dissonance

Oh Happy Day!

I've paid my dues driving a car with no air conditioning, vinyl seats and a broken side view mirror. I'm grateful for even having any form of transportation but having it breakdown on me on the 56 was a blessing in disguise.

So now...

I'm now the proud owner of a new car!

It's a 2005 Corolla S.
Not quite finished, I'm getting a moonroof installed next weekend. :)

Suggestions for names?

Analyze this

Yes, it's 7:30 in the morning and I'm blogging.

Ever since my car died I've been getting a ride to work with a co-worker. He is the early in-early out type. So I get in at 7:30 rubbing the boogers out of my eyes but waltz out the door at 4:30. We'll see how long this lasts before I break down and rent a car.

I had this horrible but distinct dream last night. I was in some hotel and getting out of an elevator and as I walk away I realize I left my purse in there! Moreover, I realize that my precious ipod was in my purse! I frantically push both the up and down buttons to summon the elevator back down. When the door opens, my purse isn't in there. But all of a sudden I realize there are 3 elevators all next to each other so I wait for the middle one to open. When the doors open I start to really panic because, still no purse and no ipod and I could swear I was in the middle elevator (even though I just realized there was even a middle elevator). I'm about to start crying and finally the third one opens and my purse is sitting on the floor with the darling ipod nestled inside.

Amateur Freudians want to take a stab at analysing that?

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Saw Badly Drawn Boy last night at Canes. Quite good! I love it when bands bring in violins, flutes, cellos and tambourines!

Vroom.... *clunk*

Do you ever get the feeling like the universe is plotting against you?

I had to drive home for lunch today and while I was on the freeway my car started making this weird clicking sound. So I started muttering prayers and curses under my breath, just hoping against hope that I could at least make it home all right. All of a sudden the clicking turns into clunking and my check engine light goes on. My prayers and curses got more fervent.

It didn't work. Two miles from home I had to pull over the side of the freeway because my car lost all power, including the battery. Just plain died. Not only that, but smoke was coming out of my hood. It was all very dramatic.

Luckily, Cindy was able to come by and help me out. We got my car towed to a nearby station and I went home to wait for some news about what the damage was.

News: It's not worth the money to fix it.

I guess I'm not done walking.

Punny movie reviews

4 word movie reviews

A sneak peak:

Titanic: "Icy dead people"

Lord of the Rings - The Two Towers: "Run Forest, Run!"

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In other news, I finished Anna K. last night and Tolstoy was able to renew my faith in happiness in the last 20 pages. Although it involves a lot of religion and oneness with mankind and 'stuff'... but it's good to hear he doesn't think we're all doomed to die alone.

Pass the Prozac

I'm about 20 pages short of finishing Anna Karenina and it's really hard to go on. So as not to spoil anything I have to be really vague.

Towards the end of the book, a Big Event happens that is pretty depressing. It's an inevitable end to an inescapable spiral. But right after that, we go to another character's viewpoint whose situation is the direct opposite of the Tragic Figure. Their storyline runs parallel to the Tragic Figure's and presents a direct contrast in situations. However their feelings are the same. That is, they're also dwelling in the pits of despair.

Bottom line, in the words of Bart Simpson: You're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't.

At least that's the feeling I get right now. It's utterly depressing, especially since it's related to love and relationships. But I have to get through it because I need to know if Tolstoy is really sending that message. I may have to get some Cliff Notes.

If anyone has read this book and has anything to share that will enlighten (and comfort) me, I'd much appreciate it.

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My future husband better like Korean food 'cause I just made some kimchee soup and DAMN does it smell funky... but in a good way that is making me drool.

Snow Patrol.Eisley

I saw Snow Patrol and Eisley at Canes Bar and Grill last night.

I had never heard Eisley before and I liked them alot. Apparently most of them are related to each other, which explains the very good harmony. One of the singers mentioned that technically, most of them were too young to watch themselves perform (Canes is 21+). In fact, one of the other singers turned 16 today. A part of me is amazed that so much talent can be developed at such a young age. The other part of me feels like a big loser.

Snow Patrol was great! The audience really got into the music and it was nice to hear everyone singing "Run" all together. One of the best moments was during the encore when they did their own alternative rock version of Beyonce's Crazy in Love. I tried to record some of it on my camera because I can see how that's hard to imagine, but there was too much bass and it came out crappy.

But here's my best shot of the evening. It was taken while Eisley was on stage, from the side.

Amazon spree

I was planning to buy only two or three of the books on this list, but I got sucked into the "Bargain Books" section and I'm now officially on my way into becoming the next public library.

A Light in the Attic (Shel Silverstein) - Everyone read this as a kid. I couldn't pass it up when it's only $8.

Society of Mind (Marvin Minsky) - Nerd book about AI.

Cosmos (Carl Sagan) - Nerdy astronomy book. It's been on my wishlist for a while.

Women (Charles Bukowski) - via recommendation from Mike.

America : A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction (the writers of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart) - An actual intended purchase.

The Amulet of Samarkand (The Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 1) (Jonathan Stroud) - I'm a sucker for children's books and Amazon swears I'll love it.

The Golem's Eye (Bartimaeus Trilogy, Book 2) (Jonathan Stroud) - And what if I do love it? I don't want to wait around for the second one. The third is not published yet, thank goodness.

Death Be Not Proud (John J. Gunther) - I read this in middle school and I remember it being very very good and very very sad. It's written by a father whose son has a brain tumor. For $4 it's definately going in the collection.

How to Practice : The Way to a Meaningful Life (The Dalai Lama, Jeffrey Hopkins) - Hey, it's the Dalai Lama! Hey, it's $6 for a hardcover!

Falling Angels (Tracy Chevalier) - I really liked her first book, Girl with the Pearl Earring, so I have to give this one a try, especially for $6 hardcover.

God Has a Dream : A Vision of Hope for Our Time (Desmond Tutu) - I meant to buy this one.

Across the Nightingale Floor : Tales of the Otori, Book One (Lian Hearn) - Another victim of Amazon recommends and for $5 hardcover, heck yeah I'll try it.

I don't know why I do this to myself. I already have a stack 7 books deep sitting on the floor next to my bed. I have 1/2 an inch of Anna Karenina still left to read.

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Snow Patrol/Eisley concert pics and video clips (if I can figure out how to do it) later today or tomorrow.

Eye Candy

Do you like cool photography? I sure do.

Just refresh the page for more.

Fantasy Dinner Party Guest List

Rules: Has to be living, no friends or family

1) Zach Braff - Duh.  And I'm curious to know if he's as interesting in real life as he is "in character".  His blog says yes, but the thing about blogs is that you get time to edit and re-edit.

2) Jon Stewart - He can talk to anyone from former presidents to celebrities. The man is a brilliant conversationalist.

3) Angelina Jolie - I really do admire her even though she's weird. I bet she'd be interesting to talk to.

4) Father Desmond Tutu - Recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize. I saw him on the Daily Show on Monday and I have to say I was absolutely captivated by him in the short 7 minute interview.  I am definately going to buy his book.

5) Tom Hanks - I always thought he must be the nicest nicest nicest guy.  I think Rita Wilson is a very lucky woman.

So the thing about lists like these is that as soon as you write it down, you want to change it. So here's my disclaimer saying that this is who I'd want to have dinner with right now.  I just can't think of anyone else at the moment.

4 weeks to go

If you haven't registered, it's getting down to the wire.

Pick a site, any site, and I'll see ya Nov. 4 with a "I just voted" sticker proudly on display.

http://www.rockthevote.com

https://electionimpact2.votenet.com/justvote/

http://www.yourvotematters.org/ala/

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