Halloween pics!

We have a ton of leftover candy. I bought the Reese's (Cups & Pieces!), Kit Kat, Hershey's Bar, and Almond Joy super pack. Kids don't really like Almond Joy, but I sure do! I also like other slightly weird Halloween treats (NOT Tootsie Rolls or Candy Corn), like Peanut Chews and Salted Peanuts. Once we came upon a house that had its bucket of candy outside since they weren't home, and it was all Peanut Chews! It was the best surprise ever. I don't think anyone gives those out anymore though... It feels like 10 years since I've had my last Peanut Chew. I could really go for one of those right about now.

Max got an IHOP mint in his candy stash tonight. Who does that? How weird/cheap/gross.

What else. Oh yeah, Kam and I (w/ Co Dung's help... and some convenient stencils and pumpkin-carving tools) carved the sweetest pumpkins ever. It was (I think) my first real pumpkin carving experience, from start to finish... turned out pretty well if you ask me! Don't mean to toot my own horn, but I don't think I saw any other pumpkins out there tonight as awesome as ours! You can judge for yourself below!

As promised, here are some photos from tonight's Halloween festivities with Auddie, Max, Mira, and Billie the wonderdog.

There were other doggies in costume tonight, but Billie was by far the cutest!
To Infinity and Beyond, he says!




The kids and Billie in front of the house. Auddie was Rizzo of the Pink Ladies, Mira was a fairy pixie princess (are those three the same? I don't really know), and Max was the Incredible Hulk:




This is pumpkin carving #1 -- it's a ghost!




This is the other one -- a spooky castle!




There's nothing that brings you into the heart of suburbia like walking around trick-or-treating on a balmy October night and seeing dogs, babies, parents, and everyone else get into the Halloween spirit!

For the last time, Happy Halloween everyone!


Current Music: I'm a Cuckoo, by Belle & Sebastian
Current Mood: sleepy (the "fall back" throws everything off, huh? It's only one hour yet your whole day seems transformed!)

Redskins lose! (Go Kerry!)

Well, the game is about over, and it was a bittersweet loss for the Skins. I had some trouble rooting against them for the first time, but I knew we had a big test of history before us. (If you are lost, see previous post re: Redskins & Presidential elections --10.15.04)

If the Redskins are going to continue to be a predictor of the Presidential election (as they have been since 1936), it looks like Kerry may be able to squeeze out a victory on Tuesday. And if the actual game is any prediction of how the day will go, it looks like Kerry may take a commanding lead early on, Bush will pull up right behind him... then, as Bush looks poised to take the lead as polls close, he will be denied (by a penalty? maybe) and Kerry will bring home the win. This is a bit scary how I've pinned my election hopes on what just happened in a football game. My heart was pounding as the Redskins had the TD called back by a penalty with a little over 2 minutes left in the game. I was like, YES!! NO!! Wait, YES!.. I think! In any case, it was win-win game for me all around. Sorry Skins, but unlike Kerry, you always have next week!

This is my last pitch-- Get your booty out and VOTE on Tuesday!
Read this interesting article from Washington Post Magazine about the typical nonvoter.

Have a happy and safe Halloween!

Happy Halloween!

Well, I attended Alli's Halloween Party last night... It's always great when you give "grown-ups" an excuse to get dressed up in costumes and drink punch and have orange jello shooters, etc. I was in a bit of a panic before the party because Laura was supposed to meet me there with Austen's costume from last year which I was borrowing (inflatable sumo wrestler). But, as expected, Lo was running ever-so-slightly late...

Never one to show up at a Halloween party without a costume in fear of the harassment that follows, I had to think quickly. I spotted Auddie's patrol belt and her drug-free week bracelet (made exclusively for 6th graders) sitting on our kitchen counter, and , and I was on my way as a patrol/elementary school kid/6th grader...

This worked out even better when Alli threw me a baseball cap (ok, so it was a Grey Goose cap, but who really noticed?) which I threw on my head sideways. This costume carried me through the majority of my time at the party, until Lo showed up around... midnight.

Ok ok, enough with the talk, here are the photos:


Laura, the fat ballerina, with Alli, party host and dirty martini:




Austen, as "job search," summing up the experience of so many recent grads... (copies of résumés, applications, faxes, rejection letters... you know what I'm talking about):





This is Jess, in my favorite and definitely most creative costume of the evening: Boxed Wine (Nothing to remind you of your college days like some boxed wine! The best part was that her costume was fully functional with a spout coming out of the front- very popular with the party guests). I'm posing with her in my backup costume, which I also dubbed "party patrol" (ha ha ha...):




Here's a better view of the boxed wine:





Here is my debut as a sumo wrestler with my fat ballerina girlfriend (who knew?):




And in case you didn't realize how large and in charge I really was... this is me standing in the kitchen:




All in all, it was good to see some old friends, get dressed up, and scope out all the other interesting partygoers. Can't wait to escort Auddie & the twins around tomorrow night to see all the little kiddies! Oh, and Billie, too.

Happy Halloween to all!


Current Music: Shorty Wanna Be a Thug, by Tupac Shakur
Current Mood: exhausted! Time for a nap...

Congrats Red Sox!

So happy for the team, the city, the fans. What a way to end it, with a clean sweep, and 8 games straight overall! I may have spoken too soon in my previous post when I said the curse was over, but it's clear now that it definitely is. I can't imagine being a lifelong Sox fan and seeing this celebration tonight, after 86 years of waiting. Just unbelievable. Any fan of sport can appreciate this one. The Sox are the World Champions!

Oooh... it's time for the montage, my favorite part... excellent music choices!

(Current Music: Golden Age, by Beck --> At Last, by Etta James)

[Did anyone catch the Jimmy Fallon-Drew Barrymore smooch on the field at the end of the game? My, that was quite odd. Apparently it's for a scene in their upcoming movie, "Fever Pitch." Definitely caught me off guard, though]

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful mom who is still "the bomb" (yes, I said "the bomb") and as hip and fashionable as she was when she was my age...






We love you for your delicious food, making sure we're always "under control," keeping us in line, and being the real boss of the family (sorry, Dad!).

Apple is at it again

Just in time for the Holidays, eh?

http://www.apple.com/ipod/u2/

Pretty cool, but I actually dig the classic white.

Edit: Oh, and this one too
http://www.apple.com/ipodphoto/

The 60 gig is official, and now with extra bells & whistles (iPhoto). I find that part to be a little much, but I think it would be cool to have a color display with album cover art. You can also hook it up to a TV to do a picture slideshow, which I guess is kind of neat and gives it more use than just looking at the thumbnails on the small screen.

This is just another chance for me to make my iPod pitch. Chuck Klosterman, in Spin Magazine, said that "the iPod is the only piece of technology that has improved my life without any downside whatsoever." Well put, Chuck. It's the best thing I own. Ok, bye bye.


Current Music: Somebody Told Me, by The Killers

Ashlee update

Read the latest From MTV News (if you can't trust them, who can you trust?).

Did anyone see her tonight on the Radio Music Awards? I heard she tried to redeem herself by singing live (I guess her gastric distress is all better) and it was not great, and that she decided to poke fun at herself by having her band start playing "Pieces of Me," while she stopped them and said "Wrong song guys!! HaHa..Just kidding!" or something along those lines...

Ashlee's just digging and digging. Please stop, you're embarassing yourself even more! Just dye your hair blonde again and forget the whole thing ever happened.
I might be worse than she is for following this so closely... poor me.

Happy Birthday Billie!

Happy Birthday to this fun and loving dog, Billie Idol Vukhac Nguyen, who used to be my dog-cousin on one side of my family, but is now the newly adopted dog-cousin on the other side!
Billie is going to be Buzz Lightyear for Halloween. Pictures to follow.



Why do you stick your tongue out at me, silly Billie?

Too easy

fatty toona: it's like no matter how much clothes i have
fatty toona: it doesn't seem like enough for some reason
fatty toona: i have a disease

followed by...

fatty toona: don't you DARE put that in your blog/profile


is he crazy? what else do I have to post about?

A few bullet points

-Um, did anyone catch Ashlee Simpson on SNL last night? Talk about a career buster (though probably not really), although I guess it's no surprise that a lot of the pop artists today lip sync. But if you're gonna do that, at least have some excuse, like "I can't catch my breath when I'm dancing," à la Britney & Madonna. Ashlee Simpson just stands there kicking her feet and swinging the mic.

For those of you who missed it, they cued Ashlee Simpson, who was apparently supposed to perform "Autobiography," but her tape track started playing her vocal track of "Pieces of Me" while she stood there, caught completely off guard, with her mic down at her waist and nothing coming out of her mouth. She started doing this little dance since she had no idea what else to do, and her band kept playing along with the song, and then she bolted off stage, probably into the arms of her crazy manager-father who has surely fired someone by now. Anyway, it was totally awkward and embarassing-- like Milli Vanilli all over again ("Girl you know it's, Girl you know it's, Girl you know it's...").

Lucky you! Here's a link so you can see it for yourself.

Oh, the best was when they came back and Jude Law says "Oh well, that's live TV" or something, then Ashlee goes into her little cutesy act, "Sorry, my band totally started playing the wrong song!!" Um, yeah. That sucks, but it was really funny.

-Kam and I had our first Vietnamese midterms yesterday. After freaking out and cramming the night before and getting all nervous (me, not Kam), we both finished in about 15 minutes. I think I forgot my peers in that class are about 7-8 years old.. I still haven't lost that competitive college spirit, I guess! Afterwards we had a picnic, where I stuffed my face with pizza and roamed around the playground taking pictures of our favorite cute little kids. There were some adorable mixed tots there, but I didn't want to be taking pics of complete strangers, especially children... that's always the challenge, isn't it?

-Huan made some delicious chili last night, working off a Glasser family recipe, adding his own tweaks here and there. It was great! I'm eating another bowl right now. I think I could eat chili every day. Is that weird? I love it, especially in this season.

-Kam, Auddie, and I went to PetSmart (or is it PetsMart? I never know what to do about the small "s") after VN school yesterday to pick up a birthday goodie for Billie, and it turned out to be Cocker Spaniel & Great Dane adoption day. There were the cutest dogs there, and I'm not even one of those animal types. I usually think they're cute and fun and all, but I usually stop there. Yesterday I thought, even if it was only for a second, that I could take one of these pups home.

-Oyster crackers are good.


Current Music: La Cienega Just Smiled, by Ryan Adams

New Movie Trailers

Here are links to what should be three good (and very different) December movies. I love going to the movie theater during the Holiday season. Something about it is so familiar and nice.

1. Meet the Fockers
2. Ocean's Twelve
3. Closer

Looking forward to all of them!


Current Music: The Blower's Daughter, by Damien Rice
(as featured in the "Closer" trailer)
Current Mood: content

"I'm never gonna know you now, but I'm gonna love you anyhow..."

This post is dedicated to Elliott Smith [August 6, 1969 - October 21, 2003]

One year has past and it seems like only yesterday we heard the sad news.

Your music lives on in all of your fans.







[photo from www.sweetadeline.net]



Current Music: Memory Lane, by Elliott Smith
Current Mood: mellow

The Curse is over! GO SOX!

WOW. What a sweet night. I'm still glued to the TV coverage because I get chills everytime they show the last play and all the guys rushing the field. We had the same crew at Huan's place, sitting in the same seats (and yes, I wore the same shirt-- not because I thought it was lucky, but just because I'm lazy, or maybe dirty, who knows). Damn, talk about improbable. I remember before game 4 I was thinking, Ok, here comes the sweep, and how sad I felt for the Sox, like they'd come so far for nothing.

And now they're AL Champs and are going onto the World Series!! After Johnny's 2nd inning Grand Slam, I was definitely like, whoa, something's going on here. I was tempted to even say that God was watching. It was incredible. I told Adrienne that tomorrow she should wear her Johnny Damon shirt to work. It's brilliant; it reads W.W.J.D.D. at the top, then below, a sketch of Johnny strangely resembling Jesus, and it says The Passion of Johnny beneath. So fitting for tonight, huh? Whoo! We're witnesses to sports history right now-- probably one of the most significant baseball games/series we'll ever see! It doesn't get any more exciting than that. And to think the Sox still have another series to go! They totally have it in the bag (they had better!). Wow. For now it looks like a fun night to be in Boston, though.
Congrats to the Red Sox, Boston, and all the diehard fans. That was some badass baseball.






[Edit: I'm going to comment now on the bandwagon effect. My friend noted that after the game, there was an overwhelming number of people posting bad things about the Yanks in their away message, how glad they were that they lost, Go Sox, Yanks suck, etc... I definitely think there is an anti-Yankee bandwagon (duh). For me, it started basically when they robbed the Orioles in the ALCS (see previous post re: Jeffrey Maier), and I've pretty much hated them since. But it definitely seems as though the anti-Yanks sentiment is growing, and now it's even turning over to become pro-Sox, which is something completely different. It's almost like the opposite of fair weather fans. Strange concept, I guess. I may be guilty of said trend, as I have a place in my heart for both the Sox and the Cubs, the ultimate underdogs each with a Cinderella story and supposed "curse," so desperate to win, with such devoted fans... Anyway, I don't know what the point of all that was. Just wanted to comment on the Anti-Yanks --> Sox fanhood movement that seems to naturally happen and is clearly happening now, and the concept of "posers" and the fine line that we "postseason fans" walk.]

Arachnophobia update

I was just in my room and I spied a little creepy crawler RIGHT by my bed. Those are the times I really freak out, because helloooo, where are you when I go to sleep? Just waiting under the nightstand to come out and crawl all over me? You're probably the same spider who bit me on the finger and left that huge swelling bubble for a good week or so. Anyway, I called Auddie to trap it in a plastic cup for me and release it to the great outdoors. See, at least I don't throw a book at it and kill the sucker. I still have a heart for things with more than 2 legs. Huan has informed me that he sometimes enjoys cutting the legs off spiders to leave them completely helpless. That's just nasty.


Current Music: Green Eyes, by Coldplay
Current Mood: the sweatpants kind, again

Game 7, baby!!

WOW! What an amazing game. My throat is a little sore from all the screaming I did at the end. It was nice watching with Huan's friend, Adrienne, who is a diehard Sox fan and had her little voodoo doll in hand and every single Sox stat you could think of on hand. We all had a nice jump up and down session after the last pitch was thrown. Talk about some tense moments!! We might get together again tomorrow night at the same time, same place, in the same clothes and eat the same dinner. Might be a good idea.

I was about to lose my shit both times the umps had to convene to discuss the calls in question. The home run question flashed us all back to little Jeffrey Maier of Yankee-fan fame and how he (literally) robbed every Orioles fan's dreams back in 1996. Luckily, the umps got it right both times tonight. They probably would not have heard the end of it if they'd screwed those up. A-Rod is a big cheater and a sissy for his little schoolgirl swat at the ball. And the FOX commentators might be even worse for practically patting him on the back for "trying." Yeah, that's good for the game.

How unbelievable, though!! After hearing over and over the damn stat about how no team in history has ever forced a game 7 after being down 3-0 in the series... here we are, witnesses to new sports history. I love when that happens! Now, the Sox just have to go on to the Series. After all that drama, I just feel like it's in it for them. Seriously. Right?

Thom Yorke sums this one up best (I was coincidentally listening to this song tonight on my drive home):
"I'm on a roll, I'm on a roll this time.. I feel my luck could change..."
(see current music)

It's time for the Sox! Can't wait for tomorrow night.


Current Music: Lucky, by Radiohead
Current Mood: Ecstatic!

Let's Go Red Sox!

After yesterday's little girly Mussina post, I didn't want to give anyone the wrong impression. I am definitely anti-Yankees. Let's hear it for the Sox tonight and taking it to game 7! I usually get all emotional when I watch sports montages they play during the playoffs (of any sport). This morning I was actually getting chills/goosebumps/teary-eyed when I watched highlights from their Game 5 win. Wow, sometimes I'm really sensitive. But I love the underdog, especially the Sox! Could be another marathon, so I'm settling in here at Huan's apt on the couch!

What's on the brain...

[I just spied a ridiculously large daddy-long-legs crawling up the wall, and I kind of freaked out. He/She found its way onto the desk, and rather than kill it, I just blew it off the desk, but then I looked down under, and could not find it on the wall nor on the floor. I'm panicking a bit now, worried that it will somehow appear on my leg or my neck and I'll flip out. I know- it's just a freaking daddy-long-legs. But it was a huge one...like the daddy of all daddies! It literally looked to be about the size of a CD (maybe its legs were really sprawled out). I'm currently typing while squatting on the chair so as to avoid a spider-crawling-up-leg incident. I'm such a @#@!$* wuss, sometimes, huh?]

----

This is really embarassing, but I've just randomly spent way too much time surfing the web for a satisfactory picture of Mike Mussina to post in this blog. All the ones they had of him were mid-pitch, when he's making a strained "I'm trying to throw a ball really fast into a small target" face... I was inspired to do this after seeing him pitch tonight and remembering how great I think he is. (A Stanford graduate and econ major, after all!)

This is totally going to make me lose my girl-sports-cred points, but whatever, he's a sports hottie, and even though he may be a Yankee now I still love him!

Here are the best ones I dug up..sorry for poor quality:








----

In other late-night thoughts, I just saw "I (heart) Huckabees" tonight, and it was a hilarious and very clever film. Go see it if you enjoy the meaning-of-life type movie delivered in an ironic way with a bit of confusion and crazy characters (and Marky Mark [sorry, Mark Wahlberg] trying to be play a fireman who is against petroleum products and therefore rides a bike to his fire scenes- what could be more funny? Side note: Remember Marky Mark in "FEAR"? Also hilarious, but in a completely different way)

Ok, forget all that. Go see it because Jude is in it. Here's an oldie but a definite goodie to remind you:







just one more:





Oh Jude, how we adore thee.


Current Music: Rebellion (Lies), by The Arcade Fire
Current Mood: suddenly sleepy

John Kerry for President

Great article today in the NYTimes. Read it!

Shall We Dance...?

I went to go see this new movie last night with my mom and dad, Auddie, and a bunch of my parents' friends. I totally expected it to be a "mostly typical and cheesy, but cute" movie (which it may have been anyway), but it was otherwise really, really great.

It's one of those perfect films to go see with your mom, because she probably loves Richard Gere, and if she's like my mom, she loves J-Lo, too.. ha ha ha.

I think I really loved it just because it had all these great dance scenes and once again reaffirmed for me that I have to learn how to really dance. I think more people should probably do just like Richard Gere did in the film, just get off the train and go! Do it! (I have some feeling that there will be trillions of people/couples who do this after watching the film) They did a great job of conveying the type of emotions and sense of being "alive!" that one can get from learning how to dance, and I just thought it was really awesome. Too bad the only moves I know are basically my old 6-armer dance (inspired by the Full House episode when Joey went on Star Search), a bad impression of the running man, and the electric slide. Hmm.



After the movie, I drove out to Georgetown to meet up with Laura (and eventually Alli & Austen; missed out on Ingrid, though, who was apparently only a block or two away at any given moment), who was back in town for the weekend. I was very glad she dragged me out, because I was beginning to get the sense that I was a 40 year old woman-type. When I was debating movie vs. going out, I was thinking 85 percent movie, 15 percent going out. And once I get into my antisocial state, it perpetuates itself and becomes so easy to always stay in, simply because I tend to forget when it's FUN to go out, and remember only the hassles of it (driving, parking, waiting in lines, getting a drink, etc.). Usually though, once I make the decision to go out and get in the proper mood for it, it's a good time and I'm glad I did it, if for no other reason than to just get out and talk to people. It was funny though, that for someone who only goes out once every month or so (if that), the first bar I walk into I see about 10 UVA people and it's just like college again... And then later, I'm sitting in the window of a different bar, and a group of guys walk by, and I'm like, "Am I still in Charlottesville?" because they are from UVA as well. Sigh... how everything changes but also stays the same.

There is something about me though, that really dislikes bar socializing. I think it's because I hate small talk, and even worse, drunk talk (especially when I'm sober). And then I hate seeing gross drunk people who can't keep their eyes open grope each other in the middle of the bar to the piano guy covering some Billy Joel song. They're kind of holding each other up, you know, and I'm like, oh, that's just embarassing!! (Ok, we've all had our embarassing drunk times and done stupid things in public, I'm not trying to deny that at all...) Maybe I'm just a big party pooper now! Unless I myself have had a few drinks, then I'm usually pretty lame in those situations. It's just too contrived and phony for me. I'm not trying to sound like a snob or be condescending-- I mean, I think everyone can agree they have felt that way to some degree at some time, about going out, or the regular bar scene. I think it's in part because I feel somewhat guilty for going out when I'm kind of a bum otherwise, and I have to go through the whole "oh yeah, I graduated blah blah... I'm still looking for a job blah blah... yeah, living at home blah blah" and I don't like having to explain myself to strangers. Plus, on top of all of that, I'm just a pure homebody and I might always prefer pajamas and couch to smoky bar and overcrowded small room (who wouldn't?-- Reason 723 that NYC rules: Smoke-free!).

Ok, that's the weekend update. Go see the dancing movie. If you are a boy, take your girlfriend or a girl; if you are a husband, take your wife, and vice versa.

[Last comment: TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONES AT THE MOVIES. I really didn't think this happened anymore, but I realize it's not because people forget, it's just that some people don't care. The woman sitting next to me ANSWERED HER PHONE (which rang, audibly) and SPOKE INTO IT to the person on the other line. Said something like "Yeah, uh huh.. After this movie ends, ok. Yeah. .....blah blah" HEH?? Who does that? I was totally surprised that I didn't even know how to react. End lecture.]


Current Music: Leaving New York, by R.E.M.
Current Mood: Energized !

Our beloved Redskins

So, I found this very interesting piece of trivia online today.

It turns out that since 1936, the outcome of the last Redskins home game prior to the election has been a predictor of the upcoming election. In the previous 15 elections, if the Redskins have WON the game, the incumbent party stays in power, while if they have LOST, the incumbent loses the election. How CRAZY is that? I mean, whether or not you believe in crazy shit like that, it's a ridiculous coincidence for something like that to happen for every Presidential election (17 of them) over almost seventy years!

Here are more details if you care to read:

http://www.snopes.com/sports/football/election.asp?skins


If this trend continues, and the Redskins keep playing like they have been (not that I like to watch them lose, BUT...) this could bode very well for Mr. Kerry & co...

The game this year is on October 31 vs. Green Bay, which has an equally crappy record as of right now (1-4), so it should be a true battle of teams who both need/want desperately to win. Can't wait to see if the pattern holds up!

Mmmm sports & politics butt heads, how exciting.


Current Music: En vän med en bil, by Håkan Hellström
(amazingly catchy and fun poppy Swedish music-- ask me for a sample if you're interested)
Current Mood: normal

To The Moon...

Today, my mom asked me to take my grandpa downtown to this Celebration of Cultures performance for the World Bank. Apparently they have these every week for seven weeks, each performance showcasing a different region of the world. My grandpa today was to recite one of his poems in both Vietnamese and English.

I was so glad I went! Not only did we get to see all these great dances (this one couple, in particular, did the Tango, which was amazing and so fun to watch. I definitely need to learn how to really "dance" one of these days...) and other acts, but I got to see my gramps in his element, which gave me one of those momentary bursts of inspiration and motivation to write more and do the whole journalistic/poetic/writer thing like he has done.

[edit: As an aside, at least three people thought that my grandpa could have been my dad and not my grandpa. I think that spoke more to his youth and health than it did to my "adult" looking self, as people usually think I'm about 16-17... Anyway, it was odd/surprising/funny.]

The poem was written as a reaction in thought and feeling after the first man landed on the moon in 1969. It was truly fascinating to hear it from a poet's point of view. My grandpa first read an explanation about his poem, recited it in Vietnamese, then gave the English translation. It was so interesting, and upon hearing the story behind it, I immediately fell in love with it. It was probably half because of the creative/poetic/artistic element of it-- the way it evokes this sense of romance and fantasy-- and half because it gave me that instant connection to my grandpa after hearing him explain it to me personally before he went on stage.

The story of the poem is based upon three basic legends. The first is an old Chinese legend, which says that Emperor Tang Xuan Zong dreamt that he was in the moon and saw the Fairy Dancer Ni Chang. He also saw other beautiful fairies singing and dancing around him , adorned in feathers and among rosy clouds. They fed him delicious cake, which is what we know today as "moon cake." (Interesting trivia, eh?)

There is also a Vietnamese legend that tells the story of the Liar Cuoi, who was the keeper of his uncle's buffaloes. One day he let them graze among some young rice plants, and to avoid his punishment, he fled to the moon to live with the Moon Fairy and took with him his banian tree, under which he usually found peace.

The last story is that in the olden days, Lovers took an oath of fidelity under a full moon. They cut their hair and exchanged the tufts as tokens of their love.

People in Vietnam, particularly poets, cherished the aforementioned stories and characters that painted this poetic and mystical portrait of the moon. All the American scientific achievements, namely the exploration of the moon in 1969, gave them a sense of regret and longing for the old poetic moon as they had imagined it, and all that remained was essentially an empty, deserted rock.

So, that is the explanation for the poem. Read on, read on.


To The Moon

Vanished is now the dream of Emperor Tang Xuan Zong
Vanished also the Fairy Dance Ni Chang
My early dream disappeared finally
No more Liar beneath the banian tree

Spitting smoke and fire the rocket took off
The flying ship went into space aloft
Up to the moon to study and search
For more vital space on the mournful desert.
The lunar vehicle went up for conquest of space
And broke up my dream of the Fairy Palace.

Next time when you go up there, go and see
The immortal pretty and young moon Fairy.
Make a stopover beneath the banian
And bring back the Liar to his native land.

O Moon! I'm still dreaming of the HoneyMoon
Of newlywed lovers,
With their oath witnessed by the satellite in full
Just once but forever.


Saigon 1969 (following the First American space launch to the Moon)

by Ha Binh Trung

New loyal readers

Well, my mom caught wind of my blog after dinner tonight, and then it was chaos as my dad joined in behind her, then my aunt, then my uncle, then my gramps-- reading through, laughing-out-loud, asking questions (how did you get that picture on there?!), and so on.

So it appears I'm now definitely expanding my audience, and there is a true "adult" cohort now. That doesn't mean anything will change, of course, but it will likely make me more embarassed about saying some things or other things, just as I was embarassed and went into the other room as they all gathered 'round the computer monitor tonight to ooh and ahh.

Anyway- The debate was entertaining tonight. It was a pretty close one, though. I thought Kerry came out strong at the beginning but faltered a bit when discussing his huge Health Care plan and how he would actually do it. Bush, though, completely avoided the jobs question and started talking about education, which was interesting. Kind of saying that if we learn to read we can get jobs. There seemed to be a bit of disconnect there, for me. And there was more rhetoric later about "making schools accountable," and "setting standards," and "rewarding" schools that do well... but, see previous post, how do you allow the low-income schools to achieve these lofty goals?

Bush's jokes that fell flat had me laughing, in an ironic way, as did his facial expressions, as usual. I loved when he said, in response to Kerry's suggestion that he wasn't concerned w/ Osama Bin Laden: "It's kind of one of those ex-agg-er-a-tions." Hilarious.

I kind of cringed when Kerry had to bring up Cheney's daughter during the homosexuality answer. I get the idea behind it, but when Kerry/Edwards speak about it, it ends up sounding like she is the only gay person they have ever known. It's just awkward.
I did like how they finally talked about Affirmative Action, and Kerry stuck him good when he said Bush didn't meet with the NAACP.

Did anyone hear Kerry say "idear" though? Oooh that one really hurt. It's IDEA, buddy. Although I guess that doesn't bother me as much as "nucular" huh?
Ho hum. Well, guess we'll wait and see what comes of these next 20 days! Can't wait to hit the polls.


Current Music: Hook, Line, and Sinker by Jon Brion
Current Mood: a little bit weird

Happy Birthday Dad!

Happy Birthday to my awesome pops.

We were up this morning before work to give him his card and gift-- a new 40 GB iPod! How fun. We are officially an iPod family. My dad was really excited; he had been talking about one for a while. Now I know it'll be my job to put his ridiculously huge CD catalog of Vietnamese/French/Classical/Celine Dion, etc. onto the iPod. It should be fun, in the this-is-taking-hours-and-days kind of way, but I don't mind, because I'm always happy to share iPod joy. It's also a 4th generation, so I'll be able to tell you once and for all which model I think reigns supreme! (wow, I get a little excited sometimes)

Since we're on the subject, here's the latest about plans for Apple's 60 GB iPod:

http://www.thinksecret.com/news/0410photoipod.html

and another, if you want a real "news source" (even though their primary source is the above article):

http://www.cnn.com/2004/TECH/ptech/10/12/tech.apple.reut/index.html


I really didn't think they'd go to the 60 gig format, because the number of people who really need that much space makes up such a small fraction of the mp3-buying public. But hell, I'd take one. All the music throughout your life- you're eventually going to fill that up! The only problem is, after a while, it gets so hard to even navigate through your 20 gigs. Anytime I turn on my iPod it's like, ahhh! I don't know what I want to listen to, just pick something, anything! And you forget what you have because it's not as visual or tangible as your CD shelf.

As for the iPhoto idea-- I think that's just dumb. Enough with the bells and whistles on these things. I do have fun every once in a while with the phone on my camera, but generally I find these extras to be silly, especially for a music player as sweet as the iPod, which does need anything else to make it cool. It's ridiculous how much Apple has me whipped, isn't it? I'm a slave to their marketing. Their new U2 commercial can only do good things.

That's my iPod pitch for the day. Sorry, I re-obsess once in a while. Oook. Happy birthday again, Dad! You're still as hip as ever!


Current Music: Twilight, by Elliott Smith
(If you have not heard any of his new album yet, you must. It's Elliott's posthumous release, From a Basement on a Hill, and it is beautifully crafted and has been on constant play for me in recent weeks. Even without the musical/historical significance of it, it's completely worthwhile)
Current Mood: the sweatpants type of mood

Another stumper

Huan linked me to this article in the Post today so I thought I'd post it in here. I'm always interested in reading articles about Affirmative Action in education, particularly as it pertains to Asian Americans. I studied it pretty closely in college, but more as related to black/white. Most policy discussion doesn't tie into the Asian American population, if only because they make up such a small proportion of the country and the studies just aren't there.

This article brings up some good points that aren't necessarily new, but it's always nice to see something with a different spin. In particular, I found this excerpt which was quoted from a book quite interesting: "In terms of school achievement, it is more advantageous to be Asian than to be wealthy, to have non-divorced parents, or to have a mother who is able to stay at home full time." I wonder how they come up with that. It kind of makes you go, whoa. While you can never speak for everyone, I can speak to my own experience and the fact that growing up in my house, it was just expected that you would excel in school. I can't even think back to having heard a lecture or learning a lesson in order to know this-- it was just in the air, ingrained somehow. I can't really explain it, though I always try to be thankful for it.

The guy in the article who thinks Asian Americans are getting shafted by the system brings up said point: "The solution to the problem of lower average achievement among African Americans and Hispanics is not 'the Band-Aid approach of race-based affirmative action,' ...It is solved by improving the K-12 schools for the lower economic classes which are disproportionately Black and Latino."

Back to previous post-- How do we do that? I agree wholeheartedly that schools need severe change and improvement at the primary level, but where do you begin? I don't think Affirmative Action is the be-all and end-all of this problem--it's clearly imperfect and has its problems, as this article discusses--but I think that until K-12 schooling changes for those who need it, Affirmative Action is important to those who truly benefit from it (which, some say, is "all of us").

Anyway, another something to think about... hmm, I'm on this education policy kick now, aren't I?

Current Music: Heavy Lifting, by Ambulance Ltd.
(just started listening today- another New York gem! Very excellent stuff)
Current Mood: Anxious

Weekend Update...

Hello all. Sorry for the blog break. I was worried about becoming annoying and overwhelming, but I guess that's kind of dumb, because I guess if anyone reads this at all, it's because they clicked the link, eh?

Ok, onto the blog. This weekend was fun-filled and action-packed! Saturday began with Mom/Daughter bonding day since my dad was away and some other dads of "family friends" and cousins were also away (I'm still not sure how anonymous I am keeping my blog, hence the awkwardness of that sentence).
We had a nice brunch at Café Deluxe; it felt very Sex and the City style. My mom ordered wine, that's when I knew we were trying to really have a girl power kind of day. Then we went and got manicures and pedicures, then back to Tysons for shopping, then downtown for dinner at Al Tiramisu, which Huan decided to crash (he did make the reservation, after all). If you ask him why he got to join in on an all-girls affair, he'll answer "Hello?? Have you seen my apartment?" He has a good point. The restaurant was good.. small and cozy, and they were playing Julio, which was so fitting and awesome.. who really plays Julio at their fancy Italian restaurant? It was totally for us! Anyway, I had a great big bowl of pasta, something I haven't enjoyed in a little while, and it was as fulfilling and delicious as I remember. I never said to anyone outright that I was doing Atkins, or South Beach, or whatever, because I was never strict on any of those diets by the book. I was just trying to cut out my usual 2 bowls of rice a night kind of average, and I'll tell you, it makes a difference! Now I know what I can live without and that I can indulge every once in a while if I do everything in moderation, and eat veggies and exercise and all that. (zzzzzzzzzz..........)

Sorry, now onto Sunday. I was up early again and took Auddie with me out to my friend's house in Clifton, land of large acreage lots, lots of barns, and no cell phone service. Who knew you could get so far-out by driving a few miles off the Parkway? We were going to Clifton Day (no "s") where we had chili dogs, funnel cake, cotton candy, and this crazy peppermint stick+lemon concoction, which is amazingly delicious in a very simple way. Try it yourself! Stick a peppermint into the center of a lemon and suck on it. Once it starts to dissolve you'll get this wonderfully refreshing lemon+peppermint juice coming in through the peppermint stick, which basically becomes a straw. All for a buck! The Clifton area was pretty cool. It's got this small-town feel with the small windy road through town, train tracks, lots of doggies, and all these old preserved historic landmarks/homes/buildings. I wish I had brought my camera, but I didn't, which sucks.
We went back to Becca's house after the crowd started getting to us a bit, and we kind of gave Clifton Day the "I'll show you a fair!" when we went out to hang out with the ponies in her backyard (they have 10). I found out that 1) ponies are just small horses, based on size/height, not age (who knew?), and that 2) I may very well be allergic, because I sneezed about 50 times and began rubbing my eyes like crazy, which continued for the better part of the afternoon... It was pretty cool though, and Auddie liked it; being able to pet farm animals kind of made the fair experience complete. I was telling Becca that she should come to Springfield Days sometimes, but warned her that I think it takes place in a KMart parking lot with some old rides and ferris wheels that arrive in the back of some pick-up trucks. Oh, Springfield! (I've never actually been.)

I got back home only in time for a quick shower to de-ponify (that sounds gross) myself of any allergens and to dig up my dad's old Super Bowl XXVI shirt from 1992 to put on for the Redskins game! My auntie, through a "friend," got tickets to the game, so my brother, my cousin Kam, my aunt, and I drove out to FedEx to see the Skins vs. Ravens. It wasn't as eventful as it should have been, as anyone who was watching knows. I think there were three total first downs in the first quarter, which was pathetic, and the fans were like, "This is lame!!!" (or was that me?) It picked up a bit in the second quarter, but that enthusiasm was short lived after the Ravens came out and scored two TD's within like five minutes in the 3rd quarter. My aunt spent the majority of the time with the binoculars, trying to keep track of her friend on the sidelines (hilarious!). On top of all that, it got very cold, so we were trying to pump ourselves up and get energized to stay warm, and the Redskins weren't giving us much to work with! It was a fun night, though, but it would have been nice if they actually won or at least had a few more nice plays to cheer about. That's ok, for now I'm switching focus back to the good ol' HOOS and their sweet season. I think it has to be all about the orange now, and the fact that people are actually going to football games to watch football now, instead of socializing and checking out each other's dresses (heheee!!).

Today, after the marathon weekend (poor me, I know... How much more pathetic can I get?), I got a chance to meet up with my friend for some good conversation and coffee. Now, I don't drink coffee that much, and she's one of the people who has gotten me to, because the activity we always engage in is "getting coffee," which I used to find strange, but I guess I can deal with now. I was always afraid of not being a coffee drinker because I would be left out of social situations, and my friends thought I was silly for this, but it happened to me in college! (by the friends who thought I was silly!-- I hope you know who you are!)
Here is how my memory serves me: I was trying to track down my friends one afternoon, and they were like "We went down to Starbucks on the corner, we're just hanging out now" (laughs, jokes, fun in the background).
"Oh, why didn't you call me?"
"Oh! Well, because you don't like to drink coffee..." zing! It's like smoke breaks, or even worse, like missing "water cooler conversations" because you don't drink water! Ok, so I'm exaggerating, but you get the idea. When I go into a Starbucks I get really weird because I usually have no idea what to get. It's not like I have one of those regular things. It'll be my turn in line and I'll be staring at the menu like it's a restaurant menu. Then I finally say something like, "Oh, can I get the small, whatever the smallest is, of the Pumpkin Spice... the Pumpkin latte thing." And the guy just stares at me and is like, "Yeah." And it's usually pretty good, and I actually don't mind coffee or coffee-related drinks, but I can totally do without. I don't want to be one of those "I get a headache without my coffee" types, but apparently there are many, and that's normal, but the thought of something like that scares me.

Um, back to what I was saying. Getting coffee with friend. So we were just sitting outside chatting, and I had another one of those eye-opening/make-me-feel-worthless experiences as she told me about her experiences one month into Teach For America in Philadelphia. Now, I've never seen Dangerous Minds, but what she was describing sounds like a total Gangsta's Paradise experience. I don't mean to trivialize it or make it sound like I'm joking, because seriously, some of the stories she was telling me about these students, and what it's like to get through a simple day, were amazing. Some people criticize TFA because it kind of throws somewhat underqualified people into these really intense teaching positions, but F that. There aren't qualified teachers who will fill these positions, so it's basically like, without these people they would probably just split up the kids among other classrooms where they don't belong and where teachers have even less authority and control. On top of trying to get a sense of where these kids are coming from, and trying to discipline them or get control of the troublemakers, she's ultimately trying to educate them, which is such a noble thing. I'm starting to sound cheesy, but I was really moved by this! To hear her share her experience was wildly amusing, but totally sad at the same time. I was so interested in hearing from someone who sees every day the inequity that exists in education in this country, and it's such a damn shame. I asked her rhetorically, "So what do we do?" (not me or her personally, but as a country, a people, a government). I dunno, it really got me interested/curious/thinking about education and education policy and all of that, and how sad it is for these kids and families who have to send their kids to schools that are actually documented as "potentially dangerous." While I don't have the answer, I don't think the right answer lies in holding these schools to some written standard on a sheet of paper that they should be expected to achieve on their own, without a dime and left to fend for themselves. I guess we totally take for granted the fact that kids here can go to a good school and not think twice about whether they are safe. (Especially being in Fairfax County, where it's extra cushy and great.) Anyway, guess we're back to the Save-the-World question... another toughie that I can sleep on.

Ok, now that we're all caught up... enjoy and keep tuning in.


Current Music: Sleeping In, by The Postal Service
Current Mood: contemplative (always seems to go hand-in-hand with the trying-to-save-the- world-question-posts)


Here are some pics from the Redskins game (my first attempt at posting pics within a post.. hope it works!):







This is Kam posing with a hilarious fan wearing what could be an awesome Halloween costume (if you can find humor in the situation-- if you can't read it, it says J. Lewis on his outfit)

Yet Another Video...

Huan just sent me this link and I had to post it because it's so cool.

http://www.beam.tv/beamreels/beamreel.php?dzjgijxl

It's this amazing Honda commercial that took 606 takes to shoot after 7 months of preparation. All for the bargain price of $1 million (see previous blog post re: film production costs). And we can't even see it on TV, after all that! So make the million worth it and click the link. It's swizzy.

Current Music: 'Til I Hear it From You, by Gin Blossoms
Current Mood: Whoa!

Pentagon Strike

Sooo, I got this link in an e-mail last week, but I finally read a story about it today in the Post so thought I'd spread it if anyone had not read about it yet:

http://www.elchulo.net/files/pentagon.swf

It's this conspiracy theory/video thing about the Pentagon attack on 9/11 and how a Boeing 757 didn't crash into it but actually either a missile or small plane. It's kinda weird, cause I'm watching and I'm like, huh, yeah that all makes sense, where is the plane, etc, etc. But it's just BIZARRO because then what happened to the real flight and the 757 where there were passengers who died and everything? Anyway, take a look for yourself. It's just weird, how this hasn't been brought up sooner... No footage of a plane actually going in, no plane debris all over the place. It makes you wonder what the hell else is being kept from us!!! Just like the other lovely story I read today in the Post about the chief weapons inspector's final report WMD and how there was nothing really bubbling over there after 1991. Cool, awesome. The world is crazy, that is all. Click the link and watch the video-- it's CRAZY!


Current Music: Waltz #2, by Elliott Smith
Current Mood: Lazy

NO PHONE CALLS

I love how the one the one and only thing that remains consistent among almost all online job postings is the special instruction of "NO PHONE CALLS!"

It's like, damn, what the hell did you do 10 years ago? Why do you even have a telephone at all? Ease up.

And another was like "While yes, you can send your application through your old dingy mailbox, that could take 3 years, while if you apply through our nifty new online system, we get it instantaneously!!!"

And then they go on to say "Due to the large volume of e-mails we receive, [please forgive us if we ignore you completely, even after granting you a possible interview. In fact, even if you get an interview and come meet and talk to us, there is still no guarantee we'll even call you. You might get a nice template letter, but you'll have to wait and see."] Ho hum.


Current Music: High Life, by Counting Crows
Current Mood: antsy/frustrated

"All my friends got flowers in their eyes, but I got none this season. All of the last year's blooms have gone and died.. time doesn't give a reason" -Counting Crows

World on Fire

So I just watched Sarah McLachlan's video for her song, "World on Fire," and it's totally one of those eye-opening/make you feel worthless moments. She talks about how it usually costs $150,000 to produce your average music video (though we know there are a ton that cost much more), and she does this big crazy thing about how they donated $150,000 all over the world to show what it could do. Like feed a village, or send kids to school for a year, etc.

I love seeing things like that to give me a reality check and look at my life and be reminded of my place, but I also hate them for making me feel like an ass for buying expensive jeans or sitting here in this house with all this stuff. I know we can't be expected to give up all of our luxuries and fortune to the third world, just because a buck there could do so much more, but I guess that's the problem. That you end up feeling helpless and useless to the situation that's just been presented in front of you, and suddenly you want to be a superhero and save the world, but how the hell do you do that (unless you're Oprah)? I guess you just do what you can and remind yourself constantly.

It is strange, though, how when a song suddenly has new meaning attached to it, you listen to it SO much differently than you did before. I kind of love that idea.
Go here to see the video (you have to have iTunes... go figure) and read about the donations:

http://www.worldonfire.ca/


Current music: World on Fire, by Sarah McLachlan
Current mood: contemplative

You've been Boo'd!

Ummm yeah, so in case anyone was wondering what 6th graders are up to these days... It's "Booing" (Boo-ing?) their friends. Auddie somehow elected me to be the driver/accomplice in this activity tonight, and I kind of had to say yes, because I want to be cool to her 6th grade friends, and I want to know what the hell boo-ing is, and I like to listen in on her conversations so I know what 6th grade girls talk about when they're together.

Of course I asked the usual required who, what, where, etc...questions, and then asked, "Wait a sec, if I weren't doing this, who would?" And she said someone else's parent, except "They already did it last time..." Sure, sure.

First of all, let me just say that it's definitely fall now. I had to put on my trusty Oxford sweatshirt, long pants, socks, and slippers (no more flip flops :( too cold) to go outside, and I used the heat in the car- WTF? It's nice though, because daytime weather is windows cracked, nighttime is the light sweater thing. Love the fall.

We went to pick up her first friend around the block, then onto her next friend, the social butterfly super boy-obsessed one. We were going to this girl's latest BF's house first (she's obsessed w/ him.. "if he's happy, i'm happy..." etc. Yeah, I know. 6th grade. I was probably the same way, who knows. I try to keep Auddie in check, though. "Your friend is crazy, don't listen to her, really, ever.")

The deal is, they make me park the car a few houses down, turn off the lights and everything, and duck just in case someone sees me (??). I totally felt like I was about to rob a bank, it was scary, and anytime a neighbor would be out walking a dog or just passing by my car, I thought they were going to call neighborhood watch on me. So the kids go to the house, tip-toe up to the front, giggle like crazy, drop a bag of candy w/ note attached and "BOO" message, ring the doorbell, then take off behind the bushes or a car or tree or whatever they can find. So apparently no one answered the door or they were watching TV too close to the door or something?

So we abandoned the mission for the time being and went to girl #1's BF's house (by the way, they didn't have directions to any of these places, they just had the school directory and street names and numbers, and just thought that I would be their GPS I guess. Luckily, it worked out and I recalled the names and places). At house #2, same deal, but this time I'm really nervous because two other neighbors happen to be coming home while my car is parked in between their homes, and I'm this dark shadowy figure sitting in a car with three 11-yr-old girls on the sidewalk acting shady.

I'm kind of excited, though!! I'm like turned around in my seat trying to see where they're hiding, and who answers the door, and what their reaction is. It was kind of awesome, because I remember that feeling. The same feeling you get when you're TP'ing or throwing rocks at a window. Suddenly I was envious! They'd be talking about this for the rest of the night and at lunch the next day. 6th grade is totally awesome. Really, it is. The kid's mom opened the door and took the bag, and it was a success! They got back in the car and started asking me about The O.C.

I was like, do I talk to them about the O.C.? Is that appropriate? It's awesome that they love it, but should they? I don't think I'd let Auddie watch it, even though I know I watched that stuff at her age (90210).

Friend #1 asks me who my favorite character is, and I'm not even sure if they're at the age where they still like to pick their favorite girl characters or boy ones, so I'm like "Uh, girl character or boy?" And she's like "uhhh, BOY!" Duh........ So I say, of course "Seth" (Adam Brody), and I'm thinking she'll pick Ryan (Ben McKenzie) because he's supposed to be the "hot" one I think, but she actually agrees with me.

Then friend #2 says, "I've only seen it once for like 2 minutes, but when I did, it was like..."
other girls: "Like what?" friend #2: "They were just like, in bed together!...[giggle]" ... awkward silence/sounds/pauses from other girls.
It was pretty awkward, and I was just pretending to be the limo driver with the barrier between me and the backseat.

We go back to house #1 and someone's dad grabs the bag, but they want to be sure about it, so after all the hiding behind trees, they go ring the doorbell again to ask whether the kid got it. (I thought the point was to be secretive). His mom answers and is craning her neck looking for a car, as she asks "Did someone's parent take you here?" That would be my first thought also.. what grown person would escort you kids around at 8:30 on a Tuesday night?

So I drive around aimlessly with these 3 girls in my back seat for a while longer, until I realize one of them is pretending to "recall" where the 3rd kid-to-be-boo'd actually lives but actually has no idea, so I decide to take them all home before I get myself into some kind of trouble for kidnapping them for an hour.

I drop them off, and Auddie's all, "WASN'T THAT THE MOST FUN YOU HAVE EVER HAD" (exaggerated), and I'm like, Oh yeah. Maybe if I was the one ringing the doorbells! But, she probably thinks I'm cooler for it, so that's good.

She told her friends, "You know, I tell my sister everything that goes on at school, so she knows everything." I wonder if that made them feel awkward. I mean, it made me feel a little awkward. I'm trying to find out how to be cool but authoritative at the same time. Like "Oh you have a boyfriend!! Sweet! I remember when I was in 6th grade..." versus "What do you mean she wants to 'take it to the next level'... what does that mean, what level are they at right now? Auddie, find out what she means, I need to know" (true story).

Wow, long-winded blog for the 6th grade update. I guess that means Auddie's life is more exciting than mine! Well, whatever keeps you reading!


Current Music: Gathering Dust, by David Gray
Current Mood: tired

Laguna Beach

Wow, so I just happened (I swear) to catch an episode of this new MTV show. I don't really get it- it's a reality show but it's such a freaking parody of the OC that I have to believe it's actually scripted and these 16 and 17 year old kids (all tan or blonde and somewhat good looking, of course) are actors.

My favorite part was when this guy was touring his friend Lauren's ("LC") house with its 100 bedrooms and the best ocean view in town, and he's all in disbelief, like "Dude, these are like the houses on 'The O.C.'" No shit, Stephen with a p, maybe it's because you live in the same neighborhood.

Anyway, I was entertained for the half hour and actually found myself laughing out loud (by myself) at one point, so you know it's gotta be amusing. One of the girls is named Lo, which is hilarious (sorry, Lo, not so original anymore).

Needless to say, I'm sure I'll be "accidentally" catching new episodes as they come on. At least until the real O.C. comes back on in November.


Current Music: 2+2=5, by Radiohead
Current Mood: normal

Hilarious sib.

I love that Auddie takes after me and likes to fall asleep to music...
It turns out, though, that her "sleepy" music of choice is her Grease CD. Every night, the same deal. She doesn't have a sleep function on her stereo, though, so no matter when she falls asleep, it'll play through til the end. Tonight I walked in to "Greased Lightning" and shut it off for her.

Oh, funny related story. We're watching Ladder 49 the other night, and Auddie's says, "John Travolta's in this? How OLD is he!?" And I'm like, "He just turned 50 I think." And she's in absolute disbelief and I realize it's because she has ONLY ever seen him in Grease (or at least that's the only place she knows him from). I love those moments. Kind of like when Auddie was browsing my iTunes a while ago and asked me, "Wait Pouy, Paula Adbul sings?" My oh my, so much happened before 1993.


Current Music: 59th Street Bridge Song, by Simon & Garfunkel
Current Mood: Sleepy .. off to bed

I think I got it...

Ok, so if all is going well, you should finally be able to see a photo of me when you load the blog page. I picked a little gem from 1985, because it's clear I was 100x cooler back then than I am now. I think I'm wearing some red, white and blue, vertically striped suspenders over some random flower-patterned collared shirt. How much cooler can you get?

So yeah. We'll see if we can try to make this the GroovyTwoShoes of the 21st century (Thanks for the suggestion, CGrumms). I doubt I'm as amusing or as willing to blabber as I was when I was 16, but maybe I'll get there.

I resisted the blog bandwagon for quite a while... it all seemed too public for me (See "Washingtonienne"...), and I'm not one (at least anymore) to put it all out there.

But, this is for all of you who used to read my high/lows daily and frequently visited my webpage when it still existed. Here we go again. . .


Current Music: I Almost Forgot, by Matthew Sweet
Current Mood: Excited (about this whole blog thing!)

How do I work this thing?

Yeah, still trying to figure out how to post a picture up in my profile. Turns out you can't link from your computer.. silly, huh? So I had to sign up for some free site that hosts photos, yet I still can't get it to go. Soon enough, I hope.

I was thinking of signing up for a xanga or other journal, because I know they have the "current music" and "current mood" thing, which is cool. I guess I can just do that manually on this thing, which isn't as fun, but it'll do.

So I was actually registering for xanga, but got the dreaded "Your username is already in use," to which I always curse and throw something, because, after all-- who else picks Pouy as their username? AOL already screwed me over but not allowing me to keep pouy as my screen name, and yahoo and hotmail didn't have pouy available either. Thank goodness i jumped quickly on the google train.

Ok, back to Blogger help and FAQ...


Current music: Neighborhood #3, by The Arcade Fire
Current mood: Chaotic (the rugrats are home and it is v. loud in the house)

Hello... where am I?

Yeah, I don't even know if I'm doing this correctly, but I guess we'll see. This is my blog. It was peer pressure that put me over. I joined the pen-and-paper journal community in 1998, and I'll still continue that, but now that we're all so tech-savvy, here I go with my blog. Sorry, no juicy details here. Just enough to keep you all entertained at work or on that slow Saturday night (thanks, Tweevs).

Um, ok yeah. That's all for the first post. Since I don't even know if it will work. Back for more soon.