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 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.
Dec 23, 2008 | Tags: christmas, christmas 2008, Daily
Like I’ve mentioned before, StumbleUpon is awesome when you want to just surf the entire damn web. The electricians are here working away and I got nothing else to do. (Except for when they give me a cool education on particular electricity issues!! Really fascinating, beats my desk job!) I searched for “Christmas” websites and got a lot of cool sites. Here are my favorites. I’m sure no one has time to check out all my links, due to the Holiday break. But if the off chance you get bored or it’s slow at work, check out these link treats.
Letters to Santa from Kids. My favorite? “….. I WAS WAITING FOREVER IN LINE TO TELL YOU WHAT I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS. SO I REALLY LIKE THAT I CAN EMAIL YOU RIGHT AWAY WITHOUT LINING UP.”
Launch this, and pull. Each pull donates to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
A twist with Christmas lights! Instead of Christmas trees, these lights are on humans, pets, and etc. This was so cool that Jeff & I proceeded to do a fun photo shoot last night. Here’s a shot Jeff took!
Boozy Christmas trees! Too cool looking to just take a drink off the tree and start drinking. Or would you anyway?
Non-alcoholic Christmas trees. Creative! My favorite is the wine cork tree. I have tons of wine corks, I oughta make one of those!! Creative! I also like the bookshelf idea, and I know another friend of mine would like that! *Waves at QueenAlpo* Check out this cork tree. Why didn’t I think of this? I have tons of corks! Well duh, because I’m not artsy with non-technical stuff.
A fireplace, on your computer! This fireplace is actually really hypnotizing. Click the volume icon to pick out different Christmas songs.
Buy your condoms ahead of time! Mating season at it’s peak!
Take the “Are you naughty or nice?” quiz! Adult version. Children’s version.
Christmas Photoshop tutorials!
One more link treat – because the electricians are all done! Bizarre Christmas origins. Not sure if most of this is true, like I was taught, don’t believe everything you read. But, still, an interesting read to kill time.
Toodles, off to work!
Dec 22, 2008 | Tags: Daily
Caramel, white cheddar, peanut butter, kettle corn, and all that Christmas-y popcorn is just sinfully addictive. Someone at work shared a whole tub of the crap, so I kept munching them away like someone who hadn’t had a meal in days.
Here’s an email conversation I had today.
Me: I can’t stop eating the holiday popcorn. Caramel, white cheddar, peanut butter, oh my my my!
Him: Devour it all!
Me: Why the deuce not!? It’s Christmas, man!
Him (in a serious tone): Let me know if you need me to pick you up with a U-Haul after work.
Later in the day:
Him: I’m leaving work, let me know if you indeed need a U-Haul truck and a moving crew.
Me: Oh shut up!
Geez, I’m still chuckling about this.
Dec 21, 2008 | Tags: Daily
Dudes and Dudettes, I just spent $17 bucks on a little can of spice I’ve never heard of – Saffron. Why? Just to make North African Chickpea and Kale Soup, courtesy of Fat Free Vegan. I had to go through the spice can, two envelopes just to get to the saffron itself. Major packaging to preserve the life of the spice! When I raised it up to my nose to take a whiff, I smelled tobacco. WHAT? I DON’T WANT TOBACCO SOUP!
Man, turns out the soup was absolutely delicious! There was absolutely no hint of tobacco. The flavor was so complex, with all those different spices mixed together: saffron, cayenne paprika, allspice, cumin, ginger, bay leaf, cinnamon, and so on. It was so good that I had to have some more just recently for lunch. While I type this, I still taste the soup on my tongue lingering as if it doesn’t want to leave.
The picture above may make you go, “eww that looks gross.” But honestly it isn’t. The texture is also very complex. It’s thin because of the liquid that is packed with mega spices, thick because of the kale, chickpeas, and carrots. There’s plenty of fiber and protein in the soup.
I’m not a vegetarian and I don’t normally blog about recipes, but I felt I had to share this because it’s so different from the normal soups I always have, like beef stew.
I definiely recommend this soup if you’re craving an African/Ethopian flavor or a nutrition powerhouse! Worth the $17 bucks for saffron. FIVE STARS, BABY!
