The proper response: “Make it so.” Obviously. I hope Boyfriend does something like this if/when he proposes. And he will, assuming he knows me at all.
only a filthy Ferengi says no to Picard
Category Archives: goodness
Clan Gordon
I pulled over to check out an estate sale the other day, and bought a few things for super cheap: a solid pewter stein for my Renaissance Faire costume, a few pieces of silver, and an old book. The book had an ownership label on the inside cover with a Latin phrase on it. Turns out this book once belonged to Basil Gordon of Clan Gordon, the second oldest clan in Scotland.
So I found them online and emailed them about the book, offering to bring it with me on my travels to Edinburgh, and maybe pass it off to them there. I heard back promptly (they have no interest in the book), but the member of the clan I’m in contact with (Kevin Gordon) was very nice, and said he was here in the states. I wonder where he is…
I went back and got a little silver baby cup for my mom (she collects them), and some more old books, one of which has a copy on Ebay for $125.
I love old books. As a kid, when I couldn’t sleep at night, I would get up and set next to the bookshelf in the computer room, and just pore through the old books my folks had. Their age, the way they smelled, the strange little stories they told were so soothing.
Little heroines
Kids dressing like superheroes is adorable and fantastic. No wonder there’s a website dedicated to them.
I don’t think I dressed up like a superhero, but I ran countless scenarios in my head about how I could save the day, and the superpowers I would use to do so. I was amazing. There were lots of cheesy one-liners and awesome poses, after which I would disappear while the adoring public wondered where I was, and reporters wrote articles giving me cool nicknames.
Not sure why I’m writing in the past tense.
I love you, Japan
by Kono Bairei
The art of the Japanese woodblock print is a fantastic demonstration of how, with very limited means, humans make spectacularly beautiful art. Woodblock prints are some of the most delicate, intricate works produced from Japan. They’re just gorgeous. Hokusai’s Great Wave of Kanagawa is probably the most famous, and it’s not hard to see why. [Then there’s the erotic woodblock print genre, which is pretty hilarious, and occasionally horrifying, but I digress]
I found today a series of classic video game characters (Samus, Megaman, Link) illustrated in the style of traditional Japanese woodblock prints. They’re so silly and cool. Nerds are the best. Japan is the best. I love you, Japan.
I remember playing through the first few hours of Metroid Prime (which I need to replay, what a great game) before Diminutive Roommate told me that Samus was female. I’ve played so many male characters, I was super excited to play a lady. I became attached to the game, fond of it even. It’s an old friend who made me die a lot, and freaked me out with space pirates. Good times.
My heart is fond enough, thank you very much
Yesterday was Sister’s graduation party, and today she graduated from law school. We’re all so proud of her, and it’s pretty amazing she did so well considering that law school is hell, plus she hates reading and writing, and that’s all there is in law school. The party was fun, lots of old family friends whom we haven’t seen in a long while. They all came in just to congratulate our family on Sister’s success. So sweet.
Boyfriend couldn’t make it (again); he left for a job in Spain, which will allow him to be around for my trip to Ireland and Scotland. It was a pretty heart-wrenching parting. I always cry a little when he leaves for a work trip, but this time was tough. Recently we’ve been talking about how happy we are together. Boyfriend said he’s more in love with me than ever. We were sitting on the bed between his preparations for his trip, just chatting, and it struck me how lonely I’ll be without him. My face must have crumpled like a piece of paper, and I couldn’t hold it in. Boyfriend did what he always does: he said, “Don’t cry, girlfriend! Soon we’ll be in Dublin together and everything’ll be great!” He started listing all the fun stuff we’ll do abroad, but it didn’t seem to help. I love him so much. He’s my best friend. I still look forward to seeing him every day, even after more than four years. I’m proud of him for getting so much work recently, and excited that it’s allowing him to go abroad, but I miss him something fierce every time.
He said that if I cried, he would cry, and after a while, he did (a little). At the very least it’s nice to know that he misses me as much as I miss him.
At the graduation party last night, I was sitting and chatting with my cousins, and I randomly thought about how nice it would be to see Boyfriend later that night. Then I remembered that he was probably already on the plane, and I cried a little (again). I can’t remember being so effected by one of his trips since the first one. I should be excited to see him in Dublin, but I’m so lonely without him.
He said that we wouldn’t be apart very long, not even for as long as the trips he usually takes to visit his family on the east coast. He said the distance didn’t matter. I corrected him; it does matter, and he’s so far away.
The good kind of pressure
I haven’t had time to write recently. Planning this trip to Ireland (and Scotland) has been eating up all my spare time. I’m leaving May 31st, and returning June 13th. I have to be ready for school (which starts on the 18th) by the time I get back, but I’m not sure if I’m eligible for the tuition breaks I thought I’d get when I applied for the graduate program. I still need the reading materials, and I need to finish the online orientation.
I’ve been reading Rick Steve’s guidebooks about Ireland and Scotland, and I’m totally wiped out on research mode. I’ll be spending five days in Dublin, three days in Edinburgh, three days on Oban, and one day in Ayr near Irvine with a friend I made during my time in Romania. Then it’s one night near the Dublin airport somewhere so I can leave around 11am the next day.
Boyfriend will be in that part of the world on work, so he’ll be with me in Dublin and Edinburgh, then I’m on my own. I’m excited to spend time in the Highlands. I’m staying in a bed and breakfast in the little coastal town of Oban. Apparently they make great whisky (one B&B I found offered a shot of whiskey every evening upon returning to retire). I’ll day-trip out to the Isle of Mull, then to Iona. I can’t wait to relax among some beautiful scenery. Also, horseback riding! I’m excited about doing this stuff on my own; taking it slow after spending the majority of the trip in cities (with Boyfriend). I’m really looking forward to spending time abroad with Boyfriend. We’re going to have so much fun.
Meanwhile, my room is a disaster area, I’m nervous about starting school again (plus the online aspect of it), I haven’t traveled in a long time so I’m worried about keeping my itinerary straight… frankly I’m a little overwhelmed. I just keep reminding myself that everything loading me down is stuff I’m also excited about. I guess that’s a sign that I’m pushing myself out of my comfort zone. I wonder if this is what progress feels like.
It kinda sucks. hahaha
Lemon tree
Boyfriend has a lemon tree in his backyard which produces like crazy. There are always lemons weighing down its branches. Now and then we go out and pick as many as we can; today we got about thirty off the tree, and we didn’t even make a dent considering how many lemons still have to grow and mature.
We used his grandfather’s old electric juicer and got 2.5 liters out of just those thirty lemons. So awesome! They’re so flavorful and delicious. I added some sugar water to some of it to make it a little more palatable. Boyfriend demanded that we leave the majority of it as it was to use on salad (we make our own dressing with lemon juice, olive oil and salt). And look how pretty they are:
Creepy and awesome
Kids are amazing. The stuff that comes out of their minds is so free form and astonishing sometimes. I recently got a drawing from a girl I teach at Karate Job of a T-rex on a blimp. That’s right: a dinosaur riding on a blimp, which also had teeth and eyes, and fire coming out the back of it.
I pointed out the amazing art of David Devries, who turned children’s drawings of nightmares into horrible, incredible works of art. Now there’s a company doing something similar, but far more friendly (and profitable, I hope): they’re taking children’s drawings and turning them into toys. What a fantastic idea! It also serves as a reminder of the kind of nightmare fuel that kids think of all my themselves. Creepy and awesome.
my favorite
Must.. resist… childhood pastime…
Let’s be honest, I’m going to buy this someday soon. The 1992 version of Clue is clearly the best. It has the best cover art, and it’s the version played as a kid. Case closed.
I don’t remember playing with any one particular character. I do remember the little plastic rope piece vividly.
I love you, Fiat
I hit 12,000 miles in my Fiat the other day, and I’m as much in love with it as ever. My little Fiat is the best. I’m such a fan.
But I’ve only had it eight months, which means I’ve been driving 1,500 miles per month. Of course this is probably because I live on the Westside, work near downtown in the morning, and in Redondo Beach in the afternoon (about 50 miles) an average of three days a week, plus the weekend Redondo Beach drive (35 miles round trip). That’s almost 750 miles per month just for work. And that’s assuming I’m not covering for any other Sensei’s, or attending an event on a day off at Office Job.
This is part of the reason why I bought this car; I was doing a ton of driving, and hating every second of it because I hated my car. Now, driving is a pretty pleasant experience. Thank you, Fiat. I love you.
driving home from karate job
Be Random, Be Clear 
