lovely yellow bird

Addicted.

2010-11-06T15:25:00.000-07:00

Commencing countdown, engines on...

2010-06-29T16:29:00.000-07:00

A little over 2 weeks and I'll be home! I'm looking forward to so many things but mostly just the 3 F's, family, friends and food. It's weird that I feel the urge to drive, especially since my last residence was my car and in LA, no less. Once I pry the keys from Siobhan's clenched fist I'll be listening to this on repeat.

At least until Oona/Mica/Lane/Gabe/MK/Manders/Emily/Santi/Any/All of my beloveds get in and make me change it.

Meat Monday

2010-05-16T16:57:00.000-07:00

My classmates and I went down to the market to eat meat.

The system in Meat Alley is amazing. You order your meat, onions and chiles from the vendors and they stick it on their grill. Chiles and meat live on top of the grill...

While the onions sit on the smoldering wood.

Don't forget the goodies!

When it arrives at your table in a paper lined basket it's smells like magic and tastes even better.

If you're looking for a fork and knife, good luck. Where Ethiopian's use injera, Meat Alley uses tortillas. It's hands-on and family style all the way.

Everyone is happy on meat Monday...

We devoured our kilos and missed them immediately.

Dessert anyone?

I Feel You, I Really Do.

2010-05-06T20:32:00.000-07:00

Lane And Chester Have Made My Year.

2010-05-06T15:15:00.000-07:00

I received a note this afternoon saying that there was a package waiting for me at the post office. I pulled my clothes onto my sticky and stinky body (real talk!) and got to stepping. The 90 degree weather, my stubborn fever and tummy grumbles were not about to slow me down, I've got mail! Tangible, paper mail!!! I turned in the slip and in exchange I got this massive box of love...

I had to exercise my very best grownup restraint to stop myself from ripping it open right there. I lugged it home, popped it open and smiley-wept for a good 10 minutes.

Lane and Che rounded up a generous portion of guilty pleasures and thoughtful treats, all of which made me feel pretty darn special. They never failed to take care of me in L.A. and they've managed to do the same from over a thousand miles away.

Nothing contained in that box can be found in Oaxaca and everything contained in that box makes me incandescently happy.

My inner chubby girl reached for the shrimp chips but my inner poor girl hesitated. Maybe I should save these for a special occasion? Or a more likely event - an emotional breakdown. Fuck that, the chubby girl always wins and thank god. She's the happier one anyways.

I love you guys. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!

Chiapas!

2010-05-04T18:43:00.000-07:00

I took a night bus to San Cristobal de Las Casas with my classmates Paul and Dan. We spent a day exploring the city and the evening searching for da ever elusive club.

Tacos Al Pastor!

We took off for Agua Azul the next morning.

We drove by this group of men surrounding a car. There was a 2 X 4 with nails sticking up out of it in front of the car and a nervous looking white couple inside. Hard ass times.

Finally, Agua Azul.

It was hot and humid but the water was crisp and cool. And I made a friend thanks to our hunk of Manchego.

I woke up the next morning as the sun was rising and walked to the top of the falls.

The moon!

And Palanque...

Family

2010-04-09T13:14:00.000-07:00

Dust of Your Whips and Life Size Crucifix, It's Semana Santa!

2010-04-06T11:17:00.000-07:00

Last week was Semana Santa. Translation: Easter. Further Translation: Spring Break, 2010!!! Kids get 2 weeks off from school and many families use the opportunity to vacay at the beach. Visitors (Mexican, American, Europeans of all kinds, and even some Japonesas) flood the city, making it the 2nd biggest tourist draw next to Dia de Los Muertos.

I was out of the city and missed the Passion reenactment but caught it in another city.

The great thing about Semana Santa is that everyone is out and about, walking around with friends and family. The number of street vendors selling tasty treats doubles and live music can be found every few blocks.

Papas fritas are my fav. They make them right in front of you and top them off with hot sauce and lime juice. Yummy!

Siobhan and Jake anticipate the arrival of their fried bananas.

Something tells me it was worth the wait.

Ocotlan

2010-04-04T08:57:00.000-07:00

Me and my parents headed out to the Friday market in Ocotlan. It had everything from useless doodads hand painted with thousands of micro-dots to super practical gear like agave rope, horse saddles, sandals made from tire rubber, and anything else you can think of.

Here are some pictures...

Ocotlan's very own Doctor Quinn Medicine Woman prescribed locals with sea urchins, chamomile, coral and more.

It made for good shopping, but all I really wanted to see was the livestock rumored by fellow travelers to be sold somewhere within the market. Turns out it is an entirely separate location catering to a markedly different consumer.

The parking lot held a bunch of trucks and a few SUV's. A couple of people were keeping it extra real, arriving by horse drawn carriage.

While vegetarians and PETA members may cringe, I was happy to find that the local livestock trade remains small scale and highly personal. Farmers sit with their animals, field curious consumers questions and mostly just socialize.

Sure, I was tempted to untie the rope around a piglets ankle or a goats neck. Few people can look at a creature who's sad fate has been sealed since birth and not consider an intervention. But I can't deny that these animals live a happier existence than most of their brothers and sisters stateside, even if it is only a brief one.

Fortunately, poverty keeps meat (especially the red sort) where it belongs, in the treat category, a rare indulgence for the average citizen. I guess livestock is a luxury for the same reason. The upsides to poverty are slight at best, but not to be ignored.

Mexico must have its own brand of industrial farming and all the nasty rituals attendant that chip away at a more intimate relationship with whats eaten. One where you know the guys name who sold you Sundays dinner while its heart was still beating - pulsating with the hope of a wider and greener pasture, the crunch of a sweet carrot and the touch of a gentle hand.

Long Time No Talk

2010-03-30T00:32:00.000-07:00

Between searching for a new apartment and the arrival of my family (Mom, Pop, Siobhan and Jacob) I haven't had much time to ramble on about nothing or even something. I do now, so I will!

It feels like we've been walking non-stop, sightseeing and eating way more food than socially acceptable. Here are some of the highlights of the past few days...

Some awesome rugs in Monte Alban's museum.

After Monte Alban we headed to the baseball stadium on Ninos Heroes to see the Guerreros play the Tigers. The cheapest tickets were about 2 dollars, beers are a buck and the snacks are way too healthy to be in a sporting arena. No imitation nacho cheese to be found. Moi is not happy about that and reconsidering her fan-ship.

A giant paper mache monster.

Apparently, Llano Park is the place to be if you're 6 and ride a 'sclade.

Cute dogs in the park.

Later that night it rained.

Yesterday we went out to Huixtepec to visit the family Siobhan lived with 11 years ago and I posted about a few weeks past. Ruth generously stuffed us full of pork, tortillas and Fanta. We walked it off in the campo at dusk and returned to the house for a glass of mezcal and a rooftop moonrise.

Aaaaaaah!

2010-03-19T10:05:00.000-07:00

MK really knows how to make a girl feel special.

Mole Negro And Textil Arco Iris

2010-03-17T20:04:00.000-07:00

I realized I signed up to take a cooking class on mole negro for when? Oh that's right, for today! I hauled ass to the shower and made it to the meeting point at what I thought was 1:30. Sorry Moi, no daylight savings in Mexico. I love that it took me 3 days to figure that out. I had an hour and half to kill so I took it to the cafe and read my book over a caprese salad and a mineral water.

The class was great. So great that I signed up for the tortilla/salsa class on Friday.

Buen provecho!

Afterwards, I stopped by the Textile Museum. I went to an opening on Saturday night but only got to see one gallery.

Glasswork inspired by the traditional and super colorful dresses of Tehuantepec.

These are embroidered capes worn by Huichol men. The embroidery is insanely intricate and really beautiful.

More cool stuff...

The walls of the patio...

Dolls.

I finished the day with a beer and Jonas on the zocalo. The sun was going down as I walked the 10 blocks home. For a time the heavens failed to decide, but settled on a gun metal nebula before a golden sky. Lightening blinked, thunder scattered and rain drops fell.

Pop Therapy

2010-03-16T12:23:00.000-07:00

After sleeping for 10 uninterrupted hours last night, I feel a thousand times better.

Now all I need to do for a full recovery is listen to these two songs, once every 4-6 hours while symptoms persist.

Sick As A Dog.

2010-03-16T09:00:00.000-07:00

Luckily, I'm better off than this poor guy. I met him in the Monte Alban neighborhood, living in a shack made of corrugated steel, toying with a machete. I never wanted to keep a creature so badly.

I had felt a sore throat creeping up on me, I tried to fight it off with all the normal stuff. Tea, Emergen-C, lots of water, positive affirmations, a good ol' fashioned zapotec egg rub, and a nude lap of the running man around my apartment for some much needed laughter (I ask myself, "What Would Patch Adams Do?"). I figure it's worth trying any and all approaches. No luck. I guess we were meant to be because I woke up feeling like I had smoked a pack of Newport's to the face. Fortunately, I haven't since I was like 15.

I'm taking steps to increase comfort. I put on a shirt of MK's that she isn't realizing I have until this moment. The green long sleeved American Apparel perfect sleepy shirt one. Sorry, I probably should have asked before I crossed the border with it. I'm staying out of the heat, sticking to my bed, and listening to this more than once through. Unholy throat cooties, this ones for you.

Oona, Yalile, Ides, and Benny Day.

2010-03-15T08:43:00.000-07:00

I had a hard time sleeping last night. I wasn't tired. I Skyped my mom and talked to her for a bit and by 1:30 I decided that I should turn off all the lights and try to rest. I probably fell asleep around 2:00 and got up four hours later for class. It was a surprisingly chilly morning and my body was not ready to leave it's bed, but I put on my glasses and stumbled about washing my face, eating my breakfast, robing, disrobing, robing some more until I was ready to go public.

I made my way to school. My usual twenty minute walk was especially pleasant because of this guys birthday...

Everything is closed, even the bootleggers have taken the day off. As I got closer and closer to school it seemed increasingly unlikely that there would be class. Sure enough, there wasn't.

On my way home this entry caught my eye.

I considered my options. Ahorro pharmacy and church seem to be the only institutions that are beyond a Benito Juarez Day closure. Seeing as I have anti-diarrheals and headache medicine for days, I chose the latter. I stopped by my favorite church, San Francisco. Church on a Monday! Matt Cowles would be proud.

But I can't say I'm religious, never have been. My Pop comes from a Catholic family and passed along a respect for the religion and has always supported us inserting it in our lives as much or as little as we like. Many of the values we Langlois kids were raised on are a derivative of Pop's Catholic upbringing. Lending a helping hand, compassion, loving thy lady of the night, so on and so forth. For me, I'm happy to stop by on occasion and take refuge in what is a peaceful sanctuary for me and my thoughts.

After 45 minutes or so, I snuck a few picture and ducked home.

Oona and Yalile celebrate their birthdays today. Happy birthday sweet girls! I miss you both and will be celebrating with you in spirit. Love, love, love. I can't believe I found a picture with all three of us! Courtesy of MK's Facebook album, "ICE COLD".

R.I.P. Julius. You are missed but not forgotten.

Viewer Discretion Advised.

2010-03-14T16:29:00.000-07:00

It's a beautiful day in Oaxaca and hotter than the devil's armpit, so I decided to stick around my apartment and handle some business.

Ever since I moved into my place I've noticed that the bathroom sink and shower don't drain super well. I could even see some gnarly dark mass lurking beneath both drains. If only I had chopsticks I could extricate the tangle lickity split. Alas, this is Mexico and there are no sticks of the Asian variety. Instead, I had to pull a Macgyver and use a steak knife and the the knife on a bottle opener to get at the black mass.

I poked at it and noticed that the nest submerged beneath the pool of stagnant water was much larger than I had anticipated. Luckily, the teeth of the steak knife hooked the strands of hair and I was able to get it out bit by bit. The smell was unlike anything I've ever known and I've changed diapers (for babies and adults). There was sooo much hair and it was beginning to dissolve into this black and gray gelatinous hairball.

The sink was pretty gnarly too. There was a surprising amount of hair and nail clippings.

With the gobbledy goop gone, I can shower without wading in an inch deep pool of my own filth. I love Sundays.

Power Couple

2010-03-12T20:16:00.000-08:00

Before Michelle and Barack, there was Beyonce and Jay-Z. And before Jayonce there was some other attractive couple. But the hottest couple of all time goes to these guys:

Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg.

They make love, alcoholism, and nicotine addiction look so good.

I Heart Technology.

2010-03-11T17:40:00.000-08:00

I've been in Oaxaca just over 30 days now and I can feel the symptoms of homesickness creeping up on me. I find myself craving Bake Sale Betty's, Soon Tofu, Raaaamen...and People. I miss my people.

Sometimes I think about how nice it would be to have a conversation in English where I could give more than a monosyllabic answer. And then I do, but it's not really as gratifying as I want it to be. I end up revealing grotesque personal deets to near strangers. It uncomfortable for everyone. Familiarity. That's what I miss.

But technology has eased the distance. I get to Skype with Oona, MK, Gabe, Eric, Santi, etc. Facebook chat with Facebook friends and there's always email.

Manders sent me an email updating me on life in the bay. She included related pictures.

She's addicted to Salinger right now...

And she's started a new quilt!

A birthday gift from the fiance...

And decorations for the wedding day.

I would post the pictures MK sent me but I'm pretty sure blogspot is PG-13.

And Gabe sent me the most amazing mix ever! Jodeci, MJ, SWVeeeeeee, Foxy Brown, 112, Aaliyah, and so much more.

I love my loved ones.

Yummy

2010-03-10T20:46:00.000-08:00

This one is for all my vegetarians...

I wish this picture was a scratch 'n' sniff.

Xoxocotlan

2010-03-09T20:52:00.000-08:00

I spent the day in Xoxocotlan with Daniel (I'm not sure what his official position is) and his two interns, Rodolfo and Jesus.

Daniel works for Centro Esperanza and is responsible for visiting with every family that applies to the program. The center provides 600 local kids with breakfast, lunch, clothes, and healthcare. Daniel determines which children need help most. It's a difficult task that requires drawing a seemingly arbitrary line between the impoverished and the destitute. Unfortunately, due to limited resources, the distinction must be made.

Here are some pictures from my day.

This little girl had a bunch of turkeys

and a chicken.

Daniel is the perfect person for such a delicate task. He greets every family with respect and sensitivity. He brings laughter, and for a second you get swept away in an illusion of weightlessness, the gravitas of the exchange momentarily left behind.

Yesterday

2010-03-04T16:17:00.000-08:00

I was walking through the zocalo and saw a trail of textbooks on the ground leading to an audience, a stage, and a dance performance.

The performers were from the University of Benito Juarez, a college located in Oaxaca and the occasion was intended to raise money and collect books for the student body.

Every now and then an audience member would stand up and place a book or pesos on the ground next to the previous donation. The audience acknowledged their generosity with whistles and applause.

This pair did a a number on courtship. The guy was chasing after the girl who manged to evade him until the very end. He stole a kiss behind his hat.

The next group was a band of young men who played songs by a Oaxacan composer. Didn't catch the name. Notice the teenage couple making out to the right of the performers.

After a few songs there was the final act. A dance about an ill-fated stag.

Meanwhile, taxi drivers were demonstrating across the way in front of a government building.

What a day, what a day.

29 pesos well spent.

2010-03-01T11:04:00.000-08:00

Laundry washed and folded by the kilo! At 10 pesos per kilo this might be one of the best services in Mexico. Once you get over having your dirty undies handled by a middle aged man, you're in Ariel heaven.

And yes, I give the name Ana Wong.

El Basico

2010-02-28T20:25:00.000-08:00

My teacher invited me to a club called El Basico. I had no idea what I was agreeing to.

This is my teacher, Gandhi. I forgot her friends name, but she was really sweet.

I've forgotten their names too. They're from Germany...

This is Therese with our bottle of Mezcal. Mezcal is growing on me very slowly. Very, very slowly.

People smoke in the club like it's their job. Fine. But is the fog machine really necessary? One or the other!

The DJ was this amazonian girl. She liked house and apparently everyone else did too.

Good times.

Friday Frienday

2010-02-27T06:49:00.000-08:00

My neighbors told us about this free show at the cultural center up the street from my place so Shelley, Patty, Jonas, and I made are way there for some Friday night festivities.

It was kind of like a recital. Classical guitar and then some other pieces that were..."Avant garde," says Jonas. There was a gong. 'Nough said.

They were really good, but it was so serious. Maybe not Friday night material.

So we left the hall and entered the center's patio to find these:

"No photos allowed." Bummer.

Dinner time! Shelley and Patty took us to an Italian spot and it was really good.

This is Patty. She is from Winnipeg, Canada. Winnipeg, right?

This is Shelley, Patty's baby sister who lives in Medicine Hat, Canada. Shelley and Patty are my neighbors and my friends.

And this is Jonas. He's the only other student in my class. Jonas is ridiculously patient with my Spanish. He lives in the Bronx with his Alice.

It was a nice, mellow send off for the girls who took off this morning. I am going to miss them immensely.

Love, Love, Love.

2010-02-25T06:13:00.000-08:00

This is my favorite church in Oaxaca. It smells like lilies.

And this is my favorite meal. Consome de Pollo. Amanda reccomended it to me and is the bomb on a budget. It's a couple bucks, phoenix claw included.

San Pablo Huixtepec

2010-02-23T14:34:00.000-08:00

Most of why I chose Oaxaca as my destination was because my siblings lived here 11 years ago. Well, they worked in an orphanage in Oaxaca City and lived in San Pablo Huixtepec, a small and sleepy town an hour outside the city. It's only natural that we should visit the place and people that Breandain holds so close to his heart.

First you hop on the Halcon at Bustamante.

12 pesos later...

I'm not sure what the family's surname is, but we met them because one of their family members is a regular customer of my Pop's at the tile shop. They are wonderful.

This is Ruth, she runs the family tienda and their household and she will feed you until it hurts.

And her mother, Constancia.

Constancia is a Zapotec. Like most indigenous people in Oaxaca, Constancia keeps her language to herself. I assume she shares the commonly held belief that Americans wish to steal their language and sell it. How irrational! When have Americans ever exploited indigenous people for anything? But seriously, I wish it was that easy to procure a language. I'd be stealing hella language.

While in Huixtepec Siobhan got severely ill. She was shivering, couldn't speak, scary stuff. Constancia insisted that someone had hexed her so she performed a healing ceremony that involved rubbing an uncracked chicken egg over Sio's body.

This is Antonio, Ruth's hubby. He works all day, everyday until dark and he has jokes.

Antonio's father, Hipolito.

Hipolito is blind and very hard of hearing and I think he mostly stays in his room. He sleeps on a wooden platform, wears a Raiders cap and Constacia believes that he practices black magic. He is 90 years old.

Breandain and Hipolito had catching up to do.

And this is Ani, Ruth and Antonio's daughter. She is a teacher in a city 5 hours away, but manages to visit her family by bus every weekend without fail.

There are always visitors coming and going and Ruth always feeds them. But a permanent fixture in their home is Julie and her three sons - Alexander, Danny, and Alan. Her baby's daddy is in the Hayward, working and sending money home.

Ruth wanted Breandain to bring some homemade chile rellenos and several pounds of quesillo to her nephew in Livermore. Some might be the wrong word...

Alan was sleepy.

B's old bike...

The Hobo Champion.

A family.

On the roof...

Until we meet again.

701

2010-02-22T21:25:00.000-08:00

I have a home! I'm pretty excited about it. There are 7 units in my building and all the occupants are really sweet. My studio is teensy tiny but its a major upgrade from my car.

I have a kitchenette...

My little bathroom.

Sunrise from the rooftop patio. Breandain definitely took this one.

Monte Alban

2010-02-22T14:53:00.000-08:00

Breandain and I went to Monte Alban twice in the past two weeks. It's a Zapotec ruin 25 minutes outside of Oaxaca City. The sun was so intense that Anja (my Swiss buddy from class) and I had to buy hats for 30 pesos a piece.

Pretty epic.

To my right...

To my left...

Breandains happy to be here.

We got sleepy and took refuge beneath a tree. 30 minutes of sleep later we headed to the bus and back to Oaxaca.

Out and About.

2010-02-21T12:38:00.000-08:00

For the first few days I was taking pictures of everything and anything that crossed my path. Oh, I'm sorry, are you praying? Sucks for you, I have a trip to document. JK, JK, JK. I turned my flash off and tried to hold real still...

This is the Catedral de Santo Domingo. It's pretty intense.

Talk about a stand up guy.

Below is the "Catedral", that's it.

Papas con Moi Moi.

A wedding celebration in the zocalo.

20 De Noviembre...a Market.

2010-02-19T21:00:00.000-08:00

Here are some pictures from my first visit to the local market. Santi and I came through here years ago and it was just as I remembered it. Fragrant (not all good, death has an odor too), colorful and teeming with people.

I'm here and I have internet access...

2010-02-18T06:00:00.000-08:00

Earlier in my trip I was unable to connect to the internet with my prehistoric laptop, but I'm back in business!

I Spy With My Little Glass Eye... Lil' Miss Hot Mess!

2010-02-07T10:14:00.000-08:00

I went to The Blue Macaw last night to catch Gabe and Esti DJ? Spin? What do the kids call it these days? Not sure. Anyhow, I was tardy and missed their set. Bummer. I was really looking forward to some SWV or Dr. Dre. Either way, I was lucky enough to hug up on some of my favorite people. Roll call! Amanda, Esti, Gabe, Owen, Sergio.

The event was Lil' Miss Hot Mess' Bat Mitzvah and my date was the adorably infamous Pink Minxx.

Gabe and Sergio bringing the love.

And Moi, coming to break it up. Cray Cray in the back...

And people danced... or something.

Hot pants to the rescue!

The night was near perfect and then...

A lezzy in lingerie and a Rasputin beard! Perfection achieved.

Thank you Lil' Miss Hot Mess for a beautiful evening! (Cray Cray surfacing in the rear.)

This Makes Me Happy

2010-02-05T11:41:00.001-08:00

Cornbread and Danielle's dog, Oliver...

Stitched, Wrapped, and Mailed

2010-02-03T13:17:00.000-08:00

A bit ago I posted that I was sewing a small gift for an old friend. I finished later that day and a few days later I sent it off. Just in case Robyn reads this (chances are slimmer than slim) I saved the pictures until the package arrived.

Burp cloths!

More burp cloths!

Wrapped and ready to go...

MUSIC! and Lesbians.

2010-02-03T11:08:00.000-08:00

Eric passed through Berkeley yesterday with his band (String Fellow Hawks, the artists formerly known as Lavendi) backing the lovely Reni Lane. The played at The Hotel Utah in San Francisco and killed it.

Some visual aids, puh-lease...

Go Reni, it's your birthday...

And at an entirely different event a few days earlier...

We celebrated Jessica and Elizabeth's birthday at a... dayclub? called Lime in the castro.

Oops! Rocky is sideways! Well, I suppose this is a more accurate depiction of how I was viewing the world at this point...

The music was super loud, long lines for the bathroom paired with bottomless mimosas...not a strong combo.
But hey, I'm all about Top 20 singles, especially when I'm hammered and in good company.

Banana Bread for Dinner

2010-01-30T09:47:00.000-08:00

It's a 100 lb. Limit, Right?

2010-01-29T11:09:00.000-08:00

I dug up a suitcase to take to Oaxaca, an obscenely large one. I wanted to set aside all the clothes and stuff that I'd like to take with me. Ten pairs of socks and a collection of books later, my luggage was unable to close. Luckily, I remembered that Breadain is accompanying me. Upon interrogation I discovered that the seasoned traveler planned on bringing just one small carry on. Not anymore.

I don't plan on cloistering myself in a room and reading all day, I imagine that I'll be reading myself to sleep mostly. But I'll be there for six months! Six months? February 8th, March, April, May, June, July 17th... Not quite six months. Maybe just over five months. Either way, I seem to recall that English books are pretty pricey.

So I'll be rereading some old favorites, reading some recommendations, and (hopefully) discovering some new gems.

Sew Well

2010-01-27T12:04:00.000-08:00

I'm sewing with a purpose! One of my dearest friends is going to be a Pop and I wanted to put together something and send it off before I leave for Mexico. I only have time for something small, but I'm using this really awesome fabric...

My lines are so crooked it looks like I'm sewing under the influence. Pray for me.

Speechless

2010-01-11T17:55:00.000-08:00

you might want to press the mute button to get the full effect.
value="http://www.youtube.com/v/u7deClndzQw&hl=en_US&fs=1&">

I Miss L.A., I Do.

2010-01-11T14:25:00.000-08:00

I could list a thousand things I miss about L.A. right now, but what I miss most is Korean food. Ahhhhhh, kimchi soon tofu! I might have to make a road trip just for you.

Addicted

2010-01-10T15:54:00.000-08:00

If

2010-01-10T15:30:00.000-08:00

I had to sum up my feelings in a photo...

And if I had to sum up how I wish I was feeling in a photo...

One Step Down, 1,000 More To Go

2010-01-06T17:02:00.000-08:00

Secured an apartment. I can't wait to have a home.

Next stop: Oaxaca, Mexico.

2010-01-05T19:26:00.000-08:00

As much as I adore LA, I had to go. With no home and no job I was running out of excuses to stick around. So I found my way back to the Bay and came up with Mexico...Oaxaca, Mexico. As much as I love the bay and all of it's winning inhabitants, I'm not ready to settle in just yet. So my plan is to go to Oaxaca, learn Spanish and get reacquainted with solo Moi. I have the ticket, now I just need to find my balls.

Good Stuff

2009-11-08T17:45:00.000-08:00

Love at First Sight

2009-10-20T11:30:00.000-07:00

If anyone knows this dudes name and number please forward it this way. I'm definitely trying to grow old with this guy.

Winds of Change, Go Easy On Your Girl

2009-10-19T15:57:00.000-07:00

God lord, life is crazy! As much as I'm thoroughly tempted to put my life on blast, I'll have to exercise some restraint and be uncharacteristically mysterious. Suffice it to say that nearly every facet of my life is changing - some areas more dramatically than others.

I'm trying not to worry about how it will all unfold and just find the humor in whatever life nudges towards me. Sometimes its an easier said than done kinda scenario but for those moments I've got this video to fall back on.

Don't have much to say

2009-07-25T13:22:00.000-07:00

But I don't want to get too disconnected so I'll just post this because it makes me happy. Love, love, love.

I spy with my little eye...Mick!

It makes me uncomfortable, in a good way

2009-07-02T12:13:00.000-07:00

Alright, Asa showed me this video the other day and I can't get it out of my head. I've never really like The Kooks. Their recordings always turn me off. I think this one has enough grit to balance all the sucrose. This website has loads of awesome videos and musical goodness.

http://www.blogotheque.net/

2009-06-20T12:24:00.001-07:00

This is post from a few months back that I never posted...

My Ziba died. She was the best cat ever. I remember meeting her at Ernie's for the first time and falling in love with her immediately. I remember being sad that Ernie was giving her up and feeling frustrated that Eric wouldn't let me take her. And I remember coming home to our place and finding her in the hall like a precious little wompa.

There are so many things I love about my Ziba cat. There are the obvious things - her toothless mug, tongue exposed. Her mangy coat, stained and weathered. Her tiny up-turned nose between her great big yellow owl eyes.

And there are her qualities exposed through hours and days shared. Her gentle spirit. Her ability to snore while awake. I already miss sharing my pillow with her, hearing her purr, snort and sneeze.

I held her and watched her tiny spirit escape - wishing all the while for its return. I know it seems silly, but I really wanted her to live forever.

Dance dance dance
Neil Young

Never thought love
had a rainbow on it
Used to think a cloud
was a nightmare
That was up until when
I first met you
Now I go around
hoping you care.

Dance, dance,
feel it all around you
Dance, dance, dance,
Never thought love
had a rainbow on it
See the girl dance
See the girl dance.

Mississippi mud
never touched her fingers
California sand
lies in her hand
Love her more than life
as the daylight lingers
Early in the morning
I'll be her man.

Dance, dance,
feel it all around you
Dance, dance, dance,
Mississippi mud
never touched her fingers
See the girl dance
See the girl dance

Oh me, oh my

2009-06-08T13:56:00.000-07:00

Los Angeles! Holy crap, I'm really here.

After a few trips back to the bay, I am finally staying put for a a good chunk of time.

I'm feeling less like I'm on vacation and more at home, comfortable, at ease. I keep thinking I'm gonna panic and realize I made some terrible mistake...what was I thinking?! Like a negative Oprah a-ha moment.

But so far, so good. I have been taking full advantage of being a stay at home girlfriend. I read, quilt, journal, eat yummy food, listen to my records, and think about things that I haven't had time to examine in sooooo long. How many top coats are needed for optimum nail polish preservation? Do eco-friendly nail polish removers really work as well as acetone based removers...of course not!

I'm rediscovering TV and the internet, two things I haven't had regular exposure to in hellllla long. Gotta love 'em both.

Thats enough for now.

Big hug, little kiss, little hug, big kiss

M

P.S. I like to include a picture but I have no camera so this'll have to do...

The V-Card

2009-02-03T14:19:00.000-08:00

I don't care, I'm not too proud to admit it - I love Valentines Day. Yeah, its a commercial holiday that manages to alienate all the single lonelies out there but whatevs!

This will be my first v-day alone in a few years and I'm kind of looking forward to it. When committed, I fully embrace the cheesey romance. Flowers, yummy treats, gushy vows of devotion and adoration, why not?!

While I'll miss the feelings that give way to such tender acts, I will channel Beyonce and give it up for my Single Ladies. I'm making Valentine's for my girls, you know who you are...

I Miss This

2009-01-07T14:37:00.000-08:00

Weezyful New Year

2009-01-06T20:22:00.000-08:00

Although kookiness was bountiful, I had an awesome night.

My Very Own Tree

2009-01-01T19:11:00.000-08:00

It is new years day and while it might make more sense to write about the upcoming year, years past, lessons learned, blah, blah, blah...I am going to write about my humble but handsome Christmas Tree.

These pictures were kind of a pain in the ass to take. I didn't want to have my bedroom light on, I didn't want a flash, so I fiddled with some of the knobs on my brothers camera and set it atop a chair praying all the while.

My tree ended up having a sort of garden gnome theme.

I'm far too sleepy/hungover to say much more. All I can do is plug in my tree, turn off my lights, and hop into bed. Stork Naked anyone?

I Can't Lie...

2008-12-22T02:02:00.000-08:00

I was on Facebook tonight or as Enayat calls it - Face Face, and saw this

My spirit animal captured in a intensely tacky ring!? I have got to have it. Mall, here I come.

Beaches...

2008-10-17T20:40:00.000-07:00

Wowzers. It has been sooo long since I've done this so I'll keep it simple.

I went to the beach Thursday afternoon.
The boys got all playful and frolicked in the surf.

When their feet became too cold, they ran back to our blanket.

We had some beers, a few snacks and watched the sunset.

It happened really quickly.
The best part was when the sun was just out of sight, but all of its colors remained. Jupiter and Mars were there too.

It started to get really dark so we decided to head back.

>

Undecided

2008-07-22T20:04:00.000-07:00

I found my brother's camera in my sewing bag, perused the photos and found a few pictures we took on the last day of our sewing class.

I don't know how many times that damn Juki attached my index finger to my pathetic demos. Even more painful was the realization that blood stained work won't get you a passing grade - not in Mrs. Bell's class anyway.

So now that all my flesh wounds have healed and all that remain are a few unimposing scars, I think I am ready to forge ahead. Guided by my trusty presser foot and my righteous bobbin I shall sew again!

And I'm taking Chris with me.

Yummy Goodness

2008-07-08T01:25:00.000-07:00

I recently went to New York with my bestest buddy Maryam Katouli. After reviewing the pictures I realized that we spent the majority of our trip eating delicious treats. So I thought I would post my favorites from the lot.

After our terrifying flight, MK and I got some sleep and headed out to Coney Island where we met up with Robyn and devastated a shrimp boat at Nathan's. 30 pieces of shrimp, 4 pieces of cornbread, 2 bags of fries, 2 large Cokes and 4 beers later, we hopped on the Cyclone - a super old and sketchy roller coaster. Somehow I managed to keep it all down.

Dinner at Lupa was yummeeeee. Everything was tasty and it was so good to hang out with Nicole and catch up with Lily.

and Georgie, Nicole's boyfriend and Lupa's sommelier made the night. Thanks Georgie!

Nicole loves wine.

MK and I spent a day wandering around Manhattan. We called Oona and she directed us to this place.

MK had a meatball sub and I had some pasta. A completely different experience than Lupa but equally delicious.

Dinner at Otto was the bomb

So was dessert

Oyakodon is probably my all time favorite Japanese dish. Its like a chicken scramble over rice but it kinda looks like a wayward hen miscarried atop a bowl of hot sticky rice. Yum. So when MK and I got lunch at a Japanese spot in Prospect Park before visiting the Murakami exhibit, I was super happy to see it on the menu.

MK got some tasty sushi

After a long and awesome trip to the Brooklyn Museum, we got edamame, chocolate pudding, wine with a twist off top, and a beer. We were so excited about the chocolate pudding especially since it had oreo crumbles on top. Unfortunately, the pudding tasted more like vomit than chocolate. What a disappointment.

Me and MK headed over to Clem's and did some serious drinking. After scrubbing super hard I found comfort in some of Robyn's food. I think it it was a burger, of what variety I can't be certain.

7 days and 10 pounds later, MK and I are back in the bay and can be found at any of our favorite local eateries. Yummy goodness!

Zombies afoot.

2008-07-02T17:34:00.000-07:00

I started a new book last night, World War Z by Max Brooks. After rereading Tuck Everlasting and enjoying it very much, I needed to read something...different. I've also been craving a new horror film and I heard The Happening sucked balls. So when Mark Long, a great friend and zombie enthusiast, recommended it over Mijori I hurried to the bookstore and bought a copy. I read it until I passed out, had a super creepy nightmare where three of my teeth came loose and I had to pull them out, woke up and read some more. P.S. I'm currently unemployed.

The book is a compilation of short stories that chronicle the zombie pandemic and are told by people who survived it. I've only read the first section, Warnings, which is kinda like the outbreak portion of the book. My favorite story so far takes place in this remote Chinese village where a doctor is summoned to examine some locals who have fallen ill. The doctor notices bite marks on the patients and finds that they have come from this rabid boy who has been hog-tied and left behind some building. The kid is writhing, oozing black gelatinous goop from his wounds, and super agro. The doc asks two locals to brace the boy so he can listen for his pulse...surprise, surprise, there isn't one. Yikes! The kid tries to chomp on one of the brave locals and in doing so his arm breaks off. Whatevs, Chinese zombie boy isn't phased. He starts crawling towards the villagers....You get the idea.

The scary thing is that I've been that Chinese Zombie Boy. Late at night or in the wee hours of the morn' I too have assaulted friends and villagers, hungry for a bite of out of shape, cigarette saturated flesh. A couple of shots of Jacky D is like a full moon rising and if you don't want to be embarrassed for me, hide your eyes and your loved ones, little Chinky zombie boy is on the loose.

Anyhow, the book is addictive and I kinda like how scared it makes me. The last scary book I read was The Shining and I'm pretty sure I crapped myself twice while reading it. I can only hope that World War Z yields as many terror craps.

I miss my Ziba cat.

2008-06-26T11:58:00.000-07:00

Last night I dreamed of Ziba. I came home (in the dream I was living at my parents) and there she was! She was donning an all-white baseball cap which seemed odd because in reality she only sports jersey headbands, silk scarves, and bandannas. When I saw her I felt pure elation.

For those of you who don't know, Ziba is my Persian cat. She is thirteen years young and has very few teeth. Ziba is currently living with her papa (my ex-boyfriend/great friend, Eric) and I miss her deeply. Ziba is one of those things like nacho cheese or "a number nine with a diet coke, please!" that brings me nothing but joy and comfort.