New species on the prowl

New Species Discoveries: We hear more about vanishing species, most recently the honeybees, but scientists lately have been stumbling upon all kinds of crazy new creatures. Brand new discoveries include birds, sea slugs, fruit bats, and more.

The part of me that is sometimes is in greater favor of animals over humans, loves it whenever a new species is discovered. There is something inspiring about knowing science hasn’t conquered and chronicled the entire world. Just when you learn all the species on the planet, you find a creature no one else has ever seen. What could be more exciting? Now, if we could just find a way to keep the animal species we know of from vanishing… and end dog fitting. Then, all would be right in the world.

Barack Obama, a.k.a. Renaissance Man

Michelle Obama, wife of Barack Obama, describes their first date:

Barack Obama was a Renaissance man on that first date.

"He was trying to sort of show all his sides. So, we went to the Art Institute in Chicago. We walked along Michigan Avenue and talked. And then we went to see 'Do the Right Thing.' So, I saw that he was down," Michelle Obama said. "I knew that I liked him a lot. He was cute and he was funny and he was charming, without, you know, being arrogant. Just a good guy."

For more details go here.

Aww. Maybe I like this story because I once went to the Art Institute of Chicago (for a class photo conference, not on a date) and I like reading of love stories at 1:16 PM in the afternoon. I also like the idea of a "Renaissance man." I don't know if I totally believe Obama is a Renaissance man (he is a smoker, after all) but I'll keep my personal politics out of it.

If the shoe fits?

So, let’s say you decide to stop wearing clothing from major brands that make use of sweatshop labor. Instead, you might shop at a thrift store and in turn buy the same brand name clothing; just not at the price you would be paying at the store. So a $120 pair of Nike sneakers might cost you $5. Obviously, Nike is not making the same profit. However, the moment you wear your Nike sneakers outside no one can tell the difference. Also, you are still showing an endorsement of the product. You are, in effect, a walking advertisement for the company you detest. I have friends who only shop at thrift stores for political reasons but end up wearing used brand name clothing, yet they still feel like a total rebel. In my opinion, if you want to feel like a total rebel and stick it to the man, you need to stop wearing brand name clothing altogether.

What do I wear? Oh, I wear what I want most of the time. I try not to be preachy about consumer decisions. I just don't like such obvious contradictions.

After an hour of scanning

I scanned a few old family photos. Most are photos of me from my childhood. I would love to have everything in digital format but would need a few days to accomplish such a task. Here are a few photos from over the years:





I was cuter then.

What's on your grocery list?

I am staying at my parent's house while they are away on a cruise. Today I came across this grocery list written by my Dad. (Now that he is retired he does the weekly shopping.) My Dad is a bit of a health nut and he has horrible, horrible handwriting. Anyway, I ended up finding his list amusing. So amusing, in fact, I made use of their scanner:



I created a flickr set titled, Found Grocery Lists. Does this make me a mean daughter? Or, perhaps it shows I am interested in documenting the idiocentric behavior of my parents. If I don't do it, who will?

Holy men and email

Sometimes, I hate to admit, I miss being in Catholic schools. Oh, I don’t miss the steady rotation of sitting, standing and kneeling one has go through in mass. I also don’t miss the scandals caused by the dress code. Sometimes students would push the dress code to the limit, such as, wearing a polo shirt with stripes to school. Such naughty students were immediately sent home and asked to change their clothing, don’t worry. What I do miss, however, is being in Religion Class… a class where one could ask the most critical questions. Such as, does the Pope use email?

Yes, he does.

The email address of Pope Benedict XVI is: benedictxvi@vatican.va. According to the About.com article, it is unlikely you will get a response. I’m sure John Paul II (whose email address was: john_paul_ii@vatican.va) would have responded to your email but I suppose that goes without saying.

This topic has me wondering… Does the Dalai Lama use email? I did some Internet searching but didn’t find any results. If I could find Richard Gere’s email (they are BFFs, you know) then I suppose that would work as a substitute…

If you thought Crocs looked funny...

I keep finding new peculiarities in footwear. To the left is the Vibram Five Fingers shoe. It is designed with barefoot movement in mind. These shoes may be useful for athletes.

The shoe on the right is Marc by Marc Jacobs. Perfect for five-year-olds. Or, if you are looking to complete your outfit for a Tacky Party. I hope this isn't a new trend.

Art?

In the end it doesn’t matter how many people toil on a work of art, or how much money is spent on it. The artist’s freedom includes the right to say, "This is not a work of art unless I say so."

From: Is It Art Yet? And Who Decides?

Link

I love this illustrated guide to coffee drinks. Great for coffee newbies.

Gadget envy

During this past week my sister, T, picked up the MacBook Pro while my sister, S, informed me today she just purchased an iPhone. This is the trouble with having so many siblings (especially sisters!). They go out and acquire flashy and exciting gadgets that I am forced to covet from afar. I feel like right about now would be the perfect time to purchase a high-end digital SLR camera. In the past few months I’ve borrowed cameras to use but of course, that isn’t the same as having a camera of my own on hand. Nikon or Canon, Nikon or Canon? Please help me decide which one.

Virtues I do not possess

Sometimes it is very critical to practice patience. Take a deep breath. Keep calm. Imagine what the Dalai Lama would do, given the situation. Today felt like an exercise in patience-when the waiter rolled her eyes after I requested napkins because my Diet Pepsi had spilled all over me- when I came home to discover my magazine had arrived but where was my free gift that was promised with the subscription? You see, I signed up for Martha Stewart Living in order to receive the official MSL tote bag. I sent my subscription with payment over three weeks ago. Finally, the magazine arrived but with no gift! I know I will be calling Martha in the morning and demanding that she gets to the bottom of this. Right after I invite her over for tea.

“You can’t fight every battle.”

Those are words of wisdom from T. She told me this a few months ago when I was venting to her about some rude experience I had in a store. I was fired up and not prepared to let such injustice go on. Then, T told me: “You can’t fight every battle.” Ahh yes, I suppose it isn’t necessary to go to war every time someone wrongs me. Now I’m at the point of letting some things go, like, maybe I can survive without my MSL tote bag for a few more days. I know not every gal could make it under such dire circumstances but there is something to be said about a true fighter.

Close encounters in the laundry room

I walked into the laundry room and looked over to find a man standing behind the washing machine, naked. A split second later I realized he wasn’t naked but rather wearing a pair of skimpy shorts. Nothing else. Immediately I lowered my eyes, threw in my laundry as quickly as possible but (of course!) crazy man decided to try to talk to me.

“It always happens, laundry day, there is no way to get around it,” he said.

“Uh huh.”

It took me maybe 30 seconds to turn on the machine, stuff in all my clothing and leave. No, I didn’t stick around to see where the conversation was going.

I understand laundry day can mean all your best clothes are soiled and so you end up wearing whatever mix-matched clothes are left. However, one should make sure to put aside a simple shirt and pair of pants. Actually, don’t just put them aside but make sure to wear them. Laundry rooms are not like going to the beach or to a tanning salon. Residents, such as myself, do not wish to take in the sight of a middle-aged man’s sagging gut. Really. That kind of image frightens me. The only word I have for it is gross. Repulsive and disgusting also come to mind.

Jones Soda Halloween edition 2007

I spotted the Jones Soda Halloween edition of soda at Target today. I saw Grape, Strawberry and Candy Corn. Go here to view all limited editions. I will have to try the new flavors soon.

Where did the creative energy go?

Classes started and as a result any energy I had is gone. I’ve been having two reoccurring thoughts this week: 1.) I wish I had finished college sooner (that I hadn’t taken so many breaks in the process) and 2.) Wow, my classes are a big waste of time. I’m being cynical, I know, and if you can’t stomach such pessimism then feel read to skip this entry. If you can, continue reading.

I realize it’ll all be over soon and I can live happily ever after with my college degree. In the meantime, however, it’s pure torture. I feel like I’m too old for it. It being college, sitting uncomfortably through dismal lectures, listening to the one idiot student in the class who won’t shut up, trying to pay attention to stories that involve the professor’s dog and not the actual material, and so on. (Actually, I don’t mind the stories involving the professor’s dog. I find those stories to be a little fascinating but that might just be because I’ve never had a dog of my own.)

To the aspiring singer next door

Dear Neighbor,

I know you like to sing. Singing is fine. Singing can be an expression of the soul or its own art form. I have no problem with singing. However, must you sing at all hours of the day? For hours on end? Perhaps you have signed onto a record label and are preparing for your debut album. Or, perhaps you are lonely and instead of taking up a quiet hobby such as embroidery or the daily crossword you have selected singing as an alternative. I feel for you, I do, but please realize I can hear every word you sing and I cannot concentrate as a result of it. I attempted to write an email today while sitting at my desk in my room. Here is what I wrote:

You must not know 'bout me
You must not know 'bout me
I could have another you in a minute
Matter fact, he'll be here in a minute, baby

I suppose these words would have been fine except I was writing the email to my Mom. I doubt she is familiar with this particular Beyonce song:



She might be, I don’t know. I know her free time is spent on Princess cruises with my Dad and who knows what kind of music they play while cruising Glacier Bay or the Panama Canal. Perhaps Beyonce gets heavy rotation. Still, I cannot concentrate. Perhaps you could limit your singing to the studio? If not a studio, then the city park? I do not wish to destroy your music career. I just can’t handle listening to love ballads at all hours of the day. I hope you can understand. Thank you in advance.

P.S. If you do make it big, feel free to remember me… the neighbor who endured countless months of listening to you practice.

The cookbook I obtained while doing laundry at 1 AM last night

I obtained a cookbook titled, The Around the World Cookbook. It is filled with pictures and easy to follow instructions. Here are the dishes I’m interested in making thus far:

Rice Cakes with Strawberries
Green Tea Cake
Dumplings
Tiramisu
Ratatouille

And many more!

I may sound ambitious but do not be fooled into believing I know what I’m doing in the kitchen. I do not. I’d say I have a 50% success rate at cooking/baking. There are many, many dishes I make that don’t turn out. Sometimes it can be discouraging but I don’t let it keep me away from burning things or ruining more dishes in the future! I just toss back my hair, march on and keep a nonchalant attitude in place. I don’t cry over spilled milk and neither should you.

Oh the sweet, Starbucks Pumpkin Spice, how I love thee

I know I’ve said and thought some awful things about Starbucks in the past. (All of which are true.) I go to Starbucks from time to time but it probably has more to do with convenience than love. However, such feelings were pushed aside yesterday as I enjoyed the Pumpkin Spice frappuccino. This is the one drink that I cannot resist. (I enjoy the Pumpkin Spice latte as well.)

In order to make the drink they use an exclusive sauce instead of a syrup (most coffee shops use Pumpkin Spice syrup during the Fall months). Starbucks does not sell the sauce to customers. Despite this, the Pumpkin Spice sauce always shows up on ebay. I just checked. There is a current auction for the sauce starting at $45. This seems similar to the auctions I was looking at last year and yes, people were bidding. I wouldn’t pay that much but then, I’ve never been able to obtain the sauce on my own (despite numerous efforts!). Maybe its time I find a Starbucks insider who would be more than happy to please me.

Recent conversation while driving

Me: Umm, guy, get out of the road.

L: He looks like a freshman.

Me: Well, if I ever needed to hit someone with my car at least it would be a freshman.

Life in a college town is difficult once fall approaches. All of a sudden new people start popping out everywhere. And it is at this moment I miss the quiet of summer.