Jan 29, 2009 | Tags: Daily, Wii
And eat the glowing mushroom…
I don’t play Mario Kart as much as I used to, but everytime I DO play, it’s always such a HOOT! This song is genius! Not that I would listen to it for pleasure, but the video itself and the lyrics – GENIUS.
Jan 25, 2009
Leah (QueenAlpo and Mutuku’s daughter) knows her stuff!
San Francisco is all that! AND MORE.
My friend from the west got me this coffee table book for my birthday/Christmas recently, and I love it.
By the way, I have to admit Leah’s cuter than the city, though. You can’t pinch San Francisco on the cheeks, can you? But you can definitely ROCK IT in San Francisco. Even after living in San Francisco for ten years, my face still looks like Leah’s whenever I visit.
Jan 20, 2009
Wow! What an important day! Goosebumps all around! I’ll be honest and say I didn’t really think of Obama’s race. I voted for him as a person and someone who I wanted to be President, regardless of his color. But, after today, I finally see the historical part and how much it’s affecting so many people in wonderful ways, and it truly gives me goosebumps!
This is what I did all day long. Sat on my tushie at work and watched the inauguration stuff. My company provided a live feed all day long through C-SPAN, so I was a happy camper. I doubt anyone got work done, though!
Do I regret not going to the inauguration since it’s next door? No. It was surreal enough, just being in my office with the live feed. And, as you can see, it was CAPTIONED, WHOOHOO! And, hell, I don’t want to fall onto the metro tracks like this woman did. About 30 children were lost, taken to local police stations to be claimed. Nor did I want hypothermia. My local metro station was filled with tour buses and police. I went to the inauguration concert on Sunday, so that was good enough for me. Heck, Obama was about 5 blocks from me!
Some thoughts about today:
I thought it was completely cute that Malia, the oldest daughter, was taking pictures with her cute blue camera. Surely, she’s in a whirlwind herself.
Obama’s speech: AWESOME! To whoever wrote his speech, let me give you a kiss! I ought to make a separate blog about the speech. We’ll see if I get to that!
The parade was a complete FLOP! It was estimated to start at 2:30, but was mega delayed! It got dark, colder, and people just started going home while the parade just went on and on for what seemed like forever! There was barely anyone in the bleachers or sidelines by 6pm. AND GET THIS. That white box Obama and his wife was in? ENDED UP EMPTY TOO, with the exception of the Obamas, Biden, and a few others. How pathetic is that? I bet everyone in the parade was disgusted and just wanted to quit, but then again they are LIVE ON TV! How exciting? The Obamas on the other hand looked very bored. I bet they felt their bed was calling for them. Obama, come to bed, I know you’re pooped!
Obama’s going to bring everyone together. I Know he has a lot of work ahead of him, a lot of expectations to fill, challenges, and of course it’s not going to happen overnight. I’m proud, but Michelle Obama looks prouder than anyone.
This is a new beginning. President Obama and Vice President Biden, welcome to Washington and best wishes!
Jan 19, 2009 | Tags: Daily, Inauguration, Obama
For weeks now, every time someone asked me if I was going to go to any inauguration events, I laughed and retorted right back saying, “Are you nuts?! Hell no. There’s going to be a shitload of people!” I mean, come on. There are hotels booked all the way out to West Virginia. There are people renting out their places for a shitload of money! People traveling from thousand of miles just to be here. So of course I am going to stay right here on my ass at home and watch everything on TV. Basically, I was hell bent on staying away from all that inauguration mess. However, when the weekend actually arrived, I kept flip flopping: Should I go?! Should I stay home? Should I go? Yes I’ll go. No I won’t go. On Saturday, I stayed away from DC.
But…yesterday at noon, while sitting on my ass, I suddenly just stood up and announced, “I am SO taking my ass to DC now. What was I thinking staying home on my ass!? I am SO going to regret not going!” This was history and I live right next door to it all! This is OBAMA! This was CHANGE! This was HOPE! And, Dude and Dudettes, there was a free concert in DC with Beyonce, Shakira, Garth Brooks, Stevie Wonder, and so on!! This is exciting! What was I doing on my ass?! I started running around like a headless chicken getting ready to leave. I grabbed my scarf, gloves, hat, and whatnot, because baby, it’s cold out there.
Once I got to the metro, I saw three helicopters heading in the direction of DC. I can almost guarantee you that it was either Obama or Bush, because I’ve lived here long enough to know if its the Marine One or not. But then again, it could have been someone else important.
Upon arriving to DC, I could already see road blocks by cops and military. The buildings were plastered with welcome signs for Obama, our 44th President. It was so surreal. I’m sure Obama is flattered with all these welcome signs and support. The concert was at the Lincoln Memorial on the Mall, but by the time I got there, swarms of people were walking to the Monument instead. I asked people what’s up!? Why is everyone walking in the opposite direction!? Turned out that the Lincoln Memorial and Reflecting Pool were all blocked off, too crowded and that people were forced to go to the Monument area where there were screens scattered with a live feed of the concert. There was no way to get to my friend over in the Lincoln Memorial area. Worse, the AT&T network crashed! I couldn’t use my phone at all! Doesn’t that say a lot about how crowded it was?
I couldn’t see ANYTHING! All the areas with screens were already super crowded, and I couldn’t even read the captions. I could hear what was going on at the Memorial, just couldn’t see the captions. I dragged Jeff into all kinds of directions just to be able to see! Finally, I just gave up. Stood in the same spot. Ten minutes later, I was ready to go home. I was satsified just being there, but on the same token, also sad I couldn’t see anything! I figured it would suffice to see the concert on TV on HBO. There were firemen on top of their fire truck taking pictures for people just because people couldn’t see anything! One fireman stopped and said, “Hang on! Let me take my own picture with my own camera! One moment!” Ha!
So, I proceeded to walk back to the metro, but Jeff noticed another screen. We walked towards it, and saw that there was room for us to just sit at the front. We had to kind of pull our heads back to be able to look up. AT LAST! I was one happy camper! The speakers were incredibly loud and with awesome quality. The captions were clear enough! The experience was just so surreal. Every time Obama came on the screen, everyone cheered so loud. When Garth Brooks was playing, everyone followed his lead and put their hands up in the air whenever he sang “Shout!” People were clapping their hands. I was thinking to myself that this totally beats watching it at home on HBO!
Let me tell you this, though. I have never seen so many porta potties in my life! Everywhere I turned, there were porta potties lined up that seemed to go on for miles. They came in handy because I had to use a porta potty twice! I know this porta potty thing won’t end up as a feature in history books (or will it?), but for me, I am never going to forget this part!
What’s amazing is that no one was rude. People were civil! Many of you have heard me say how rude people can be here, pushing and everything without even saying excuse me, and whatnot. But at this concert, everyone was just incredibly nice. They even let me through the crowds even though I stepped on some shoes. Everyone must have been just so excited and filled with hope, change, and a new presidency. On a second thought, maybe these people weren’t from DC! Hah! I’m sure many were, though.
Here’s a slideshow. To see the titles/description, just hover over the slideshow and click “Inauguration Concert Set.”
I’m incredibly glad I hauled my ass to DC to witness a part of this history in the making, and to support the person I voted for.
(The concert is running on HBO continuously if you want to see the whole thing!)
Jan 08, 2009 | Tags: Being Deaf Rocks, Daily, deafness
My brain earlier today: “I wonder how many minutes in life I waste just because I am deaf.”
This new, random thought caught me off guard. Could it be possible that all this time, my life has been inefficient and a waste of valuable minutes because of my deafness? All my life, I have had the same thoughts that come and go, like these:
I could be making dinner faster if I could just use my ears to hear what is being said while I cook.
I could be writing notes in class efficiently rather than staring at an interpreter because I’m afraid I’ll miss something that will be on a test.
I could be reading a good book instead of looking up lyrics and trying to hear/learn how the lyrics go in a song I fall in love with.
I could be learning so much more at work if I could overhear discussions about projects and so on.
I could be finishing my work faster at the computer if I could talk to my co-workers across the room rather than having to walk over and lipread.
I could lay in the complete darkness enjoying intimate conversations rather than having to turn on some kind of low light.
I could be more in tune with current events if I could hear the radio or overhear people talking on the train.
I could laugh along with everyone at work, if I could just hear what they are laughing about.
I could have my hamburger ready if I could just pop out the cell phone and call the burger joint ahead of time.
I could watch all the videos on the internet with 100% understanding if I could hear because they don’t have freaking captions.
I could go on and on, but you get the drift.
But now, 29 years later, I have this BRAND NEW thought about minutes being wasted as a deaf person. People talk about how much time we waste sleeping away our life, how much time we waste on a computer, and such.
I started to calculate the minutes. About 5 minutes per dinner, 365 days a year, times how many years I’ve started cooking. About 2 hours a day at work, times 260 days a year (excluding weekends). About 2 minutes per text or email message rather than using the phone, times holy shit, forget it. This math will never be accurate!
After doing silly calculations, my brain thought, “But you have the magic of even having a mode of communication! If it wasn’t for sign language, cued speech, or ability to write/read/lipread. you wouldn’t have communication at all!” Then, “Saz, you’re not at your accounting job at the moment! What are you calculating for?” So true, my mushy brain. So true. Sure I lose many minutes or take longer to do stuff, but things could be worse. Much worse.
So, how many minutes do I waste in my lifetime being deaf? None. Having the ability to communicate at all is a blessing. And, I’m lucky to even be able to talk and hear pretty good to the point where some people forget or don’t believe that I’m deaf. Being ALIVE is even a bigger blessing.
Jan 04, 2009 | Tags: Daily
I know this is overdue, but I am 100% sure that the engaged couple is still in bliss!
Congratulations with all my heart! Peace chin five throat!
Jan 03, 2009 | Tags: Daily, Wii
As I’ve said many times, Wii is cool and all. Lots of fun playing with other people, and it’s great technology. But, like hello Nintendo, you need a crash course on style.
I have no way of changing my outfit on Tetris Party. Yes, this is my Mii. My hair, my eyes, all symbolizes me, but the outfit? This brings back horrendous memories of when my mother made me wear a black and white polka dot dress with a big neon pink bow at the neck. just like this Wii outfit’s bow. I’ll probably have nightmares tonight.
Jan 03, 2009 | Tags: Daily
What a crazy last two weeks! Christmas eve, Christmas, my birthday, New Years Eve, and so on! Time to take down all the Christmas stuff, or I’ll be stuck with febulights! Happy New Year to all! I must be allergic to 2009 because my face broke out in hives for hours. Pretty sight, huh?
Anyway, a week ago I turned 29. Just one more year left before I turn the big 3-oh. 3-0. Thirty. Three oh. Three Zero. Okay, I’ll say it already, damn it!! 30 years old! This is really incomprehensible to me, because I have no idea how all these years flew by so fast. It feels like just yesterday I was rocking it in Vegas for my 21st birthday. I know there’s a such thing as time, no shit, but…WHAT THE…?? Whoosh. It’s as if I’ll be 50 tomorrow just like that. In fact, just the other day I asked my man where the VCR remote control was. He looked at me and said, “VCR? Whaddya mean? There’s no VCR here.” DUH. I meant the DVD remote. Talk about a major 80’s flashback.
Out of curiosity and fun, I sent out survey to my family and friends, generated through Gmail documents, asking what someone should do before they turn the big 30. A lot of people replied, and I had such a hoot reading everyone’s comments. Some were funny, some were serious, and some suggestions would land me in jail. Some, I won’t even comment on here, because it’s whoa, too personal.
Skydiving was the most popular answer and rightfully so.
“Skydiving, duh.”
“Go skydiving!!!!!”
“Sky diving, I’m dead serious.”
“You. Must. Go. Skydiving.”
“Go skydiving, it’s the biggest rush ever!”
And so on…
I’m proud to say I’ve already skydived when I was about 21 or 22 years old, in the Monterey area of California.
My experience: At first, I wasn’t scared. I thought to myself, no big deal, I’m a daredevil. We raced to the sky in a tiny plane. Once the plane door opened, a gust of cold air engulfed us. My legs started to shake, because of the realization I’d be jumping out of the plane, possibly smashing every piece of my body. My former boyfriend encouraged me, saying it was okay, just do it. So, I gave myself a pep talk: I can do this, I can do this! Before I knew it, the professional dude on my back just threw us out of the plane. WHOA, the air was freezing! I could not breathe (didn’t know I had mild asthma at the time)!
Aside from the cold air and having difficulty breathing, the free falling experience was unbelievably amazing using all senses! Feeling the gravity pull me, the smell of the fresh air, hearing wind sounds as you’re falling, and seeing everything below you. No longer did I feel any fear, how could I when it was just so amazing? I could see the horizon at a 360 degrees angle. I could see the pacific ocean that stretched all the way to the end of the horizon, a huge span of land towards the east, and patches of land below me. Breathtaking! The air got warmer and warmer as gravity pulled me closer to Earth. Then, I started to get a little nervous that the guy behind me might forget to pull the parachute. Once he pulled it, we stopped free falling and I just took in the entire beauty until I landed on my feet. Actually, knees! It’s not easy landing on just your feet!
All in all, skydiving was a great popular answer for the survey. Definitely something someone should consider doing in their lifetime ANYTIME, be it 60 years old or 22.
The second most common answer was scuba diving. Hmm. I’ve snorkeled, but that’s nothing like scuba diving that’s for sure. I ought to try it this summer!
Other selected answers:
“Run a marathon.” Ahh, what? You’re talking to a lazy bum. I should though, and have wanted to!
“Watch 29 movies in a row without going to sleep.” HA HA HA. If anyone knows me well, I zonk pretty well after a while.
“Do a porn film.” Ahem, what?
“Run up 29 flights of stairs.” Done that and more!
“Throw shoes at President Bush.” Right, and get myself on the death chair? No thanks!
“Bite a habanero.” Done that, it was in chili.
“Eat the best Tamale in the world from the Tamale lady in San Francisco.” Oh man, I’ll never forget my shock seeing that lady walk into the bar in San Francisco selling tamales out of a trash bag. And all of you, my dear friends, were telling me its delicious!! I know none of you died, so maybe I’ll try it next time?! If there’s ever a next time. Is that lady even still coming around selling tamales?
“Drive a fast car such as a Ferrari or Porsche.” Does a mustang with a 5.0 engine count? Oh those were the days, California freeway racing!
“Make sure you have life insurance, annuities, real estate and 401k!” Yes to all!
“Travel to a country you’ve always wanted to visit.” Done that! Although I have more on my list.
Internet, I’m sorry but the rest of the survey answers are top secret.
Again, Happy New Year! May 2009 bring you all great happiness.
