Thursday, June 30, 2005

Going Home



Off to Seattle for a long overdue visit. It's weird to say I'm visiting because I think of it as home. I can't wait to breath clean air, see clean (or at least cleaner) streets, and catch up with the family and friends .

Sunday, June 26, 2005

Blinded

Yesterday as I got off the train at Waltham, I noticed a blind man who was in serious need of help. The train platform is very narrow and on one side has a metal railing and the other, the tracks. I offered my help which he gratefully accepted. He needed to cross the street to get to the bus stop.

We talked about where we were both going, what we do for school and work, the usual stranger conversation. He's 20 years old, a mathematics student at Boston Univ. and was on his way to teach a computer class--all that, while not seeing, now that's impressive!

I asked him if he was totally blind or sight impaired and sadly it's the former and then he told me how he became blind, which is tragic: as a 3-year-old in Vietnam, a doctor put the wrong eye drops in his eyes and he went instantly blind. I'm no doctor, but doesn't it seem a bit strange that a (presumably) approved eye medication could be so damaging?

In any case, it was nice to be able to help someone out. Although I'm glad I no longer teach, I do miss feeling like I'm making some sort of positive contribution, so this was a nice opportunity.

Friday, June 24, 2005

Wednesday, June 15, 2005


Dirty

Something about Nothing

Report from my front:

  • Sandeep was up to his tricks again. Last Friday he jumped off the deck, into a tree, and crawled down to the ground. I believe he learned his lesson. When I found him he looked utterly helpless and miserable. I think he understands food, water and comfort come from above not below.
  • The weather was hot, now it's cold.
  • This past weekend I was apart of the Life is Good Backyard Festival Photo Team http://www.lifeisgood.com/ . The festival was a charitable event to raise money for Project Joy http://www.projectjoykids.org/mission.html, which was a worthwile cause--I had to keep telling myself that as I lugged my gear in the 90 heat with the oh-so-pleasant stick factor of 99% humidity. :) Here are some of the photos http://share.shutterfly.com/action/share/view?i=EeANnLhizbOWbUPg&open=1&x=1&sm=1&sl=0
  • My love of all things Photoshop grows. At school I'm working on masking and compositing which is pretty technical but when the technical aspects are mastered, it's digital art making. I'm far from a master, but hope to be.
  • I love my new spanx bra. Go to the website and enter LANDERS as the promotion code and get 50% off.
  • We are having a party on Saturday--many cool folks expected. I'll be a mojito mixing mama.
  • Alex dislocated his finger at TKD and is now walking the streets of Boston with his finger above his head to prevent swelling.

That's it and that's all.

Friday, June 10, 2005


Nice light on Nice guy

The PNW

My mom sent me this great Jeff Foxworthy list about the PNW (Pacific North West). It's 100% accurate and really really really makes me homesick.

The Pacific Northwest According To Jeff Foxworthy.
1. You know the state flower (Mildew) {It's really the Rhododendron}
2. You feel guilty throwing aluminum cans or paper in the trash.
3. Use the statement "sun break" and know what it means.
4. You know more than 10 ways to order coffee.
5 You know more people who own boats than air conditioners.
6. You feel overdressed wearing a suit to a nice restaurant.
7. You stand on a deserted corner in the rain waiting for the "Walk" Signal.
8. You consider that if it has no snow or has not recently erupted, it is not a real mountain.
9. You can taste the difference between Starbucks, Seattle's Best, andVeneto's
10. You know the difference between Chinook, Coho and Sockeye salmon.
11. You know how to pronounce Sequim, Puyallup, Issaquah, Oregon, Yakima and Willamette.
12. You consider swimming an indoor sport.
13. You can tell the difference between Japanese, Chinese and Thai food.
14. In winter, you go to work in the dark and come home in the dark-while only working eight-hour days.
15. You never go camping without waterproof matches and a poncho.
16. You are not fazed by "Today's forecast: showers followed by rain,"and "Tomorrow's forecast: rain followed by showers."
17. You have noconcept of humidity without precipitation
18. You know that Boring is a town in Oregon and not just a state of mind.
19. You can point to at least two volcanoes, even if you cannot seethrough the cloud cover.
20. You notice, "The Mountain is out" when it is a pretty day and you can actually see it.
21. You put on your shorts when the temperature gets above 50, but stillwear your hiking boots and parka.
22. You switch to your sandals when it gets about 60, but keep the sockson.
23. You have actually used your mountain bike on a mountain.
24. You think people who use umbrellas are either wimps or tourists.
25.You buy new sunglasses every year, because you cannot find the old onesafter such a long time.
26. You measure distance in hours.
27. You often switch from "heat" to "a/c" in the same day.28. You design your kid's Halloween costume to fit under a raincoat.
29. You know all the important seasons: Almost Winter, Winter, Still, Raining (Spring), Road Construction (Summer), Deer &Elk season (fall).
30. You actually understood these jokes

The Bipedal Cat, Part 2

Regarding the wonder cat:

It gets worse, better, funnier-- I don’t know what to call it.

Last night he barfed all over the place. Why? Well judging from the multitude of insects in his vomit I’m going to guess bugs and cat stomachs are not a good mix.

Then.. This morning at 5am I hear the squirrels going crazy. These are the same squirrels that brought Sandeep the homeless cat to my attention back in February—he terrorized them often. I get out of bed anticipating the worst--He was gone again. I went onto the roof and he was in a tree close to our bedroom window. He squeezed through the window onto the ledge and jumped to the tree. He was a bit stressed as the tree was a good distance from the roof but with his very springy legs managed to get onto the roof. I feel like this might be preparation for kids. Ugh……

Thursday, June 09, 2005

The Bipedal Cat

Remember the cat from the last post? Well, this morning, he was up to no good.

6:45 AM Alex comes to Christina in bed: “uhm… Sandeep… he’s uh…, missing.”

With that, I bolt out of bed, freaking out, on the verge of tears. The only place he could go is down, three stories.
Out we went yelling his name like a good Indian mum and dad. Then there was meowing, from above. He’s on the roof looking down at us.

There's no access to the roof from our place, unless you
are bipedal and have opposable thumbs. Last I checked, he didn’t.

Tuesday, June 07, 2005

Many Names, One Gato




He started as 3. That was his name (as in third cat) in his dark basement home.

Now he's Country, Tigerle, Sandeep, Sandman, Ruben, Gato, Monkey, Chango, Stanley-- these are the names we hear ourselves calling this little muchacho.

Names--What are they anyway? Just away to peg you down really. We can't really peg him down and that's okay because catever he is today, and catever we call him we are mighty fond of this funny feline.

The Honeymoon on Elm Street, Part 2

The story continues: here

Monday, June 06, 2005

The Honeymoon on Elm Street, part I

After many many tellings it has finally been written, not by me, but by husband. It's a story like no other, at least I hope.

After two years of telling the story over and over again, I’m finally getting around to writing up our Honeymoon Nightmare on Elm Street. It’s pretty long, so it’ll be in multiple segments.
Note: unmarried couples may want to consider bringing along a chaperone to reassure them that it’s not always this bad. There will be scenes of graphic disappointment and unhappiness, dashed plans and foiled expectations. You have been warned.


The path to the nightmare is here.

Friday, June 03, 2005