things remembered

my sister's bridal shower went really well. it ended up being hot as hell on saturday, and the clubhouse isn't air conditioned. but it didn't get too bad until the very end, and it seems as though the 13 guests had a good time. i never heard from half of my family, the jerks, but i think my sister had a great time despite the fact that the only family there, other than my mother and myself, was my aunt that flew up from laguna.

friday night my sister, john and i took my aunt to santana row for dinner. we opted for pluto's because the hour-plus waits at consuelo's, straits, etc. was ridiculous. we wandered around a bit before heading to the left bank for drinks after dinner. it was a great night, and fun to catch up with her.

saturday morning i was up early to drag all the stuff i had at home to the clubhouse. i made 4 trips before Jewels came over to bring by her stuff, and before i knew it it was time to go buy balloons and stop by my restaurant to pick up some of the items i had them cater. (hey, i make the best of my resources!)

it was hectic getting everything ready, including myself, ready by 1p but somehow we managed.

i rented a 28mm f/1.8 for Sophie's birthday party and my sister's shower and i loved it! it was difficult to return it on monday.

yep, it's what you think it is. given to her by one of her employees!




caaaake!


sister and mom laughing it up




my gift to my sister, her toasting flutes (those are luggage tags on top)





i had my aunt, my parents, sister, john, Jewels, Cy and Sophie over for dinner after the shower. my parents kindly did everything to prepare and pretty much cleanup, which allowed me to go for a much-needed swim with everyone.

sunday i had every intent to really just do nothing, but it rarely works out that way. i went to a movie screening in the morning, did a bunch of stuff around the house, and went shopping for new workout clothes. i never really understood why people spend lots of money on workout stuff, but it's funny -- i look forward more to working out now with my new duds.

alex finished up on my hall closet today, and it looks so awesome! i need to paint the door and the new closet, and he'll come back and hang it next week. i'm hoping i'm able to paint it this weekend.

i'm on this home improvement kick -- alex also replaced all the door hardware for me, bringing these details into this century. it really changes the way the place looks! i had someone come out on monday for an estimate on central air conditioning, and i'm still awaiting his bid. i'd love to present the request at our condo board meeting on tuesday, especially since i won't be at august's meeting and i'll be damned if i'm waiting 'til september to gt A/C installed! today i also spoke with the electrician that did my ceiling fan a couple of years ago, and have him coming out to change out the exhaust fans in the bathrooms. all these things on my home improvement to-do list are finally getting done!

also, i have pink eye. i'm trying to figure out how i got it, my guess is at the gym, or at least that was suggested to me. i picked up the prescription eye drops today, and would you believe i had to psych myself up to use them? almost 30 years old and, aside from eye appointments, i have never put any eye drops in my eyes. i hope it clears up soon, although the itchiness already seems to have subsided.

the great depression

seems like i've been missing my maternal grandmother a lot these days. so when i discovered, via retro renovation, depression cooking with clara, i felt like i had a renewed connection.

clara is a charming 93-year-old grandmother living in new york state, and her grandson has put together a series of videos of clara sharing recipes and stories about her life.

my grandmother grew up in the midwest in the great depression, and was forever telling us horror stories of what it was like. frankly, sometimes it was tiresome to hear about just how awful things were, but i always listened patiently. now i wish she was still here to tell us more stories.

with our economy the way it is, "depression" has been thrown around a lot. living in the silicon valley tends to skew one's perspective, as despite frequent news reports of housing and unemployment crises, i still see at least one maserati daily.

i like to think my grandmother would appreciate "depression cooking with clara," and that it would inspire her to share some of her own depression-era stories and recipes.

gotta have it

do you know how much i want this pillow?



because it reminds me of one of my favorite motel signs


las vegas nevada, march 2009

six word sunday: less interested in art than technology

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vanity sizing

last weekend i went to old navy in search of some workout shorts/pants that i saw a few months back. they had exactly what i was looking for, but not in my size -- since the last time i was there i've apparently gone down a size. HOORAY! even though they didn't have the bottoms i was looking for, i proceeded to look at the rest of their clothes.

surely you see where this is going.

i tried on nearly 30 items, most of which i really liked, but am trying to avoid spending too much money on clothing when i fully intend on changing sizes again in the near future.

i bought some beach-bum-type shorts for my trip to maui next month, and this t-shirt in 3 different colors, which was old navy's item of the week at just $7 each.



it fits so well, and again, i am down a size in old navy clothes. i've long said that old navy is the king of vanity sizing, which is so very true, but it's still encouraging to know i'm wearing that much of a (supposedly) smaller size.

photo walk

if i were free this saturday, i'd be participating in this worldwide photo walk. it sounds like lots of fun. but since i can't make it, maybe some photog friends of mine can? just thought i'd spread the word.

six word sunday: it was her "first" shining moment

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see fernando

i love love love jenny lewis, and i could watch this video ten times over again and not be sick of it. i'm glad i found it via bust.

Jenny Lewis "See Fernando" from Team G on Vimeo.

watching.

I haven't watched a tv sitcom in ages, but with me downgrading my Netflix plan to one-at-a-time and not having cable, I caved last week and watched "How I Met Your Mother."

Turns out, it's not so bad. I like Jason Segal, even though he plays such a putz on the show, and NPH is pretty to look at.

I left the tv on after the show was finished, and something called "Rules of Engagement" (I think that's what it's called) was on next. It has the same tired plot lines as any other sitcom, but I expected more, with Orlando Jones and Patrick Warburton, both of whom I love.

I turned off the tv before "Big Bang Theory" came on, but I've heard such good things that I may have to check it out sometime.

Just when I thought about getting rid of my tv for good...


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Media update: June

As always, this is more for my remembrance than anything else. Asterisks denote something I especially enjoyed, your enjoyment may differ.

<U>MOVIES</u>:
Then She Found Me
Lost Weekend
My Life in Ruins
Fur
Infamy
Mad Money
Synecdoche, New York
Revolutionary Road
The Hangover
Girls Rock!
Point Break


<U>BOOKS</u>:
Jeffrey Eugenides, "Middlesex" *

Sandra Cisneros, "The House on Mango Street"

Chuck Palahniuk, "Pygmy"

Rebecca Walker, "Black, White and Jewish"


<U>MUSIC</u>: (workout music month!)
Lil Wayne, "Tha Carter II"
Lil Wayne, "Tha Carter III"
Flo Rida, "R.O.O.T.S."
Flo Rida, "Mail on Sunday"


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