Baby, It's Cold Outside

My friend commented on how she often sees JSS while walking around the 'hood, but she never sees me.

Earlier today I decided to walk to the drugstore, by way of the farmer's market, and enjoy the usual Saturday morning energy (lots of Maclaren strollers, multiracial families, and reusable shopping bags).

Ten minutes into my stroll, headphones blasting the Bach Cello Suites, watching a woman juggling hula hoops, and some scummy guy sidles up next to me and starts babbling things like, "So what's up wid'it, little mama? How's about you and me trying to make it happen?" I was like, "Uh...you're quite a charmer, but I have a husband." He was undeterred until I finally sped up into the crowd.

Soon after that, a bird shit on my head.

This is why I'm generally inside the house watching 'Mad Men.'

Surprisingly great things

Here are a few of my favorite things, many of which were wedding gifts:

1) Oxo Good Grips Mango Splitter ($12.99, amazon.com): An amazing little device that seems too good to be true. Getting that pesky seed out of the mango in one swoop? Incredible!



2) Krups FDH212-76 Rice Cooker, Slow Cooker Stainless Steel ($99.99, macys.com): For someone who always manages to burn rice, this is a godsend. I am really excited to try out the slow cooker options.

3) Beatles Rock Band for Nintendo Wii ($249.99, amazon.com): On regular Rock band I only know like 0.7% of the songs -- on this version I know ALL the songs. Also, the graphics are so cool.

4) Cuisinart DCG-12BC Coffee Grinder, Grind Central ($35, macys.com) & Bodum 8-cup Coffee Press ($39.95, cooking.com): I love making coffee with this duo. Grind up the beans, pop 'em in the French press, and voila!











5) Merona long-sleeve t-shirt ($9.99, target.com): I wear these with EVERYTHING. Every day.

MJ

I realize I'm a bit late here, since the Michael Jackson post-mortem media blitz train has come and gone, but he's been on my mind since I watched This is It yesterday with the parentals. I hadn't planned to see it, but it was actually kind of nice to get a glimpse into his latest work.

He was still amazing (far better than I will ever be) but definitely showing his age. You wouldn't know it unless you compared it to this, though:



Makes me want sequined everything. Like these Alessandro Dell'Acqua gold sequin pants that MJ wore in the film:

So much for New Year's Resolutions

SPH sent me a text recently reminding me that I reeeeeeally need to update my blog. I've been a very bad blogger for the past...um...year, I guess. Sorry to my legions of fans (all three of you).

So here's a restart. No promises. Let's see what happens.

There's been a lot of Facebook posting lately about things you are thankful for. I'm definitely thankful for all of the important things (friends, family, health, job, home, food, safety, etc.) but I thought I'd examine the not-so-major things that just make me happy. Here are some of them:

1) The Internet. I love random facts and I love that the Internet gives them to me.

2) Zachary's Pizza. Yum.

3) Having small feet.

4) PBS and NPR. If you're nerdy and you know it clap your hands.

5) Libraries.

6) Trader Joe's.

7) Tokyo, Bombay, and Amsterdam.

8) Miniature anything.

9) Tampons.

10) DVR.

Bay Area Love

As I struggle these days with my job, my wedding plans, and the usual day-to-day nonsense, I thought it would be helpful to reflect on the reasons I love the Bay Area (in the form of a list, of course), if for no other reason than to help me keep my sanity.

These are in no particular order, by the way, nor is this an exhaustive list.

1) Vik's Chaat Corner. The perfect mix of India and the Bay.

2) Fog.

3) Cold wind at Ocean Beach followed by a drink at the Cliff House.

4) Hella bootsie Yay Area slang.

5) Pixar.

6) Bi-Rite Ice Cream.

7) Microclimates.

8) Jeremy's.

9) Tons and tons of amazing vegetarian food.

10) Mission burritos.

Bride Wars: Lehenga Edition

Yesterday, I randomly wandered in to Sari Palace, with the hopes of avoiding a trip to Artesia by finding a perfect lehnga to wear at my wedding reception. Immediately, I saw "the one." No alternatives, no questions. I wanted it. It wanted me. It was all so romantic.

Unfortunately, I had to wait for my mom to see it (and pay for it) before I could make it mine. I begged the sales girl to set it aside for me until the next day.

I guess my begging fell on deaf ears, because today I went back, saw the lehnga sitting on the counter, and I was like, "This is my lehnga, I'd like to buy it."

The sales lady says, "But that other customer is buying it."

I was like, "But this is my lehnga."

I cried, for reals. Luckily, the owner felt bad and said she would get a replica custom-made to my measurements, for the same price. Whew!!

However, for a brief moment, I pictured some scene out of a movie in which two women fight like maniacs over a wedding dress, tearing each other's hair out and clawing at each other's faces.

It didn't come to that, but I'd like to think that, if it had, I could beat her down.

Things that Irritate Me

Since top ten (or 25) lists are the thing these days, I thought I'd spend a few moments meditating on the things I can't stand. Here they are, in no particular order:

1) When little kids wear their shoes on the wrong feet.

2) People who mix up there/their/they're, your/you're, where/were/we're, etc.

3) Clowns.

4) People who preface statements with things like, "I'm not homophobic, but..." or "I'm not racist, but..."

5) Guys who use the word "tits."

6) When strands of hair fall onto my arms, legs, or anywhere else.

7) Being yelled at or reprimanded.

8) When my students don't listen to me.

9) Thinking about where milk or eggs come from.

10) Trying on pants.