February 29, 2004
2 Legit 2 Quit!
I can do 360 degree turns in both directions now! The 3rd try's a charm.
February 27, 2004
Dad knows best
I had a stroke of creativity and decided to cook a chicken with a modified recipe. It was horrible. My dad and I had a detailed 30 minute conversation about why it didn't turn out well. Instead of repeating past mistakes, I decided to forego that whole recipe and use my dad's proven good taste with his recipe. I also bought 2 small cornish game hens instead of a medium size chicken. It really paid off, the whole 2 hours of cooking...and I made Sam a dinner fit for a restaurant. Not only was it the better recipe, it was my best attempt at this recipe.
February 26, 2004
Amazing Coincidences
My friend Thuy and I share a love for reading. We marvel at poetic prose and then in discussing our favorite authors, we sometimes recount our favorite parts of these books and often we choose the same passages (remember Norweigan Wood, Thuy?). This trend goes back to our freshman year in college, when we were roommates and even though she was pre-med, she would still find time to read with me aside from assigned class reading. We love recommending books to each other because we have similar tastes and appreciate the same things in writting. Anyway, I find if funny that after all these years, the past 2 weeks have held uncanny coincidences. Last week she told me that her new favorite author was JM Coetzee. I mentioned that yeah, i had read his famous booker prize winner Disgrace. She loved that book. Then I remembered that I had his new one from the library here Elizabeth Costello and I mentioned that and she had checked out the exact same book. Ok, you may chalk that up to the fact that it was a newer release...but that won't account for this week: Tonight she asked me if I had read any William Boyd. Well, I hadn't but a few hours ago I had picked up his book Any Human Heart at the library. She isn't reading the same book but the same author. I should mention that we now live in different states and don't share a library. Of all the authors in the world, of all the books in the world...I find it amazing that we are in sync. She thinks it unremarkable and it's simply indicative of why we are friends.
February 24, 2004
Touching the Void
This movie was fascinating. Their story is legend. Go see it! My favorite genre is survival/adventure. And this was a true story! Painful to watch at time though. And no one needs a friend like Richard. haha.
February 22, 2004
cold case
I am so proud of myself for solving a 4+ year mystery in my life. In fact, if anyone asked me for the only mystery I've held onto, I'd offer this one up. It was the name of a song by an unknown band. Without anything to go on, I have looked and sampled thousands of songs. I felt that the song really meant something to me, but I couldn't even discern any lyrics. And now I know it all.
February 20, 2004
Girl Weekend
Sam's off to Georgetown this weekend to play in an MBA basketball tournament. He was really excited and I am excited too. I am going to hang with my cousin and possibly go snowboarding and rent the movies that Sam isn't interested in watching.
February 17, 2004
800-999-7878
This is the number to call once a day to compete for Supermillionaire. I think we should all go for it. Nothing to lose and everything to gain to pay off our student loans. Mom, Dad, Meagan, Sam's parents, friends. Everyone should try it.
A good time
My sister had pub trivia night last night and I have to admit I was a little envious. Pub trivia sounds like my idea of a great time. I imagine it to take place in an old building, with lots of wood on the interior. Very cozy. Everyone concentrating together and laughing. They may have game night in ithaca but I think it is dominated by a few brainiacs with a large amount of sports questions. I'm thinking I will try to create one of these with people that I know. I wish I knew more people.
Thoughts
The last couple of days haven't been easy, waiting to hear about a job I interviewed for. But I always find that things work out for the best, so I'm trying to prepare for that. If I don't get it, it could be the universe telling me to concentrate more on school and writing. I have shelved a lot of projects recently and maybe it is time to reexamine them. I am continually reminded that I am blessed and lucky.
February 14, 2004
Books
I don't recommend the 4th book of the series by Alexander McCall Smith- The Kalahari Typing School For Men. It doesn't measure up to the first three (you may know the title "The #1 Ladies Detective Agency"). Anyway, the 4th book had too much background and a lack of feeling and mystery, too formulaic.
I do recommend The Namesake by the publitzer winner Jhumpa Lahiri. I read her collection of short stories and liked them more than her first novel, but I still think this is worth reading because of how subtle it is.
Let Down
After anyone leaves Ithaca, no matter how long they stay, I feel a slight let down. It takes me about a day or two to start feeling like myself again. I don't think I'm an overly social person, but I do feel a difference when company leaves. It was nice having family here.
And back again
Meagan was complaining that I've been slacking on my website. I actually have been slacking on everything. My relatives just left today and I am going to start getting organized again. The baby still has no name and we won't put up pictures here cause they are very private about him. We went snowboarding today since it was Valentine's Day and it was a great experience. The slopes are closer than expected- 20 minutes. And I got a beginner's deal so the ride there and rentals, lesson and lift ticket is only $25. The snow was perfect and the weather was warm. The only downside was it was a bit crowded from the holiday weekend. Now I have to clean up, do more reading and writing, burn some cd's and wedding plan and get hired. More book updates soon!
February 10, 2004
Dooms Day
I just walked by our beloved soup restaurant "zoupwerks" and saw that it has closed down and there is no trace of it left.
February 07, 2004
Baby Boy
My 24 yr old cousin had a baby boy yesterday at 630pm. He doesn't have a name yet, but I got to see him 15min after he was born and he was so adorable. Feli did great and so did her husband Jason. She looked better after childbirth than the rest of us did after waiting at the hospital all day. I can't wait to see the baby again.
February 05, 2004
the curious incident of the dog in the night time
All of my friends and especially my sister should read this book. It's one of a kind. Get it now!
February 03, 2004
House of Sand and Fog
I'd read the book and was hesitant about seeing the movie cause I knew it was tragic and after 21 Grams, I wasn't ready. Anyway, since Cheryl recommended it and it was leaving the theater soon, I decided to see this movie finally. It was sad, but in a really beautiful way. So much unlikely intimacy. And Ben Kingsley deserves an oscar.
Keen Observation
From my aunt's trip to Myanmar: The next day we took a ferry down river to a little town with a lot of temples. Temples are everywhere. Seriously if they spent the money on schools and health care they would all be healthy geniuses.
February 02, 2004
Book review
I'm finally over my nature/adventure books. Outside 25 was a great collection of stories. I'd recommend it higher than Last Breath for the writing alone. Nature writers that I'd recommend are Paul Theroux, Tim Cahill, Susan Orlean, Ian Frazier, and the less famous; Edward Hoagland, William T Vollmann, David Rakoff.
Heat Wave
If you can call it that, we've been having a nice spell of 26-27 degree weather. It was warm enough (26) today to go outside without a jacket. I have seriously modified my internal thermometer since moving here.