Ordinary Extraordinary

I wouldn't have it any other way

I recently got it in my head that I want to learn a fourth language.

Not an easy language, mind you. Not something like Spanish or German where I could just skip on down to PCC and sign up for one of their Extended Learning classes. Oh no. I have to pick a langauge that, though spoken by about 10 million people, is not widely taught. In fact, it's only taught three places in all of Southern California.

Because this is me we're talking about and I can't ever do anything the easy way.

Of course none of those three place are offering classes I can attend (that would be too easy), so I went on the hunt for a private tutor. Google the all-knowing finally provided one and we traded emails for a week or so to work out the details.

Well, as soon as the final detail was worked out he started sending emails to me in the new language.  The language I don't speak yet. The language for which I don't even own a dictionary yet. (Google to the rescue again!) It just took me more than half an hour to muddle through an email that basically said "I know this is difficult, but it's good practice for you to read and write in this language. Meet me at this place at this time for your next lesson." I know immersion is the way to go but... damn.

Holy crap does my brain hurt (in the good way).

*headdesk*

Overheard on the other side of the cube wall:

She: Hey, what does "T.V." stand for, anyway?
He: Umm...seriously?

Not terrifying enough? Then please note this additional tidbit of information: I WORK AT A TELEVISION STUDIO.

Kill me now.

No, on second thought, kill HER now. Quick, before she breeds.

Must See TV

Are you watching Deadliest Catch yet? Why not? It's freaking brilliant, especially because the Narrator gets to say things like:

For old salts like Russel, there's only one way to deal with bad fishing: complain. A lot.

and

The Skipper quickly counts heads on deck. Fortunately, the 20 foot wave hasn't washed anyone out to sea. This time.

Seriously people, set your TiVo. I think this is my new favorite show.

Buddhism in the 'burbs

On the last day of his visit, I surprised The Fireman by taking him to Hsi Lai Temple. I didn't even know that Hsi Lai Temple existed, but The Fireman mentioned it wistfully as one of the places he missed most in Southern California so I did some quick Googling to find out more information.

When we arrived, I was completely unprepared for the 15-acre temple complex that springs up suddenly in the middle of residential Hacienda Heights.

The Gateway as seen from Glenmark Drive:

 

Memorial Day

Season of Remembrance Begins by Kathleen T. Rhem

Today we remember all who have given their lives in defense of our freedom so, at 3pm, please take a moment to participate in the National Moment of Remembrance.

Here rests in honored glory an American soldier known but to God

Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er,
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking:
Dream of battled fields no more,
Days of danger, nights of waking.
In our isle's enchanted hall,
Hands unseen thy couch are strewing,
Fairy strains of music fall,
Every sense in slumber dewing.
Soldier, rest! thy warfare o'er,
Dream of fighting fields no more:
Sleep the sleep that knows not breaking,
Morn of toil, nor night of waking.

No rude sound shall reach thine ear,
Armour's clang, or war-steed champing,
Trump nor pibroch summon here
Mustering clan, or squadron tramping,
Yet the lark's shrill fife may come
At the day-break from the fallow,
And the bittern sound his drum,
Booming from the sedgy shallow.
Ruder sounds shall none be near,
Guards nor warders challenge here,
Here's no war-steed's neigh and champing,
Shouting clans or squadrons stamping.

-Excerpt from Sir Walter Scott's
The Lady of the Lake: Canto 1

Think For Yourself

If you don’t like a radio hosts’ lingo, don’t listen. If you think Alec Baldwin is a horrible father, that’s your right to say so. But when people have to start to fear what they say (like me, wondering if I should even put up this post for fear that someday down the line a future employer or corporation will find this and disregard me for an opportunity) then the First Amendment is slowly being wrapped up in moth balls and put away in a dark attic where no one will find it.
-Paul Davidson, here

Can I get an amen? AMEN.

When exactly did we forget that free speech covers ALL speech, not just the politically-correct, non-offensive milquetoast variety? If you don't like it, don't listen/watch/read. Exercise your free will; it's really not that hard. In the words of Voltaire*, "think for yourselves and let others enjoy the privilege to do so too."

I am so disheartened that America's citizens need to be REMINDED to think for themselves.

_____

*People, please stop crediting Voltaire as saying "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Volatire didn't write that, Evelyn Hall did. She used that phrase to describe Voltaire's attitude in The Friends of Voltaire and it's been mis-quoted ever since. Stop the madness!

God's Plan

Over IM this afternoon, Harris mourned the passing of Jerry Falwell and wondered about God's great plan:

He: Falwell's dead.
Me: I know.
He: Wrinkly nutsack of evil
Me: Yepper
He: Much like Strom Thurmond, I think we need to drive a stake through his heart, chop off his head, stuff his mouth with holy wafers and burn the head and body seperately.
He: Just, y'know, to be sure.
He: Next up: Pat Robertson
He: I'm still waiting for him to pipe up with whatever it was that Greensborough Kansas did to deserve being wiped off the face of the earth
Me: Oh I'm sure he has a reason
He: God has shitty aim I guess.
He: Since Katrina was "punishment" for New Orleans tolerating homosexuals.
He: (nevermind that the gay district survived untouched)
He: and God managed to COMPLETELY miss San Francisco
Me: *snicker*

The Bounce Effect

I don't think I've mentioned it here yet, but one of the challenges that The Fireman & I are facing is the fact that we currently live about 1000 miles apart. I've been in a long-distance relationship before so I know what we've gotten ourselves into, but that knowledge doesn't make it any easier. The plain truth is that it can be emotionally exhausting to be so far away from the person you love.

However, The Fireman will be here for a week-long visit starting Thursday and I am absolutely giddy at the thought of seeing him in just a few days. I'm trying not to irritate nauseate my friends with my excitement, but Teece is very patient and lets me bounce at her for the good of all humanity:

Me: *bouncebouncebounce*
She: yay!
Me: *bouncebouncebounce*
Me: (Um, I'm going to be doing that a lot this week - sorry)
She: no.... believe me, it's totally fine
She: it's a nice counterpoint to this place. (manager girl walked out of big boss's morning meeting on the edge of tears... never a good indicator of his mood)
She: young happy love gives me hope for the world
She: so you bounce... bounce like the wind... for the good of all humanity
She: a butterfly flaps its wings and a breeze goes around the world. Someone has the love bounceys and ... well, that's got to cure somebody's cancer somewhere, ya know?
Me: LoL! *bouncebouncebounce*

Rebel Without a Cause

Today was a day.

A really CRAPPY day.

The kind of day that makes you want to throw your cell phone out the window, knock over your desk, and run screaming for the hills.

Perhaps you can imagine the mood I was in as I was walked down the hallway outside one of our studios, cursing my job and trying to decide how many times to use the phrase "goat rodeo" in my resignation letter.

Then I ran into a Stormtrooper.

Literally.

I went around a corner quickly, wasn't paying attention, and found myself eyes-to-chestplate with an overly tall Stormtrooper. There were four more behind him, chatting with an Imperial Officer and one of my cameramen while they waited for their next shot.

There was nothing I could do but laugh.

Seriously, how bad could by job be? Nobody else gets to run into Stormtroopers in the hallway!

Humor as Black as Griffith Park

Thursday is Inappropriate Humor Day! Today's installment is courtesy of The Fireman: