Il faut que je m’en souviens…

Ok, so we weren’t among the top 5 but "The Dars" and the "MerliMons" finished with two other teams behind them. 

I wasn’t quite sure what to expect…being sucked in by work the last few weeks I didn’t even take time to check out the site http://www.urbandare.com/ after Ray registered the 4 of us for Ron’s Bday. 

So…with scaled down visions of "The Amazing Race", Tempe style, the four of us headed to Tempe Beach Park last Saturday. 

Clad in our baby blue UD tees complete with team numbers we set off with our scavenger list of tasks for the day … which stretched from 11am-4pm!  What a way to take a break from reality…an event based on a reality tv concept

Strikes, bulls-eyes, hot wings, rock gym, scaling the "A", trivia and jig-saw puzzles, the city bus, 5-miles or so, various photos, texts, calls and cross-referenced google searches all thrown into the mix…AND we’re all still friends … pondering doin’ it again next year.

Currently listening : Dusk and Summer By Dashboard Confessional Release date: By 27 June, 2006

Current mood: pensive and hungry

After reading a short excerpt from Michele Serros’ Chicana Falsa  just had the thought of how ironically a simple trip to the grocery could become an adventure in activism…

I guess personal experience colors the glasses one wears…be they rose-colored, green with envy, or x-ray…seeing things others may simply gloss over or never ever really notice…and then again where does one draw the line of being PC?

From "sterotypes in a bag"  in the frozen section…Oriental Style vegetables, Country Style, Italian style, and Latino Style to Malibu Style.  Guess it’s all in the interpretation. 

If anyone ever reads it I’d be curious what their interpretation would be of the "white cauliflower", the different cuts and sizes in the various styles.

Just how powerful is language in such a context?

On a Sunday morning I just want to enjoy my food, be it at Dim Sum, a Waffle House or Breakfast Club…but coming across this selection amidst all my sorting and purging ignited my curiousity as to what others might think

Monday, September 04, 2006

a question of being PC…. Current mood: groggy Category: hello, goodbye - Here in your arms streaming indie Blogging  A co-worker forwarded me this ‘poem’… the message is seems clear…and of course one can take it or leave it… religion and i are at a crossroads at the moment.  but i didn’t quite appreciate the way the ‘message’ was delivered.  Multi-colored hair, piercings, etc. don’t bother me.  And the religious leanings of others doesn’t either, unless they start to infringe on the rights of others… What’s your opinion?  I mean is it simply an e-mail fwd?  or do the power of words count here as well…the power of ideas… it’s fight censorship month…or at least that’s what i recall reading at Bookman’s this morning… "When the last light goes out, we’ll all be in the dark." -unknown (to me ) "If everyone took an eye for an eye, the whole world would be blind." -ghandi ——————————————- "Now I sit me down in school Where praying is against the rule For this great nation under God Finds mention of Him very odd. If Scripture now the class recites, It violates the Bill of Rights. And anytime my head I bow Becomes a Federal matter now. Our hair can be purple, orange or green, That’s no offense; it’s a freedom scene. The law is specific, the law is precise. Prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice. For praying in a public hall Might offend someone with no faith at all In silence alone we must meditate, God’s name is prohibited by the state. We’re allowed to cuss and dress like freaks, And pierce our noses, tongues and cheeks. They’ve outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible. To quote the Good Book makes me liable. We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen, And the ‘unwed daddy,’ our Senior King. It’s "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong, We’re taught that such "judgments" do not belong. We can get our condoms and birth controls, Study witchcraft, vampires and totem poles. But the Ten Commandments are not allowed, No word of God must reach this crowd. It’s scary here I must confess, When chaos reigns the school’s a mess. So, Lord, this silent plea I make: Should I be shot; My soul please take! "

Current mood: calm

hmmm…fractured fairytales…point of view…what IS the TRUTH?   

Ironic analogies … even at work, difference isn’t celebrated unless proclaimed or spun in some professional development as ‘diversity.’  what is it that makes the unknown or unfamiliar more than just a little disconcerting for the masses?  discomfort i get … but disrespect, that’s just disheartening.

Among the shows I’ve seen….Rent, Les Mis, Miss Saigon, Chicago, Phantom…Wicked has to top my list so far…simply because, while it was entertaining and had some social commentary, as did all the other shows, to a certain extent…it made me question more…and i must admit, it made the empathetic side of me shed more then just a tear or two.      

Definitely, would enjoy seeing another production of Wicked come to town.

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Sunday, September 03, 2006

Gluttony at it’s finest… Current mood: awake Phoenix Cooks! Phoenix Cooks!?   More like Phx. EATS…despite the deadly sin, it was quite a way to spend a Saturday morning/ afternoon prior to watching Wicked…better then the yellow-brick road and being off to see the wizard… Ray and I were nearly euphoric to begin our gastrnomic adventure (yes, i’m a self-proclaimed foodie…coupled with being a wordy geek…you’ve been warned b4 you read my ramblings) No matter how ghetto I may feel sometimes, I must admit it is sweet to occasionally enjoy the bougie or at least semi-bougie side of life.  This is especially true when a friend wants to do so. Soooo, from 10am - 1:30ish we ate our way through the Biltmore event.  Everything from a simple pasta salad from Henry’s Market to a salmon and tuna/sashmi salad with an Asian citrus infused dressing tempted our palettes.  AND that was just the first 5 minutes or so in the "Two Chefs/Market Place".  Next, showing what novices we are, after enjoying the first "room" we were doubtful. Even though we enjoyed consumption at a happy and steady pace we began to worry.  Was the "marketplace" IT?  Fortunately our curiousity caused us to  migrate, traveled through an outdoor walkway pass an ice scupture demo.  We ended up in the "Dessert Theater" …talk about gluttony at it’s finest.  We could barely move out of that room after the chocolate fondue from the Melting Pot and other delectable temptations.  In the background Jan d’Atri Mc’d a dessert demo.  Yet, despite being totally "busog"  the "matakaw" sides in us carried us forward to the "World Market Wine Cellar" sponsored by Sacks Tierney P.A.  I doubted I’d enjoy the wine tasting room as much as Ray…but I was wrong.  I even found three that I’d consider buying…2 reislings, a sparkling Rose Royale from Banfi and a sparkling Gloria Ferrer Brut from Sonoma.  I’m not quite seasoned enough to truly appreciate the wide assortments of Merlot and cabs…although, there was a smooth shiraz that went down quite nicely. Samples of risotto, olive oil, breads and meat helped absorb some of the alcohol…and even though I mainly sipped then poured out my glass after each table I couldn’t help but feel a warmth come over me…talk about feeling toasted… Then it was onto the "Signature Dish" Showroom filled with more savory samplings from local restaurants.  It was hit and miss…some dishes were rave worthy…others were microwave at unworthy.  The Illy carmelotte and choco-biscotti iced espresso were the perfect end to get us prepped for our ride to Tempe for our first "Wicked" experience…

well, thought i was done with the internet for the night…it’s amazing how a midnight swim can perk one up.:)  Must admit it was nice for my employers to organize this weekend…hopes that bodes well for the upcoming year. (side note: ever interesting to return to the quiet observer…and watch new and past co-workers reunite/interact.)  My quiet side tonight was in full force as I slowly enjoyed my meal and listened to all the chismis I missed out on over this last year….but I digress—-

click to check out where I had my midnight swim…

Makes me wish for a pool…but then again the reality of the required $$$ and maintenance…but taking advantage of the large pool in carefree was definitely a must!  And when the front desk answered that the pool was open 24 hrs, unlike the fitness ctr. that closes earlier…i knew i had to test the waters.  looking up to the misty, well jet black celestial arc as I swam backwards helped me put reality on hold for at least a few minutes.  so far out of the city…away from the "light pollution" and sounds that usually lull me to sleep…sometimes makes me yearn for a quieter time, before the inundation of an always on age…internet, cable, neon signs that shine the word open (which i usually welcome, especially after a late night concert, etc.)  being turned off can paradoxically turn one on….if i don’t make sense, remember it’s now 1:16am…and i’m running on about 3 hours of sleep…with a lovely professional development day waiting to greet me in few hours. 

I wonder what all of my "friends" are doing at this hour.  I wonder how the soldiers are fairing in the middle east and throughout the world.  I wonder how all the N’sync teeny bopper fans are taking Lance Bass’ coming out.  I wonder how all the students on summer break are spending their time…I wonder what all the various forum frequenters in an assortment of time zones are doing…how my parents are…What my relatives throughout the world, especially in the Philippines, are up to…What Bush will do tomorrow and for the days to come that remain in his administration…I wonder which of my "friends" will vote this November………..Maybe, just perhaps…I wonder a bit too much sometimes…where will all this wondering take me?   

Now hoping sleep will take me for the remaining dim hours before day break.

as i sit in my room at a carefree resort, post dinner and a brief workout…coworkers probably down at the bar i check the clock and see it’s 11:21pm…probably should head to bed since I have a 7am wake up call…I want to hit the pool…but i have so many thoughts i want to pour into this pensieve…yet, lacking stamina…and having my focused diverted by Fox News on TV…a streaming youtube anime and general fatigue…i’ll probably not be able to get it all out…at least this is a start. 

From Ate Wilrose and Kuya Edwin’s shared observations of seeing me drive down I-10 "jamming hard" to some song, oblivious of being watched…the possible front row toot-or at the Fray concert last Sunday…to Jen’s ‘run-in’ or lack thereof, with a a bass player named Jimmy who, in certain lighting, closely resembles Joshua Jackson…but who not so smoothly pulled the ‘talking on the cell" manuever…having a new roommate move in…returning to work…AND having mom in the ER/hospital for 2days…not sure where to start.  Sometimes, I wish I could type exactly when the moment stirs me…but I never seem to be near a pc.  So i guess this just leaves me to listing…listing thoughts, or rather ust droppping them off…hoping to later revisit them for further thought. 

not to mention all that is going on locally and globally…politically, environmentally…

serial shooters, lebanon, darfur, record breaking temps…developing urban islands…workplace politics…november elections in the wings…at a loss since there so much to pic from…hmmm…what to comment on…sometimes wish this was more of a dialogue…not just my random thoughts …

…soooo, over a month has passed since I typed up the following…and as I sit in my hotel…door ajar with the cool breeze reminding I’m not in Phoenix anymore, but Flagstaff instead I thought I’d take advantage of the Ramada’s free WI-FI and post…otherwise I just might lose the blogging bug…which afterall is for my benefit anyway…here goes…no promises that it’ll all make sense.  Guess that’s what happens when you throw something together.

Adaptation

12:31am…Technically Thursday morning.  As I read a story on my laptop….I hear Iris giggling at some episode of Fear Factor.  The past few days with her living in her newly purchased townhome have given me ample time to fathom living alone once again.  In the past there was always someone lined up to me my new roommate….be it in the dorms during college, on spike in NCCC and then later Iris after Stephanie married and moved to PA.  Now the echo that fills the house from the now empty living room…freshly vacated this past Sunday…my single status feels re-emphasized.

***************************************************************

I teeter back and forth…fully embracing Natasha Bedingfield’s song “Single.”   Earlier, Iris read aloud from a magazine quoting Audrey Tatou from The Da Vinci Code…She then simply stated with a tone I may have mistakenly interpreted as fond reminiscence…that it’ll will be awhile before we share such moments again…as housemates they were abundant, well, at least semi-consistent … as friends in different abodes, it shall be interesting to see the adaptations we make.  Just heard Maynard stop in and out around 12:38am to drop off some items for Iris’ trip.  Hope she’s able to adapt to life in the Philippines for 3 weeks…and return with fond memories, her first of the PI.

It’s only the 4^th day in May and already I am reeling from the fact that we’re already 5 months into 2006, nearly half a year!  And  May seems to be shaping up to be a rather busy month… Iris AND Jen out of town…Snowflake Feeding watch, Eisley,

Imogen Heap ,

Mat Kearney,

and

Big Japan…having to book a motel for June in Flagstaff…starting up hiking once again with Camelback as the initial hike for May, helping Iris move of course, checking out homes for the ‘rents …looking into Univ PHX. Classes, home improvements…and odds and ends inbetween.  I truly want to be a better person, trying to start at being less selfish and hope that leads to being a better friend and daughter…ah, still working on increasing my level of patience and being less judgemental.  Sometimes, I wonder why I care…I mean, sometimes I get lost in a blank  white meditative frame of mind where my worries appear to be nothing…at least groundless or extremely minute in the grander scheme of things…perhaps, I let my mind wander too much, and my constant “ wonderings” are a waste of time…but then again it’s not part of my prerogative to fight my nature…which brings on a whole other set of issues…where I am a walking oxymoron…thinking, believing one set of ideas and values but not embracing or at least openly living as such.  At 12:52am ramblings such as these aren’t surprising but I suppose I should sign off this non-sequiter path before I get totally lost and forget to sleep and hence, become incapacitated to drive Iris to the airport at 6am…

May 8, 2006

Quick note..as I listen to the Jim Lehrer Report…a congresswoman…whose name escapes me at the moment was asked if she agreed that the CIA is nolonger the best at “human intelligence” referring to the agency’s ability in covert operations…talk about the talent of spin…instead of addressing whether they’re the best at the moment…she mentioned the decline over the years…how it’s more difficult now even moreso thwn during the cold war … nolonger infiltrating nations with static governments …but now loose groups of terrorists that are suicidal…she addressed the main question by stating that the CIA is by no means as strong as it needs to be.

Sudan, Africa…West Darfur(the size of france)…attack…African Union interpreter hacked apart…unstable political status is an understatement!  Camps are virtually law enforcement free zone… very tenuous…AU outmanned/overwhelmed.

Seventh heaven…”rev. Kinkirk”  people who are critical of others are usually even more critical of themselves…odd source for a quote that really makes me ponder.

…bring out the best in each other..

…Everwood” … Andy says something about Efren calling from his trip to NY.  Efren responds to his dad by saying, “I know you go through withdrawal but you’ll be ok.” His dad smiles in reply as he is leaned comfortably into the couch, “I’ll call.”

News 10

Bp patrol … injured illegals airvacced to Tucson, etc…med bills paid by taxpayers as high as $15,000+

Humanitarian questions…BP percentages…futility felt despite use of nightvision…satellite infrared transmissions…

traditional gender roles…societal patterns… expectations…

odd all the thoughts i manage to jot down when i have my laptop handy.

and later some thoughts on George Takei’s ASU visit during his HRC Tour…

Being the hopeless romantic that I  am….I must admit I’ve held romanticized views of this historic city…but when I learned that tourists now more than outnumber resident Venetians my view was somewhat turned upside down…for as I traversed the streets and bridges I heard more French, English, Spanish and even Tagalog spoken then Italian!!!  Granted, in the wee hours of the night or early morning hours when I snapped the photo to the left…some of that vintage Venice of my dreams still lingers… when the kiosks and venders and McDos’ are all closed for a few sweet mellow hours. 

Spent 30 minutes at this Internet Stop…before continuing on my 2hour+ walk back to the hotel…from St. Mark’s Square.

Burano…a quiet fishing village…about a 4o minute boat ride outside of Venice.  Had a wonderful seafood lunch here!

As I look back through this pics of Verona, I’m reminded by a story our  guide, Gian Carlo shared about the tunnel that leads to the entrance of Juliette’s courtyard and famous balcony.  Along with the grafitti art in the tunnel are love notes, etc. scrawled on notebook paper, left by countless visitors…but one note caught Gian Carlo’s attention.  It read, "If I ever catch you bringing another girl here I’ll kill you."  Ah, young love, eh?  Yet, it is quite a romantic spot if not for the throng of people that we waded through to catch a glimpse…an hour later, I heard it was pretty vacant…talk about timing.