Happy New Year!!!

Good thing traditional Lunar New Year celebrations last 15 days - otherwise, I'd *really* be late.

Sun nin fai lok.

One of WMG's teachers told her she wasn't Chinese. I told her she is (her grandmutha is Phillipino; if the teacher can definitively conclude WMG doesn't have any Chinese in her, then she must be far more insightful than I), and WMG stood up for herself. That is one powerfully stubborn little gurlie. But I'm proud of her.

Also, I have a New Year's resolution this year. More on that later, when they're not making me work.

In the meantime, gung hei faat choi.

How I spent the weekend

Giving in to familial pressure, I decided to pack up the Jman, WMG and Jagger dawg and head for San Diego. For the first time in a long time, we didn't have a gazillion commitments to see various branches of the friends and family, so we just spent time with Duggles and his crew.

I ended up biting off more than I could chew
Censoring the annoying kid next door
Chillin' wit da Monkey
And hangin' out wit mah boyeeeez
Good times, folks. Good times.

And the good news is, providing a preponderance of the work doesn't sell out before April, I will have a whole month to peruse the exhibit. And how is this for making art more approachable - when I realized I would not be able to attend the opening, I inquired as to the nature of the refreshments being served. This was the response by the gallery owner/director:

"We have decided that Mermaid Pie is going to be dill tuna sandwiches in pita triangles. For food and beverage at our shows, we always come up with the words first, then decide on what that is going to be later. We have a strict policy to never again serve the cliche of wine and cheese at a gallery opening. Thus, we have gone from Champagne and Mushrooms to Tea and Octopus to Osmanthus and Ambrosia to Afikoman and Wine."

I love a good sense of humor.

Life's Little Questions. . .

Apropos of nothing. . .

If the pace of traffic, generally, is about 65 mph, and the HOV lane is clear, why do some people find it their moral imperative to go 60 mph in the HOV lane?

If someone is conspicuously NOT smoking (i.e., reading a book, knitting, etc.), why would someone sit NEXT TO that person to smoke, given that there are plenty of other places to sit and smoke?

And conversely, if someone is conspicuously smoking (say, at an outdoor bar or cafe or someplace else where the choice has not been legislated away), why would someone choose to sit next to that person and make gagging and coughing sounds, along with the dramatic wave of the hand?

Why do self-important groups of people find it necessary to walk abreast of each other, and expect people walking in the opposite direction to make way for them?

And most importantly, who the HELL is Martha (see 4th comment) and who drove a stake up his arse?

BIG Weekend. . .

Okay, we have a three-day weekend coming up, and it's not like I haven't had something to do on previous long weekends, but this one just seems chock FULL of interesting stuff. And of course, I feel obligated to go to SD to visit with family and friends, on top of everything else.

First, there's this art show opening I want to go to. I happened to see a card of the work, and for some reason, I'm drawn to it. I want to go. I want to know what "mermaid sandwiches" are (I can guess as to "amber mead"), and those will be served at the opening. Anyone wanna come with?! Seriously.

Afterward, there is another exhibit that could prove to be interesting. Especially with "several bottles of Icelandic schnapps that made it through customs" being served.

At the same time, a group of folks from the office is going to the house of one crazy attorney (seriously, she is certifiably crazy - crazy rich and crazy in the head)for cocktails before adjourning to the 'hood to see this play. Our word processor played a part in the production and Ol' Crazy Head has really taken him on as her cause célèbre. To be honest, I wanted to see the production anyway, and thought the WMG might enjoy it, but the thought of actually entering the Looney Tunes abode makes it that more attractive. She lives in upper Bel Air and the house is supposed to be spectacular.

And of course, there is the Mardi Gras celebration that
Ellen's been yammering on about. Which looks like its going to be a lot of fun as well. And a festival of sorts... Oh, and let's not forget Momi Lavenders Chinese Pop Glam Winter Bash and other various celebrations of the Lunar New Year. Thank the gods the Dragon Parade & Car Show isn't until NEXT week!

PHEW. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. Mebbe I'll just spend the weekend in bed!

Mmmmmmmmmm... PURTY!

It's five o'clock. I think this is a sign.

From my boss's office, to the left (Santa Monica Blvd in Beverly Hills):

To the right - my commute home (Pico Blvd at Beverwil):

We used to get rainbows ALL THE TIME when I lived in Hawaii, but I never lost appreciation for the beauty of 'em. And this is one for which you can see the entire arc (although I can't capture it on my cellphone camera from my boss's office). Gorgeous. Almost makes LA seem beautiful. Now I'm gonna go drive home with my top down.

WTF?!?!?!!

Okay, I was going to post about post-birthday observations and such, but I woke up this morning pissed at the world. I think this whole psycho astronaut/Zsa-Zsa Gabor's husband is Anna Nicole's baby-daddy thing is just getting to me. But I mellowed some and my rant evaporated.

Then, I got this:


----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Monday, January 29, 2007 6:48 AM
Subject: Stitch & Bitch Cafe forum
>
> The following is an email sent to you by an administrator of "Stitch &
> Bitch Cafe". If this message is spam, contains abusive or other comments
> you find offensive please contact the webmaster of the board at the
> following address:
>
> stitchnbitch@sewfastseweasy.com
>
> Include this full email (particularly the headers).
>
> Message sent to you follows:
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
> Stitch & Bitch Cafe has new products being released this year. One
> specifically will be coming really soon. Once more information is
> available we will share it with you.
>
> In case you are not aware, Stitch & Bitch Cafe has online video learning
> priced at only $7.99. Learn the basics to knitting, crochet or sew a
> makeup bag or lacy tanga panties. Our staff is in the process of making
> more selection in this area so any feedback you have is welcome. What do
> you want to learn?
>
> Additionally, our pattern selection will be increased this year. As
> always, Sew Fast Sew Easy is working hard to provide easy patterns with
> detailed instructions. Now we want to hear from you.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Stitch & Bitch Cafe

Wanna hear from me, do you?! Ooooooooooooooooooookay baby. You'll be hearing from me!!!

First, A Poem

Happy Birdday to Me*
I fell out my tree.
Thought I’d go shopping…
What a silly monkey!!!

I went to this store
They had bargains galore
I filled up my basket
But I still wanted more.

Soy silk and silk wool **
I started to drool
Bamboo and some cotton
I looked like a fool.



50% of in back
I had an attack
At $1.79 per ball,
I put 6 in my sack.


I sound like a boor
But I still wanted more
Then came the epiphany
I am a yarn whore.


The lesson, my friend
Now that this poem’s at its end,
Even tho its Super Bowl Sunday
It isn’t a requirement to go off the deep end.

*it wasn't really my birthday DAY, but since the day is on a school day, that was the closest I'm gonna be to celebrating.
** just as a note, these are all vibrant, beautiful colors, it's just that camera phone was doing it's artistic thing again.

A Parting Shot

I've had three seperate people make complimentary comments on my breastesses today (they were each female and straight). Which got me to thinking, what could possibly be attracting their attention?

What I forget a lot of the time is that people walking by the cube are standing up, whereas I am sitting down. Perspective is everything.

The phone is taking funky pix, but I thought this was well enough to illustrate what passers-by are seeing (or attempting to avoid seeing), and arty at the same time. Somebody book me at a gallery. I'm gonna be the Next Big Thing(s).