I've been on vacation. Spending a few days in Rhode Island with my mom to attend my brother's graduation from officer candidate school. So all he has to do is get paid $50k a year for three years plus the tuition to attend school, and get a bachelors degree in something. Lucky bastard. He gets paid to go to school.
Anyway, we've had fun here in Rhode Island. We've been going around to a bunch of places and eating lots of food and sitting by the beach and having a good time. I ate lobster for the first time in a long time at my aunts house. It tasted good, but was a little disturbing in that we boiled them alive then tore them apart. It wasn't a remarkable meat, so I think I'll skip it from now on.
Newport is an interesting town. It's got very big, wealthy houses and lots of vegetation. I will post pictures and stuff later. My battery is about to die. : )
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Another tattoo post
I love tattoos. I love looking at other peoples, and thinking about them and poorly drawing them and imagining them.
I always wonder the inspiration behind people's tattoos. I am always sorely disappointed when they just got them because all their friends got stars together or they just wanted a tattoo and picked it out of the book. I guess I feel something so permanent should have meaning to the person it's joined with. Kate from Jon and Kate Plus 8 regrets getting her tattoos. She got two stupid tattoos though. I kind of doubt that Winnie the Pooh is a huge part of her life, or that it ever was. I think she just wanted a tattoo and picked the Winnie the Pooh flash.
That's not to say that the standard tattoo from the book can't be meaningful, and sometimes looking through the book is helpful. I looked at all the suns trying to find the right rays that I wanted. I ended up combining a few different suns to get mine.
When I see really unique tattoos that are just ugly or disturbing or ridiculous, I always want to ask them why they got that one. Like the legs around the armpit hair, or the various crazy genital tattoos or the cat butt/belly button tattoo. Wtf, people? I mean, why do you want your armpit to look like a woman's pubes? Why do you want a six pack of beer cans tattooed on your beer belly?
But then there are really cool ones. I really like tree tattoos. I hope to get a large oak tree on my side one day. I like the cherry blossom tattoos, but they're not for me. Amazingly beautiful though. I also like characters and tribal tattoos, though I probably will not get them. I was watching Craig Fergson, and some celebrity was on there who thought her tattoo said "Determined Love" or something like that but translated to "Rough Sex" colloquially. And while tribals look cool, I don't personally take any meaning in them. Tramps stamps can be so sexy, but then again, they are called 'tramp stamps' and there is a lot of notions about them. That and it's not a discreet enough place for me.
On another tattoo note, why do wolves/dragons/tigers/carnivores always have to be snarling fearsomely in tattoos? Why can't they just be hanging out, looking alert?
I always wonder the inspiration behind people's tattoos. I am always sorely disappointed when they just got them because all their friends got stars together or they just wanted a tattoo and picked it out of the book. I guess I feel something so permanent should have meaning to the person it's joined with. Kate from Jon and Kate Plus 8 regrets getting her tattoos. She got two stupid tattoos though. I kind of doubt that Winnie the Pooh is a huge part of her life, or that it ever was. I think she just wanted a tattoo and picked the Winnie the Pooh flash.
That's not to say that the standard tattoo from the book can't be meaningful, and sometimes looking through the book is helpful. I looked at all the suns trying to find the right rays that I wanted. I ended up combining a few different suns to get mine.
When I see really unique tattoos that are just ugly or disturbing or ridiculous, I always want to ask them why they got that one. Like the legs around the armpit hair, or the various crazy genital tattoos or the cat butt/belly button tattoo. Wtf, people? I mean, why do you want your armpit to look like a woman's pubes? Why do you want a six pack of beer cans tattooed on your beer belly?
But then there are really cool ones. I really like tree tattoos. I hope to get a large oak tree on my side one day. I like the cherry blossom tattoos, but they're not for me. Amazingly beautiful though. I also like characters and tribal tattoos, though I probably will not get them. I was watching Craig Fergson, and some celebrity was on there who thought her tattoo said "Determined Love" or something like that but translated to "Rough Sex" colloquially. And while tribals look cool, I don't personally take any meaning in them. Tramps stamps can be so sexy, but then again, they are called 'tramp stamps' and there is a lot of notions about them. That and it's not a discreet enough place for me.
On another tattoo note, why do wolves/dragons/tigers/carnivores always have to be snarling fearsomely in tattoos? Why can't they just be hanging out, looking alert?
Chacos and Chicken Shit
I haven't raved about my favorite sandals yet. They're Chacos. They're awesome. Chacos are designed so it's practically impossible for ankles to pronate, they have unbelievable arches and I love them dearly. If you buy a pair, and the strap breaks (there's only 1 strap!), you can send it in and it'll be repaired for free. I've had mine for a year, and the strap hasn't worn out at all. It looks a little dusty sometimes, but that's about it. It's easily adjustable so your shoe fits you and not the standard foot of America. I prefer the solid strap over the double strap, but I like the option of being able to put the toe strap down (the Z1 comes without a toe strap, but the Z2 strap doesn't have to be up).
The bottom of the soles is designed for good traction for hiking and whatnot, but also to keep the tread clear of debris. It's kind of a self cleaning shoe. However, if you're like me and have been spending a lot of time around chickens lately, it's a little hard for chicken shit to just fall out the way dirt and grass does. Which is another great benefit of Chacos sandals: Easy cleaning! You can hose them off, stick them in the washing machine or even put them in the dishwasher, and voila! Clean shoes. I'm going to hose mine off though. I don't want to get chicken shit on my plates.
Chacos are really comfortable, too. I've only had 3 blisters in them, and I've walked dozens of miles. They can tinge your feet black and it takes some people time to get used to the high arches, but even after a 4 mile walk, I don't even limp, which is amazing for sandals.
They can be pricey, but I know people who have had theirs for 8 years without a problem, so it's a good investment, I think. I found cheap ones online for $75 plus $8 s/h. They usually run around $100. I haven't met a person who didn't like them.
Plus you get a cool tan line on your foot, as seen in the picture. : )
PS. Not my legs. I don't get a Z tan, I get a Z burn. And mine are black. : )
The bottom of the soles is designed for good traction for hiking and whatnot, but also to keep the tread clear of debris. It's kind of a self cleaning shoe. However, if you're like me and have been spending a lot of time around chickens lately, it's a little hard for chicken shit to just fall out the way dirt and grass does. Which is another great benefit of Chacos sandals: Easy cleaning! You can hose them off, stick them in the washing machine or even put them in the dishwasher, and voila! Clean shoes. I'm going to hose mine off though. I don't want to get chicken shit on my plates.
Chacos are really comfortable, too. I've only had 3 blisters in them, and I've walked dozens of miles. They can tinge your feet black and it takes some people time to get used to the high arches, but even after a 4 mile walk, I don't even limp, which is amazing for sandals.
They can be pricey, but I know people who have had theirs for 8 years without a problem, so it's a good investment, I think. I found cheap ones online for $75 plus $8 s/h. They usually run around $100. I haven't met a person who didn't like them.
Plus you get a cool tan line on your foot, as seen in the picture. : )
PS. Not my legs. I don't get a Z tan, I get a Z burn. And mine are black. : )
Sunday, July 5, 2009
The Boonies
In the past few days, a few people have mentioned that it sucks to live in the boonies or it must suck to live far away from people. While it is a bit harder to socialize frequently with people while living a bit farther out, I like it. I would argue that I don't live very far away. I am less convenient because I can't make sudden plans because I don't drive, but I am able to get to where I need to be given enough warning or a ride. I really enjoy living in my mom's house. It is a beautiful peaceful place where we can live in seclusion while still able to have lives.
I like to walk, and since it takes 4-8 miles to get somewhere, I can take 4-8 mile walks fairly often. While it is not always safe to walk at night or during times when there may be more traffic or unsafe drivers, I can always get a workout from going to the library or to get coffee.
I also save money. Since it is harder to make spontaneous plans with someone, I go to less movies (only the ones I really want to see), go out to eat less (the nearest restaurant is 4 miles away), and go shopping for things I don't need less often.
I usually don't get tired of hanging out with people. You know, sometimes when you see someone so often you get sick of them? That usually doesn't happen very often for me.
I get to see more wildlife. How many people have dozens of birds and mammals living in their yard? How many rabbits do you scare on your way to the mailbox in one day? The other day, I scared up 3 of them. I've learned a lot about birds by living here, seeing everything from hummingbirds to turkeys to hawks up close in my own backyard. I've seen little fawns every day from the day they were born til the time they're all grown up.
I've always like where I live, despite the distance or poison ivy or ticks. It has given me, even though it's a suburban house in a suburban neighborhood, an appreciation for nature in a way that a neatly mowed lawn on a quarter acre plot of land in a McHouse ever could.
I like to walk, and since it takes 4-8 miles to get somewhere, I can take 4-8 mile walks fairly often. While it is not always safe to walk at night or during times when there may be more traffic or unsafe drivers, I can always get a workout from going to the library or to get coffee.
I also save money. Since it is harder to make spontaneous plans with someone, I go to less movies (only the ones I really want to see), go out to eat less (the nearest restaurant is 4 miles away), and go shopping for things I don't need less often.
I usually don't get tired of hanging out with people. You know, sometimes when you see someone so often you get sick of them? That usually doesn't happen very often for me.
I get to see more wildlife. How many people have dozens of birds and mammals living in their yard? How many rabbits do you scare on your way to the mailbox in one day? The other day, I scared up 3 of them. I've learned a lot about birds by living here, seeing everything from hummingbirds to turkeys to hawks up close in my own backyard. I've seen little fawns every day from the day they were born til the time they're all grown up.
I've always like where I live, despite the distance or poison ivy or ticks. It has given me, even though it's a suburban house in a suburban neighborhood, an appreciation for nature in a way that a neatly mowed lawn on a quarter acre plot of land in a McHouse ever could.
Shoes.
I don't understand shoes. In particular, I don't understand the fashion industry and the craze for shoes. I can't stand wearing flip-flops, stilettos or any other heels, converse, ballet flats, platforms or sketchers or most other kinds of shoes. They are uncomfortable and painful. Why do people hurt themselves to look cool/cute/sexy/fashionable? I understand the brand label preference. I usually only buy New Balance and Chacos because I know I can trust them not to hurt most of the time, but why would I trust a brand that hurts?
I used to wear Sketchers platform shoes in elementary school when they were in style. I ended up spraining my ankle jumping into a pool because my feet weren't able to sit flat anymore. Sketchers really does have cute shoes. I wish I could wear them. But when I do get them, they either wear out in a few weeks or cause my knees to hurt unbearably.
I have Simple shoes right now. They started off nice and supportive, but now they're starting to wear out and give which is starting to get annoying. I got 6 months use out of them, though, which is nice. They're an attractive shoe but is still dependable.
I don't really see the point of having fashionable feet. I mean, I understand not wearing combat boots to the Oscars or a job interview, but why are people expected to wear shoes that will hurt them? Why do people do it? People who wear heels can't walk in them very well normally or have a grimace of pain on, so they end up looking sillier than if they had just worn comfortable shoes.
I also do not understand makeup beyond mascara, eyeliner and lipstick/gloss. Everything else seems to hurt more than help. People wear makeup to cover up skin flaws, but the makeup just causes more zits. I personally don't wear makeup because I don't like to lie about or artificialize myself, but I usually don't make other people live up to my standards. I still do not understand, despite my attempt to rationalize the fashion and beauty aspects of society, why people would wear makeup every day or wear shoes that hurt them. Why???
Feel free to explain if you can. This isn't rhetorical. I really want to understand. I don't plan on starting to wear high heels or foundation from it, but at least I might stop judging the girls teetering along in pinchy heels so poorly.
I used to wear Sketchers platform shoes in elementary school when they were in style. I ended up spraining my ankle jumping into a pool because my feet weren't able to sit flat anymore. Sketchers really does have cute shoes. I wish I could wear them. But when I do get them, they either wear out in a few weeks or cause my knees to hurt unbearably.
I have Simple shoes right now. They started off nice and supportive, but now they're starting to wear out and give which is starting to get annoying. I got 6 months use out of them, though, which is nice. They're an attractive shoe but is still dependable.
I don't really see the point of having fashionable feet. I mean, I understand not wearing combat boots to the Oscars or a job interview, but why are people expected to wear shoes that will hurt them? Why do people do it? People who wear heels can't walk in them very well normally or have a grimace of pain on, so they end up looking sillier than if they had just worn comfortable shoes.
I also do not understand makeup beyond mascara, eyeliner and lipstick/gloss. Everything else seems to hurt more than help. People wear makeup to cover up skin flaws, but the makeup just causes more zits. I personally don't wear makeup because I don't like to lie about or artificialize myself, but I usually don't make other people live up to my standards. I still do not understand, despite my attempt to rationalize the fashion and beauty aspects of society, why people would wear makeup every day or wear shoes that hurt them. Why???
Feel free to explain if you can. This isn't rhetorical. I really want to understand. I don't plan on starting to wear high heels or foundation from it, but at least I might stop judging the girls teetering along in pinchy heels so poorly.
Friday, July 3, 2009
Sweatpants and Piracy
Today, I became a pirate.
I mean "pirate" in the sailing the high seas, pillaging merchant ships and being rowdy and drinking rum kind of way, not the illegally distributing media way.
However, I am not a cool pirate. I am a silly pirate. I am a pirate who wears sweatpants and glasses and wears a chicken on my shoulder, not a parrot.
That's right, today Kelly Kapoor decided to make a perch/pirate of me. She was very jealous that all the other chickens could fit on the henhouse peak, and she didn't. Apparently my shoulder is the next best thing.
I looked into her eyes as she circled the ground around me. There, I saw determination. I croaked out an "uh oh" and the next thing I knew was a swirl of feathers and chicken feet on my shoulder.
( Chicken feet, by the way, are very interesting. They look scaly and cold, but they are scaly and warm. Warmer than I am. It was slightly disturbing. )
After Mom and I stopped laughing, we took some pictures of the event and I shook her off. At which point the grand adventure of putting the chickens away started. It was eventful. They are really good at staying put.
In other news, I love sweatpants. Pros: they are warm and cozy and it feels like I'm not wearing pants at all! Cons: I can get too warm, and I look 20 pounds heavier. I also look like a lazy college student who doesn't have a job. Oh, what do you know! I guess I should wear sweatpants!
I mean "pirate" in the sailing the high seas, pillaging merchant ships and being rowdy and drinking rum kind of way, not the illegally distributing media way.
However, I am not a cool pirate. I am a silly pirate. I am a pirate who wears sweatpants and glasses and wears a chicken on my shoulder, not a parrot.
That's right, today Kelly Kapoor decided to make a perch/pirate of me. She was very jealous that all the other chickens could fit on the henhouse peak, and she didn't. Apparently my shoulder is the next best thing.
I looked into her eyes as she circled the ground around me. There, I saw determination. I croaked out an "uh oh" and the next thing I knew was a swirl of feathers and chicken feet on my shoulder.( Chicken feet, by the way, are very interesting. They look scaly and cold, but they are scaly and warm. Warmer than I am. It was slightly disturbing. )
After Mom and I stopped laughing, we took some pictures of the event and I shook her off. At which point the grand adventure of putting the chickens away started. It was eventful. They are really good at staying put.
In other news, I love sweatpants. Pros: they are warm and cozy and it feels like I'm not wearing pants at all! Cons: I can get too warm, and I look 20 pounds heavier. I also look like a lazy college student who doesn't have a job. Oh, what do you know! I guess I should wear sweatpants!
Thursday, July 2, 2009
CT and KT's Adventure in Uptown
Today, my friend KT and I went on a grand adventure. She didn't have to take her physics final today, so we decided to go to uptown and enjoy ourselves. We took the bus down there (we went down to uptown. haha) and whilst waiting for our transfer, made a short strange movie. : )
We had a lovely lunch at Namaste Cafe, which is a South Asian cafe that serves meat that had a good life (the only kind I eat). I enjoyed Chana Masaala Curry while KT got the Namaste Chicken. And we got various side dishes too, including momos for an appetizer. I highly recommend Namaste Cafe. It can be pricey for a college student's budget, but it's cheaper than Chapatis, and similar quality. Also, it has edible portion sizes, so there's no awkward leftovers.
Then we traversed across the road to the Tea Garden, one of my favorite establishments ever. While I don't always get bubble tea, the signature dish, if you will, of the Tea Garden, I always enjoy their drinks. I wish coffee places would serve more tea lattes than just chai or occasionally matcha green. I did enjoy my hot chocolate black tea latte today. The Tea Garden has tea drinks of almost any flavor or flavor combination imaginable. Well, that's not true. I'll rephrase that. They serve dozens of flavors and flavor combinations that people might actually want. It takes me longer to decide what I want than it does for them to make it, no matter how complex. I recommend going there to everyone who enjoys drinking. : ) There are Tea Gardens on Hennepin in Uptown, Washington by the Stadium Village (U of M), Grand in St Paul by Macalester, and now there is one in the Mall of America! How convenient! I'm glad my favorite place to get a hot drink or fruit shake is doing so well.
After we had finished off our desserts/drinks, we went for a short walk to Cheapo. I, who intended on buying nothing, left $20 poorer (but 6 CDs richer!) and KT, who wanted to go there in the first place, ended up putting all but 1 of the CDs she wanted back. I was saddened. There was not one Indian or Middle Eastern CD under $3, my spending limit per CD (what? an attempt to control your spending? unheard of!). I really like Cheapo, too. My goodness, this blog is just one huge advertisement! Cheapo can be very cheap, especially if you buy used. Of course, not all the CDs are cheaper than buying them (or stealing them) online, but you find some great bargains sometimes.
Then is was back home one the strange commuter bus full of people reading and lining up and being quiet and respectful. I'm still not used to it. It's strange to ride a bus without at least one annoying obnoxious weirdo on there. I love metrotransit, most of the time. One major suggestion for them: please have more busses in the Northern suburbs. The schedules are sometimes irritating and impossible. Thanks.
All in all, a good day, even if I am much poorer now than when I started out.
We had a lovely lunch at Namaste Cafe, which is a South Asian cafe that serves meat that had a good life (the only kind I eat). I enjoyed Chana Masaala Curry while KT got the Namaste Chicken. And we got various side dishes too, including momos for an appetizer. I highly recommend Namaste Cafe. It can be pricey for a college student's budget, but it's cheaper than Chapatis, and similar quality. Also, it has edible portion sizes, so there's no awkward leftovers.
Then we traversed across the road to the Tea Garden, one of my favorite establishments ever. While I don't always get bubble tea, the signature dish, if you will, of the Tea Garden, I always enjoy their drinks. I wish coffee places would serve more tea lattes than just chai or occasionally matcha green. I did enjoy my hot chocolate black tea latte today. The Tea Garden has tea drinks of almost any flavor or flavor combination imaginable. Well, that's not true. I'll rephrase that. They serve dozens of flavors and flavor combinations that people might actually want. It takes me longer to decide what I want than it does for them to make it, no matter how complex. I recommend going there to everyone who enjoys drinking. : ) There are Tea Gardens on Hennepin in Uptown, Washington by the Stadium Village (U of M), Grand in St Paul by Macalester, and now there is one in the Mall of America! How convenient! I'm glad my favorite place to get a hot drink or fruit shake is doing so well.
After we had finished off our desserts/drinks, we went for a short walk to Cheapo. I, who intended on buying nothing, left $20 poorer (but 6 CDs richer!) and KT, who wanted to go there in the first place, ended up putting all but 1 of the CDs she wanted back. I was saddened. There was not one Indian or Middle Eastern CD under $3, my spending limit per CD (what? an attempt to control your spending? unheard of!). I really like Cheapo, too. My goodness, this blog is just one huge advertisement! Cheapo can be very cheap, especially if you buy used. Of course, not all the CDs are cheaper than buying them (or stealing them) online, but you find some great bargains sometimes.
Then is was back home one the strange commuter bus full of people reading and lining up and being quiet and respectful. I'm still not used to it. It's strange to ride a bus without at least one annoying obnoxious weirdo on there. I love metrotransit, most of the time. One major suggestion for them: please have more busses in the Northern suburbs. The schedules are sometimes irritating and impossible. Thanks.
All in all, a good day, even if I am much poorer now than when I started out.
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