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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Thoughts on Reminiscing about High School, Dreamworks, and My Celebrity Dream Family

Some of my friends only remember the terrible things about high school. The bad relationships, tough teachers, brutal classes and just the emotional turmoil they went through. And while that seems like the typical teen angst - and to some, might be - it occurred to me that I don't have very many - if any - bad memories about high school.

So reminiscing about friends, events and just fun, happy memories always make me smile. Especially when I'm still in contact with those people, and that's something we can all look back on. There were plenty of moments where I couldn't have been happier being among close friends and just having a blast.

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Thoughts on Exchange Students, Cravings, and My Loathing for Twilight

In about two weeks, we're getting two exchange students from China. They're 10 and 11 - with the younger turning 11 the day after she leaves. Yeah, that's right. 10 and 11. From China, and they'll be here in the states, away from family.

It's really cool that they get to participate in the program and travel the world during their summer. But it's probably also scary since they're so young.

Either way, I'm excited to meet them both. We'll have Wendy and Rose - the English names they chose - for about two weeks. We've had an exchange student before. She was cool and it helped that we were/are close in age. So certainly, I'll have more interesting things to talk about, having them here.

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Monday, June 27, 2011

Thoughts on Lack of Posts, Farmer's Market Food, and Hospitals

I know I've been slacking. And some of that is due to the lack of things I've taken notice of. And probably laziness. But I haven't really had anything significant happen lately that I've wanted to write about.

I do have a few topics noted for future nights - and hopefully a guest post or two - but I'm trying to make sure I don't ramble about the same topic multiple nights in a row.

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Friday, June 24, 2011

Thoughts on Washington Weather, The Force, and Me Ranking Pixar Films

Washington, Seattle more specifically, is known for it's rain. Cause we do get a lot, but not record amounts. Sure, it does rain for about nine months of the year, but I've grown up here, so it's something I'm used to.

This year though, is certainly interesting. Normally in June, the weather starts to lighten up, look less dreary and stay more consistent in being in the 70s. The rest of the country is well into their summer weather, perhaps Washington missed the memo?

Thursday, June 23, 2011

Thoughts on Composers, Giant Woman Crush, and Cars 2

Often times, after I've seen the movie, the soundtrack is an instant buy for me. Music is vital to me in liking a movie. It sets a tone for a scene and really adds to everything in a theater. Plus, often times it helps to be great writing playlists too.

Thoughts on Weight Watchers, Softball, & Picture Posts

Dude.  Weight Watchers.  What gives?

I gave you a try about a year ago and, yeah, you worked for me.  And it was awesome.  I feel like I really learned something in those three months; I really got the drive to eat better, to exercise, to see what I could do about my weight and living the way I wanted to.

But, now, I hate you.

You worked for me.  But you're driving my mother crazy.  And it's killing me.

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Monday, June 20, 2011

Thoughts on Interviews, Commercial Music, and Ocarina of Time

Interviews are stressful. I don't care who you are, there has to be at least some amount of nerves going into an interview that could lead to a better paying job.

It's even tougher when that interview.... is right before lunch and will last an hour. I've never been so anxious before.

Today's interview could lead to plenty of others; that and its really nerve-wracking to not know what will happen from here. :/

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Thoughts on the American Red Cross, New Music, & Dolly Parton

I will, in turns, be eternally grateful to/forever hate the ARC.  It's thanks to them I've had something to do during my summer vacations since I was about nine or ten.  They're the reason I'm currently employed (and have been for the last five summers).  It's because of the Red Cross that, when I remember I am a certified lifeguard and trained in the ways of CPR, AED, First Aid, and swim instructing, I feel like a total BAMF.

But ten-year-old me wasn't thinking that far ahead.  Ten-year-old me liked the pool and all, but getting up early for classes was not conducive to my childhood.  If not for swim lessons, I probably wouldn't have really had any friends as a kid - none that I saw outside of school, anyway.  But, come on...ten AM is early for a kid, when you factor in the carpools, the tennis lessons in the morning heat, the changing for swimming, the spending the day usually at a friend's house because both of my parents worked.  And being an instructor's aid when I was 14 royally sucked.

Without the Red Cross, I wouldn't get to see my kids every year, the closest I'll probably ever come to actually being a teacher.  I plan on having my own kids, someday, and it's nice to have the time to practice - to play, to bond, to instruct.  To discipline, unfortunately.  I want to be the cool mom, the one everyone loves and trusts, because I'll probably be the only one who thought it was important to keep up with my CPR certification.

So, a million and one thanks to the American Red Cross.  But, also...I hate you.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Thoughts on Harry Potter, The Coffee Wars, and Tron Light-Car

It's crazy to think that the Harry Potter phenomenon is finally coming to an end. Or at least, movie wise, it's coming to an end. The books have long since been over, but they still have many hearts and minds of readers captured and immersed in the world of witchcraft and wizardry.

I came in late to the entire bandwagon. By the time I started reading the books, the first two movies were already out. Once I had caught up, I blew through the series in no time, and quickly joined in with millions of others who were obsessed with the series. Midnight book releases, movie showings, everything I could attend that was HP related, I was there for.

Thoughts on Laziness, Locks, & Vacation

I'm just tired.  It's been a long week.  I went on vacation.  I did too much.  I slept too little.

I haven't done anything since I got home Friday night.

I'll stop making excuses eventually.

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Saturday, June 18, 2011

Thoughts on Theno's Dairy, Hits to the Face, and Allergy Medicine

My hometown has a lot of great things going for it. It's a major technology mecca, home to two major companies - Nintendo and Microsoft - has a pretty healthy economy, and is the perfect distance from everything.

For those that like wine, there's a town not far from here that has plenty of wineries and breweries to sample the Northwest flavors. Plenty of pups, bars, taverns, etc. for the drinking types. Several playing fields, parks, and venues of the outdoorsy type. There's an outdoor mall, two bookstores, lots of eateries, your typical fast food, and several grocery stores. And, it's not that far off from being able to "get away" into the farms and get some space. But I think what really makes this place feel special... Is Theno's Dairy.

It used to actually sell milk that they bottled on site, along with cream and butter. My mom actually still has several bottles and a carrier in our garage. But now, they sell handmade ice cream and fudge. There's nothing better than snagging a cone after a long, hot day at work.

Besides coffee, vanilla, and rainbow sherbert, they've got plenty of flavors to offer that you can only find at their dairy. July 1st will be the first day that their summer special, Cantaloupe ice cream arrives. Right now they have strawberry rhubarb. During the holidays, they have pumpkin pie and peppermint. They've done a fantastic job at withstanding a tough economy everywhere and serving people a delicious treat that isn't fast food or soft serve.

Best part of my home town.

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Thursday, June 16, 2011

Thoughts on Rubber Ducks, Character Dialogue Research, and Music

I have a pretty extensive collection of rubber ducks, which continues to grow every year.

This collection started during my first WriMo in 2008 when I found out Seattle was known as the hydrophobic ducks. As our mascot dubbed by NaNoWriMo creator, Chris Baty, the locals took up the idea and have hence forth, been able to recognize each other via the duck placed on a table at write-ins. Each writer has their own or borrow from someone like myself, to be their totem.

There's really one duck I keep with me when I do write at Tully's. He's a black, ninja devil duck. Certainly my favorite - though I don't remember where I acquired him, but I think he was a gift - and he's been with me for the past three years. Like lucky socks for an athlete, he's my lucky charm for when I need to get some progress done. And perhaps that explains why I haven't been able to complete anything.

As of late, I haven't had him sitting next to me on my desk, or where I lounge on the couch upstairs. A part of it is because I don't want my dog to kidnap him and shred him, and the other is that I'm lazy. For the past few months, he's been hanging on the shelf above my bed, opposite my pirate duck. Cause really, what's a ninja without a pirate?

It's time to get into the zone and get some writing done with my sidekick duck.

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Wednesday, June 15, 2011

Thoughts on Writer's Block, Cheese Bunnies, and Ambiguity

My various projects suffer from a great deal of writer's block. My blog, along with both my current novels and just any short story ideas that pop into my head.

Some of it has to do with the fact that I get the feeling that if I start working on anything, I'll hate how it is and it'll join all the other files currently in my "In the Works" folder. Sure, revising and editing are for making things better. But if I'm not in "the mood" or "in the zone" then I shouldn't write anything. Most of the time, I really end up disliking it. I have to be completely consumed by an idea and have it pretty well planned out on paper or in my head before I'm willing to stake a significant amount of time on it and make it the best.

So writer's block unfortunately strikes me a few times a year:
--A month after WriMo, when I've put my story to rest for a time to mull over ideas. Generally I don't pick it up again for quite some time....
--After several days/weeks of writing a short story or even flash fiction consistently.
--Working on a previous WriMo novel and making major changes to it that are for the better, but ultimately, I'm lazy.
--Undecisive-ness in searching for the right direction to take my short story/novella/novel, etc.
--Editing and revising large bodies of work.

Hopefully I can find a cure soon. This requires epic music, me thinks.

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Tuesday, June 14, 2011

Thoughts on Good Morning, Gravity, and Pain killers

I walk to the warehouse from where my car is parked; roughly only 5 minutes, but it feels longer. Generally there are other cars passing by, heading to their assigned spots and joining the other carpoolers, along with filling up the nearby business park.

We share our warehouse with another company. Sure, we take up about 90% of it, but they receive their own deliveries in bay doors on the opposite side of the building. They supply car parts for various garages and dealerships, their drivers coming in every morning to pick up the order for their assigned routes and then leaving once they snag some coffee and chat it up with fellow drivers.

There's this one guy that wishes me "Good morning," every day. His cheeks are adorned with muttonchops, and he always has a baseball cap and a red plaid jacket. Not only does he do this without fail, but he could be in the middle of a conversation, and he'll stop and greet me. I smile, wave and respond with a "Good morning."

A part of me is curious about his friendliness, and if there's any rhyme or reason to why he greets me, but at the same time.... I don't want to know. I like the mystery in it all and the thought that we're just friendly strangers, who routinely see each other.

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Sunday, June 12, 2011

Thoughts on Spies, Mom's Tea, and Hey Arnold

I was watching the movie, Killers with Katherine Heigl and Ashton Kutcher. It's one of many spy rom-coms.

Everyone knows being a spy isn't as romantic or funny. More than likely, it's dangerous, anxiety inducing, and is about never knowing when your last day will be. With witty dialogue, impeccable timing and a score of actors and actresses, it's easy to think that discovering your spouse is really a secret agent, would lead to some rather hilarious interactions - potentially something like Mr. and Mrs. Smith or plenty of moments in the previously mentioned film.

No one probably wants to think of the dark side of those movies. The fact that there are people that are trained to kill and are given "missions" to assassinate those that could harm a country's freedom and sanctity.

People want to be entertained. They don't want to accept that people really do lose their lives to protect their country from those that want to harm it. So despite how strange it is that espionage romantic comedies exist, they perform their purpose. Entertainment.

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Saturday, June 11, 2011

Thoughts on Wood Fired Pizza, The X-Men, and Actors

I tend to take a lot of photos of the fantastic looking food I'm about to eat.

That was a delicious pizza. Made at the farmer's market here in town, held every Saturday.  And it was made in a wood-fired oven. Delicious doesn't even cover how fantastic that pizza tasted. 

Hand-made dough, fresh cut veggies and homemade sauce; it was full of perfection. That was the veggie pizza, however there was also cheese, pepperoni and meat lovers. But there's something about veggies on a pizza that make it look like a work of art. Maybe it's the color, or perhaps that it has basically every vegetable I love; I just couldn't resist snapping this photo before I nommed it in under five minutes. So amazing I wanted another right after the first.

What made it taste even better, was the fact it was baked in a wood-fired oven. That still is super cool to me that they bring in their own oven every Saturday. Portable EPIC oven FTW. 

I can't wait for next week!

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Thoughts on Injuries, Late Nights, and Paperwork

So far tonight we had two rolled ankles - which were luckily minor - some face hits, hand and arm scrapes, and turf burn.

I hurt, but am happy I made at least one epic, diving catch. 'twas a good night.

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Friday, June 10, 2011

Thoughts on Books, Drama, & Long Distance Friendships

I have too many book.  Not that I think you can ever have too many books.  I just have too many for the space I currently occupy, so my room is getting a little cluttered.  And it always seems, no matter how many books I finish and find room for or must tie up and relegate to the garage, I always end up buying more to fill the shrinking empty spaces.  I still like the whole atmosphere of the library, but there's just something about owning a book, being able to write in it and call it your own.  Even if it's terrible.

But it's okay.  I plan on having a library of my own, in my future home, a place to keep all my books and have a desk with my knick-knacks and computer, where I'll read and write and go on Facebook.  Even if it's just a closet - as long as I have shelf space.  I'll be content.

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Thoughts on Plot Directions, Retirement, and The Ice Cream Truck

Projects are tough to keep up on. In the initial start, I'll have plenty of momentum and easily find time to continue work on what I'm doing; when suddenly I'll hit a wall.

My 2009 WriMo is one of my most complex plots to write in only 30 days. Besides being a romantic comedy, it includes themes of acceptance/tolerance, self-discovery, and more, all wrapped around a homosexual relationship at the heart of the story. I'd written basically to the end, but hadn't quite typed up the ending due to my inability to decide on how it should conclude. So rather than do anything more to it, I printed the entire story out and marked it up with my red pen. While incomplete, it's been read through and edited.

Thursday, June 9, 2011

Thoughts on Taco Bell, Summer Storms, & the Boardwalk

Taco Bell is one helluva big deal in these parts.  I really don't know why it took off as a hangout, but it's really taken its place as a symbol of the community.  If you don't go at least once a week, you're probably a social outcast.  And don't even get me started on the time it shut down for a few months...then reopened, new and improved, as a Taco Bell/Pizza Hut EPIC PLACE OF EPIC EATING EPICNESS.

In third grade, we had to write about our favorite places in the school district.  Even though Taco Bell is technically a town over, I wrote about it.  That's how influential it's been in my life.

Today, on of my best friends, Zach, and I bought the Party Pack (12 tacos, bitches!) and split a large Mountain Dew Baja Blast while sitting on the dock at Venetian Park.  It was beautiful; perfection.  Even if it was 6541984 degrees outside.  It was okay - we had the serenity of the bay and the quiet of the dock and tacos, and that was all we needed.

And then I took the last two tacos to work with me for dinner ♥

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Wednesday, June 8, 2011

Thoughts on The Muppets, Skype, and Location Option?

Seriously, who doesn't love The Muppets? I could sit and watch them sing Bohemian Rhapsody forever because it's still funny. But then again, the television show was fantastic - even if I didn't grow up with seeing it. They've got memorable characters, jokes and the writing never got dull. Normally a show takes a turn for the worse and somehow, it gets stale. However these puppets just continued to entertain in a time where you'd think puppets wouldn't be that funny. Or even draw a crowd.

All of the Jim Henson characters are treated like any celebrity would be. Kermit has co-hosted several shows - including the late nights and presented an award at the Emmys. They've created a legacy that could never be ruined.

Statler and Waldorf are hilarious, even if they're just making fun of other puppets. Check out the Muppets Channel on Youtube to see them joke about other Muppet's uploads and laugh at plenty of Beaker.

So it's no wonder I'm super excited for the new Muppets film coming in November. Everyone is back, and that makes me truly happy.

Bork, Bork Bork!

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Thoughts on Guarding Lives, Dormy McDermott, & Running Out of Posting Material


These are my sunglasses.  That is a pool.  And that is me, reflected in said sunglasses.  They're the awesome aviators (I know you're jelly) I bought from Newbury Comics up in Boston before the end of the spring semester and I love them.  Even though they're a little scratched from riding around in my bag with my keys all the time.

Also note that I have the Sprint Instinct, which is literally so obsolete, they don't make the driver software available anymore.  It's a miracle my phone even connects to my computer.

Also note the empty pool and deck.  I mostly sit and read, alone, at this job, unless friends decide to visit.  I've tried a bit of writing, too, but ever since my friend said she used to write letters here to her boyfriend at boot camp and our boss would read them, I've been a little paranoid.  I'm still going to give it a try, though.  How awesome a story to tell, about how I finished that collection of poems or short stories, or that novel, that summer I worked at the Harbour Club?

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Tuesday, June 7, 2011

Thoughts on Knick-Knacks, Paper Stars, and Ferdinand the Whale

 One of many knick-knacks in my room.

I tend to collect some odd items. Various knick-knacks that are basically useless but are part of a growing collection. You could call them geeky, unique, or just eclectic and hip. But I like the odd things in life. Rather than sea monkey's, as a kid, I got something called Triops. Rather than the brine shrimp that are basically sea monkey's, there's a curiosity shop here in Seattle that sells such unique items. So it's no wonder I gravitate towards these interesting pieces to decorate my room and house.

The little plant above, is actually robotic. After pushing a little button on the side of the pot, it responds to sound by moving it's leaves and "nodding" up and down as if it listens to you and understands. Heck, you can even ask it yes or no questions and see it's response. It's called a Pekoppa plant, a "must have" purchase of mine from ThinkGeek. By far one of my favorite things I've bought. Rather than stick with the name, Pekoppa, I call mine Coffee - or cohii (hee) pronounced in Japanese. He's become a writing buddy and staple for when I sit at my computer to write for a long stretch and need a quick, amusing break.

But it's knick-knacks like Coffee that I collect and keep in my room to give me inspiration and surround my laptop with. He makes me feel like I always have a friend nearby.

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Thoughts on Tanning, Stunt Doubles, & Playing God

Was it the Victorian Era when it was hot to be pale?  I kind of miss that mentality.  Trying to get tan is too much work.

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Monday, June 6, 2011

Thoughts on Idea Paint, Environment Changes, and Video Blogging

Someone on Twitter posted a link to Idea Paint yesterday. After watching the site, I'm completely blown away at this product.

It's such a creative idea that I can't get out of my mind. Being able to write and erase on your regular walls after just one coat of this paint. That's practically every kid's dream, drawing on their walls, doors, anything. Plus, it has so many practical uses! Jotting down grocery lists, making charts, graphs for work, and of course my personal favorite PLOTTING.

Actually, plotting was the very first thing I thought of when I saw the opening video. Literally, all of my colored sticky notes would become obsolete and I could forever jot things down on the wall. Once a story was completed, I could erase it all and be on my way. Well... actually, I'd probably take some HD pictures so that way I could refer back to everything just in case I needed to make changes.

I'm literally spazzing out over here trying to come up with a Pro/Con list to convince my mom to let me do this. Now granted.... when she gets married, the house becomes mine, so technically I could do with it what I want - which there are some changes I do want to make - and painting that wall with Idea Paint is at the top of my list.

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Thoughts on Nature vs. Nurture, Originality, & Getting Out

Would you be the same person you are today if you didn't grow up with the people you did, in the home you did, attending the schools you did?  What if you didn't have a mom or a dad?  What if you were raised by relatives?  What if you lived in your car and struggled for food?  What if you were just lucky to be alive?

Does personality come from the wiring in your brain or the things you experience?  We learn almost everything from our parents and the people we see around us, but do you really learn things like compassion, humor, joy, sorrow?  Or do they come with the territory?  Does happiness spring up in a happy home with a white picket fence, or to combat extreme terror and anguish?

Will we ever know?  Not unless we learn to be reborn and live our lives all over again.

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Sunday, June 5, 2011

Thoughts on Blue Jays, Mushrooms, and Gardening


This is a Blue Jay. Yesterday, he came and sat on our deck railing. We've gotten a lot of random wildlife that roams through our neighborhood and yard. Obviously, birds are the easiest to come across. But it's not too often they'll chill on our deck for such a long amount of time that I can take several pictures.

It's a pretty grainy photo since I was taking it through the screen of our sliding glass door. After watching him sit in this position for several minutes, I figured out what he was doing - attracting a mate.

He had his chest puffed out like those Foster Farms chicken commercials and would sit in various weird positions. Then he'd fidget for a moment, scratch his head and make his feathers more fanned out, especially the plume on his head, and then pose again. The mating rituals of the feathered kind have always been fascinating. If you've ever watched Planet Earth on Discovery Channel, particularly when they talk about the jungle, you see all these crazy antics that birds would put themselves through just to attract the females. And if the ladies were unimpressed, the guys would deflate and be sad that they were overlooked.

I'm happy to say though, that I saw a Blue Jay today, and he had a mate. They landed on our deck railing and sat for a few moments before taking off.

Congrats little dude.

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Thoughts on Writing, Forming Bonds, & the Apocalypse

Today at work, I had this unnatural urge to just put pen to paper and write.  It was the perfect setting - a chilly pool deck, empty save for one woman reading what I think was The Help, and me, with my writing tablet and my favorite pen from the high school newspaper awards last year.  I had some characters in my head, a few ideas, some plots.  The problem was, most of them are for larger projects I either have work done on or I have yet to begin, and none of them were going to become short stories I could knock out in the four hours I had left in my shift.  Nothing seemed right.

I hate that.  I love that drive to write, but I hate how it never seems to match up with the right ideas, the right words, the right remembering.  I would have continued a story I've already started, if I could remember specific details and where I'd left off.  But I had nothing - just myself, a pen and paper, and creativity taking me nowhere.

Of course, with one hour left in my shift at the pool, I remembered a brilliant idea I'd had and meant to work on, but I was already invested in my book and I was hoping to leave a little early since no one was swimming, and it didn't seem worth it.

That's what nighttime is for though, right?

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Saturday, June 4, 2011

Thoughts on Keyboards, Awkward First Meeting, and College

My mom can always tell what keys I use the most on my keyboard. We've had to resort to writing on them - at least on the desktop - in Sharpie so that when she uses the computer, she knows which ones are which.

Meanwhile, on my laptop, I've nearly rubbed off two separate keys and have warn grooves into plenty of others. Out of all the keys, my "N" and my "M" are both nearly rubbed off... And have significant grooves.

Sign of a writer, or living on my laptop when I'm not writing?

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Thoughts to Make Up For Not Posting Last Night

I suck.  I know.  I'm working on it.

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Prom






There's been a lot of things in the past week that have reminded me of Prom 2010.  Walking into the same basements where we planned, the friend's house we went to afterward to change for After Prom.  I wanted to upload a picture of all of us in our finery, but then I realized I don't have any on my computer.  Instead, the photo above is from the beach on Fire Island where we spent the day after.  It wasn't conventional - no huge parties, no drinking - just staying up late, watching movies, eating, laughing, talking, walking on the beach in the moonlight.  Then ultimate frisbee on the beach the day after, some swimming, some tanning.  My date taught me how to play chess that day.

Yeah.  I think about it a lot.

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Thoughts on Midnight Ultimate Frisbee, Permission, and the Art of Falling

Who decided that throwing an upside-down plate was a good idea? Or that playing a sport with said plate that is similar to football, an even better idea?

I haven't a clue as to the answers to those questions. Running around in the middle of the night chasing a frisbee sounds like a bad idea. And yet it's so exhilarating. The last time I had this much fun, was junior high playing tennis.

I've always been the competitive type - though not crazy or a bad sport - but I, like everyone else, likes the feeling of winning. What better way to win, than by playing a sport like ultimate in the dark?

Of course, my friends and I aren't completely crazy. We don't run around blind - because some of us practically are - we are safe by wearing electric glow sticks and follow a frisbee that also has a battery and LEDs. It's such a blast to run around and be competitive at midnight. There's only us, the stars, astroturf, and the frisbee. And I couldn't ask for anything better than being able to be athletic with my friends.

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Thursday, June 2, 2011

Thoughts on Daft Punk, Old Teachers, and Sushi

There's something magical about Daft Punk. The French duo really knows how to create some fantastic beats and catch techno tunes.

Their finest work is most certainly the Tron Legacy soundtrack. Yeah, I'm a big fan of lots of major composers - a thought for another day - but there was something superb about the mix Daft Punk did for the movie. Every song was just... wow. I have songs I definitely prefer more over others on the track list, but if I have to pick my top five soundtracks overall to listen to forever, Tron Legacy is definitely there.

All of the music just fit so well with the movie. And some movies, the background music feels out of place, or is boring. But as I listen to it, I can picture every scene and all the characters.

I can see Sam fighting Rinzler in the Games; the battle in End of Line, and Quorra taking herself out of the equation. Not to mention Quorra and Sam riding on his Ducati, with her snuggling into his shoulder. SQUEEEE~!!

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Thoughts on Beautiful Days, Gasoline, & Driving (Without a Destination)

The sky is that shade of blue that only shows up on days like these.  It might not really be any bluer, but it looks perfect against pure white clouds that alternate between puffy and wispy.  But everything looks better through aviator shades.

A plane might make its way, lazily, across the sky.  There might be seagulls crying, cardinals singing.  The tree trunks are dark in shadow, the leaves green and shot through with bright rays of sunshine.  If the sun were a child's drawing, it would be wearing sunglasses.  And grinning.

People are suddenly everywhere - jogging, walking, talking, biking, taking dogs for long walks, pushing infants in strollers.  They've been stuck in hibernation, but no one can miss a beautiful day.  Errands are excuses to get out in the sun; sitting in the backyard is a higher priority than eating, even breathing.  The sun is hot, but the breeze cuts the warmth, clearing away humidity and leaving in its place the peaceful flutter of anxious new leaves and the sound of life, renewed, and so very alive.

What a beautiful day, you think.  And it sounds cliché, but don't listen to that writing professor.  Clichés just have a bad reputation.  Sometimes, there's just no better way to say it.  And what a beautiful day this is.

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Wednesday, June 1, 2011

Thoughts on Green Caps, Dinosaurs, and Cartoons

My car, Trixie, has little green caps on her tires on the spout where you'd fill them up with air. Confused and thinking that perhaps these were magical caps that change color when the tire is losing pressure - apparently those exist - we decided to ask. Trix was in for a check-up anyway, so we asked the dealership guy what the purpose of the green cap was. Turns out we were completely wrong.

The green caps mean that my tires are filled with nitrogen. NITROGEN. Say wah?

Apparently, filling your tires with nitrogen make them run cooler, so they don't over heat. Also, that's what they fill racing tires with. Confused much? Yeah me too. Especially when you know that my car is a little, first generation Toyota Prius. That is not a racing car. Maybe it helps with efficiency? I have no idea.

But green caps are not magical and change color. And no, the gas won't change the pitch of your voice if you inhale it. So much for my imagination....

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Thoughts on Afternoon Applebee's, Quotes, & Babies

Though any 'Bee's is a hoppin' place around dinnertime and Happy Hour, there's something more magical about a late lunch or an early dinner at the Neighborhood.  There's no line, no putting your name on a list, no fighting for a seat in the lobby while your stomach growls for half-prince appetizers.  The waiters and waitresses are all standing around the hostess, who grins and leads you, immediately, to one of the booths near the window.  Ah, the good life.  You get drinks, appetizer, meal, desserts, in rapid succession.  Maybe the waitstaff isn't as peppy and, maybe, the atmosphere loses a little something without a rowdy crowd of sports fans seated around the bar.  But seeing the place so quiet is both unsettling and wonderful.  Every person, place, and thing has an undercurrent they don't show the world; every side has two stories.  And the story of Applebee's in the late afternoon includes eavesdropping, laughing, and eating as much as you can in as little time as it takes to do so.

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