international shorthand

So y'know how everyone uses all these lol, brb, wtf, idk, etc. on the computer and in text messaging as shorthand ways of saying something? I wonder if they do that in other countries? Like in Italiano you say non lo so and that means I don't know. So do they write or text and say, "nls"? Ns for no sé? It's probably stupid to think that it wouldn't be done in other languages.

Jumping to Conclusions at Burgerville

The Doggfather himself, Snoop D-o-double-gizzle, was in Portland on the 20th of June this year and I got to go to the concert at the Roseland Theater. It was me, my sister, Jimmy, and Flossie. Before the concert we went down the street to hit up the liquor store and also went to Burgerville.

Floss and I went in and ordered some food and Teeny and Jimmy joined us after they got a bottle. While we were waiting someone went to grab one of the drink cups and I said something like, Oh don't drink out of mine, I have herpes. (Kidding.) That reminded Teeny of someone she knew having a cold sore on their lip. She said she had a bandage on it, I think, and when the cold sore was revealed my sis said Gawd it's like the size of Delaware!

So we all laughed, and there was this woman who had been standing on the other side of the bar-style table we were standing next to, and I watched her walk around Jimmy and Floss and she goes up to my sister, who has her back turned, and pulls on her ponytail. My sister lets her head go with the movement and when she straightens up and turns around, is surprised to see this chick. The woman says something like, You shouldn't be talkin' shit! and we're all like Whoa, where is this coming from?

Jimmy goes into defense mode and steps in between the woman and the rest of us and says What makes you think we're talking about you? and meanwhile I'm just laughing because I see why she's upset, and the lady returns to her side of the bar and is still ranting and at some point this woman with kids sitting in a booth by the window tells us we should move away from the kids, take it outside--I guess there were probably a couple cuss words said and the ordeal was starting to make her nervous.

We're all like, Uhh there's nothing to take outside. But by this time all of us but my sister have noticed the source of the problem: on crazy lady's top lip, dead center, is a slightly gnarly looking cold sore. The whole thing was outrageous and really funny. As she walks around us again to get away from us the lady was saying, Just walk away. Walk away.

And we all just laughed, like, Okay! You're actually the one doing the walking away right now...so who exactly are you talking to? We laughed a whole bunch about it while she was only a few feet away from us, sulking in her stupidity. I mean, we felt sorry for her because she fucked up and embarrassed herself, but you gotta laugh at someone who is just going to jump to conclusions like that. She assumed that we were vicious people that would make fun of a stranger standing right next to them before she considered that maybe we were talking about someone else. It's not all about you!! And furthermore how old are we? Who just goes up to someone and yanks on their ponytail?

Of course that scenario put us all in a really good mood, and the Snoop concert was really fun when he finally came onstage (blunt in hand! :) ...

It's good to feel like a mermaid again

Finally, after probably more than a year of not even really knowing where my bathing suit is, I went swimming yesterday. The pool has flippers and it was fun to be able to swim with them and feel what it would be like to actually have fins. Many girls were, and maybe boys too, into pretending they were a mermaid in the bathtub. I was into mermaids though. You can guess that I was delighted when I met my best friend named Ariel. And we used to go swimming together, when we lived on the same street. When I got to the side of the pool, I dipped my goggles in so I could clear off any smudges, and then I put those on, and definitely not with Olympic precision, dove right in. 'Cause that's how I roll. Head first, consequences later!

Buon pomeriggio

I am taking Italian 101 at Portland State this Fall and feeling pretty nervous about learning another language, though I love it, and it's pretty similar to Spanish, which is defnitely the more useful of the two. I would learn either of them fairly easily after learning the other. I wish that I had learned more Italiano when my grandpa was alive. I should have thought to ask him to talk about what he was doing in Italian while he cooked, or gardened or whatever so that I could sort of understand it and how it was supposed to sound. Grandpa was all about enunciation. I remember him saying that many people (in this country?) simply do not move their mouths enough when talking. It is a little easier to sort of mumble, but with learning a language, pronunciation is key. It has to sound real.

Well, ciao.

Follow-up on "Thanks, stupid"

I saw on the news the other day that the police have been going after bicyclists that fail to obey traffic laws. Quite a few bikers were given tickets that were over $200. People commented that they think the amount of the fine is too much for the offense--"the message would be just as clear if the fine were only about $50-60." If $200+ is the amount an Oregon driver would be fined, and we want equality on the road, why should our fines be less...?

Here's an idea... Don't break the law!

(Or, live dangerously and possibly get hit by more than a ton of steel... in which case, you better have good insurance.)

Breaking Pasta In Half

When some people cook pasta like spaghetti or linguine or any of the other long noodles, they break the pasta in half before putting it in the boiling water to cook. I don't understand this and it can't be very authentic. I never saw my Grandpa do it, I don't think there is really a rational point to it, other than making it easier for you to cut up food for youngsters who need to take small bites.

You are supposed to put the pasta in the pot of boiling water and as the part that is in the water softens, push the noodles down so they are all fully submerged. When you eat the pasta, yes, it can be long and there may be lots of fork-twirling. This can be helped by using a tablespoon to twirl your pasta with. With a little practice, that traditional technique will almost always result in a clean, compacted bite of noodles. No problema!

If you do not enjoy long noodles and would rather stab your pasta with a fork or be able to eat smaller bites, you might want to try a different kind of pasta like Fusilli or Penne. Wikipedia says "there are approximately 350 different shapes of pasta." That means you have many options for what pasta to prepare, and what to serve it with. And many types of pasta are already so small, like Orzo, they don't need to be modified for cooking.

Mangia!

Dreams

What the heck is up with them, anyway? Are dreams expressions of our subconscious frustrations, fears, and desires that we don't think about during the day? Warped ideas of what we are feeling in our conscious mind?

When you have a physical problem in your dream like trying to speak and no sound comes out, is this symbolic or is it connected to your actual physical state where you are sleeping (perhaps your mouth is smooshed into your pillow)?

We know how it can go when you have to go to the bathroom and are dreaming...

Probably needless to say, my wondering about the nature of dreaming and what it all means has been inspired by recent dreams that I have found particularly disturbing or strange. It's no fun to wake up crying, scared, sad, too soon (if you know what I mean ;) or peeing (haha - that actually hasn't really happened to me).

Sometimes no matter what the feeling is, it is soooo good to wake up... and separate dreams from reality.

Sleeping Through Thunderstorms & Earthquakes

I like thunderstorms, and apparently I slept through a crazy one the night before last. But, when I was a kid (so, yesterday) and we had that earthquake around spring break time, I slept through that. My sister went running downstairs into our mother's room because she was scared and when they came to check up on me I was like Wha...? So I guess you could say I'm not a very light sleeper. In my defense, I was tired and had to get up early yesterday morning so when my head hit the pillow I was out. All that dancing around with my headphones in--because it was too late to have my music up loud--wore me out before bed.

Thanks, stupid

On my short ride home today I saw the same bicyclist go through two red lights. The first time was right after a cop went through the intersection, too.

Do the rules of the road not apply to those riding bikes? I don't feel like waiting for this light to turn green. I'm just gonna go now and hope I don't get smashed into by a driver who has the right-of-way.

Last I checked, the rules of the road are for everyone's safety. When people are seen breaking the rules, it undermines the tragedy of legitimate accidents in which the bicyclist is not at fault. In other words, these dumbasses who do stuff like go through red lights give bike-riders a bad name.

It's amazing that in a predominantly bike-friendly city like Portland, some bicyclists do not realize that we still have a ways to go before the overall attitude of drivers toward bikers changes. Why are car drivers in Portland still frequently irritated by bike riders? Because some people out there riding their bikes are fools and should not be on the road because they make stupid, illegal and dangerous moves that make drivers nervous.

Let's do each other a favor and follow the rules so that we actually deserve those green bike squares they are putting at some intersections.

Or if you can't obey the law....stay off the road!

Yay!

I finally brought home some of my vinyl to listen to. So far it's been The Rolling Stones Love You Live and Beggars Banquet, Nina Simone Little Girl Blue, Vicente Gómez Guitar Recital (one of the first records I ever bought, for one dollar, before I even had a turntable), and now, The Eagles The Long Run.

Other ones I brought back were...

Dire Straits with "Sultans of Swing," Joan Baez Blessed Are (wanted to try it), Heart Bad Animals, The Beatles Rubber Soul, Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers, Top Gun Official Soundtrack (yeahhh!! haha)

Hugo Montenegro & His Orchestra Music From "A Fistful of Dollars" & "For a Few Dollars More" & "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly" (another new one to me)

Creedence Clearwater Revival Creedence Gold (hell yeah!), Frank Sinatra, Eric Clapton 461 Ocean Boulevard, Quicksilver Messenger Service Just For Love, Allman Brothers Band Beginnings,

THE CLASH,

Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti (might be my favorite rock album...),

and........... (drumroll)





The Doors The Soft Parade.

I missed these albums and am looking forward to hearing the ones I haven't tried yet.

Pasta dishes from Pizza Hut

EWW!!!!

Odessa Sawyer

I was looking for interesting portrayals of the different zodiac signs and came across one by Odessa Sawyer.

I first found Aries because, well, that's my motto--"me first!" No, really, I just happened to need some new Aries pictures for the Linda Goodman Myspace and I guess I had never noticed this one before.

Odessa has a great artistic style and I fell in love with her zodiac series, which you can see the rest of in her deviantART Gallery. I can't help but think that Linda Goodman might have found her work magical too...

Above is another creation of Odessa's I really like, not part of the astrology series. I think it is called "Sky Circus."

Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious

Robin Antin went for it again, creating a new group from a big batch of sexy young hopeful stars. I began watching Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious not very far into the season, and just like Top Model, it roped me in.

I don't watch many reality shows, but there is usually a specific reason I continue to watch them. Top Model, for example, is worth watching to me because of the photos we get to see. Girlicious is cool because you get to see a new choreographed musical performance every week. And hell yeah, seeing the worst people get elminated is fun. If they suck or don't want to be there, they should go home!

The girls that ended up becoming Girlicious are Nichole, Chrystina, Tiffanie and Natalie.


They all look good together and I really like the fact that there is only one blonde white girl in the group. Even out of just four, that is really fabulous. I know the entertainment industry is pretty diverse of course, but each time I see a better representation of who the people of our country really are it gives me hope.

People can say what they want about each character. I knew pretty soon after I started following the show that Nichole would be in Girlicious. I always liked Tiffanie and I would not f--- with her because she likes drama too much! ☺ I thought Chrystina and Natalie were weird for a little while, how they disconnected from the rest of the girls for a while but they pulled through to unite and that's probably one of the only reasons they both made it rather than Charlye taking one of their places.

One of the girls' last performances was of the Pussycat Dolls song "Buttons" which is probably their best track (even though "Don't Ya" is still pretty popular). You know that feeling you get when someone is really good... like flushed cheeks or goosebumps. You instinctively feel their real talent. I did feel this when I watched Girlicious sometimes. For all the fakeness on TV, you can't fake the different sounds and tones of their voices and how they know (or don't know) how to dance.

The girls have a couple singles out already, "Like Me" and "Stupid S---". The photo below is from the "Like Me" video. Good thing they didn't spoil it for me: the song was released on iTunes on April 22nd, the day before the finale of the show aired. That would have sucked! I guess they couldn't wait... But I sort of like the anticipation of the moment when the final decision will be made.

Whitney wins America's Next Top Model, cycle 10

Whitney had the juiciest booty this season on America's Next Top Model, and she won! I wasn't really rooting for her throughout the season--I didn't dislike her but she wasn't a favorite either. I am not surprised that she won, because she had determination that many of the other girls didn't show.

Now that she has won I am super happy for her, especially after watching some clips of her on the CW website in which she talks about how important her winning this competition would be to so many girls who are struggling with their body image in our society that is flooded with pressures to strive towards physical ideals that do not even exist. I believe Whitney will be a really positive role model and I hope she accomplishes great things.

The model that sat on the judging panel this season, Paulina Porizkova, said something in one of the last episodes about Whitney being slightly fat and Tyra replied to that saying (I'm paraphrasing), Yeah in the fashion world she might be considered bigger, but out on the street she's just a hot chick!

Thank you, Tyra. There are many things said about the contestants on this show that could be considered horrible but for the most part when one judge says something extra-rude, another will counter with an argument that is at least sort of in their defense.

I am happy that Whitney won because of what she represents... A hope for a more tolerant America. It's a move in the right direction. And I think she deserves it, of course. She worked hard to get to where she's at!

Anya winning the competition would have been just as satisfying. I think that girl does have the whole package and will go far despite not winning. She has an excellent portfolio now and someone is going to snag her. The only thing that was odd about her was her accent--where does her sound come from? She is from Honolulu, Hawai'i.


One of the hardest photo shoots the girls had was probably the meatpacking warehouse. I myself cannot imagine pulling off looking glamorous with stinky raw meat on my body, but I believe that Anya did pretty well.

Congratulations to Whitney, and I'll be looking forward to the next season...!

Water

I really appreciate good H20. I love to drink it, I bathe, swim, and wash my clothes in it. It's not good to take fresh, clean water for granted and I try to remain conscious of how much I consume. Some people do not have any fresh running water in their homes. I am really lucky to be fortunate enough to live in a city where the tap water is excellent and readily available most places I go.

Too Beautiful for You

In a French film that I watched a minor character, an Italian named Marcello, said that the sun was invented by an Italian.

Well, che cazzo?! There hasn't been much sun in Portland. The rain is basically normal but the cool temperature isn't.

olive garden

The way the food looks in commercials for the Olive Garden restaurant makes me not want to go there. Even more than I already didn't because of past experiences. I especially am not into that place but it isn't the only chain of Italian food restaurants I would prefer not to dine in. There aren't many that are authentic enough to make you appreciate eating out. A place like the Spaghetti Factory on the waterfront is acceptable once in a while, only due to its traditional feeling and spumoni icecream.

Channel 49

It's always been Warner Bros. on 32. Channel 49 on regular TV in Portland used to be Fox, and i think UPN was Channel 12. Now it's UPN's PDX 49. There is this guy who sings little jingles about the TV station, and the shows it has. I really hope they get rid of this guy because listening to him is awful and it makes me change the channel. For the well-being of their network, they should replace his act.

Play while you eat!

Laughing Planet opened another location at SE 41st and Woodstock and are probably now catering to all the Reedies. While you wait for your food or while you eat, you can play with dinosaurs!

It's all on the Internet

I don't understand why so many girls resort to violence to deal with the problems they have with other girls!

Like seriously, sisters. Not to sound man-hating because I am not, but y'all! We're in this together... We all go through what no man does and there is no sense fighting over one man because there are plenty to go around. And you do not strike your sister with your hands or any other weapon because of some drama!

We watched this video in my Sociology class and talked a little about how these kids were all upset about stuff that was on the girl's Myspace I guess and how the website is just way too big a part of their lives.

For the most part it seems like people that have known about and used Myspace since it was still a very new site are just about burnt out on it. More and more people sign up though. And young people join it, even younger than the Florida teens in the YouTube video. Anyone--especially parents--who has watched Dateline's To Catch a Predator knows how bad that can be.

In the case of To Catch a Predator boys need help too of course. (In one episode I watched, a man came to meet a boy and even brought lube with him and when he was leaving Chris Hansen told him, "take your jelly." ...While it's not funny that the predator came to see the boy it is funny that Chris said that!)

Do women not do these sort of things? I have yet to see a woman on the show. The only woman I can think of off the top of my head is that school teacher who had two babies by this young boy. Insanely young, like he was twelve when she got pregnant the first time if I remember correctly.

Wow... The Internet. For many people it has become a part of our daily lives and it brings us joy (like finding a cheap textbook) and pain (i.e. the girl who got beat up on in Florida). People break up over the Internet, hook up over the Internet, make wonderful things happen, share things they think are beautiful, and... do things no one wants to know about.

I'm so glad I don't live with a weirdo anymore...

I wrote this after dealing with an awful roommate, around this time last year, and just found it today. I'm not dwelling on what happened anymore since even worse things have happened since (though I never thought that would be possible!), but I do not mind sharing my thoughts about my experience living with a horrible person...

I have recently been called names such as "slag" and "heifer" by an at least slightly misogynistic 24-year-old male who is in denial of his sexist behaviors. The fact that those are the kind of words that he uses against me just confirms that he has a problem and obviously a lower level of respect for women.

I don't dislike him purely because of the interactions just between the two of us--he exhibited behaviors toward individuals who are my friends and expressed unwelcome judgments about them when I had done nothing like that to any of his people. He argued with females on at least two occasions about subjects that are pretty much not that important and not worth arguing about, or they are a matter of opinion anyway, but he had to be right. And I did not see the behavior directed towards males.

When I got really upset one day and yelled at him that he is a sexist bastard when he said he wouldn't listen to me, he said it had nothing to do with being a woman; it was because I am a stupid ----.

. . . . He continued to perpetuate himself.

And so that was my first experience living with a male stranger—who didn't clean like he said he would and became quite verbally abusive.

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Update on "There, or not"

The God is Not Great - How Religion Poisons Everything turned out to be an audio book, read by the author. I imported all the discs into my iTunes (!! ssshh) and sometimes random tracks will play when I have my Library on Party Shuffle, but for the most part I haven't actually listened to it--I'm not usually in a frame of mind where I can just sit and listen to a book. The concept itself is kind of odd to me. If I have my sight, why am I not reading the book?

And as well I have not continued reading Blue Like Jazz. I'm still drawn to reading it, but as soon as school started, recreational reading ceased pretty much immediately. Over Spring Break I re-read one of my favorite books, Rule of the Bone and started to read the Godfather again but have kind of abandoned it.

I have a long list of books I'd like to read, someday....

Animali

I love animals. I know we're animals, but I don't mean humans (though I love them too).

I love how animals mimic us, and we mimic them. I love how in the movie, The Endless Summer, they show "Henry" the seal surfing the waves like we do.

What came first? Surfing seals, or surfing humans? Who learned from whom? I would suspect that seals have been doing it longer than we have. Henry was a really good body surfer! ; )

There, or not

I've started reading a book, Blue Like Jazz, piece by little piece. It is by Donald Miller, who currently resides in Portland, I guess. He has already talked about Horse Brass Pub.

The book is supposedly "non-religious thoughts on Christian spirituality" and I am pretty sure it came from the NW Collegiate Ministry. They have set a table up in the hall at school in the past, though not this year. Sometimes they have this interesting hot chocolate. I also got a water bottle at the same time I got the book.

Back to the book. I have decided to try reading it, even though I don't know if I feel like a Christian at all. I was Catholic as a kid, and now I'm not sure of anything. I know Jesus was a real person, a historical figure, but I don't know if I even believe there is really a god out there. Just because people have been talking about it and worshiping for thousands of years, does not mean much to me.

We all know that people can be pretty stupid.

How many people have faith in George W. Bush? Though his popularity has definitely declined since his b.s. re-election, many people still support this dude. Many of those people are also Christians...

In a nutshell, that scares me. So I am also going to read, God Is Not Great - How Religion Poisons Everything, by Christopher Hitchins. I have barely looked at what this book is all about but it should be really interesting.

I am already biased, because I can feel myself going into it hoping that my atheist ideas will be reaffirmed. I am not exactly open to the possibility of a higher being right now, my mind is basically made up. I do not think about "God" during the day, other than to question the existence of a god when other people bring it up.

I probably won't be able to just decide one day, whether there is one or not. I think I will always question and debate it in my mind, and remain non-religious. In the meantime, I want to be educated about all the different religious sects and spiritual theories.

Ottimista

I love Les' optimism.

I have learned from her that if something doesn't happen, then it probably wasn't meant to be.

If you're the last car that doesn't make it through the light, at least you are the first car that gets to go when it turns green.

And when you feel really nasty because you drank too much the night before, look forward to the next morning, when you'll feel great (by comparison at least--and this is assuming you don't need two days to recover from a night of heavy drinking)!

Milwaukie Stoner Slut!

Good, you need some education, maybe it will help you with your racism. I'd also recommend the class Common Sense 101. That would be a start!