, where they treated us to a glass of anniversary champagne and dessert!
We hung with the DH's cousin, and everywhere we went with her, she knew someone, and stopped to share a word. In our opinion, she's the Queen of Hilo, our official food consultant, and tells us she is the first to respond when someone passes away or is in the hospital! The last time, DH came home with ten pounds of rambutan; this time, we brought back opihi (still very much alive!), frozen lychee, homemade Portuguese sausage and more.
We hadn't stayed at Hilo Seaside in years. From the outside, it doesn't look promising, but it gets better once you step in the door. I can't say enough about the staff: from Diana at the front desk, who looked at my large suitcase and kindly asked if I could make it to the second floor. (Thank you, I couldn't, as I had just wrenched my knee; still recovering.) To the honest maid who found my watch outside our room - I only realized this the next morning!
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Opihi photo courtesy of Rad Kanda
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Sunday, June 17, 2012
Update: I Saw What You Did
The fruit thief was spotted in the hood.
First, soon after the incident, then two nights ago. The DH recognized her by her distinctive strut. She had a haircut and a flashlight. Which reminds me I should resume my quest for a bigger flashlight.
So, is her flashlight ready for if/when mine shines on her thieving ways?
@FreeRangeNan goes as far as saying this woman is a sociopath, and those don't care what others think, much less their mothers. Or fathers, on this Fathers Day 2012.
First, soon after the incident, then two nights ago. The DH recognized her by her distinctive strut. She had a haircut and a flashlight. Which reminds me I should resume my quest for a bigger flashlight.
So, is her flashlight ready for if/when mine shines on her thieving ways?
@FreeRangeNan goes as far as saying this woman is a sociopath, and those don't care what others think, much less their mothers. Or fathers, on this Fathers Day 2012.
Monday, May 28, 2012
It's been a Movie Month
And I love it! Yesterday, the bff and I got together to celebrate our April birthdays. I know, horribly belated. We went to see Dark Shadows, and if I'd known the soundtrack was full of 70s songs like Nights in White Satin and Season of the Witch, we woulda dragged the DH along! I cracked up when the credits rolled, and the song played was Eric Carmen's Go All the Way - I called him so he could hear it!
The movie itself was too long and there was much too much Angelique. Michelle Pfeiffer is stiff as the Collins matriarch. Johnny Depp here is a bit of a grownup Edward Scissorhands! I did laugh, but the bff said she fell asleep a coupla times. She def needs to caffeinate! We hit Nordstrom Rack & the new TJMaxx - both forgettable - and had a late lunch of gravlax and grilled chicken.
Two weekends ago, we saw Jiro Dreams of Sushi. The chefs are right, it's both inspiring and daunting. About passion, obsession, craft, aspiring to be shokunin. See it! My only question: does Yoshikazu dream of sushi or of fast cars?
Before that, we saw Boy by Taika Waititi. I love most the movies which show me different lives, cultures, ways of thinking. This movie is about a small village in New Zealand in the 1980s. Funny, charming, with heart. I recommend it.
There are movies the bff and I don't agree on. She wants to see The Road, the horror movie from the Philippines. Not for me! She also wants to see Prometheus - so do I! It's Ridley Scott!!! LOVE Blade Runner! That's our movie pick for next month!
The movie itself was too long and there was much too much Angelique. Michelle Pfeiffer is stiff as the Collins matriarch. Johnny Depp here is a bit of a grownup Edward Scissorhands! I did laugh, but the bff said she fell asleep a coupla times. She def needs to caffeinate! We hit Nordstrom Rack & the new TJMaxx - both forgettable - and had a late lunch of gravlax and grilled chicken.
Two weekends ago, we saw Jiro Dreams of Sushi. The chefs are right, it's both inspiring and daunting. About passion, obsession, craft, aspiring to be shokunin. See it! My only question: does Yoshikazu dream of sushi or of fast cars?
Before that, we saw Boy by Taika Waititi. I love most the movies which show me different lives, cultures, ways of thinking. This movie is about a small village in New Zealand in the 1980s. Funny, charming, with heart. I recommend it.
There are movies the bff and I don't agree on. She wants to see The Road, the horror movie from the Philippines. Not for me! She also wants to see Prometheus - so do I! It's Ridley Scott!!! LOVE Blade Runner! That's our movie pick for next month!
Sunday, May 13, 2012
I Saw What You Did
This qualifies as a bad neighbor post, and two out of three of the following incidents are definitely about bad neighbors, the other - the person is probably from somewhere else.
Friday night started well, We had a quick and pleasant dinner out, then stopped by both the drugstore and the market to pick up necessities. We came home pretty early, only to find an oversized SUV in the MIDDLE of our area of the parking lot.
We waited. The driver's door was open. NO response. The DH tapped the horn (and he NEVER does this!) We gestured. NOTHING. I yelled MOVE IT! Zero response. I yelled louder, "WHAT'S THE PROBLEM???"
FINALLY the driver gets out and tells us she can't start her car "because the battery is wet". OK, then - we were supposed to guess or read your mind about what's going on? How about towing your useless vehicle so you can stop inconveniencing SIX of us who need to park where it's blocking the way? We got no lucid answer, so the DH did a tricky move and edged past the post and the big dead hunk of metal. Nor was there "I'm sorry" in this exchange. More like: "Poor me!"
Out of earshot, I asked: "WHO is that?" DH: "She lives upstairs." Oh. The one clacking her heels at 4 am. The one playing bad music, the crowd singing along at 2 am. I should have known.
Do you know what bachi is? The DH went for a walk, came home, and 2 to 3 hours later, she was STILL sitting in that SUV!
___
The night before that, we walked down a busy street and saw a van parked in front of a large mango tree.
A person with a fruit picker pole was busy "harvesting" - STEALING. How do I know? It was NIGHT and dark, but I SAW YOU and what you did! But I don't say anything to someone with a long metal stick! You know who you are.
Look out, too, for the two on bicycles. The first has a regular looking bike; the giveaway is the pole tied to the side. The second has a dark bike (stealth model?) Both have bags and baskets tied. I saw the first ride up someone's driveway - trespassing! - but I was on my way somewhere. The second went to the gate and yelled, "Anybody home?" But he saw us across the street, walking slowly and observing.
___
Last night, almost a year to the day, WE SAW WHAT YOU DID. And this year, you did it again. Yes, you 30s to 40s female with wavy wedge cut hair, wearing long pants and dark brown jacket with white collar lining with large pockets! You:
- Jumped on the wall and picked the fruit
- Jumped INTO the yard - TRESPASSING - picked more fruit. By this time I had the flashlight out.
I guess your pockets were full with 8 or more large fruits. You had to go home and unload but you CAME BACK. You checked and there were still no cars in the driveway. You jumped back on the wall as I shined my light and said, I CAN SEE YOU. You picked a couple and even jumped to reach more, then you jumped back in the yard - TRESPASSING AGAIN. By this time my light was strobing and you stood still to watch me. You only got half as much and will have to bring a stool next time! My night vision isn't great, but it's good enough, even on a moonless night.You turned around and glared at me when I called out your Asian ethnic group and said I was getting a bigger flashlight. If you're THAT blatant in your thievery, I can call the play by play! I SAW WHAT YOU DID! Let's see you do that in daylight!
As we walked home, the DH asked, should we follow her? NO, I'm not 5-O! I'm just an observer/commentator on bad neighbors! Where do you think she lives? he asked. Probably the biggest condo in the neighborhood. What she saves on in fruit, she can spend in rent!
Apparently, there is no end to bad behavior by bad neighbors! So, are these folks selling what they steal, or are they just pigs taking their neighbors' bounty?
Friday night started well, We had a quick and pleasant dinner out, then stopped by both the drugstore and the market to pick up necessities. We came home pretty early, only to find an oversized SUV in the MIDDLE of our area of the parking lot.
We waited. The driver's door was open. NO response. The DH tapped the horn (and he NEVER does this!) We gestured. NOTHING. I yelled MOVE IT! Zero response. I yelled louder, "WHAT'S THE PROBLEM???"
FINALLY the driver gets out and tells us she can't start her car "because the battery is wet". OK, then - we were supposed to guess or read your mind about what's going on? How about towing your useless vehicle so you can stop inconveniencing SIX of us who need to park where it's blocking the way? We got no lucid answer, so the DH did a tricky move and edged past the post and the big dead hunk of metal. Nor was there "I'm sorry" in this exchange. More like: "Poor me!"
Out of earshot, I asked: "WHO is that?" DH: "She lives upstairs." Oh. The one clacking her heels at 4 am. The one playing bad music, the crowd singing along at 2 am. I should have known.
Do you know what bachi is? The DH went for a walk, came home, and 2 to 3 hours later, she was STILL sitting in that SUV!
___
The night before that, we walked down a busy street and saw a van parked in front of a large mango tree.
A person with a fruit picker pole was busy "harvesting" - STEALING. How do I know? It was NIGHT and dark, but I SAW YOU and what you did! But I don't say anything to someone with a long metal stick! You know who you are.
Look out, too, for the two on bicycles. The first has a regular looking bike; the giveaway is the pole tied to the side. The second has a dark bike (stealth model?) Both have bags and baskets tied. I saw the first ride up someone's driveway - trespassing! - but I was on my way somewhere. The second went to the gate and yelled, "Anybody home?" But he saw us across the street, walking slowly and observing.
___
Last night, almost a year to the day, WE SAW WHAT YOU DID. And this year, you did it again. Yes, you 30s to 40s female with wavy wedge cut hair, wearing long pants and dark brown jacket with white collar lining with large pockets! You:
- Jumped on the wall and picked the fruit
- Jumped INTO the yard - TRESPASSING - picked more fruit. By this time I had the flashlight out.
I guess your pockets were full with 8 or more large fruits. You had to go home and unload but you CAME BACK. You checked and there were still no cars in the driveway. You jumped back on the wall as I shined my light and said, I CAN SEE YOU. You picked a couple and even jumped to reach more, then you jumped back in the yard - TRESPASSING AGAIN. By this time my light was strobing and you stood still to watch me. You only got half as much and will have to bring a stool next time! My night vision isn't great, but it's good enough, even on a moonless night.You turned around and glared at me when I called out your Asian ethnic group and said I was getting a bigger flashlight. If you're THAT blatant in your thievery, I can call the play by play! I SAW WHAT YOU DID! Let's see you do that in daylight!
As we walked home, the DH asked, should we follow her? NO, I'm not 5-O! I'm just an observer/commentator on bad neighbors! Where do you think she lives? he asked. Probably the biggest condo in the neighborhood. What she saves on in fruit, she can spend in rent!
Apparently, there is no end to bad behavior by bad neighbors! So, are these folks selling what they steal, or are they just pigs taking their neighbors' bounty?
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
New in the Neighborhood
The fairy terns have a baby. Or two. It's hard to tell, as they move around, are up high, and we don't want to bother them TOO much with flashlight beams. I love to watch them wheel overhead in their aeronautical patterns - singly, in pairs, in trios.
A check of the chickens reveals there are now THREE of them, the two new ones ~almost~ as fat and sassy as the first. But they can't beat the original one for loud complaining!
This post is for the birds!
A check of the chickens reveals there are now THREE of them, the two new ones ~almost~ as fat and sassy as the first. But they can't beat the original one for loud complaining!
This post is for the birds!
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