The weather dipped down to 50 degrees on Saturday, and at the slightest pitter patter of rain, the local "news" immediately has coverage of Storm Watch 2006. Since when is rain newsworthy?
Wore the poncho (knitted by Momma Lin!) to the Ho-Ho-Tel Cafe festivities, thinking it'd keep me warm. Um, no. What I was really thinking was: this is cute! I can suffer and be cold. Someone explain this rationale to me please?
What ended up giving me the warm fuzzies was the music (oh, and being indoors helped). No alcohol either as I've been nursing a headache since
Friday. But really, there were times when Bleu or Chris Joyner's voice were so soothing. And then Low Stars went on to rock the house before inviting all performers to an inspired rendition of Sweet Home Alabama AND Do They Know It's Christmas? A seriously eclectic mix of performers and music - where else can rub elbows with musicians before they tote onstage a french horn, accordian, and mandolin?
This has been my routine for the last several weekends: laundry, go grocery shopping (stop for gas) and return home to take a long nap. The task of shopping for groceries amounts to a half an hour drive away from the Corona/Chino farmland/farm animals and into "civilization" (better known as the Rowland Heights/Diamond Bar Asian community) and another 1-2 hours jousting with other shoppers trying to capitalize on parking spaces or the $0.59/lb tomatoes, $0.99/bag edamame, $0.39/lb nappa cabbage, $0.69/lb chicken and $1.29/lb pork roast picnic. In the end, the multiple stops at various stores (TS Emporium and Shun Fat vs. SuperWalMart and StaterBrothers) still amounts to cash spent on food. One's gotta eat.
There was a mindboggling mix of cultures at play in the stores. I saw one of the Asian clerks help these ladies find where the bitter melon was located, alternating between Mandarin and Cantonese dialects, only to turn around and direct some produce packers in Spanish on where to stock the broccoli and green onions. Later on in the meat/fish section, two Hispanic men were speaking in Mandarin to the customers, asking 哪一塊肉 (which piece/cut of meat?). After much pointing and other hand gestures, the customer would leave with their choice of meat in hand.
Have you ever Googled your own name? How did you feel about the results?
Submitted by elen.
HAHAHAHA. When I google my Americanized name (not my legal name), I find Annie Lin the musician! I wouldn't and don't mind being confused with a singer-songwriter from New York, but somehow, I don't think the same could be said the other way around.
I guess I should be glad and breathing a small sigh of relief that's all that comes up! Well, strike that, it's all about how you search, isn't it?
Reuters Photo | Mark Blinch | World RPS Society
What's your method for calculating a tip?
Gra•tu•ity (n): Money given return for some service or favor
Origin late 15th cent. (denoting graciousness or favor): from
Old French gratuite or medieval Latin gratuitas 'gift,' from Latin
gratus 'pleasing, thankful'
I'm horrible at math, so I generally over tip. My mental calculation is as follows: x times 8 = tip amount (rather than having to do additional math of x times 2 = amount and then x - amount = tip). Sometimes, if I'm lazy, I'll just double the tax. When the service is particularly horrible (long wait, no small talk, bad seating, etc) I'll leave a measly tip, but even that makes me feel guilty.
The article in the paper regarding pending development at Tejon Ranch made me sad. The last thing we need is yet another cookie-cutter shopping center/business development/residential area. We need areas for nature to thrive!
Atari Flashback Game Console - $19.95
I am SO a child of the 80s!
The Halloween Phantom has come to your town!
He creeps day or niht without making a sound.
A ring of your doorbell, that's all you will hear.
It's the Halloween Phantom, so there's nothing to fear!
You're now the Phantom, in this mysterious game!
It's your turn! Sneak out! Three houses you must do the same.
First, tape our ghost to your front door,
So you are not "Phantomed" anymore!
Next, you must prepare some spooky treats,
For your Halloween victims, they will need to eat!
Don't forget to add the ghost
That's the one thing they need the most!
Attach this poem, just the same
And the neighborhood will continue this creepy game!
For you will be seen before your own eyes
Your neighbors turn to ghosts, beneath magical skies.
Before Halloween night he must have his revenge
As the spirit of the Phantom is passed again............
...not a bad shuffle setlist...
IF YOUR LIFE WAS A MOVIE, WHAT WOULD THE SOUNDTRACK BE?
1. Open your library (iTunes, Winamp, Media Player, et cetera).
2. Put it on shuffle.
3. Press play.
4. For every question type the song that's playing.
5. When you go to a new question press the next button.
Ready? GO!
Opening credits:
Louder than Words - Jonathan Larson (Tick Tick Boom Off Broadway)
Waking up:
Maybe Not - Cat Power
Average day:
One More Song the Radio Won't Like - Kathleen Edwards
First date:
Toffee Pop - Damien Rice
Falling in love:
I Ran (So Far Away) - A Flock of Seagulls
Love scene:
Edge of the Ocean - Ivy
Fight scene:
On Your Wings - Iron & Wine
Breaking up:
Ulcer Love - The Willowz
Making up:
Minotauro - Kinky
Secret love:
The Dress Looks Nice On You - Sufjan Stevens
Life's okay:
Everybody's Gotta Learn Sometimes - Beck
Mental breakdown:
From Creation - Thievery Corporation
Driving:
Home - Alexi Murdoch
Learning a lesson:
Eleanor Put Your Boots On - Franz Ferdinand
Deep thought:
How the West Was Won - Tom McRae
Flashback:
Freak Me Out - Weezer
Happy dance:
New Friend Request - Gym Class Heroes
Regretting:
Amateur - Once Blue
Long night alone:
Communication's Lost - Cocosuma
Final Battle:
Across the Universe - The Beatles
Death scene:
I'm Going to Stop Pretending That I Didn't Break Your Heart - Eels
Closing credits:
Oh What A World - Rufus Wainwright
