Curious Notions » in passing

Cherry on Top

Linda — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 17:25:50 +0000

Every Friday I post a 7 Quick Takes entry and was going to do the same this morning but realized I left my camera USB cord at home, making it impossible to share dance videos (not of me) and birthday pictures I was planning on sharing for 3 of the takes. Next week, it’s back on. I’m having a pretty happy birthday this year. Had a one on one birthday date with zee boyfriend at a DELICIOUS new restaurant in town. Last night was spent downtown after a night of comedy. Finally tonight, the last leg of celebrations include my birthday dinner with friends. I can’t wait to see them. Jon, my best dude friend is down for the weekend! He’s instructed me to put on my “fat” pants because he plans on eating Austin, Texas in 60 hours.

Being 27, isn’t that bad. I did have to do some reprogramming. I still feel young enough to think 28 is old. Must readjust my perspective. As my best friend’s mom said, we’re no longer spring chickens.

Summer chicken it is.

I was bummed this morning when I fished in my purse for my USB cord and couldn’t find it. What am I supposed to post now, I thought? I then logged on and saw that the lovely Suki @ Super Duper Fantastic gave me the Cherry on Top Award.

The award has three contingencies.

1) Answer this question that Tasha posed: “If you had the chance to go back and change one thing in your life, would you and what would it be?”

I think I would become a Computer Science major instead of minor. Instead of majoring in Biology and Philosophy with a minor in CS, I would have tried: Double majoring in Computer Science and Biology and no minor. I enjoyed the taste of programming I had and think it would have been easier to look for jobs. But mainly because I liked the act of programming. The sense of accomplishment that comes with finishing and debugging a program and having everything work well was addicting.

2) Pick six people to pass the award on to. Their blog should be truly deserving.
ME @ Knitting for Bears, Brenda @ Numbered Confessions, Neville @ Neville’s Financial Blog (even though he’s probably not going to do it), Cindy @ Dorkyme.curious-notions.net, Martin @ This Rugged Life, A.J. @ Read A.J.

3) Thank the person who gave you the award, in the form of a comment on this post.

Done!

Happy Friday everyone :) Tell me something good.

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 10)

Linda — Fri, 02 Jul 2010 15:37:03 +0000

1.

I was at Epoch, a coffee shop in Austin with a couple of girlfriends discussing our book club book of June (Red Tent), when Selina and I noticed one of Epoch’s patrons brought her iMac desktop. Someone brought an entire desktop to a coffee shop. I was so stunned, I snuck a picture. We’ve tried to come up with some possible stories for her. For example, maybe the iMac was a gift and she didn’t want to trade it in for a MacBook in case she would insult the gifter. Moreover, she then had to cut her Internet (along with the cable TV because Internet is one of the last things to go). So she is forced to go to a coffee shop for free Wifi. Therefore, she had no other option but to pack an entire desktop to a coffee shop! Yes? No?!

2.

I saw Anthony Bourdain on Monday. I already posted the two pictures I have with him on my food blog but I just wanted another excuse to gaze into his face and see mine inches away! Sighhhhh.

3.

I went to the movie theatre two times this week. Once for a bad movie. Once for a good movie! How’s that for balance?

Bad: Opening night of Eclipse. I stood in line /sat in line since 8:30 pm for the midnight showing. Haters, please understand we Twilight fans know it’s bad writing. We know vampires are not supposed to sparkle. We also know the movies are crap. Relax! We know. It’s a guilty pleasure! I will gloat a little and say Eclipse got better ratings than Airbender.

4.

Good: Toy Story 3. Aww :) Cute for all ages.

5.

It’s July. Time is sure passing quickly. This weekend, I will be celebrating the Fourth with Alan and his buddies. Next weekend, my parents are coming up for the first time in a couple of years. The weekend after, I’m planning on hosting a girl’s weekend for a couple of out of town girlfriends. And finally, I turn one year older (YUCK). All the weekends are already booked! I feel like I blinked and one moment it was March and now we’re already in July.

6.

Customer Service: Now I’ve never really had a job where my main responsibility is customer service, but I must say I do love the customer service aspects of the jobs I’ve had. In my previous job (clinical research coordinator), it was rare a patient would be beside themselves in anger as the girls I worked with were stellar in making our patients feel cared for. However, every now and then, miscommunication or just patients being grumpy will cause a confrontation to brew. I had so much fun diffusing these sitations and felt so accomplished when we were able to cool the tension and come to a solution or compromise. I loved it. What’s more, it made future interactions smoother. I get really upset when I come across customer service where it just appears that the service providers hate their customers. Austin Timewarner, I’m looking at you.

7.

That said, I also get really irritated when I see customers being arrogant assholes. The people who serve you, just because they’re serving you, does not make them less than. I was in line at a gas station when the cashier complimented a regular on how pretty she looked that day. The lady just blankly stared at the cashier, no doubt, pushing her to elaborate. “You look pretty every day, but you look especially well dressed today.” The lady coldly squinted at the fumbling cashier and said, “You should stop while you’re ahead.” She then cooly walked away. I saw the cashier blush and was visibly upset so I assured her that obviously, that lady had a stick up her ass and to not let it get to her. She composed herself and told me, “That’ll teach me to be nice to her again.”

It’s a cycle. So be nice. That’s a good cycle.

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 9)

Linda — Fri, 18 Jun 2010 14:42:22 +0000

1.

Shared with permission

I got this voice mail yesterday from my old college roommate and high school classmate. It reminded me of the scene in He’s Just Not that Into You, where Drew Barrymore’s character says, “I had this guy leave me a voice mail at work, so I called him at home, and then he emailed me to my BlackBerry, and so I texted to his cell, and now you just have to go around checking all these different portals just to get rejected by seven different technologies.”

Edit: Note about the sound clip: She’s one of three people who call me “Deese” shortened from “Lindisimo.”

Edit: If you’re reading in a reader, the sound clip can be seen if you go to the original post.

2.

I babysat these boys that I’ve been babysitting since they were both born last night and this conversation absolutely tickled me.

3 year old:
Sonic the Hedgehog’s girlfriend is in this show.

6 year old:
Sonic the Hedgehog doesn’t have a girlfriend!

3 year old:
Yes he dooze!

I want to steal that verb tense for do. Yes I dooze.

3.

I saw Anthony Bourdain not too long ago. He’s my main food squeeze. I bought tickets to see him again! He’s coming back June 28th. This time, I shall try to get a book signed. I like getting author autographs. My collection thus far: Frank Warren (not a true that author really is he?), Jaden Hair, Chuck Palahniuk, and Amy Tan.

4.

This weekend is crunch time. Moving Sunday. I have tonight and tomorrow to get the hard bits of packing. Sunday is going to be hectic. The movers come and I also have tickets to my first ever baseball game! Going with my little to a Round Rock Express. I heard Will Farrell threw the first pitch at a Round Rock Express game not too long ago. I’m looking forward to eating a hot dog at a ball game :)

5.

My 27th birthday is looming. Do I have to turn 27? Dooze I?

6.

Brandi, my current roommate for another few days is moving to Dallas. Jessica, the other in our threesome is moving in August. It’s the end of an era and I’m feeling a bit sad. I told you before in 7 Quick Takes that I hate this part of growing up, the goodbyes. We’ve been thick as thieves since 2005. I always worry that friendships will frizzle once we physically move away from each other but right now most of my closest friends are long distance. My best friend in Boston. Kym, Jon, Will, and Thomas all are in New York, Dallas, and L freaking A. Kim, Cindy, Aishah in Houston. Nam floats around all over the US. So there is hope for Jessica, Brandi and me. :) We’re doing our goodbye outing Tuesday and kayaking at Town Lake. One of my irrational fears is kayaking. I’m afraid I’ll fall in the water and some little critter will crawl up my nose and then lay eggs in my brain and then I’ll find out three months later and then die. You think I’m joking.

Me, Brandi, Jessica

7.

Friendly reminder, Father’s Day is this Sunday. I’m not driving down to Houston to see daddy because I’m moving on Sunday. :(

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 8)

Linda — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 15:48:49 +0000

1.

Last night had date night with zee dude. Alan was pretty sweet and accommodating to go watch a documentary on babies (aptly entitled Babies) with me. The documentary followed 4 babies from different corners of the world, San Francisco, Namibia, Mongolia, and Tokyo. It’s ALL babies, the documentary. No narration, hardly any other dialogue save the gurgles, baby coos, and baby teary outrages for an hour and 20 minutes. We laughed out loud a few times and I enjoyed it but it was a little slower than I was hoping. My rating is 3/5 stars. See trailer below.

When we got home, Alan reattached his manly bits by watching first game of NBA championship series. ;)

2.

Our fridge at work has pictures of current lab members. The photos have to be humorous and non-serious. I thought I could go unnoticed without a picture up but it has recently been threatened that if I don’t put a picture up, someone else will take one of me and post it. I value my autonomy so I cropped myself out of this photo taken from the weekend.

Photo courtesy of Jason’s facebook

3.

I finished listening to Julia Child’s My Life in France (Ten fricking CDs). It inspired me to buy her first Mastering French Cooking book. I think I’m going to make my 2nd quiche from that book this coming week. If you don’t know how to read or speak French or even sound out French words, I recommend getting the audio book to listen to instead of the actual book to read. It’s fun to repeat after the reader and laugh at yourself as you drive to and from work.

4.

I finished this book at the end of February and much to Martin‘s chagrin, I still haven’t done the book review. As much as I wanted to. I just didn’t quite understand the ending. But up to the ending it was a very humorous story about a Fup, duck (named for “Fucked up”), a grumpy but hilarious Grandfather, and his grandson, Tiny. Written in the early eighties, the story was outrageous and makes you want to own a pet duck with as much character as Fup. (She enjoys chick flicks and bullies the dogs and if memory serves, she also drinks alcohol religiously.) I’m afraid I can’t offer that much of a review, but lucky for you Martin wrote a thorough review on his blog.

5.

So last week’s 7 Quick Takes, I shared that I made my first lasagna and how excited I was. Lasagnas aren’t too terribly exciting but I’m not a skilled cook and the most mundane cooking skills (making lasagnas) are new and wondrous to me. Intimidating at first sight but fulfilling when accomplished. And I’m always surprised when things turn out well. I was surprised that the lasagna was edible and Alan’s even told me he could eat it again and wish he had more. This week’s mundane to others but intimidating kitchen skill I tackled was ZEE PINEAPPLE! I’ve always steered clear of buying a whole pineapple and cutting it myself. I’m a give it to mom to cut or buy it already precut kind of girl when it comes to this tropical fruit.

Emboldened by my conquering the lasagna (and recently the quiche), I finally conquered my silly fear of cutting a pineapple. It’s not very hard. You cut off the top and bottom, and shave off the skin. Then cut in desired pieces. All that fear for nothing. The pineapple recipe I chose was from my Steamy Kitchen cook book. Involved grilling the pineapple, drizzling coconut rum chocolate sauce on the top and sprinkling coconut flakes on the chocolate. The combination was a hit or miss with our Memorial Day pot luck crowd. Brother hated it, Brittany loved it.

6.

Recently, I’ve noticed I’ve taken an interest in nature and green surroundings. I credit this to working at a job that requires me to walk about 20-40 minutes from and to my car. The University has great landscaping. Also, I’ve never been the kind to take leisurely walks outside unless it’s an outlet mall but Brandi and I have been walking more in our neighborhood. 6 months ago, I wouldn’t ever think to myself, look at those leaves! Those leaves are different shape from the other leaves on the tree. Or lookit that flower! It’s practically the only flower on that tree!

But it’s happening. I like flowers and leaves that are not delivered to me in a vase (those won’t ever get old, just to be clear :p).

cell phone picture from one of our walks

7.

I always run out of things to share by 7. 2 of my closest friends turned 27 and 26 yesterday and today. So happy birthday Will and Jen T. My brother got accepted into a PhD program in San Antonio. Congrats to him.

Happy Friday to everyone who reads my dribble. Thanks for that by the way. Reading. Say hi or something :).

Missed Connection with Cat, Mouse, Dog

Linda — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:00:17 +0000

In San Francisco, California 5/8/2009

Last year during my trip to San Fran, I ran into this trio on the street and took a picture. I wish I snapped a picture of the man who owned them.

This past weekend, while gallivanting in downtown Austin, Texas, I stumbled upon these three. Poor kitty didn’t seem comfortable at all. They could very well be the same animals I saw last year in California! I would have asked the man holding the tip jar and leash but the crowd was thick and my friends in a rush.

In Austin, Texas 5/28/2010

If it’s them, I wonder how their travels are going.. Poor things.

We should go buy some watercolors this weekend. K? K.

Linda — Thu, 27 May 2010 14:44:10 +0000

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 7)

Linda — Fri, 21 May 2010 15:46:57 +0000

1.

I’m moving in less than a month and have not started to tackle the mountain of a challenge of packing and uncluttering. Every year, I move. Every year, I tell myself, “Linda, you must not buy so much stuff. Do you need all these miniskirts? You are a working woman and you can only wear these skirts two days a week!” Etc! The only good thing about moving is that it’s a good time to reminisce and take stock of your physical life and your emotional life. Letters from old friends surface. Sentimental keepsakes surface. Journals are opened and perused before stacked neatly in boxes. I’m looking forward to going down memory lane. It’s a moving tradition.

2.

One of my 2010 resolutions is to write 15 letters. I wrote a few for Valentine’s Day but I cannot for the life of me remember how many. I think 4 is lowballing. I forgot this was a resolution so I haven’t been keeping out. I think it’s safe I’ve sent at least 7 this year. I’ll start the count there. I’ve been meaning to write Suki of SuperDuperFantastic for what, a month now and that first letter to someone is always kind of intimidating.

I’m almost out of my Lisa Frank stickers circa SECOND GRADE. That’s 1990! I like to sticker bomb my correspondents with stickers from my massive childhood collection. See below, Kim’s facebook photo of a letter I sent her a few weeks ago.

The sweet blurb she posted with picture:

one of the best qualities to find in people is their ability to remain young at heart. playing in the snow, getting excited about fireworks or making smores, water balloon fights, lisa frank sticker-bombing notes to your friends. i hope we never grow up.

3.

Curious, I did a search on zee blog and found a picture from this year of a batch of cards I sent out for Valentine’s day. I counted 5 in this picture. Booyah! I have adjusted my letter/correspondent count to 8.

Original Blog Post

4.

Alan just gave me a morning call to thank me for the serving of lasagna I dropped off last night. (I like early morning calls from him.) I made my first lasagna!! The excitement still hasn’t completely worn off. Made it for a mini potluck. Mini includes myself, Bing, Deesh, and Jesse in attendance. Here’s a picture of my plate pre baked beans. Kind of funny. Do you see any vegetables? Not pictured is Jesse’s cake.

In our defense, we winged it. This potluck’s only stipulation was “bring what you want.”

5.

I had my first and hopefully my last Double Down this week. I give you permission to be disgusted at me. If I’m going down though, I’m taking my partners in crime with me. See photo of guilty partners in crime below.

6.

Remember how I told you Brittany and I were making eyes at a real live camel? I have proof! This was taken at the Bob Bullock Museum after a free screening of Arabia (IMAX & 3D).

Don’t be coy with me, Camel.

7.

I’ve sat and contemplated no. 7 for a while now. I give up and share with you another picture. A wipe board message from an undergraduate who left our lab. I never get used to that part of growing up, the goodbyes :(.

Conan!

Linda — Mon, 17 May 2010 13:19:55 +0000

Over the weekend, I saw Conan and his Legally Prohibited to be Funny on Television Tour at the Austin Music Hall. It was better than I expected and I was surprised and appreciative that he customized his show it seems by miles to cater to Austin and Austin culture. Down to inflatable bat, Austin rocker to do a song, wearing UT Jersey, and a “commercial” that really was a blast of Dirty Martin’s (a greasy hamburger joint on campus). He made us feel special. I was also surprised to see he’s such a musical person. He was on his guitar rocking out about half the time and for the first time during his tour, broke a guitar string.

I managed to snap a picture of his back when he ran around the floor. Thanks to Alan for giving me the heads up to get my camera ready.

me & my date

So I was gonna share several more shots from the weekend (I had a lovely date at a trailer eatery with Brittany and we saw live camels!) but I left my usb cord at home so it’ll just be Conan’s back, Alan’s face, and my face for now then.

What did you do this weekend?

Where I promise not to roam gas stations in the middle of the night…

Linda — Mon, 10 May 2010 14:31:57 +0000

Friday night, I hoped to drive home to Houston to surprise Momma for Mother’s day. My good friend Jennifer is in town only for a week til she goes back up north for her fancy smancy medical school rotations. I figured I’d grab a quick cup of joe with her before heading out. I set my target departure time as approximately eight. She had dinner plans with her mom and told me she’d call me afterwards. Brandi and Jess were going to grab a bite to eat so I told them I’d join them since they’re both moving away from Austin soon too. So bad timing had me leaving for dinner just when Jennifer called to tell me she was done with dinner.

All this on top of my losing track of time catching up with Jennifer had me leaving 2 hours after my desired target time. Which meant I had to call my parents and ruin the surprise. I wanted to alert them that I’m coming in so they don’t set the alarm if they’re going to bed. This I think would also help save my life. What if I snuck in and set off the alarm and THEN my dad shoots me thinking I’m a burglar?! So yes. I had hoped to surprise momma, but I ended up having to call and tell her anyway.

I made pretty good time and arrived in Houston at midnight. It dawned on me that my car was DIRTY. It’s a pretty shade of blue but with all the pollen and my idea of a car wash is to wait for rain, the car looked like it was a mustardy yellow color. I could not let my parents see my car this dirty! They’d be convinced that I cannot take care of myself and therefore must live back home. I then embarked on a gas station crawl in Houston trying to find a car wash. Surprisingly a handful of these gas stations do not have working car washes! Also, as I’ve never been to a gas station after dark alone before, I noticed that most of these gas stations have window service. They close off their stores and talk to you through a window to ensure their safety. I’m assuming a lot of these windows are bullet proof too.

Anyway, one of these gas stations did not have a window. So I walked inside and instantly it striked me as an eerie gas station. Quiet. No one was behind the counter. I’m peering around and all of a sudden, I hear a voice.

“Hello.”

I audibly gasped and looked around to try to find the voice. There was this short peculiar man sitting behind the counter a little off to the side. He had black hair in an unflattering bowl cut, spectacles, and fishy, blotchy looking wet skin. It looked a little…. raw. His skin. With pinkish splotches. Creepy appearance.

“Oh sweetheart, I’m so sorry I scared you. Are you scared?”

I stammer when I’m nervous. Did he really just call me sweetheart?

“Oh uh. No. Hi. Car wash. I need a car wash. Do you have a working carwash?”

He started to walk out from behind the counter which kind of alarmed me.

“Aww, sweetheart, my car wash is not working…”

By this time he’s now standing before me and he extended a hand as if to ask for a handshake.

Against my better judgement and out of politeness and surprise, I put my hand into his.

“I’m sorry I scared you…”

THEN HE TRIED TO PULL ME INTO A HUG!!!

The gas attendant guy with fishy scaly looking skin was trying to give me, a stranger, who just wanted a car wash, a HUG!!?

Thankfully, I snapped out of my daze and resisted, shaking my head and verbally told him no.

Then I bolted. Not as fast as I should have. I should have RAN out but my walk was pretty damn calm despite my being completely stunned and freaked out.

The next day, I managed to have a little bit of free time after shopping and eating with momma, I met up Kim for some cupcakes. I told her this story kind of incredulously but also in a nonchalant “Oh my god, you wouldn’t believe the kook I ran into..” kind of way. Her reaction was a surprising one to me. She was stunned that I would go around gas stations in the middle of the night in the first place and she was also a little surprised that I shook this guy’s hand. I think her words were exactly this, “they should not be walking out from behind the counter!” Her alarm jolted me back into reality and I then remember my parents sending me newspaper articles of gas station murders and armed robberies (My parents used to send me sensational newspaper articles in hopes that it would scare me into doing what they thought was best. For example, I used to get cut out articles of drunk driving accidents (not that I drive drunk!) when I first left for college and started going out to bars.)

It took Kim’s alarm to get me to give this story a second glance. That is kind of a stupid thing I was doing. I didn’t even need gas!

I told Mary Ellen the story and I preface it with how Kim made me realize I was kind of being dumb and she was stunned and told me I need to hone my self preservation instincts.

Duly noted.

So I promise not to roam gas stations in the middle of the night ever again.

Let this be a reminder to ya’ll to do the same. Be safe!

Lego Art Inspiration in Honor of My Brother’s Birthday

Linda — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:08:55 +0000

My younger brother’s birthday is today. I’ve been saving these pictures I’ve taken at the Lego Store in Houston to post on his birthday. Why? Because he’s a Lego artist himself. (Exhibit 1, Exhibit 2)