Summers actually are for reality television

1995, the summer before 8th grade. Otherwise known as the summer I spent weeks at a time watching MTV, the year of Alanis Morrisette's Jagged Little Pill & TLC's "Don't Go Chasing Waterfalls." Ahh, Buzz Clips. And the year I caught up on the first four seasons of the Real World.

Now I have about 16 years of reality television to catch up on, minus the many hours I spent in college watching Elimidate (it feels wrong to italicize that program, but I did it anyway). 

This summer has been the summer of Say Yes to the Dress, Teen Mom, and 16 & Pregnant. I see that Toddlers & Tiaras is on Netflix, too, so no doubt I'll explore that. Oh, look, I just pushed play.

And to make sure I remain high in your esteem: summers are also for reading. So far, I've read Edwidge Dandicatt's The Dew Breakers, Marilynne Robinson's Gilead, The Fug Girls' Spoiled, Kingsolver's Prodigal Summer, Morrison's Song of Solomon, the second book in the Hunger Games trilogy, and two wedding books (Offbeat Bride & Miss Manners). I'm currently reading The Corrections, and I'm pretty sure I forgot a book or two. Granted, not highest of brows on display here, but summer is not about Tristram Shandy or Paradise Lost, though last summer certainly was.

Triumph, and, a possible perk of unemployment

Just took my first run since the thyroidectomy, and it was shockingly easier than expected. I was slower than usual, but I did not find myself watching the clock (I've been following the couch to 5k plan for the last couple of months to get back in the running habit and I typically know exactly how much longer I have for each interval at any given point during my run).

For one, I was pleased to learn that I could actually run slower. I typically shuffle along, running a 9 minute mile regardless of what point I am at during my run (note-- I have never attempted to run more than 30 minutes or so and I'm sure that would change if I went on longer).  But today I only covered 2.44 miles and it took 35 minutes-- 18 minutes of running and 17, walking. Usually I'd squeeze nearly an extra mile out of that time. Alas, I ran slowly with nary and it was easy and pleasant, so I'm happy.

But best of all was the fact that I contentedly listened to the podcast without looking at my iPod every 30 seconds. This I attribute to the aforementioned unemployment. Yesterday I baked this apple cake and was startled when the timer went off after 20 minutes, having felt only a few of those pass. Today I ran my first 5 minute interval without looking at my iPod even once. Okay, I looked once but that was in amazement when I realized I had to be almost done. And I was.


Whoa.

A life update

So, apparently it's been over a year since I updated this blog. How bizarre.

I started a wedding planning tumblr. Yes, Bill and I are engaged. After 11 years of dating, and 7 of cohabitation. Despite our long ago commitment to each other, it is exciting.

Not sure what the point of resuscitating this blog is, exactly. Probably there is no point, except that I am under-programmed these days and have plenty of free time. Do I have any readers left? Will this show up on someone's RSS or whatever? Who knows!

Alas, I felt the urge to update. I got engaged, finished my master's, and got my thyroid out all in under a month. That month came to a close last Monday. Now I am effectively unemployed-- or at least, massively under-employed.

And I have my first job interview on Monday. And I realized, when pondering what to wear, that the suit I have was purchased in 2005, that I haven't gone on a job interview since 2007. So this weekend, I will figure out what to wear (not the suit-- it's too big now, anyway).

I wish I had not made this realization, as between 2004 and 2007, I went on dozens of interviews. I was a pro. Until I realized I hadn't had one in over four years, I felt pretty relaxed about the whole endeavor.

Alas, now I must put together an outfit, one that involves a scarf (which is itself a challenge) and thus disguises the falling off and crusty Steristrips that cover my surgical wound. Wish me luck.

Disease!

Fascinating update follows:

I have been fighting a cold or something for the past week or so, and I have not yet fallen ill! Hooray? I might ultimately win the battle if I avoided staying up late drinking, but what if the fruity rum drinks loaded with Vitamin C are helping? Mysteries!

Time, motivation.

I am in the midst of a two-week long break after returning from holiday travel and before heading back to school after MLK Day, and now I am growing majorly antsy. The first few days were tolerable-- I had to take care of various issues (a traffic ticket, for which I went to court in hopes of avoiding the $500 fine-- which I did, I got 31 hours of community service instead), unpacking, cleaning, making Bill buy new clothes, listing things I want to get rid of on eBay, paying bills, doing laundry, going to the library, etc. Now, however, I am done with chores and I have over a week of time to occupy! Time during which I should probably avoid spending money (since I don't really make any), and should use make lesson plans, exercise, reorganize my crap in the bedroom, and do community service.
Alas, my motivation to do these things is... lacking. I'm curious about the community service-- I've been assigned to do clerical work at a residential rehab clinic down the street (fascinating!), I'm looking forward to re-reading The Things They Carried before teaching it this spring, and I really do want to exercise and accelerate the disappearance of the 3 lbs Santa brought this year. I've had success getting myself to yoga twice this week, but I cannot bring myself to go on a run. When I'm in the habit of running, it's no big deal to bind up the bosoms and take to the streets, but when I've been on a hiatus (I probably haven't run in a month or even more!), I just cannot talk myself into it.
I really just want to go out-- visit the new goodwill bookstore, go shopping, hang out with friends, go to the movies, etc etc etc. But the only thing I need to do that involves going out is doing community service, which sounds kind of interesting but also like something they'll want me to do for several hours at a time and I'm not sure I have the attention span for that.
As I've long suspected, free time doesn't especially agree with me.

Changes!

Fall has finally come to Los Angeles, and I am positively euphoric about it. Made soup last weekend (chicken sausage, garbanzo bean and veggies) and will make some more tomorrow (beef with barley). It's not that cold--highs in the 70s--so I am enjoying sleeping with the windows open, burrowed under the down comforter. Walking to the farmers' market on Tuesday, I was practically skipping with joy about the weather. And then I remembered that the tomatoes I bought the week prior kind of sucked. Ah well. The one good thing about summer has come to an end.

Teaching freshman composition is more fun than I could have imagined. Most days, I am nearly giddy after teaching-- it's such a rush. It's hard, but I love working with freshmen and their writing. I'm already rethinking whether or not I want to return to academic publishing as I had planned post-MA.

Visits, Adventure, Etc.

Just got home from a road-trip with my guy-- visited family and friends in Utah, Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri. Drove through Nevada and Wyoming, and little corners of Arizona and Iowa. I really enjoyed all the wide open spaces and dramatic landscapes, something I sorely miss in Los Angeles. And of course, all the family and friends. In fact, I saw all but a few members of my family. I visited with: both brothers, both parents, my sole remaining grandparent (maternal grandfather, age 92!) plus my step-grandmother (his wife of 13 years), all four of my cousins, five of their six offspring, and both of my uncles. Plus bunches of Bill's family. It was nice-- I really enjoy my family, and it was nice to visit by road trip, which takes the pressure off quite a bit. A few days of family, followed by a day in the car listening to audiobooks (Sarah Vowell, best ever) really does the body good.

Wednesday, my graduate school adventure begins!

The Joys of Unemployment

Oh, friends, let me tell you how delightful I am finding unemployment.

I spent 11 days in the New Jersey/Pennsylvania/NYC area and saw friends and family, the Pennsylvania Dutch, and the trashiest place known to mankind (the Wildwood boardwalk). There is a reason so many reality show contestants come from the Jerz.

Then, back to LA, where I have gone to yoga, to the beach in the middle of the day on bicycle, to a movie at mid-day, to San Diego to drink beer and look at animals, and so on. I've read three books, and I've seen my first episode of Ellen. It's especially fun as Bill is in a less intense school period so we can have even more fun than usual!

The new economy

So today I am using my work time to read the archives of Chowhound's Table Manners, and I am now back in the 2007s. In case you think I am overly slothful, I will note that I am skimming and not reading every column. I am also getting laid off next month and working on an incredibly annoying project, so I suppose I am not highly motivated.

It is interesting to see the advice given back in those more prosperous times. I just read a column where we were told that brown-bagging it at work will damage your career, and another that stated taking your leftovers home from a date or a business meal is a major no-no. Granted, I work in an office where restaurants are inaccessible so most people brown-bag it. And as someone that endeavors to fiscal and environmental responsibility, I can't bear to see food go to waste. In either case, I can't imagine an advice columnist giving similar advice now.

The Pleasure of the Layoff

Friends, I have volunteered to be laid off. We are letting something like 14% of the staff go, 20% in my department, and one of them will be me. I am glad of this, as it means that I will be spending my summer before graduate school getting paid and yet not going to work. Great news.

However, Bill will be at home mostly, deep within his own graduate work, and I won't lie, my summer presence is not thrilling to Bill. Apparently, I will serve as a distraction. He has even suggested taking me to daycare.

So, I am now excitedly planning my summer activities.

There are a couple of LA presses that I think I will contact about interning with;
I will sign up for at least one month's worth of unlimited yoga and become a bona fide yogini;
I will use all of my grown-up connections to score house/pet/plant/baby-sitting gigs;
I will visit friends and family in the following cities: Allentown and Philadelphia, PA; Clinton and Somerset, NJ; New York City, NY;
I will make a significant dent in my comprehensive exam reading list;
I will register to be an extra and hope to spend the day standing around on set;
I will continue to explore southern California;
I will sell random crap and too-big clothes on eBay.

I think that sums it up, although I am sure I will come up with many more goals and activities for my unemployed summer!!

Buying books

So, I've been killing my considerable downtime at work these days reading a blog, The Non-Consumer Advocate. Basically, a blog about living extremely frugally. She goes so far as to buy nothing new but consumables, and she drastically limits her purchase of those, too. I like to think I do pretty well with making responsible shopping decisions, but I know I could do much better. Hence these thrift-minded posts.

Anyway, I mostly buy used books. And I'm not talking the "like new" books found used on Amazon. I am talking 25¢ books at thrift stores and library book sales. I am usually content to choose my next book from a stack of acquired books of interest, rather than seeking out a specific title. Plus, last year I had the great fortune to attend BookExpo America, where I got dozens of advances that I am still working through. So, I almost never buy new books. And while the Kindle excites me on an intellectual and professional level, I personally shudder at the idea of spending $10 per book with no escape.

But... I work in book publishing! I love books, and I want writers to be compensated for their work. I do feel some guilt about my book-thrift (hence this post), but certainly not enough to buy new on principle, as some of my colleagues do. Plus, when I love a book, I buy new copies for gifts.

The Frugality vs. Living Balance

As a few of you know, this fall will find me heading back to school. Which means that Bill and I will go from living on a paltry non-profit salary and a meager grad student fellowship to a meager grad fellowship and an even-more-meager grad student fellowship. In a very expensive city.

So, I am thinking hard about what cuts I can make, especially now that I still have a steady income (knock on wood) that covers my basic needs with room for a (very) little extra. I consider myself a fairly thrifty person. I am an awesome budget shopper, at least when it comes to clothes (seriously, I dare you to find someone better), but I've become that way mainly to compensate for my recreational shopping habit. So yes, I rarely spend more than $15 on shoes, but I spend that $15 a lot more than I should.

I am a value-conscious grocery shopper, but I admit that I will spend a few extra dollars on some cheeses that perhaps don't belong in the refrigerator of someone with my means. In general, I feel proud of my financial acumen-- after all, I don't have credit card debt, I've never defaulted on my student loans, and I contribute to my 401k (although so far that hasn't paid off).

However, I like to eat out, have a few drinks, go shopping, travel, go to events, take yoga classes, etc. I took a financially ill-advised but unforgettable trip to Peru last year (that I paid off a few months later). I don't really want to give up those experiences, but I do think it's time I figure out a way to manage my spending and cut it back.

I'm not sure how I want to manage that-- I think a more strict budget is in order. I'm toying with the idea of moving to a cash-based existence-- maybe ditch the credit/debit cards-- and give myself a weekly cash allowance? I love my credit card rewards but I think might be a good idea to get out of the habit of charging all of my groceries (even if I pay the bill in full). I have to say, the idea of rejecting dinner or drinks with a friend because it doesn't fit into my budget seems like a strange and horrible concept, but I think it's the only way I can get through the next two years.

Infrequent readers, how do you budget?

Diet

Yep, I am on a diet. I have decided to blog about it. Here.

Harumph, family

For those of you that do not know my younger brother, Nathan, and do not read his blog...I will share with you his reply to my question about what he might like for Christmas:

"knowledge, recordings of argentine folklore (that's music), a book you'd think I'd like or graffiti, things vampire related, a knife of the maximum legal size.""you may teach me a difficult skill you have in lieu of a present.but you graduated from liberal arts college so I am not sure you have any."

Anyway, now you see how hard my life is. Also, I've been sick since I posted about toilet seat covers... the revenge of the germs?

$3.99 I'm going out of my mind.

A few weeks ago I did two things in the wine aisle of Whole Foods that I try never to do: buy wines that cost less than $7 (because then you can't just grab something from the rack to take to a friend's house) and buy wines because the label is cute (because that's embarrassing).

But this label was so cute, and not cute like penguins! Just a tiny smidge of tasteful cuteness that suggests a real wine for real grown-ups.

See?

And, it's $3.99. However, you probably don't think it's cute, and Bill already said it tastes "interesting."

See also my messy counter? Stop judging. I swear the wine is good.

Holidays!

I don't like this late Thanksgiving, it makes the rest too cluttered. Only a few weeks, for instance, to buy Candy Cane Joe-Joes.

My coming weekends are full, and I don't know when I will find the time to make cookies, or for elaborate truffle-making projects like last year. Which is probably for the best, because though my truffles were tasty, they were not especially attractive (fine motor skills are not my forte), nor were they cheaper than the store-bought kind.

Yes, I am distressed because there is simply not enough time for holiday eating* this year. What of it?


*Please note, I did spend a full 40 minutes at the gym today, exercising. That must buy me several pounds of stilton and chocolate.

Against Toilet Seat Covers

I do not believe that toilet seat covers do anything, save soothe the neuroses of germ-a-phobes, create unnecessary waste, and perhaps clog toilets.

When I hear the rustle made by these immaterial materials, I think unkind thoughts about your evident disregard for the earth, your sexual proclivities, and your mental capabilities.

Did you miss the day in the 3rd grade when we talked about how itty-bitty bacteria is? Do you think paper you can see through keeps your bits safe? Would you consider wrapping a dick in tissue paper to be a step up from going bareback? If you are surrounded by ants, do you think putting up a chain link fence might help keep them away? Do you hate trees, or perhaps your plumber?

The answer, my friends, is "no." No to substituting a colander for a goldfish bowl and no to toilet seat covers.

November 5th, 2008

The day Ruth spent sitting at her desk, getting teary-eyed while reading about old black people who voted for Obama.

Public transit, why suck so hard?

I don't want to own a car. I currently own a totaled car that will someday soon turn into a check from an insurance company.

Bill has a perfectly nice car, a flexible schedule, and a kind heart. I have a perfectly nice carpool to work several days a week, and an interest in living without a car.

After experiencing the wonders of Philly Car Share with Margaret last year, I thought, oh, maybe there is a car just a few blocks away from me that I can grab from time to time. Alas, LA does not have a similar program save an unhelpful zipcar program through the universities.

I then rethought the bus or bike route to work. Bicycling frightens me as I'd have to ride down a strip of high traffic, bike-laneless road before arriving to work, plus I don't want to be sloppy or smelly at work (anymore than I am now, anyway).

I could take two buses to work, but that would take me nearly two hours.

My best idea so far? Ride bike 3 miles, take bus 45 minutes.

I live, by the way, just 7 miles from work.

Yikes!

Smell

Someone I used to know in grade school recently sent me a friend request on Facebook today, and, upon seeing his name, I instantly recalled how he smelled-- wrong, sweet, different, pungent.

Kind of amazing, as I haven't thought of him for a decade plus, and I didn't care for him at all when I knew him. Obviously he wasn't my favorite classmate, being so smelly and all.

Of course I accepted his friend request, because he was good-natured and besides, I was probably mean to him. Accepting his friend request is my ticket to redemption.

Jury Duty!

I've lived in LA for over two years, voted in numerous elections, and hadn't been called for Jury Duty. Plus, my employer pays unlimited Jury Duty, so it's really no skin off my back.

Finally, my summons came yesterday.

I. literally. cannot. wait.

I have been smiling all day about the fun I will have. I know, apparently I might not even have to go in. You are "on call" for a week. And even if I go in, I might not get picked.

If I get picked (aka win), I promise you, County of Los Angeles, that I will be the best juror EVER. And in the meantime, I hope to enjoy at least a day at the downtown courthouse, catching up on my reading and heading to Little Tokyo for lunch.

Autumn!

Today is the first day of Fall. Not only does that mean I will be less likely to find the outdoor temperature unsatisfactory, it means that it is almost time for my most favorite of snacks:

Candy Cane Joe Joe's from Trader Joe's. Minty cookie, I love you.

Sarah Palin

Every time I read something about Sarah Palin (which has been rare in the past week or two-- I'm officially over her), I think to myself "...is bringing the LOLZ." And then I wonder if I've understood that internet expression properly.

And even though I've been officially over Maureen Dowd for several years, I've found myself reading her column again as of late.

But tell me, these quotes from Dowd's column yesterday are surely bringing the lolz:

1) "The latest news from Alaska is that the governor keeps a tanning bed in the Juneau mansion. As The Los Angeles Times pointed out, when Palin declared May 2007 Skin Cancer Awareness Month in Alaska, the press release explained that skin cancer was caused by 'the sun and from tanning beds.'"

2) "I talked to a Wal-Mart mom, Betty Necas, 39, wearing sweatpants and tattoos on her wrists. She said she’s never voted, and was a teenage mom 'like Bristol.' She likes Sarah because she’s “down home” but said Obama 'gives me the creeps. Nothing to do with the fact that he’s black. He just seems snotty, and he looks weaselly.'"

Chocolate Souffle

It is my assertion that the Chocolate Souffle is the greatest dessert of all time. The textural pleasure: molten center meets toothy crust. Rich bittersweet chocolate, unblemished by flour. It is a dream come to life in chocolate.

drrrrrrrrrrama

Ahh, apparently we moved in next to the sort of bachelor who leaves the oven on and takes off for the evening, which causes the smoke alarm to start going off at 10:30.

Said bachelor also leaves his door slightly ajar, which allows Bill to walk on in and unplug the aforementioned smoke alarm. Leaves girlfriend on the couch to wonder if this is all just a little bit too weird and if the north side of the building was perhaps the safer (saner?) side.

New apartment!

Bill and I have, after a summer of searching, moved into a two-bedroom apartment in our current building!

Stay tuned for exciting blog posts about the hunt for a file cabinet and the joys of two bathrooms.

Busy

The past few months have been pretty insanely busy.

I will tell you what I've done for the last few weekends:

Vegas
Peru
Peru
Dad visit
Dad visit
Friend visit
4th of July weekend in LA, party-central
Cousin wedding in Nebraska
Friend visit
Brother graduation in Kansas City

Also, our fridge broke while I was in Peru, so now we are living out of a friend's old dorm fridge.
And, Bill & I both have colds.
And, Bill started at USC today.

Now, I am watching the Hills (thanks, Netflix!) with no plans to stop.

Machu Picchu!

Well, folks, the rumors are true: Machu Picchu is awesome.

Incans must have been short people with absolutely amazing asses, as that place is STEEP.

Peru!

I am arrived. I had the worst airplane food ever, courtesy Copa Airlines, I visited the Panamanian airport, trekked across an endless airport parking lot in Lima following the guy who purported to be my ride to the hostel (he was, after all), I wandered the fancy limeño neighborhood of Miraflores in which I am staying, returned to the hostel, made friends with a Dutch girl traveling solo, ate dinner at a crappy Italian place with said Dutch girl (no wooden shoes, folks), and then returned to my hostel, took a surprisingly pleasant hostel shower, and then stubbed my toe so hart it broke the skin!

Anyway, now I am going to read my book and prepare for bed. Upon awaking tomorrow, Veronica and Margaret will be arrived to my hostel and I will hopefully convince them to go to a chifa with me, which is a Peruvian Chinese restaurant!

So much for daily updates.

Tomorrow I leave for Peru.

I got some Cipro, just in case...

meat.

Bill's mom sent him some Omaha Steaks for his birthday. We documented their consumption.

Now I present that documentation for your consumption.

Bad Pizza Tragedy

Sorry, no pictures today. I spent way, way too much time working today and I am tired.

As a result of all the work (!!) I did, I was lacking in the energy needed for cooking and so Bill & I walked the block or so to the new neighborhood pizza joint. Which sucked. A lot.

I'm definitely an "if you put cheese on it, I'll come" sort of girl (heh), and I'm afraid this pizza just couldn't make it happen.

Too bad, because I have been excited about it for months and months. Sigh. At least I have Tokyo 7-7.

Friday Brunch!

I ate this.
Ginger beef, rice, two eggs over easy. The diner is too awesome to describe further. Suffice it to say, it's in an alley and breakfast starts at $2.35. Oh yeah, and it's less than two blocks from my apartment. Does this make me cooler than you? The answer to that is yes--unless you are in one of the few apartments closer.

Pancetta, grape tomatoes, onion.

Saute, add pasta, top with grated pecorino romano, eat, rejoice.

As you no doubt noticed, I totally slacked on my updating as I had a friend in town over the weekend and we were busy eating out and drinking. To make up for my bad behavior, I will draw you a picture of a meal I ate, for each day that I missed.

On Thursday, we had Ethiopian food and it was delicious! However, I have decided that from here on out, I will stop ordering the honey beer, as I do not like it.

Here is what our dinner looked like. We ate with our hands.

Oy, shameful, I have skipped yet another day.

I often thought about blogging, though, so it isn't as though it slipped my mind completely. I just got distracted: my job, laundry, grocery shopping, watching Undeclared on DVD.

Ah, but I did go grocery shopping yesterday, after preparing dinner with what needed to be eaten, stat. We had some British-style bacon from Fresh & Easy (a huge disappointment, by the way, with some pieces cut 2 to 3 times thinner than others), an avocado, a tomato. So, bacon, avocado, tomato & cheddar sandwiches it was for dinner.

And then, to my quarterly pasta & bulk buying trip to Whole Foods. I still love Whole Foods, but I live in walking distance to Trader Joe's & Albertson's, and there's a farmers' market on my street. It seems silly to drive to the market when I don't have to. But, there are certain things worth making the trip for: their whole wheat organic pasta, their bulk brown short-grain rice at the merest 89¢ a pound, their bulk orzo (no bargain, really, at $2.99/lb), some impulsively bought olives, beer, of course.

Fast Food, part I

While I have many junk food pleasures, fast food is not one of them. I admit a deep love for Chipotle but otherwise find little allure in fast food. The result being I have not eaten, ever, at many iconic restaurants. Here's my list of ubiquitous or iconic fast food establishments I have never visited:

• Checkers/Rally's Drive-In
• Chick-fil-A
• Del Taco
• El Pollo Loco
• Fatburger
• Five Guys
• Hot Dog on a Stick
• Jack in the Box
• L&L Hawaiian BBQ
• Long John Silver's
• Noodles and Co
• Popeye's Chicken & Biscuits
• Shakey's Pizza
• I've been in Taco Bell, but I've never ordered food there. This is perhaps the most shocking, but shouldn't be, given that I didn't like Mexican food until age 20 or so, after I stopped smoking pot with any regularity.
• Togo's
• Whataburger
• Wienerschnitzel

Anyway, this is my fast food list. I think a lot of the places on my list aren't found much in the Midwest, which is the primary reason I've never been there.

Hot Dog!

Many, many years ago I decided I hated hot dogs. In fact, I don't know when I last had a hot dog. If I had to guess, I'd say 20+ years ago.

My neighbor growing up ate frozen hot dogs like popsicles, which might explain why I found them so repulsive, as that is truly disgusting.

Anyway, yesterday I ate two hot dogs and I really liked them! Who knew?

Boring!

Well, this NaBloPoMo business has so far been really tedious--I am boring myself, so I'm sorry for any additional boredom I am passing on to you. I don't want to write in my blog every day, even if it is about my favorite thing, food. Especially today, post-4th of July drinking and eating and more eating. And, after a lazy day of sleeping, eating leftovers, shopping, and then sleeping some more, I am about to head out for some more excess.

So, I leave you with a picture of Bill eating, which I have decided I will do whenever I have nothing I really want to say.


Below: Bill eats carne asada fries at La Playa Taco Shop in San Diego, 6/29/08.

Overeating, overindulging, etc.

Yes. I did all of the above on the Fourth of July. And the only fireworks I saw were on the TV, which was fine. After all the food was laid out on the table, one of our companions said "take that, Hugo Chavez." Indeed, we are a wealthy land.

Popcorn, Helvetica

Well, today I got to watch the documentary Helvetica at work with a bunch of design & production people. They thought it was pretty funny, and I must say, I enjoyed the movie and especially enjoyed the watching a movie during work.

Someone made a bag of Newman's Own microwave popcorn.

If you didn't know this about me already, I will tell you: I love popcorn. I wouldn't say I need to eat it daily, but I definitely need to eat it weekly. And popcorn at the movie theater is mandatory, even if I have previously deemed it sub-par.

I was pretty alarmed last year when that microwave popcorn/lung disease story broke, and, anyway, since I tend to be pretty concerned with eating minimally processed foods, I finally made the move to get a stovetop popper (and by "made the move" I mean "asked my mom to get me one for my birthday") last fall.

So, now I pop my organic popping corn in bulk from Whole Foods, pop it canola oil and drizzle melted butter on my popped corn. And I wouldn't be lying if I said that it was basically the best tasting thing in the whole world. Still, I can't resist crummy microwaved popcorn so I indulged at the meeting... err, movie-watching. And it was kind of gross, but I kept eating it.

Also, Bill has officially turned into a popcorn hater. I guess there is only so much love for popcorn a couple can have, and I hog it all. Sigh.

bacon

Well, today I spent a lot of time thinking about bacon, and things I could wrap in bacon. I mainly blame the picture that keeps popping up on facebook ("6 of your friends have become fans of Bacon" and so on. Really, what's wrong with my other 215 friends??), here:

Also, I have two BBQs to attend this weekend, and I should bring food to both of them. So, I considered what I could bring that would be wrapped in bacon for most of my day at work. Temporary reprieve came at lunch, at which time I ordered the BLT.

I gave up, by the way. Unless a stroke of genius hits, I'll be bacon-less for the weekend. Which isn't entirely true, as I finally got to one of the new Fresh & Easy markets (Tesco's US expansion), and bought British-style rashers, which I will almost certainly eat this weekend. And actually, I think I will make hash browns and rashers for breakfast on the 4th. No, the two are not generally considered complementary, but I just happen to have applesauce and sour cream that needs to be eaten. And no, hash browns are not precisely the same at latkes but I think they will do just fine.

Food, NaBloPoMo

Well, I am trying something different, something not particularly like me. I am going to try this NaBloPoMo thing in which I agree to update my blog daily on a certain theme. I am copying my friend City Elf.

This month's theme is Food, which has long since been a source of nourishment for me (ha!), but is also amongst my primary hobbies and joys (exhibit a: my, err, abundance). So, from this day forward (through July 31st, that is), I will share with you my thoughts on things tangentially related to food.

And on that note, I will direct you to the blog of my younger (but taller) brother, who has recently arrived in Argentina for a junior year abroad. He is apparently being starved by his host mother. I encourage you to read it and feed his fragile male ego.

Wow, I can't believe it was only a few months ago I was making all of these grandiose plans to update my blog regularly. Sorry, folks, that idea got waylaid by, perhaps, my new Netflix subscription.

Given my proximity to Blockbuster stores and some lame-ass Walmart/Netflix coupling a few years back, I've been a Blockbuster online user. But when they would not rent me (or anyone) the big kid version of Lust, Caution, and they kept raising our rates/cutting services, we decided it was time to abandon ship.

In other news, I have a sore throat and want a crushing amount of noodles in broth.

California Pride

copyright Robert Durell / Los Angeles Times

It is so wonderful to see joyous faces in the newspaper. Hooray for justice and equality.

Science!

Today Bill & I visited NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratories at Cal Tech, which are, incidentally, not at Cal Tech.

It looked a lot like the set of Real Genius, but I didn't see Val Kilmer. When we toured various labs and saw things that were more or less like lazers, I kept thinking, gosh, how come all scientific equipment looks just exactly the same as it did in 80's movies. Suffice it to say, some of the exhibits were a bit beyond my Chicago's Museum of Science and Industry comprehension level.

However, we did get a fair amount of free stuff-- namely stickers, bookmarks and even a notebook!

Also, I will note that NASA sprung for the deluxe port-a-potties. Literally, the word "Royale" was emblazoned on the side. I mean, the port-a-potties were larger than high school classroom trailers that fill the playgrounds of the LAUSD (Los Angeles Unified School District, for my non-resident readers). Let it be known that I would prefer my tax dollars go to classrooms, not deluxe lavatories.

Finally, the labs are located in the city of La Cañada Flintridge, a lovely part of Los Angeles I had never visited before and indeed, assumed to be La Canada as many listings omit the tilde. So I'm glad I visited, saw the "Welcome to La Cañada Flintridge: Home of the Nasa Jet Propulsion Laboratory" signs, noted the en-yay (!), and remembered to look up the correct pronunciation (la can-yadda) upon my return home.

Officially a Los Angeleno (a?)

Today I saw Morrissey in a bar and kept my cool.

While I did take a gratuitous bathroom trip to investigate this sighting and, let's say, let my eyes linger, I did not scream, squeal, or express in any way my excitement in a way that would have been apparent to the Moz. Fortunately, my friends & I were on the patio and the Pope of Mope was seated inside (shockingly, with his back to the mirrored wall) so I could manage a little squealing here and there.

Spotted today

Very old (80+ for sure) man carrying a reusable grocery bag with a bumper sticker: Impeachment is Patriotic.

I love old liberals.

Hi, World.

Dear Blog,

I'm sorry that I have been so neglectful of you over the past year or even two. Part of the problem is that my life just isn't terribly eventful. I can't even think of the last time I saw a stranger jerking off, attempted a bagel-making project, or outed my roommate as a total freak!

Ah, but the truth is, my boyfriend still eats stuff for breakfast that is so predictable it's hilarious.

And, I still make exciting stuff to feast upon. Just yesterday I put yogurt into my macaroni and cheese! This is all part of my total infatuation with European or Greek-style non-fat, plain yogurt. It makes literally everything more delicious.

So, blog, I vow to try again. And try harder. And be totally awesome in every way. Especially since unemployment looms in my future. Thanks for that, President Bush and your war-mongering. That's right, folks, I may soon be a victim of the not-quite-recession. Fortunately, we have my boyfriend's graduate student income to sustain us.

And here we go, looking forward to a future of awesomeness.

Warmest regards,

Ruth

Happy May Day

Just received this email from my boss and felt the slightest pang of sadness that my work situation will soon change:

"Pause for a moment to consider the irony of your boss wishing you a happy May Day, which, of course, I do.

Now, get back to work!

The Management

"

Statistics

OK, you know that statistic about how 50% of young people couldn't find Iraq or Israel or wherever on a map?

Well, I'd really like to see the map in question. I think I am pretty decent at geography, but I don't think I could properly fill in a blank map of the Middle East, despite my success on the Map Tests in World Geography as a freshman in high school.

That's all.

Google, have you no morals?!?!

under

lovelovelovelovelovelovelove

So mad at me!!

Ugh, my annoyance with myself has skyrocketed, as I stupidly flaked and forgot to buy Magnetic Fields tickets and now it's sold out. And I owe money on my taxes this year so don't think I can justify paying scalpers' rates and my stupid lower lip won't pop back in.

On-sale dates are exactly why calendars were invented and anyway, GRRR GRRR GRR.

Fuck you, Year of the Rat.

Apparently, I'm going to have an atrocious 2008. Great news, especially since there are a number of anticipated changes upcoming.


The Year of the Rat for the Rooster

I swear, any time I read any astrological predictions, I just get incredibly angry. I guess I never caught the pre-destination bug from my time spent in presbyterian sunday school. gr.

Juicy in LA

On my way to work this morning, I saw a Range Rover with a Juicy Couture air freshener hanging from the rear view mirror.

Would you believe I've been enjoying life in LA quite a bit recently?

Wow, it's been a little rainy today, and the view from my work's window is the most beautiful thing I've seen in a while. The window overlooks the 405 freeway and the McMansions that dot the hills of Bel Air, and the light is that perfect twilight through the clouds, etc.

It's a little depressing, though, that I'm so excited to see a little sun-through-the-clouds action, casting shadows on nothing-too-special.



Sorry, under-attended blog, that this is the best I can come up with. That said, the only readers of my blog appear to be googlers of umbrella tattoos, so my guilt is minimal.

It must be awesome to have a girlfriend.

math

I just found an old post-it on my desk, and it says "6+11=18."

I hope I didn't write that.

Day of the Dead

Awesome.

feeding frenzy

So, Boyfriend "Can you put some more bacon on top of my milkshake?" Bill has decided that, given his advanced age, the time has come to more greatly consider the long term effects of diet and exercise.

I am glad of this, as I didn't want to worry about a) Bill burning his tongue while lapping bacon grease out of the pan or b) Bill ruining yet another evening whinging about brain freezes and begging for milkshake runs or c) Bill stealing the fat from my steak off my plate.

But prior to Bill's "oooh, do we have any flax to put on top of my high fiber cereal?" transformation, he was my food id, and I, the superego. Our powers combined created a sensible ego known to share a small (ok, mid-sized) bowl of ice cream while making kissy-face on the couch.

Now, however, I am driven by an insane hunger. I have consumed, on average, 3 servings of Oreos a day for the past few days. I contemplated leaving work to go buy a cupcake, even though I don't actually like cake very much.

I just finished my lady-time, so no, I'm not pregnant but thanks for your concern.

No, I fear that a certain number of calories must be consumed in our apartment, and I am, unfortunately, being forced to pick up Bill's slack. Sigh. Just call me "Jack Sprat's live-in girlfriend."

ohhh, the working world.

I just received this email from a colleague:

"Could you also make each caption seven points instead of eight? You just highlight the caption including the final paragraph mark, then highlight the 8 in the little formatting box and type in a 7, then hit enter."

Thanks for that.

next year.

I don't know how I missed National Punctuation Day (or its official meatloaf), but I did. And I am sad.

two to too

Two days to too old!

Actually, I am excited. My first birthday since starting college where I haven't been 'in transition' on the big day! Fuck the academic year and how it perpetually infringes on my celebration.

And, it's my golden birthday. I only get one of those, and this is it! At this particular moment, I am positively euphoric about the impending day of aging.

Change

I'm a regular at the airport.
It's getting chilly in LA-- low 70s, rain promised for the weekend...
And, I turn 26 in 8 days. I'd really rather not.

Oh, fuck lungs.

Every now and then, a news story comes out that just rocks one's world.

Apparently, microwave popcorn can cause lung deterioration.

The last convenience food that can always be found in my cabinets must go. Really, popcorn is the only reason I even have a freaking radioactive microwave.

R.I.P. microwave popcorn. I'm going old-school.

I'm so over it.

Los Angeles, I am so over your weather. Give me variety, give me rain, give me anything but tepid blue skies and dry heat.

carrot sticks

Sometimes, I throw some carrot sticks into my lunch. But then, while I work/think about food, I get unbearably depressed about how I will eventually have to eat carrot sticks. Even though I like carrots. There's just something a little depressing about them, especially when snacked upon in a cubicle.

Me? Simulated? Hmm.

I am probably like, the 50 millionth blogger to talk about this NY Times article in which some guy with a "Dr." preceding his name states that “there’s a 20 percent chance we’re living in a computer simulation.”
It says some other stuff, too, fascinating, really, and I'm possibly misunderstanding the whole thing. Still, if we are in fact an elaborate simulation by some sort of post-human, one has to wonder why they are so obsessed with Paris Hilton. It is somewhat comforting to think that it is actually some future mind that is getting stupider, not us. I wonder if they thought it was hilarious to give the 2000 election to Bush. I wonder if they are going to get tired of playing with the US and will focus their energies on Eritrea or Kyrgyzstan, those easily ignored nations.
Also, I wonder if I started sporting a "I'd like my ass to be better defined" on the back of my t-shirt if my ass would be suddenly more rounded, or if I would instead be struck with a desire to do lunges.

oh, to the poorhouse

My 403(b) has LOST 17¢. I can't believe it. My heart is broken. I have been robbed. Fuck you, Cheney.

ties and true love...

I love my boyfriend, Bill, very much. It is with great sadness I must report to you that he does not really know how to tie a tie. I accept this as further evidence to his great manliness. He will, no doubt, accuse me of trying to emasculate him on my blog. This is false. If I wanted to do that, I would talk about his lengthy, sissy-girl showers. No, instead, I tell you about how his uber-manliness unfortunately does not allow his fingers to tie fine knots.
Alas, last night Bill needed to wear his (1) tie with his (1) suit. And, because he does not own a bolo tie (much to his sadness), he had to tie the tie. Thank god for the internet.
For your amusement, I offer you... Bill!

Hey Korea, Hey!

On some Korean search engine, a post I wrote about Desperate Housewives in 2005 shows up as #3 if one searches "desperate housewives."
Fascinating.

days like these, etc.

this morning, i finally decided it was worth ironing this lovely silk skirt i bought at a sample sale in london several years ago.
after a lengthy hunt for the iron, i finally found it (why, boyfriend, would you have put it in the cabinet ABOVE the fridge?), and ironed the skirt.

I promptly spilled my breakfast on it. I rinsed the spot & decided it would be fine.

I start driving to work. I run my hands through my hair. It's still wet? Oh, no, I just have a big blob of conditioner left on top of my head.

I get to work, step out into the sun. The spot is totally still visible. After scrubbing the spot every few hours, it is virtually gone by the time I go to lunch, when I spill salsa on myself this time.

Just now, at 4:30, I notice, while in the bathroom, that my bra is plainly visible beneath my sweater. Let's hope everyone thinks that's intentional...

Oh, dorkiness

After reading this article in the New York Times about the new Harry Potter book, I don't think I will be able to resist getting the book this weekend. I had hoped to make it until the first round of people finish reading, so that I could borrow their's, but I just don't think so. Bummer.

best analogy ever

Once you give it up, you will lose your stickiness! Forever!

You may even end up with a small metal bolt. Yikes.

Abstinence-only education, hooray.

I have managed to update my blog twice in the hour I have been at work. Today promises to be productive. You, readers, are lucky.

valid.

yesterday, my boss said "well, if you haven't heard of it, then it's not important."
just as i suspected, i am the supreme arbiter of cultural importance.

A recipe from Ruth

Last weekend, I deserted Bill to celebrate my grandfather's 90th birthday in Nebraska, and to kick it with my Kansas City crew (uh, that would be my parents, brothers, Jessica & Ryan--holla!)...
Anyway, Bill apparently spent the weekend watching Battlestar Galactica, and drinking beer.
So far, I have spent my boyfriend-less time eating cottage cheese and tuna salad, probably Bill's least favorite foods.

Also, Whole Foods sells this tasty cranberry tuna salad, which costs like, $10/lb.
Anyway, I think I have finally successfully replicated the recipe!!!

It follows:

2 cans tuna (regular size, regular tuna)
1/4 cup dried cranberries
1/4 cup red onion, chopped fine
1/4 cup mayo
1 tsp. lemon juice
1 T German Mustard (probably any whole grain would do)
1 T fresh parsley (optional-- by this I mean I didn't use it yesterday, but then remembered the abundance of fresh parsley on my balcony and added it today).

Soak cranberries & diced onion in water for about 5 minutes. Drain. Mix everything together. Eat it.

As a note, I made this yesterday, ate half for dinner last night, half for lunch today. I think the flavor was better today!

ruth from redleather, hm.

So, last month, I watched others read from their youthful diaries at the inaugural LA Angst. I went with fellow graduate student girlfriend Michelle and had a lovely evening. Met people, etc.

This month, I agreed to read. And while back in Kansas City this past weekend, picked up some of my old diaries. It turns out that I was awfully lame. I was in love with a lot of people I can't really put a face to now. Still, the old heartbreak hasn't quite faded (why did Andrew not like me? Who was Jeff R. and why did he choose Courtney R. over me?! Was it really because I should lose 10 lbs?), and I am pretty apprehensive about selling out teenage me for cheap laughs! Sure, my alternating concern with boys and the nature of the universe ("Peter M. is so nice. And hot! Ha! We don't even have to talk about gay things like school and friends, we can talk about real things, like feelings" followed by "I think if I accept all of Christianity's conditions I'd be cheating my self [sic]. Much of Christianity seems hypocritical to me. I truley [sic] believe in God, and that he could very well fill my void, but I don't want to become a Christian just to fill the void").

And, in 8th grade, I addressed my diary as "compilation of my ruminations." That I will encourage you to laugh at. However, I am pretty sure that should I sit down to write about my relationship with spirituality today it would be as trite as the above.

Anyway, you might note that the LA Angst page says that "Ruth from Redleather" will be reading. I guess that means I should be giving my blog some more lovin'.

kitie, married, bridesmaid, portland, etc!

Soo, this weekend, Kitie got married! In Portland! Veronica & I represented as bridesmaids, and did, if I do say so myself, a damn fine job, considering our novice status, especially.

Here I present a trio of photographs, but many many more can be found on my flickr.

Congratulations, Kitie & Curtis!

from my work, on earthquakes

"Make sure that you have a supply of your prescriptions with you should you be unable to leave work for a day or two following an event and don't forget a spare pair of glasses and contact lens solution!"

Life in Los Angeles is different.

I say:

"Is there a movie called 'Meet Cute'?"

"There should be; I would probably like it."

Les horreurs!

But pockets of tradition endure. At La Camembertière, a nearby restaurant, the owner and chef, Géry Boddaert, offers an entire menu with raw milk Camembert, including a Camembert tart, skate in Camembert sauce, entrecôte in Camembert sauce, free-range chicken in Camembert sauce, a green salad topped with melted Camembert and Camembert ice cream in apple syrup.

“There’s a completely different sensation with raw milk Camembert,” Mr. Boddaert said. “A different odor, a different taste, a different color. Industrial Camembert is a horror, a horror!”

meta

Last night, I slept like shit.
I either dreamed I saw a cockroach in the bathroom, saw a cockroach in the bathroom, or hallucinated one.
I'm afraid I don't really know which it was. Actually, I am pretty sure I didn't dream it, because when I woke up, the bathroom door was shut. Usually, it's not, and I remembered shutting the door.
But, I wasn't wearing my contacts or glasses, so all I can be sure of is that I might have seen a black dot and I might have seen it move. I didn't get close to it, because I didn't want to be obligated to do something about it, naked and barefoot was I.
It occurred to me, as I finished up the night fitfully tossing and turning (oh, fitfully is totally redundant there, isn't it? Really, I could just say I finished the night fitfully, couldn't I? Or, obviously, tossing and turning)... The point is, though, that I kept drowsily thinking that I should have put a glass over the the alleged roach, and made Bill deal with it in the morning (note: should anyone accuse me of being a mean and/or demanding girlfriend, I could have woken him to deal with the offending creature)...
But, that brings me to my speculation that it might have been a dream-- after all, I am a mean and demanding girlfriend-- so if I saw a roach, why didn't I wake up my noble protector? Maybe I didn't see it after all...

OMG Nas-T!

I know I'm not like, the most hygiene-oriented on the block (but hey, to be fair, I do live in one of LA's most densely populated zip codes), but I just observed some shocking bathroom behavior, especially considering she wasn't in there alone and you know, this is an office environment.

Woman stops at printer, takes printed stuff into the bathroom, goes into stall with print-outs, pees, flushes, leaves.

Umm, I know that it would have been awkward to put the papers down while washing her hands and she probably would have gotten them wet. But I think the obvious solution there is to pick the stuff up at the printer after using the bathroom. Maybe I'm crazy.

But, it's not like I think what she did is so filthy-nasty. No, I just think this refusal to conform to hygienic convention is odd-- if not exactly notable. I mean, I entered the restroom right behind her, took the stall right next to hers, etc.

I probably am crazy, because seriously, who blogs about the bathroom habits of total strangers? I've never seen this lady before-- she stopped at the web development printer, so she's not in my crew. I admired her black suede platform shoes though, I admit it.

Girl's a woman now!

Look at me look at me I have a 403B!
Yup, that's right, I'm doing right by my retirement and it feels good.
Holla.

Molasses cookies

OK, so, I just made molasses cookies & I am like, some kind of genius. Prior to this cookie-baking, I'd only eaten the Archway molasses cookies about once a year with my dad.
Recently, it occurred to me that one could actually make their own molasses cookies! So, I found a recipe. But then I was all distressed because it called for vegetable shortening, and I couldn't find molasses, and I couldn't believe how expensive ground cloves were. But eventually I found molasses, and I decided to splurge on organic fancy-ass vegetable shortening from Whole Foods. And it turned out that ground cloves were like, half as much as ground cloves at the regular grocer! So, lucky that.
And finally, today I made the cookies, and they are literally the best thing in the world. I am obsessed with their awesomeness. I'm not one to toot my own horn (ha!), but these are the best damn cookies in the world. Make them now!!

mail

In the past few months, I have received both an offer of membership to the AARP, and a letter addressed to the parents of myself, announcing my "who's who amongs american high school students." I have also received several offers for discount old-people scooters. Incidentally, do you ever see old people on scooters, outside of the grocery store/shopping mall?

the central coast

Bill and I just spent a lovely weekend on the central coast of california, where we celebrated our 7th anniversary with ...

wine & vineyards...

pretty views of the pacific...

strange sea creatures...

and of course, love. aw.

for more photos of our adventures, check out my flickr.

this is how i roll, or ruth goes to the culver city car show

so, down my street today was the culver city car show! i explored. it was a pretty sweet cross section of LA, complete with every and all social movement associated with vehicles. we had souped-up hoopties, complete with mexican & black homeboys, rockabilly roadsters, old white men with aged cadillacs, and of course, what i'd consider the car show standard, men with handlebar mustaches. anyway, i got the camera out for the pretty paint jobs...

A trip down memory lane?

So, friend Julie posted with her job history. I thought that was kinda fascinating, and decided to do the same. This is not an exhaustive list of positions I have held-- I did not include stipended positions held during college, nor did I include the positions held while a temp. I left off babysitting gigs, jobs held at camp as a pre-teen, etc.

I temped from 2004-2005 in London (4 different jobs there) and Dublin (about a dozen different jobs), where I held various administrative positions for organizations as varied as a diamond miner/whiskey distillery, plumber's union, pharmaceutical company, a law firm, a mortgage broker, two national NGOs, a builder of outlet malls, a university, and some sort of transportation center?

I also temped briefly upon my arrival to Los Angeles, where I sat at a desk at a Swiss money-managers. I was never clear on what I did there...

In any case, in chronological order... the working history of your truly:

1. Cashier at Big K-Mart
2. Receptionist at Bud Brown Chrysler Plymouth
3. Salesperson at Nordstrom (promoted from Cashier)
4. Marketing Intern at Sprint
5. Sales Associate at The Jones Store
6. Custodial Assistant, Knox (lasted about 2 weeks…)
7. Marketing Assistant, Knox College Office of Admission
8. Field Manager, US PIRG (promoted from Canvasser)
****TEMP****
9. Information Specialist, REACH for Kids
****TEMP****
10. Marketing Supervisor, Whole Foods Market (promoted from Marketing Assistant)
11. Senior Staff Assistant, Getty Publications

Park

Los Angeles doesn't have enough parks.
Even in Kansas City, I always lived within walking distance of a bonafide park. Not here. Boo.

My newest hobby!

OK, I am addicted to reviewing shit on yelp. Do you do it too? If you do, will you be my friend? Will you rate me as funny? People keep finding me useful or cool, but never funny. This is somewhat ironic as I spent much of my teens bemoaning the frequency of which I was described as funny or weird, not cool. Anyway, yelp with me, and read my reviews. Not that most of my readership lives in LA, but whatever.

No longer neutral about carbon neutrality...

Now that I am no longer required to sell 'carbon neutrality' to throngs of L.Aliens, I am inclined to discuss the ethical quagmire that is 'reducing one's carbon footprint.' In my time at WFM, I was expected to play up our 'carbon neutrality' and encourage our customers to buy wind power credits.
Today's NY Times article on the subject is pretty awesome, I think. There are a number of truly stupid things about buying your way to carbon neutrality--not the least of which, as the article notes, is that they are essentially plenary indulgences. The biggest environmental sinners can buy their way to eco-heaven. Not to mention the fact that where your money goes is somewhat mysterious. The money from a WFM wind power purchase goes to Renewable Choice, a privately-held energy brokerage. It's not a wind power farm-- indeed, you can't even find out which wind power farms benefit from your purchase. You are just giving money to a company that has little obligation to inform you, the consumer, of their business practices. Granted, they are certified by Green-e, an off-shoot of a non-profit.
Soo, the whole process is somewhat dubious. I mean, I'm sure it's somewhat beneficial to buy these energy credits or whatever. It's probably better than just blindly flying around the country. Any tool that suggests buying energy credits before, for instance, using less energy at home or recycling is not, in my opinion, a particularly useful one.

major new job perk: access to the OED online!

I will never be bored again.

I see France...

Wow, look at France's presidential candidates! A goofy-named son-of-an-immigrant and a controversial lady! We haven't had a president who grew up speaking anything other than English since 1841 (Van Buren, Dutch). And you know, considering the whole New York/Netherlands connection, nothing too special there.
Soo, France, after all your lame bitching and moaning about the US, it looks like you might finally actually show us up! Fascinating.
Let's hope US voters recognize the gauntlet has been thrown, and one-ups France in 2008.

On Hillary...

I have to say that I have been less willing to jump on the anti-Hillary bandwagon than my personal politics might suggest.

As the daughter of a strident feminist who always out-earned my father, who was part of that first generation of women in corporate America, and whose glass-ceiling battles were often keenly felt over the dinner table, I find myself casting a forgiving and hopeful eye on Ms. Rodham Clinton.

Anyway, I found this article in the New York Times on Hillary's Wellesley class absolutely fascinating.

I agree with one of her classmates, who says that she has "always felt that the way [Hillary] is singled out and attacked is very indicative of how society reacts to smart women.”

While I do think the liberal left has valid criticisms of Hillary that fall outside that construct, I think her classmates' justification (the inevitabilities of her life in the public eye) of some of her behavior makes sense, and I hope their predictions about the future of her campaign are accurate (that she will become more relaxed and more bold, etc).

Because truth be told, I really want to like Hillary Clinton.

With Obama, as I did with Howard Dean, I find myself very suspicious of this "golden boy" status thing he has going on. I suspect that if we scrutinized Obama as Hillary has been, we would find the same shrewdness and yes, politic that Hillary is criticized for. Certainly, I think Dean's position at the helm of the DNC has demonstrated that not only does he lack the political fortitute required for the presidency, he's hardly liberal America's bellwether.

I guess I take some comfort in her classmates' assertions (even the one purporting to be a Republican) that she was brilliant, charismatic, and "way off the charts in being engaged in her community and in the world, taking personally what was happening and wanting to do something about it.”

Compared with the LA Times' somewhat troubling article about Obama's time at Occidental College, which he attended because he 'met a girl' and then transferred to Columbia. I found it so trouble that I remembered the article from almost 2 months ago and successfully located it for you just now. Why I found it so troubling I don't really know, except that I felt like like it perhaps indicated that Obama has somewhat of an obsession with bettering his status in a relatively unsavory way.

If how one's classmates remember you is any indication of your value, then certainly, Hillary's the one. I admit that the Obama article is far more cursory than the Hillary one. Still, I think I'd rather know college Hillary than college Obama.

Not that I'm opposed to Obama by any means, but I doubt he's our salvation, or that he's even more genuine or ethical than Hillary.

Point being, I remain open to the possibility of voting for Hillary, and that NYT article is interesting.

walking breakthrough

OK, so, Bill's like, a really fast walker. I am constantly having to beg him to slow down. This is one of the on-going dramas of our relationship. Fortunately, this is less of a problem in pedestrian-unfriendly LA than it was in London, but still, I've always dreamed of a day in which I could keep up with my swift fella.
So, last week I was reading some health-oriented magazine and it said that the trick is shorter steps, not longer strides. Yesterday, on my walk to Blockbuster, I decided to try it out. Amazing!!! I felt like a speed demon.
Anyway, today I had the opportunity to walk a ways with Bill, and man, I was effortlessly keeping up!
I continued my speedy walking throughout work today, feeling like a real champ, until I inevitably ran into someone. Still, I am pretty thrilled with my newfound ability to truck it.

changes

so, i feel the need to get a fairly long life-update out there for my sparse readership. it is primarily career related.

a couple of months ago, i began the long and tedious process of interviewing for a promotion (which would mean a transfer) at my current place of employment. after being given the run-around, i did some soul-searching and realized that i really needed to start being proactive about finding a new position. so i started applying for jobs at museums and universities.

as luck would have it, i finally did get promoted, and i started at the new store a week ago.

also last week, i had an interview at the getty center (senior staff assistant, publications). the job was offered, my background check cleared, and today, i accepted the position.

the new job will be basically corresponding with archives around the world to get pictures for various getty projects--books, catalogues, posters etc. I will also get every other Friday off, and fully paid benefits from day one!

now, i must give notice, which i am petrified about. i've never just plain quit a job before-- i've always been moving, going back to school, etc. and you know, i just started, and i am managing people now (highly incompetent ones, that my coordinator told me i could start the process of firing today...). so, not only must i put in notice, i also will be doing it at a time where everyone involved will no doubt think really poorly of me. ideally, they would refuse my notice and let me leave immediately, thus sparing me the ensuring frustration and shame i will feel in leaving a job unfinished.

but the fact of the matter is--i hate my job, and even if the new one fails to live up to my expectations, at least i will have every other friday off!