Category: scary thing(s) of the week

Bloggers in Sin City

January 17th, 2012 · · new thing(s) of the week, scary thing(s) of the week, wanderlust 24 comments - Tags: , ,

Saturday afternoon, I was walking my dog along side the lake when I decided to check my timer on my phone. I usually ignore emails while I’m on the trail but I didn’t resist the temptation this time. It was Ashley emailing the rest of the Totes Awesome Channel with, “So, um, BISC? I kind of want to go.” Nicole and Other Ashley were already going and then Ashley quickly jumped on board, so I took all but two minutes and committed as well. It’s a big commitment as I have four more trips in 2012 I’ve already started planning and Vegas was not going to be one of them. Oh and registration is $499. That’s a big commitment too.

Yesterday as soon as registration was open, I made it official. I’m going to Bloggers in Sin City this May! I emailed Kim to share my news and lament a little about the dough I just spent on registration when she reframed it for me. “It’s not for registration. It’s for a ONCE IN A LIFETIME EXPERIENCE. It will be worth it. Think of all the new friends and memories you’ll make! Excited for you.” And with that, I let go most of my financial apprehension and basked in some excitement. I’M GOING TO BLOGGERS IN SIN CITY! Last year, I told myself I’d go next year. It’s next year, baby!

I’ve been to Vegas before and I didn’t get lucky because I gambled all but a quarter. This year, I’m still not much of a gambler but maybe I’ll still get lucky and win the Bloggers in Sin City and Paper’d giveaway. BISC and Paper’d partnered up and are giving away one free spot to this ultimate unConference to one lucky registrant. Maybe it’ll be me! How phenomenal would that be?

Almost as phenomenal as going!

Rolling Down a Hill in a Rubber Ball

June 6th, 2011 · · new thing(s) of the week, pursuit of happiness, scary thing(s) of the week 31 comments - Tags: ,

Maybe a year ago, I saw a fail video of a reporter being rolled over as she did a story about people in rubber balls being rolled down hills. I lamented that the video took place somewhere in Europe but quickly put it on my bucket list, just in case I run into the odd opportunity. Not long after, I learned that Texas has a place that offers this fun activity and mentally bookmarked this factoid. I got the final nudge to organize a trip to New Braunfels, Texas when I saw an online coupon. I think I sent out an email that read, “Rolling down a hill while strapped in a rubber ball. Who’s down?” Cheers to adventurous friends! I will let the videos we took do the rest of the talking. One warning, in the second video, I get a bit pitchy. Maybe turn down your volume.


Youtube Link


Youtube Link

If you’re in West Texas, this wonderful place who did not pay me a lick to advertise, is called Texas Spere Rides.

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 43)

May 20th, 2011 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), misadventures, resolutions 2011, scary thing(s) of the week, wanderlust 14 comments - Tags:


1.


So when BFF dropped me off at the airport for my flight back to Austin, I inadvertently left my phone in her car. I made it all the way to my gate and was fishing in my purse for the phone to make a few calls when I realized I didn’t have it. I had about an hour til departure and was wheeling with anxiety. I needed to make at least two calls. One to her to let her know she had my phone and another to Alan to let him know I wouldn’t have my phone when I land. (He was picking me up.)

I decided I could try to boot up the wireless Internet on my Kindle and use Google Voice to text both parties. Just when I was about to open up my Kindle cover, I heard my name announced on the intercom. My heroine of a BFF had managed to call my gate and then arrange someone to meet me with my phone.

Anyway, the point of me sharing this is that I realized I really need to memorize a few phone numbers. In case something like this happens again. Or in case I get arrested.


2.

One of my new year’s resolutions this year is to publish 3 blog posts a week on the food blog. For every missed week, I pay myself 10 dollars in my Vietnam fund. This week is the very first week I completed that goal and did not have to drop a ten in the Vietnam account. High five!


3.

Links to the three posts:


Modern Diner (Pawtucket, Rhode Island)


Wordless Wednesday – Poutine


Flour (Boston, Massachusetts)


4.


I was going to write up a full recap for my fear-facing canoe trip I took with the work people, but I think it’s only really fascinating to me, the person whose mind and world were shaken by something most people find pretty tame. So now unconceived blog post has been reduced to a bulleted quick take.

  • The river was very low due to Texas drought. Which means if we were to tip over, all we had to do is stand.
  • I lost count of how many times a rapid turned our canoe backwards.
  • I lost count how many times we collided into tree branches. Thankfully, by holding up my paddle to protect my face, I escaped unscratched.
  • I saw a snake swim under us and because my fear of tipping over and being entangled with said snake was greater than seeing the snake, I remained calm and just anxiously waited til we were in the clear.
  • One of our canoes tipped over during the biggest and last rapid. One workmate disappeared underneath the boat and scared us witless but she was safe. The other workmate had a doozy of a bruise on her leg but was otherwise safe as well. I decided I was too faint-hearted to go through that rapid so I walked around it instead. Sound decision, I think.
  • Canoeing down a river for the first time was cool. I wouldn’t seek this experience out again but it wouldn’t be so terrifying should I find myself peer pressured into going again.
  • Sitting in a canoe and paddling for a collective 5 hours makes your bum hurt and your arms feel like they’re going to fall off.


5.


Conversation at Ben & Jerry’s Factory:

Best Friend:
Oh. My. God. That guy was SO hot.

Me:
Really? I started at the shoes and I couldn’t get past his wearing long socks with shorts. Didn’t make it to his face.

Best Friend:
Honey, the shorts and socks come off.


6.


Speaking of Ben & Jerry’s Factory. We went last week. I found a new flavor I like. Americone Dream: vanilla ice cream with fudge covered waffle cone pieces and a caramel swirl.


7.

This week’s moments of bliss: ♥ great 5 day trip with best friend ♥ 3 day work week ♥ catch up phone call with Naz ♥ crossing paths with Brenda on a sidewalk and exchanging a rushed hug ♥ Realizing that for the past month I somehow inadvertently and mentally readjusted my goal of 40 books in 2011 to 50 books in 2011, correcting this has given me more breathing room ♥ finishing an entire Anthony Bourdain book during one day of traveling ♥ silly banter with boyfriend ♥ Ally McBeal marathons ♥ fresh, clean, and white bed sheets


Questions: Do you have any phone numbers memorized? Which numbers do you know?

Big Bangs

May 9th, 2011 · · scary thing(s) of the week, still-frames 49 comments - Tags:

Saturday, I walked into my salon to get my usual hair cut and highlights. I’ve been doing the same do for 5 years and my hairdresser of 3 years pointed that one. Before I knew it I gave her creative license and walked out with blunt cut bangs. I haven’t had blunt cut bangs since I was a kiddo! I’m still adjusting to them and find myself doing a double take every time I come across my reflection. Most of the people in my life say they like it.


Me as a kid with bangs

Hope you all made your mothers feel appreciated yesterday (and everyday) for popping you out and raising you right!

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 21)

October 1st, 2010 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), lists, savory, scary thing(s) of the week, the grind, the not so single life 10 comments - Tags: ,


1.

Tuesday morning, a library I spent many many hours in as an undergraduate made national news. A 19 year old student shot a few rounds from an AK-47 on campus, didn’t hit anyone, then ran into the library and shot himself. I work on campus. The university was terrorized the next four hours as SWAT and Texas Rangers searched for a possible second shooter. Everyone on campus had a lot of adrenaline and many unleashed their anxiety onto Twitter and Facebook (An apology to my twitter followers for flooding ya’ll). I remained cooped up in my lab with another lab member as she listened to the radio and I stalked Twitter. The university ceased lockdown when it became clear the shooter acted alone. We were left bewildered and a little emotionally exhausted. I have to say it jarred me and made me grateful for life.

I currently have a bunch of books checked out from that library. Eek.


2.

I finally cooked something after a month of hiatus from my stove. It was so therapeutic to create something delicious. When I make the time to cook something and actually am present through the process and not minding my long to-do list, it relaxes me and pacifies my mind chatter. What did I make? Bucatini All’ Amatriciana with Spicy Smoked Mozzarella Meatballs.


3.

A girlfriend from Houston came up for a night on Wednesday and we had a sleepover. It always goes the same way when girls have sleepovers no matter the age. At 17 I remember having sleepovers with girlfriends and talking late into the next morning. Many declarations of, “Okay, for real, good night!” were followed with, “Oh, and…” At 27, it’s the same. I have a fantasy that when we’re all married and with families, we’ll steal away once a year to do the same til we’re 37, and then 47. And then, and then, and then. Here’s hoping.


4.


Mister Bossman and his colleague and I have spent months organizing a regional conference. D-Day is today! I’m working the entire weekend and am hoping it all goes smoothly. This is the first experience I have planning a this big of an event and it was quite a learning experience. I gots new skills to hone!


5.


Alan’s birthday is next week. I’ve spent a total of 6 hours shopping for him and still no idea what I’m going to get him. IDEAS are welcomed. He’s been really good to me. Least I can do is get him a gift for his birthday. Ha!


6.


I had a very welcomed “couch and veg in front of the TV” date last night with Alan. I really needed it; my brain has been super mushy at the end of every work day. I had to run some work errands after work so it was perfect when I got a text from Alan. “I won’t be home til 8.” Relieved with more time I texted back a quick, “Cool.”

I don’t know if my dear boyfriend was disappointed I didn’t question him on his whereabouts but his next text said, “I’m at the range, not at the whorehouse.”

Dude makes me laugh.


7.

Speaking of dude making me laugh. He called last night while I was girl-talk-ing with the girlfriend mentioned in Take 3. I informed him I wasn’t alone to kind of cue him it couldn’t be a long conversation. When he found out who was staying over, he told me to tell her “be careful sleeping.”

“What? Why?”

“Just tell her.”

And then I remembered what happened the last time this friend of mine stayed over and shared my queen sized bed. In the middle of the night, I saw her back and just assumed it was Alan. I sleepily and very lovingly carressed her back. Oops! We all laughed and later that night just to be safe, girlfriend and I kept a pillow in between us.

I came home to this note.



Question: What kind of sleeper are you?

Canoeing: I lived to post photos about it

June 28th, 2010 · · new thing(s) of the week, scary thing(s) of the week, still-frames 9 comments

I mentioned I was taking a half day last week during the work week to go kayaking with Jess & Brandi. We ended up canoeing instead since it seats three people. Brandi’s all gone now. She’s embarking on a new career in a new city with new hair (not pictured below). I miss her. Here are photos. I did not fall in or drown and no critter had a chance to swim up any orifice and lay any eggs in my brain or GI tract. Am happy to be alive :). Also, it was not as scary as I was making it out to be, you know, as someone who can’t tread water and who has an irrational fear about bugs and bug babies in my brain. (What? It happens.)

Hope all is well!

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 9)

June 18th, 2010 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), in passing, lists, scary thing(s) of the week 6 comments - Tags: , ,


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. :(

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

May 10th, 2010 · · in passing, scary thing(s) of the week 12 comments

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!

Urgent.

April 30th, 2010 · · pursuit of happiness, scary thing(s) of the week 4 comments

I checked my newsfeed on facebook. Stephanie, old high school and college friend and now a law school student posted this. :) Thought I’d share the reminder. Do you feel a sense of urgency yet?

Stephanie: People grow up, get older, grow old, and die. No matter how long it takes, it’s all over before we’ve been able to go to Europe, write the book that everyone tells us we should write, have sex with a circus freak, marry Debbie before she’s taken by a bigger jerk, save money for retirement, resolve certain lifelong “issues,” reconcile with people over crap that doesn’t make sense anymore, and go to the dentist.

Friday 7 Quick Takes (vol 6)

April 2nd, 2010 · · 7 Quick Takes (Fridays), in passing, lists, love, new thing(s) of the week, pursuit of happiness, savory, scary thing(s) of the week, the not so single life 3 comments


1.

I thought it was a full week since I’ve updated this blog and it was giving me withdrawal. My happy posting schedule is 5-7 times at the very minimum. (I’ve been slammed in terms of schedule and my food blog’s new layout was giving me an obsession that was sucking my blog posting time.) This got me thinking. I LOVE it when my real life friends start blogs. I love reading about their lives and seeing what they deemed appropiate to share with the world. I noticed though, save for a few select people, the dedication towards posting frequency is usually lacking. This may also fuel my dedication to commenting on a lot of of their blogs as kind of a motivation, that HI, I read your blog. I’m your friend. You OWE ME AN UPDATE. :) Damnit.


2.

Anthony Bourdain is the shit.

I saw Anthony Bourdain with Jamie last night. I knew I always really really really liked him maybe even love. But after last night, I’m more deeply so!! He’s the shit. Curses more in person. Hilarious. Really mean. With a good center. I will post a recap next week on the food blog. This got me thinking though. If I have a type in men, it’s funny mean men with a good center. It really explains a lot.


3.

Speaking of my attraction to funny mean men. I got April Fooled by the boyfriend a couple of nights ago (past midnight so it was totally legit.) Dude woke me up and told me that the last guy’s night he had, he got drunk and made out with a girl and couldn’t tell me til now. I sat right up, shot him dagger eyes, and was about to let him have it when he very just-in-timely shouted out, “APRIL FOOLS” and then laughed his butt off.

Clearly. I have a type.


4.

I had sweetbread for the first time ever. I’ve had haggis, and pig’s intestines, and silkworms, and other odd conceptually unappetizing foods in my life and have enjoyed them. I was still surprised in hindsight that I did not get queasy eating sweetbread. I think perhaps I wasn’t quite sure if I remembered correctly what it was and did not want to scare my eating partner from not trying it. In case you don’t know what sweetbread is, check it on my Friday Food Definition for today.


5.

I love good funny dialogue. Yesterday, an organization on campus chose to remember the Holocaust by handing out 1,000 white roses. I did not know this. I walked down the hallway and saw 3 white roses in a vase at work. That’s the scene for the following dialogue.

Me: OOooh!!! Flowers!!!
My Boss: Don’t get excited, Linda. They’re for the Holocaust.

Cracked me up that, “Don’t get excited.”

Later:

Someone else at work: So they thought today (4/1/2010) is the best day to celebrate the Holocaust?
Yet another person: Celebrate?
Me: Muhahahahahahhahahahahahah

My Boss walks by at this point in the conversation.

Boss: Don’t get excited, Linda

Tickled. I was absolutely tickled. (I don’t think I need to clarify, I’m not making light of the Holocaust. My readers (a few IRL friends mostly) are smart enough to know that.)


6.

The last 6 months or so, I’ve been working on speaking my mind in relationships. It’s a skill everyone should have and I do think at 26, I’m a late bloomer to only start practicing and developing the habit now. Growing up, my parents programmed me (program seems more apt a word than “raise”) that whenever people hurt you, don’t let them know as it’s a sign of weakness. That MAY be true. I’m not sure if it is a sign of weakness, admitting pain, but what I am sure of, and it took me til recently to put together the pieces, is bottling resentment is not conducive to keeping people in your life. Communicating feelings, even when they’re bad, gives people the opportunity to understand where you’re coming from. Gives you the opportunity to maybe hear their perspective and therefore understand them better. Finally, it gives your relationship room to not only grow, but survive.


7.

Jumping from number 6, another lesson that I’m learning is that just because you communicate your feelings, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get the results you want and expect. For instance, I was hurt last year by several people. In efforts to speak my mind more, I tried telling them as clearly as I could what it was that bothered me. I was taken aback when not once did they acknowledge the validity of my feelings and was a little disillusioned by the ‘speaking your mind’ thing. It doesn’t ensure anything! Since then, I’ve learned that though it doesn’t mean you’ll get what you want (seriously ya”ll, apologies and conveying understanding = magic), the ability to communicate your feelings is a reward in itself.