The "Are You Fucking Kidding Me?" moment of 9.15.09

This one comes courtesy of a blog posted up on Daily Kos regarding the joint session of Congress that today approved a resolution disapproving of Congressmen Joe Wilson's "You Lie" outburst during Obama's speech last week.

Seriously?

For real?

Fucking Democrats in Congress have time to dedicate to this bullshit? They are debating someones visceral, yet immature, response to something in a piece of legislation... instead of actually debating and working on the actual legislation? When I read things like that it makes me want to punch a wall. Or squeeze a banana until it bursts out all over the place (may seem random to you but I'm staring at a bowl of bananas). It makes me want to run to the top of a hill and yell "ARE YOU FUCKING KIDDING ME!?"

Speaking of which... I see a hill now! Be right back....

A good time in the suburbs [Part 2]...

More fun from this weekend...

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(From top left: summer blossoms on the tree outside our apartment, top right: the short dog wants to come back in side after a short sun bath, bottom left: me being a scrabble dork [I lost], a new recipe I tried/created for stuffed zucchini [we got at the Farmers Market] filled with rice, fresh basil, portabello mushrooms and topped with a little mozzarella + basil, yum.)

A good time in the suburbs...

So I achieved most of what was on my weekend's to-do-list, although I still a few hours until it comes to a close so I will hold off on noting down any of my lack of accomplishments. Here's some photos of my weekend (guess you can see some of the things I was able to get done this weekend).

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(Top left: bowl of fresh berries from the Mt. View Farmers Market; top right: me! watchin' the giants kick some booty; bottom left: Nate and I had game night on Saturday and had some coffee + fresh baked chocolate chip cookies; bottom right: our Sunday lunch of fresh french bread and roasted tomatoes from the Farmers Market with some mozzarella and topped with basil. There is also a little slices of baguette topped with olive brushetta)

Making a list, checking it twice.

So last Friday I set some weekend goals that I hoped to accomplish. I did a fair job I'd say, but wasn't able to accomplish the full list.

Here's what did & did not get done:

1.) Call landlord about getting new storage key [thus enabling me to move the holiday boxes back into storage and out of the downstairs storage closet I've been attempting to organize]. Although she didn't return my call until earlier this afternoon! >:O

2.) See "Inglorious Basterds." I have been trying to see this movie since it's release last week, Saturday matinee seems like as good of time as any to catch it. Soooo so so good! Very enjoyable movie from start to finish.

3.) Finish reading "Fool" by Christopher Moore [I've been reading this for far too long]. Although I think it was really Monday/Tuesday when I actually finished it. :]

4.) Pulling some more clothes from my closet for possible sale/donation. I managed to fill up three bags full of clothes to donate.

5.) Review at least 2-4 cds for KSCU to add on Sunday. I managed to get 5 done: Mew, Amy Millan, Dodos, Wild Beasts and Mark Mallman.

6.) Grocery shopping +/or Farmer's Market. My CSA box subscription I was doing at work recently was canceled so I guess it's back to the Farmer's Market for now. :[ No Farmer's Market sadly, but we did get a tiny bit of shopping done at Trader Joe's.

7.) Go through at least 5 old magazines so that they can be set aside for recycling/donation.

8.) Bake something. Unfortunately this one didn't get done. Although maybe that's fortunate for my waist line.

9.) Clean refrigerator. No luck on this one either. I did clear out some old food products but not the true cleaning that I had hoped for.

10.) Take some photographs [of anything]. It's been far too long since I've picked up my camera. Sadly, this one did not get done. I have too many hobbies!

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New list for this 3-day weekend:

1. Bake something.

2. Clean refrigerator.

3. Take some photographs [of anything]. It's been far too long since I've picked up my camera.

4. Go on a hike/nice walk. I'm hoping to meet up with my sister and my dad for nice, easy hike somewhere between here and Sacramento. Suggestions welcome.

5. Cook something new.

6. Go to the Mountain View Farmer's Market (per Nathan's suggestion).

7. Discard another 3-5 magazines.

8. Blog at least 2-4 more entries.

9. Get to at least page 100 of the new book I'm reading, The Long Walk: The True Story of a Trek to Freedom, by Slavomir Rawicz.

10. Spend time researching Graduate Studies programs and map out a timeline for what I need to get done.

My graveyard shift diggin' for things to do days are over... [least for now]

Yup. There has been some good news in my life this past week or two... and that is that I am going to be returning to my former job.

After getting demoted two months ago and being forced into a new job that was so different than what I had been doing the previous 10 years, I thought my world was caving in. I had white hairs for the first time in my life. Although there have been several issues with my new work situation [working in a 24-hr/365 days/year facility, huge pay cut, no job training and management issues], I learned an incredible amount in just two months. I had been working with a population I have never worked with, met some great co-workers, and understood a different field of work that I never had before. While I had been longing for a change in my job for so long [working 10 years in the same field and being only 28 is a long time to be in one place], it was hard being forced into change.

When all is said and done, as I'm winding down my last graveyard shift [okay its only 2:40 am and I'm not off 'til 7:30 am but I'm all for wishful thinking], I can't help and feel bittersweet about going back to my "old" job, where I supposedly belong. The job I've had the last two months as been interesting, exciting and at times, admittedly a little scary. I'm not sure I've thought those things about my last job in quite some time. Working here has opened my eyes to new possibilities for my career and definitely spawned me to aggressively think about my next steps of my career path. I suppose also, that my dad will stop subtly nagging me and will be more than pleased that I'm actively looking into going back to school for graduate studies.

I guess this is my way of saying goodbye, but just for now.

Weekend goals.

Working a Friday night graveyard shift has really been eating up my weekend time these past two months. I end up loosing my Friday evening to nap attempts, and most of my Saturday disappears thanks to sleep catch-up. While I only have one more night of this shift [which thankfully ends after next Friday], I still would like to try and make the most out of my weekends. Here is a short list of somethings I'd like to accomplish:

1.) Call landlord about getting new storage key [thus enabling me to move the holiday boxes back into storage and out of the downstairs storage closet I've been attempting to organize].

2.) See "Inglorious Basterds." I have been trying to see this movie since it's release last week, Saturday matinee seems like as good of time as any to catch it.

3.) Finish reading "Fool" by Christopher Moore [I've been reading this for far too long].

4.) Pulling some more clothes from my closet for possible sale/donation.

5.) Review at least 2-4 cds for KSCU to add on Sunday.

6.) Grocery shopping +/or Farmer's Market. My CSA box subscription I was doing at work recently was canceled so I guess it's back to the Farmer's Market for now. :[

7.) Go through at least 5 old magazines so that they can be set aside for recycling/donation.

8.) Bake something.

9.) Clean refrigerator.

10.) Take some photographs [of anything]. It's been far too long since I've picked up my camera.

What I do when the rest of the world is sleeping...

I guess I am a sucky blogger. What's the point of even having a blog if it doesn't get updated? I guess for me it's something for me to do during my one-night a week graveyard work shift.

Speaking of work, here are my top ten time killers for working in the wee-hours of night:

1. Reviewing cd's for KSCU. I get MANY of these done during this shift. Definitely helps pass the time.
2. Paying bills!
3. Social networking... + texting. It's basically the only time I bother to post on Twitter anymore. I also have weekly text chats with my good friend Leticia, who always lets me know she's up with me. :]
4. Books, magazines, puzzle books... you name them, I do them. Just long enough before I get too sleepy.
5. Work tasks for my "other" job. Yeah, the County has a sweet deal with me.
6. Going through my Google Reader... which adds up during the week since I never have time to go through them all, it's the perfect time to go through them all.
7. Eat. I usually bring some coffee + water, plus lots of fruit and healthier snacks.
8. Walk and do my rounds, and if someone is up they usually needs something--which makes time go by faster.
9. Go through all my emails... personal, kscu, oxfam... it's the perfect time to go through them all + respond.
10. Sleep. Right around the time the sun starts coming up is when it's the most difficult to keep my eyes open. I usually just "rest my eyes" for like 10/15 minutes.

I am hoping I'm not on this shift only one day a week for much longer. My body can't adjust to it. We shall see. Keep your fingers crossed.

Spring-Summer(?) Cleaning.

Is it spring or summer? Time is flying by so quickly, I'm not sure if I missed the official first day of summer yet. Regardless, the weather has been so beautiful lately, it's hard to stay indoors to get some much needed cleaning done on the weekends. Thus, I will try to do little by little during the week so I can avoid weekend duties guilt-free.

I actually am bummed I fell so behind on my Google Reader blogroll and missed the Apartment Therapy Spring Cure challenge. Although, as I already have the book, and haven taken part in previous challenges, I suppose I can go through it on my own. Although, reading the blog posts from them usually was what kept me motivated for as long as I managed in the past--which sadly was never til the end of the 8-week challenge, but pretty darn close.

Here are links to my previous attempts:
Fall Cure 08 (Before) - which was as far as I made it--and frankly my house doesn't look tons different from what's in these pictures.
Spring Cure 08 (After)
Spring Cure 08 (During)
Spring Cure 08 (Before)

Hopefully in the following month or two I can post some more updated photos of all the work I WILL accomplish.

Is Pixar's UP one of my greatest fears?

Saw Pixar's Up this weekend with my boyfriend, unfortunately, only in 2-D. We were cheap and wanted to use our AMC giftcard. Man. That first fifteen to twenty minutes of the film killed me. As predicted, I cried, like a baby. It was such a sweet beginning of the movie, and I am always amazed at how quickly Pixar is able to make an audience instantly attached to their characters (though I'm still waiting for a Pixar film with a female lead character, COME ON ALREADY). Any way, the beginning was so sweet and tender, and made you really reflect about life, and living each day in the moment; taking chances in life and really doing everything you want. Don't just wait until it passes you by, thinking, "there is always one more day." Cheesy. Believe me, I know it's beyond cheesy, but it's true dammit! It begs the question "Is Up my worst fear?" Meaning, am I living life to the fullest? Living in the moment, the here and now? It made me think about the things I hope to do and see and accomplish and feel in my life, and how much I already have. Seriously, go see Up. So you can feel as dorky as I do about it.

Here are some things I'm looking forward to in the near future:

* Seeing Death Cab for Cutie at the Hollywood Bowl for my birthday, with the Los Angeles Philharmonic!

* Finding the KogiBBQ truck in LA and getting a Korean taco of some sort.

* Coldplay outreach with my Oxfam peeps.

and whatever else life brings me.............

- way optimistic, nicole

P.S. Was anyone else very uncomfortable with that Sacha Baren Cohen / Eminem stunt at the MTV Movie Awards? Eeek.

Some of the things I miss...

Lately I feel completely overwhelmed. I really need to learn how to say no to some things. Lately, it's my volunteer jobs (KSCU & Oxfam Action Corps) that are eating up most of my non-"work-work" time--not that I'm complaining. I love and value both of those organizations very much. BUT, that being said, there are some things I miss having time to do. Some of those things are:

* spending time with my boyfriend..
* lounging with my doggie watching lame, mindless & sometimes GOOD television
* reading for pleasure
* cooking
* my family... i miss the baird children, especially.
* taking photographs. how am i ever going to improve if i never shoot?
* clothes shopping. it's been... too long. lots of my stuff has holes! :/
* seeing movies
* exercising... my gym card has dust on it...
* working on my house. i don't even have time for basic cleaning these days.
* hanging out with friends, aside from just going to shows

Dear Blog:

I am sorry I have neglected you for over two months. I am sorry I have been cheating on you with Twitter and Facebook and other lesser social networking sites. I am sorry I have been subjecting my writing to mere 140 characters, when I should be practicing writing actual sentences. I am sorry that I only post to you to say I haven't posted in awhile. I am sorry I let spam comments be posted to you (the sure sign of a dead/dying blog).

I will try and be better. I will.

- nicole

Is this blog dead?

Yikes. I haven't updated this in a very long time. I just don't have the energy for it lately--too much other stuff goin' on.

Any way, the dj blog has some playlist updates! :D

-neeeeeeeeeeeecole

p.s. i am very excited about some upcoming prospects! more later.

To Mom: Happy Birthday. From: Your daughter, with love.

I just wanted to give a special shout out to my mom on her birthday! I love you so much mom and I appreciate everything that you've taught me (and continue to teach me) in life.

I'm not really even sure my mom reads this regularly, but I'm sure I can count on my dad to show this to her. Right dad?

- Nicole

P.S. The above photo is still one of my all time favorites of my mom and I.

Sweet little request.

I just got the cutest email to our Music Department account. It states the following:

Hi,

We are an all girl rock band outta Tacoma Wa and want to find out how to submit our original music to you for consideration.. We are 12 and 13 and play our own stuff as well as covers...
Thanks
Lizzy
Starstruck

How fucking cute is it that this little 12 or 13 year old named herself Lizzy Starstruck? I haven't even heard them yet but I'm already smitten! Plus I adore girl-groups!

Am I home from work yet?...

I wish this is what my day looked like today...

(caption: "this is ur dog when i got home!")

Lately our dog has figured out how to get up on our bed. I say this as if it's confusing because our bed is up fairly high for a short little guy to jump up. Sometimes I get out of the shower to find him burrowed deep under our covers. Nathan sent me a text message with the above photo with that caption when he found him like that today. So cute.

minimalism flickr.

Kinda cool minimalist version of your Flickr photostream. I hardly know her is the name of the site, and basically if you have a flickr your website would be www.ihardlyknowher.com/yourusername.

Pretty nifty.

365 Project Week 2 Wrap Up.

Some self-portraits of sorts. Only six this week, since the previous week's wrap up included the first 8. I am debating switching to a more structured format, even though I didn't (don't?) want to. I think I'll wait until I've completed one month's worth of photos and join in to a structure at week 5. If anyone has any good theme 365's they are doing, please send me the link!

1. 9.365.09, 2. 10.365.09, 3. 11.365.09, 4. 12.365.09, 5. 13.365.09, 6. 14.365.09

Inauguration Day: A Girl Enamored.

Yeah, I'm a tad obsessed, but these photos posted on the Boston Globe website are AMAZING. Click the below photo for the full set. You won't be sorry.

Flickr find.

haight & masonic, originally uploaded by heather.

Amen.

Happy Inauguration Day!

Wow. It has been an amazing and inspiring day! I can't stop watching the news coverage, it doesn't really get old now that this day has finally arrived. It feels like this day has taken forever, even since the election, but it's finally here and I couldn't have been more happy with PRESIDENT Obama's speech. I don't have much else to say that hasn't been said a hundred times over. Everyone will take something from this day--and hopefully turn it into something proactive to create positive change in this world. The day has been perfect.

We had a work celebration in the morning (see above shot). Here are some shots from the day.

But, first, video of PRESIDENT (never gets old) Obama's speech:

(Starbucks had special red, white and blue warmers. Displayed by my co-workers!)

(Jumped out from behind the camera for a quick capture for me to remember this day! As if I need it)

A petty complaint (on a day not meant for it)...

I know it's not the day for nerd-complaints (and I'll get to the bigger stuff from the day soon enough), but What the EFFE!!!!!!!!!! So LAME!

from Angry Asian Man site:

keanu will star in cowboy bebop
It's confirmed. Last week, Variety reported that Keanu Reeves will indeed star as future bounty hunter Spike Spiegel in 20th Century Fox's live-action adaptation of the popular anime series Cowboy Bebop: Keanu Reeves set for 'Bebop'.Don't hate me for saying this, but I don't think this is an entirely bad idea. Keanu gets a lot of hate for his low-charisma surfer-dudeness, but in the right role, he isn't half-bad. For Spike, I'd argue the most important elements is cool. Can Keanu pull this one off? For now, I am willing to find out.The series follows Spiegel and a ragtag group of bounty hunters traveling on their spaceship, the Bebop. I've always thought that out of all the anime properties to be translated for the big screen, Cowboy Bebop has enormous potential, particularly because the series itself successfully borrows pop culture elements from a variety of other genres. What's most encouraging though, is the close involvement of Sunrise Inc., which produced the original series. Sunrise's Kenji Uchida and Shinichiro Watanabe will serve as associate producers alongside series writer Keiko Nobumoto. And series producer Masahiko Minami will serve as a production consultant. Will Sunrise's participation help preserve some level of Cowboy Bebop's badass-ness? Or will this just be another crappy Hollywood handling of a beloved anime series? (Let's face it -- that Dragonball movie looks and is going to be baaaaaaaad.) I guess we'll see, whenever this actually happens.
angrylink

365 Project Week 1 Wrap Up.

Instead of posting each 365 photo every day, I've decided to compile a weekly mosaic to show you my weeks shots. I'll try to post them up on Sundays and make it a regular thing. This week's includes 8 instead of 7 since I couldn't get the size of mine right and had already posted the last photo. Click the mosaic for view the entire set on my flickr.

Saying no to corporate takeover.

From the Indie 103 website:

Indie Activist:

This is an important message for the Indie 103.1 Radio Audience -

Indie 103.1 will cease broadcasting over this frequency effective immediately. Because of changes in the radio industry and the way radio audiences are measured, stations in this market are being forced to play too much Britney, Puffy and alternative music that is neither new nor cutting edge. Due to these challenges, Indie 103.1 was recently faced with only one option --- to play the corporate radio game.

We have decided not to play that game any longer. Rather than changing the sound, spirit, and soul of what has made Indie 103.1 great Indie 103.1 will bid farewell to the terrestrial airwaves and take an alternative course.

This could only be done on the Internet, a place where rules do not apply and where new music thrives; be it grunge, punk, or alternative - simply put, only the best music.

For those of you with a computer at home or at work, log on to www.indie1031.com and listen to the new Indie 103.1 - which is really the old Indie 103.1, not the version of Indie 103.1 we are removing from the broadcast airwaves.

We thank our listeners and advertisers for their support of the greatest radio station ever conceived, and look forward to continuing to deliver the famed Indie 103.1 music and spirit over the Internet to passionate music listeners around the world.

my new internet crush.

for more.

nutella sandwiches.

nutella sandwiches., originally uploaded by neeecole..

This is a reminder post to myself (sorry for the selfish post--but Flickr won't let me blog straight to my Tumblr).

I need to make these again soon. So delicious.