Yesterday, Linda sent me a bunch of photos of Jake Gyllenhal and other beefcakes as potential blog content. I guess it was a subtle reminder that I am once again falling behind in my posting duties. Instead of posting any of the pics of hot men, I am instead going to post the response I got from Linda when I then asked her to come to a Tainted Love show with me next weekend. This is a for real email:
"Tainted Love is so fun! I have a Senior Citizen Crab Feed that night, but hopefully it'll be over in time for me to drive back home, change, and cab it to Bimbo's. This is perfect because I've been craving dancing."
Saturday, January 20, 2007
Monday, January 15, 2007
Ladies' night
Linda and I are having an estrogen attack... for the last couple hours we've been making a pot roast, drinking wine, gossiping, watching the Golden Globes, and flipping through issues of Us Weekly and Victoria's Secret catalogs all at the same time. The only thing that could top this off would be brownies, facials, and a maybe pillow fight.
Getting my Us Weekly fix while watching all these blinged out stars on TV has prompted me to decide that Justin Timberlake should get back together with Britney Spears for awhile. Maybe just a couple months. Justin just broke up with Cameron Diaz, he could grab massive amounts of media attention with the move, and Britney could clearly benefit from his superior classiness and business judgement (Brit's people might even pay him for such assistance). They were super cute together. He could get Brit's image back on track so easily. Her publicist should make some calls.
Getting my Us Weekly fix while watching all these blinged out stars on TV has prompted me to decide that Justin Timberlake should get back together with Britney Spears for awhile. Maybe just a couple months. Justin just broke up with Cameron Diaz, he could grab massive amounts of media attention with the move, and Britney could clearly benefit from his superior classiness and business judgement (Brit's people might even pay him for such assistance). They were super cute together. He could get Brit's image back on track so easily. Her publicist should make some calls.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Amaryllis 2007
I think some of you may remember the excitement that surrounded last February's amaryllis bloom. I thought I might enhance the enjoyment of the amaryllis this year by creating a little anticipation for y'all. I brought the bulb out of its hibernation spot in the laundry room last weekend and gave it some water. Here's the current state:
Now, just sit back and prepare to be amazed by nature.
Now, just sit back and prepare to be amazed by nature.
A new resolution
I added a new resolution to the other two (no, Jeremy, I'm not talking about THAT one -- though I'm working on it, too). I'm tracking my spending in hopes of eventually developing a budget. I wanted to come up with a budget, but realized that I have pretty much no idea where my money goes. So instead, I'm writing down everything I spend money on each day through the end of February to see if it leads me to any huge revelations. I suspect I will confirm that I spend an embarrassing amount of money on wine, cab fare, and pedicures.
In the meantime, I need to figure out how to organize all the data I collect. The usual categories to budget for seem to be things like housing, food, entertainment, transportation, communication, travel, and clothes. Linda posed a good question the other night -- does dining out count as food, or entertainment? And what if you're paying for someone else's meal? And do drinks count as food? I think I might also invent my own "personal upkeep" category that includes all visits to salons and gym membership fees.
In the meantime, I need to figure out how to organize all the data I collect. The usual categories to budget for seem to be things like housing, food, entertainment, transportation, communication, travel, and clothes. Linda posed a good question the other night -- does dining out count as food, or entertainment? And what if you're paying for someone else's meal? And do drinks count as food? I think I might also invent my own "personal upkeep" category that includes all visits to salons and gym membership fees.
Two thumbs up for the Y
I tested out the Embarcadero YMCA last night and I found it to be a very pleasant experience. The staff was super friendly and way more outgoing and genuinely nice than I've seen at the other gyms. The locker room was okay, not great, but the steam room and sauna were clean and inviting. They'll be remodeling the locker room in February, which will be an inconvenience, but will also mean an entirely new, shiny facility. I hope they put in new lockers, because the ones they have now require you to bring your own padlock, which is a huge hassle for me. I can never remember the combo.
None of the equipment was overcrowded, nor was the pool. That was a bit of a surprise to me, since I expected a new year's resolution rush of eager exercisers. Most importantly, the place wasn't a scene. None of the women in the locker room had extensive plastic surgery and none of them were applying make up pre-workout. There were a lot of people in my age range who looked fit and relatively interesting. A reasonable amount of checking each other out was happening, but it wasn't overwhelming or icky. There were also enough semi-attractive guys to watch lifting weights that time on the treadmill seemed to pass just a little bit faster than normal.
They offer a cardio kickboxing class on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday nights. I'm going to scope it out next week and see how scary it looks.
None of the equipment was overcrowded, nor was the pool. That was a bit of a surprise to me, since I expected a new year's resolution rush of eager exercisers. Most importantly, the place wasn't a scene. None of the women in the locker room had extensive plastic surgery and none of them were applying make up pre-workout. There were a lot of people in my age range who looked fit and relatively interesting. A reasonable amount of checking each other out was happening, but it wasn't overwhelming or icky. There were also enough semi-attractive guys to watch lifting weights that time on the treadmill seemed to pass just a little bit faster than normal.
They offer a cardio kickboxing class on Tuesday afternoons and Wednesday nights. I'm going to scope it out next week and see how scary it looks.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Questions for you
From a book I am reading:
"Are you on this planet to do something, or are you here just for something to do? If you're on this planet to do something, then what is it?"
I find them to be hard questions.
"Are you on this planet to do something, or are you here just for something to do? If you're on this planet to do something, then what is it?"
I find them to be hard questions.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Pit stains
Why do some shirts turn yellow under the armpits, but others don't? I mean, it's the same sweat and the same antiperspirant, right? Shouldn't the discoloring effect be a little more consistent from shirt to shirt?
And, more importantly, how do you get yellow pit stains out of a shirt?
And, more importantly, how do you get yellow pit stains out of a shirt?
This post is terrible
I think that lately the difficulty behind regular blogging is that it requires the same kind of thinking as my job. I go to work each day, and I've got to come up with all this stuff to say all the time... Intelligent opinions, feedback, creative ideas, etc. The blog is like that, too. It doesn't have to be intelligent, I suppose, but it has to be something somewhat unique and from me. Recently I'm noticing a lot of instances when I don't know what I think or what to say. In fact, I might be brain dead. Much of the time, I just want to say, "I don't know. What do you think?" Maybe it's a sign that I've naturally come to a point where I am ready to develop my active listening skills.
Unfortunately for you, I subscribe to the theory that if you have writers' block, you just have to write through it. About whatever comes to mind, without considering the quality too much. As long as you write (or in this case blog) something, you're making progress.
On that note, over the weekend I did a massive early spring cleaning. You might be surprised at how useful and truly inspirational Organization for Dummies actually is. I threw out about four garbage bags full of old papers, files I didn't need anymore, goodwill stuff, art projects gone wrong, and the like. Then I rearranged my bedroom furniture. My things still aren't as organized as I would like them (my biggest problem is clothes and where to put them), but it's a good
start -- a bit of a clean slate for 2007.
Unfortunately for you, I subscribe to the theory that if you have writers' block, you just have to write through it. About whatever comes to mind, without considering the quality too much. As long as you write (or in this case blog) something, you're making progress.
On that note, over the weekend I did a massive early spring cleaning. You might be surprised at how useful and truly inspirational Organization for Dummies actually is. I threw out about four garbage bags full of old papers, files I didn't need anymore, goodwill stuff, art projects gone wrong, and the like. Then I rearranged my bedroom furniture. My things still aren't as organized as I would like them (my biggest problem is clothes and where to put them), but it's a good
start -- a bit of a clean slate for 2007.
Friday, January 05, 2007
The SFUSD is ridiculous
In an effort to keep this blog movin', I promised myself that I would post something every day before leaving work for as long as possible. Now it's getting hard. I can't get my camera to download pictures, so I have no easy way out. I think I'm going to have to write about something.
That something is going to be the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and their ridiculous enrollment policies. I have recently been semi-involved in applications for elementary school (or at least I've been an active observer). In other places, public school is public school. That means there's a school in your neighborhood, your parents at some point roll into the office and tell the school you need to go there, and you go. It's close, it's convenient, if the public schools are bad your parents start trying to figure out a private school option, but you've always got the back up of the school down the street.
In San Francisco, it is nowhere near that easy. They've got this whole system set up to promote economic diversity in each school. That means you can't just send your kid to the school down the street. You fill out an application with a bunch of personal information and a list of your top seven choices of any of the public schools in the city. Your kid has only an 80% chance of actually getting admitted to one of those seven schools. There is a waitlist for each school and a second round. Keep in mind your neighborhood school might be one of those that are really poor quality.
Essentially, they're trying to prevent having all the rich kids going to one school. They don't want the schools in the Marina to have a better quality of education, or more funding (there is a lot of fund-raising through parents and communities in the public schools here) than the schools in the Mission. That's an admirable goal, but I don't think they've seriously thought about the repercussions of this system. It means that a parent who lives in the Noe Valley and works downtown could easily have to somehow get their kid all the way to a school in the outer Sunset before heading into the office. That could easily add an hour to your morning commute, and you'd never be leaving the city. It also means they have to figure out someway to get their kid home at 3 pm.
I remember that I started coming home from school on my own in middle school, but a lot of the kids I went to school with took the school buses home. This system makes that overly difficult as well, because it's one thing to have a ten-year-old walk home or talk a school bus alone, but it's an entirely different thing to expect them to get from Cole Valley to Potrero Hill unsupervised.
I'm pretty sure that this whole system is why I see tons of kids under five in the city, but rarely see kids that are older. Unless you get lucky and get accepted to a decent school near your place, the system becomes unworkable since it's pretty much impossible to live in the city and support kids without two working parents.
And no, the fact that I'm thinking about kindergartens does not make me old. I'm going to go out and rage tonight just to prove it. And when I say "rage" I mean drink a glass of wine, watch a DVD, and fall asleep on the couch at 10:30.
That something is going to be the San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) and their ridiculous enrollment policies. I have recently been semi-involved in applications for elementary school (or at least I've been an active observer). In other places, public school is public school. That means there's a school in your neighborhood, your parents at some point roll into the office and tell the school you need to go there, and you go. It's close, it's convenient, if the public schools are bad your parents start trying to figure out a private school option, but you've always got the back up of the school down the street.
In San Francisco, it is nowhere near that easy. They've got this whole system set up to promote economic diversity in each school. That means you can't just send your kid to the school down the street. You fill out an application with a bunch of personal information and a list of your top seven choices of any of the public schools in the city. Your kid has only an 80% chance of actually getting admitted to one of those seven schools. There is a waitlist for each school and a second round. Keep in mind your neighborhood school might be one of those that are really poor quality.
Essentially, they're trying to prevent having all the rich kids going to one school. They don't want the schools in the Marina to have a better quality of education, or more funding (there is a lot of fund-raising through parents and communities in the public schools here) than the schools in the Mission. That's an admirable goal, but I don't think they've seriously thought about the repercussions of this system. It means that a parent who lives in the Noe Valley and works downtown could easily have to somehow get their kid all the way to a school in the outer Sunset before heading into the office. That could easily add an hour to your morning commute, and you'd never be leaving the city. It also means they have to figure out someway to get their kid home at 3 pm.
I remember that I started coming home from school on my own in middle school, but a lot of the kids I went to school with took the school buses home. This system makes that overly difficult as well, because it's one thing to have a ten-year-old walk home or talk a school bus alone, but it's an entirely different thing to expect them to get from Cole Valley to Potrero Hill unsupervised.
I'm pretty sure that this whole system is why I see tons of kids under five in the city, but rarely see kids that are older. Unless you get lucky and get accepted to a decent school near your place, the system becomes unworkable since it's pretty much impossible to live in the city and support kids without two working parents.
And no, the fact that I'm thinking about kindergartens does not make me old. I'm going to go out and rage tonight just to prove it. And when I say "rage" I mean drink a glass of wine, watch a DVD, and fall asleep on the couch at 10:30.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
It's tricky
There's been a lot of confusion expressed to me lately over "Linda." The truth is that her name isn't really "Linda." That's pretty much just a code blog-world name. Her real name sounds a little bit like "Linda" and frequently, in real life, people mis-hear her and think she said her name was Linda when it is really something else that's not quite so common or forty-something sounding. Thus the "Linda" joke. If you have met a friend of mine who looks exactly like the photos of Linda, but who has a different name, then you can pretty much assume that the person you met is really actually the "Linda" I refer to.
On the same note, it's exciting that so many of you are still reading RBlog even though I haven't posted anything in an eternity. There hasn't been much in the way of comments posted recently, but I've received a ton of real-life comments. Makes me feel like the effort is appreciated.
On the same note, it's exciting that so many of you are still reading RBlog even though I haven't posted anything in an eternity. There hasn't been much in the way of comments posted recently, but I've received a ton of real-life comments. Makes me feel like the effort is appreciated.
Should be noodle not Doodle
I was going to actually write something today, but somehow time got away from me. Maybe tonight. In the meantime, in my effort to keep posting regularly, you get a couple pictures of Linda's mom's new GoldenDoodle puppy.
She's a mix between a golden retriever and a poodle. I think that should make a Goldenoodle, but apparently no one agrees with me. I've been told that it's GoldenDoodle. Anyway, the puppy's name is Maggie and Linda's mom is a Proud Puppy Momma (PPM?). And Jeremy is in love with Linda's mom.
She's a mix between a golden retriever and a poodle. I think that should make a Goldenoodle, but apparently no one agrees with me. I've been told that it's GoldenDoodle. Anyway, the puppy's name is Maggie and Linda's mom is a Proud Puppy Momma (PPM?). And Jeremy is in love with Linda's mom.
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Happy 2007!
Jeremy, Linda, and I all survived Mexico. Some of us got off better than others. For example, Linda was struck down by a mystery stomach ailment and rung in the new year with a whole lotta pukin'. Honestly, she was sick for days and I was a little worried. I think she's finally on the road to recovery.
I haven't downloaded my photos yet, but here are a few from Jeremy's set to tide you over:
Us Weekly: More captivating than a Mexican sunset. How did the Idols get thin? Linda must know!
Hard to tell where Becky hair stops and Linda hair starts.
By day she's a mild mannered attorney. By night she's La Boca del Mundo, avenger of justice! (This is actually a Mexican wrestling mask I bought for Sam. It hasn't yet left my purse, and I'm not entirely sure I'm going to be able to part with it when the time comes.)
Here's our whole crew on the sunny, sunny balcony. Ay, dios mio. I already miss the sunshine.
I haven't downloaded my photos yet, but here are a few from Jeremy's set to tide you over:
Us Weekly: More captivating than a Mexican sunset. How did the Idols get thin? Linda must know!
Hard to tell where Becky hair stops and Linda hair starts.
By day she's a mild mannered attorney. By night she's La Boca del Mundo, avenger of justice! (This is actually a Mexican wrestling mask I bought for Sam. It hasn't yet left my purse, and I'm not entirely sure I'm going to be able to part with it when the time comes.)
Here's our whole crew on the sunny, sunny balcony. Ay, dios mio. I already miss the sunshine.
This is a test
Well not entirely... I did want to share this photo with you -- it's Dave and Sam on their recent Utah ski trip, and they make me smile. However, I'm primarily interested in whether or not I'll be allowed to keep the photo posted once Dave notices it (if he notices it).
Progress
I haven't forgotten about my resolutions, yet. I took a tour of the Embarcadero Y yesterday and got a free pass to work out until January 16. I want to look at the one in the Presidio and also the one that's closer to my office, but the YMCA membership seems like a pretty solid bet. I'll be ready to sign up for a membership before the end of next week.
I've made less progress on the motorcycle license, but here's the scooter I think I might buy:
Isn't it cute? It's under $2000, and also comes in pink. The riding lessons start back up the third weekend in January, so by then I won't have any excuses left and I'll just have to go and do my best not to kill myself. There are four different weekend sets of lessons I could attend before the end of February.
I've made less progress on the motorcycle license, but here's the scooter I think I might buy:
Isn't it cute? It's under $2000, and also comes in pink. The riding lessons start back up the third weekend in January, so by then I won't have any excuses left and I'll just have to go and do my best not to kill myself. There are four different weekend sets of lessons I could attend before the end of February.
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