Yesterday at about this time I was seriously considering banging my head against a wall. I hadn't had a bad day -- the kids were a little inattentive, but I had a nice lunch with co-workers, then came home to address our new insanely-slow-DSL-connection problem. And I spent the next 2 1/2 hours dealing with SBCglobal. Listen, let's leave it at this: I am sure that, if I spoke Bangladeshi or whatever, I would discover that the five people I talked to yesterday are brilliant, insightful, and witty. But since I do not speak Bangladeshi and they do not speak English ("What bastard are you using?" "What WHAT?" "Baah-sah." "Browser?" "Yes.") it was somewhat more difficult to resolve. I skipped my 5:30 ballet class thinking that I would just go to the 6:30, then realizing that I also hadn't picked up my veggies. I didn't have time to get them, come home, get ready to go, and then go to ballet, so I rushed out of the house and got them on the way to class and they sat in my car (they do not appear to have suffered much). People were driving like FRICKIN' IDIOTS, too.* Anyway, so I was cranky when I got there, but then I did some pique attitude turns that the teacher complimented me on, I worked out some of my frustrations, and I saw some of my good ballet friends. Then I went outside and solved the Mystery of the Tailgating Stogie Men. These three old guys sit on the tailgate of a truck (one has recently been bringing a lawn chair) and smoke cigars all Wednesday evening outside the ballet studio (which is in a shopping complex). So last night I just decided to ask them. Apparently they all meet for dinner at the Peking Gardens every Wednesday and then come out and enjoy a cigar and the "scenery" (I think he was winking towards the girls in leotards). And they flirted with me. Well, I was happy to have the answer, anyway.
Then today school went better and the weather was cooler (still in the 90s, but much more bearable). I got a burst of cooking energy (see Count Broccula -- I'll update soon), and made a bunch of stuff that turned out really well, including a cobbler that, when I tasted it, made me go "Ho-o-o-ly shit, that's good!" and give a wicked giggle.
Oh, just got to tell you a little about the Naughty Lady party at my neighbor's house last weekend. It was me, three black women (the husband's sisters and mom), one Hispanic friend, and 15 Hmong women. Which didn't make me uncomfortable or anything, it's just that I had no idea what they were saying most of the time. Anyway, I'm fairly well read and not uncomfortable with sexual topics, so when the Lady would ask questions like "Why should you never put products containing sugar on your vagina?" I'd yell out "yeast!" I'm kind of a teacher's pet -- I can't help answering questions if I know the answer. So after a while I was getting these looks like, "Who are you, the sex ed teacher?" And when it came to the one-handed condom application contest, I blew (sorry) the competition away. I'm not Susie Bright or anything, I just know who Susie Bright is, okay? Anyway, toward the end of the evening, we were browsing the catalogs, and the Hmong woman next to me leaned over, pointed at an item description, and said "Now, when they say 'shaft,' is that the part on the end?" Man, I thought I was on Candid Camera. Plus, their house is decorated nicely and everything, but there was the occasional jarring item -- like the photo of Neighbor and her mom in the full ceremonial Hmong garb, both looking quite somber -- on one of those felt scrolls that has six-shooters and horseshoes and says "WANTED: DEAD OR ALIVE."
* On the stupid drivers, most were just normal things -- a tailgater that came rushing up my ass going 70 in the exit lane, a guy who turned his signal on, then went straight (at me). But the cake-taker yesterday was a woman in a Jeep who rolled through a stop sign, then slowed WAY down in the intersection, coming almost to a stop, rolled through to the other side of the intersection going about 5, and drifted into the lane of oncoming traffic. Now we were not in a heavily trafficked area, nevertheless I thought she might appreciate her having her attention brought to the fact that she was BEHIND THE WHEEL OF A VEHICLE, but not apparently OPERATING IT. I beeped. Not even honked. I touched the horn the shortest possible amount of time, as Bill Bryson's Japlish expression goes "tootling the horn melodiously." And this bitch (who, I think was looking for a french fry or something on the floor, since her body was completely slumped down in her seat with her head down) looks in the rearview and starts SCREAMING. Like I'm in the wrong. Like it's perfectly normal to stop driving and just let the car drift where it may. Man, I had some road rage with that one.
Thursday, July 28, 2005
Tuesday, July 26, 2005
Jeez Louise!
Well, I was gonna post at length about all the exciting adventures, but the internet is sooper-dooper slow tonight. Highlights:
Still working on the house -- latest room looks awesome. I couldn't be happier.
Summer school -- not too bad, and halfway done.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince -- over too soon. Now I'm going to be jonesin' until the next (and final) installment.
Reception invitations -- about 2/3 went out. All over the west coast this week people opened the mail and went "Oh! Honey, do you suppose it's meant to look like this?" Yeah, well, I'm a do-it-yourself kind of girl -- extra ink smudges, trapezoidal pieces of vellum and strings of hot glue aside . . .
I've been sorting through books to try and weed them out some -- out went all the ones I never liked, never read, and will never lend. Sorry to professors Bauerly, Olmstead, Tucker, and the comtemporary Brit lit guy -- your entire syllabi are in boxes by the door. Still, it's tough. I love my books and hate getting rid of any. I'm probably the only person I know who could have packed four boxes of books, loaded three bookshelves, and still need another entire bookshelf for the keepers in piles on the floor.
Gotta go -- bedtime (and quick showertime first).
Take care, all. --K
Still working on the house -- latest room looks awesome. I couldn't be happier.
Summer school -- not too bad, and halfway done.
Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince -- over too soon. Now I'm going to be jonesin' until the next (and final) installment.
Reception invitations -- about 2/3 went out. All over the west coast this week people opened the mail and went "Oh! Honey, do you suppose it's meant to look like this?" Yeah, well, I'm a do-it-yourself kind of girl -- extra ink smudges, trapezoidal pieces of vellum and strings of hot glue aside . . .
I've been sorting through books to try and weed them out some -- out went all the ones I never liked, never read, and will never lend. Sorry to professors Bauerly, Olmstead, Tucker, and the comtemporary Brit lit guy -- your entire syllabi are in boxes by the door. Still, it's tough. I love my books and hate getting rid of any. I'm probably the only person I know who could have packed four boxes of books, loaded three bookshelves, and still need another entire bookshelf for the keepers in piles on the floor.
Gotta go -- bedtime (and quick showertime first).
Take care, all. --K
Monday, July 11, 2005
Hey everybody!
We got married! That's right, it's now officially the Piggs-Mockula household of not-living-in-sin. We had a lovely time in a very small ceremony downtown, then a really nice dinner and a champagne tasting/cake eating soiree at Mom's. I'm really happy, Piggs is really happy, we had a great weekend, it was absolutely no stress, no scariness . . . we even spent the rest of the weekend with friends, going to G3's art gallery show, throwing a birthday party for Monkeygirl, going rafting with Monkeygirl and Toltec1, as well as some old friends (and their friends) from the Santa Cruz area. Today was low-key, just breakfast out, a little shopping, then we had to drop Toltec1 off at the airport. We will go on a smallish Monterey trip in the next month or so, then next year we're starting to talk about a bigger trip.
This was truly a wonderful weekend and a great way to kick off a marriage -- no hangovers, hurt feelings, or wedding planners. It ruled. And we're married! Yay!
This was truly a wonderful weekend and a great way to kick off a marriage -- no hangovers, hurt feelings, or wedding planners. It ruled. And we're married! Yay!
Friday, July 08, 2005
In two and a half hours I'll be Mrs. Piggs!
Well, technically, I'll still be Ms. Mockula, but I'll be married to Mr. Piggs! Cool, huh? I'm excited, not nervous, happy . . . eatin' yogurt.
I've tried to prod and see if there are any nervous parts in me -- "poke poke - it's a lifetime committment, you know . . ." -- but there's nothing really to poke at. I feel good. Hellos to everyone out there in the Piggs family and the Mockula family, to my Gynas and webgyna and countless others that will be there for the par-tay in September, but who are, I know, here with us in spirit today. Thanks, all.
Now, for the cranky Mockula you've all come to know and love -- How come I was not properly indoctrinated into all this girl shit? My hairstylist (who is fabulous, and gave me a great cut) suggested "just putting it up in hot rollers" for a bouncy wave. Sure, that sounds easy! So I bought myself some rollers (my hair styling products consist of a flat brush, a round brush, a blowdryer and several varieties and viscosities of goo), heated them up ("is the dot turning black? Is that a reddish black? Does burgundy count?"), and began to roll them in neat rows, alternating roller sizes and types (ceramic and ionic), and rolling some towards the front and some towards the back.
Fooled you! No I didn't, dude. I don't know which ones are which (some of them are deeply ridged like something sci-fi, others just appear ribbed for her pleasure). There are no rows. The rollers were rolled in whichever direction they would stick. Several of them have crashed to the floor. There are no instructions as to how the clips are supposed to hold the rollers, so I just kind of stuck them on any which way I could. Let's be honest; there are several that I wrapped the ends around, then just kind of pushed at my head and stuck a pin in. I have ends sticking out all over, which, from previous hair-styling experiments, I can only assume will stick out in kinky sharp points once I take these rollers out. And as for the "cool end" of the roller that the box proclaims the rollers have, I couldn't find the non-finger-burning end, and there are only two ends . . .
It's also hot, so I'm hoping my makeup doesn't sweat off. I'm not wearing all that much, so maybe that'll help. Well, tell you what, when I get all finished, I'll try to post a photo, and you can decide for yourself whether I am a disaster of a tomboy playing dress-up, or a ravishing beauty on my wedding day. Most likely, somewhere in between. I'm anxious to find out myself.
Take care all, and wish me luck (just for the styling, the marriage part will be a-ok.)
--CM-P (kidding, we're not hyphenating, that would just be cruel).
I've tried to prod and see if there are any nervous parts in me -- "poke poke - it's a lifetime committment, you know . . ." -- but there's nothing really to poke at. I feel good. Hellos to everyone out there in the Piggs family and the Mockula family, to my Gynas and webgyna and countless others that will be there for the par-tay in September, but who are, I know, here with us in spirit today. Thanks, all.
Now, for the cranky Mockula you've all come to know and love -- How come I was not properly indoctrinated into all this girl shit? My hairstylist (who is fabulous, and gave me a great cut) suggested "just putting it up in hot rollers" for a bouncy wave. Sure, that sounds easy! So I bought myself some rollers (my hair styling products consist of a flat brush, a round brush, a blowdryer and several varieties and viscosities of goo), heated them up ("is the dot turning black? Is that a reddish black? Does burgundy count?"), and began to roll them in neat rows, alternating roller sizes and types (ceramic and ionic), and rolling some towards the front and some towards the back.
Fooled you! No I didn't, dude. I don't know which ones are which (some of them are deeply ridged like something sci-fi, others just appear ribbed for her pleasure). There are no rows. The rollers were rolled in whichever direction they would stick. Several of them have crashed to the floor. There are no instructions as to how the clips are supposed to hold the rollers, so I just kind of stuck them on any which way I could. Let's be honest; there are several that I wrapped the ends around, then just kind of pushed at my head and stuck a pin in. I have ends sticking out all over, which, from previous hair-styling experiments, I can only assume will stick out in kinky sharp points once I take these rollers out. And as for the "cool end" of the roller that the box proclaims the rollers have, I couldn't find the non-finger-burning end, and there are only two ends . . .
It's also hot, so I'm hoping my makeup doesn't sweat off. I'm not wearing all that much, so maybe that'll help. Well, tell you what, when I get all finished, I'll try to post a photo, and you can decide for yourself whether I am a disaster of a tomboy playing dress-up, or a ravishing beauty on my wedding day. Most likely, somewhere in between. I'm anxious to find out myself.
Take care all, and wish me luck (just for the styling, the marriage part will be a-ok.)
--CM-P (kidding, we're not hyphenating, that would just be cruel).
Saturday, July 02, 2005
Been a while!
Okay, let's see -- I finally finished "When Smoke Ran Like Water" by Devra Davis and "Fever Pitch" by Nick Hornby. They both moved a little slow for me, because A: Nonfiction environmental studies by an epidemiologist, while interesting, was not exactly summer beach reading and B: I'm just not really interested in soccer, sorry "football." I honestly didn't dislike either, though, it just took a while.
The conference -- some of you know I was in Asilomar this week for a conference on the International Baccalaureate program. It was extremely interesting, and packed with information. I was so busy the whole time -- attending my "sessions," going on a field trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, getting fed (we all left with a pavlovian response to the dinner bell), getting to know my new co-workers, running and sitting on the beach. I took a couple books, several magazines, and my wedding invitations and address book, and I really barely cracked anything. I learned a lot and had a lovely time. We drank too much -- not that I got drunk, but we went through a LOT of wine. I also met people from all over the country and the world. I talked for a long time with a woman born in Cuba who has lived in Russia and is currently teaching in Abu Dabhi with her Palestinian husband, just to give you an idea of how international this program actually is.
Of course, Thursday when I left Asilomar it was 65 degrees, and when I arrived in Sac, it was 101.
Girls only -- remember that nail polish I recommended? Dude, I didn't have to touch it up until Tuesday, and that was after extensive sanding, cooking, baking, and a full week.
My Mom worked her ass off while I was gone, completely finishing the sanding, priming and painting (but for the trim and ceiling). Wow, huh? I brought her some socks from Monterey, think its a fair trade? Yeah, me neither. We'll finish the trim and ceiling this week, and hopefully get started on the walls in the other half of the room.
I finally watched Kill Bill 2 -- wow, no wonder everyone was saying it was so much better than the first one. It had so much more narrative and character development, and David Carradine was fantastic. I really liked it.
Today I bought a portable, large capacity clothes dryer that runs on alternative energy. Okay, it's a clothesline, but a really nice one. See, it it one of those old school pole ones with a big square of clotheslines. It holds a lot more than just one line running across the yard, and has the added advantage of not drooping so far down in the middle that your clothes are hanging on the ground. Plus, the only really LONG space in my yard totally bisects it, so that if there's laundry on the line, you really have to duck underneath to go into another part of the yard. This one is much more compact. I already had a concrete block in the yard with a hole in it, so all I did was open the thing up like an umbrella and stick it in the hole. Naturally, it's more labor to go hang all the laundry, but once it's up, it doesn't really take any more time. Plus, it doesn't cost anything on the old SMUD bill, and doesn't heat up the house (which is a good thing, since our AC is on the fritz).
Tonight is my bachelorette party, tomorrow our band plays a show (see thegynas.com for details), Monday there's a block party on my street, Thursday (we think) Toltec 1 arrives in town, and Friday Piggs and I are gettin' hitched. Then Saturday there's an art show and a birthday party (for Webgyna and Monkeygirl respectively) and Sunday is Wedding Weekend Waterworks (i.e., rafting.) You think I'm busy enough? It's hard to tell.
I'm sure there's interesting stuff I'm forgetting, but I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. Take care,
CM
The conference -- some of you know I was in Asilomar this week for a conference on the International Baccalaureate program. It was extremely interesting, and packed with information. I was so busy the whole time -- attending my "sessions," going on a field trip to the Monterey Bay Aquarium, getting fed (we all left with a pavlovian response to the dinner bell), getting to know my new co-workers, running and sitting on the beach. I took a couple books, several magazines, and my wedding invitations and address book, and I really barely cracked anything. I learned a lot and had a lovely time. We drank too much -- not that I got drunk, but we went through a LOT of wine. I also met people from all over the country and the world. I talked for a long time with a woman born in Cuba who has lived in Russia and is currently teaching in Abu Dabhi with her Palestinian husband, just to give you an idea of how international this program actually is.
Of course, Thursday when I left Asilomar it was 65 degrees, and when I arrived in Sac, it was 101.
Girls only -- remember that nail polish I recommended? Dude, I didn't have to touch it up until Tuesday, and that was after extensive sanding, cooking, baking, and a full week.
My Mom worked her ass off while I was gone, completely finishing the sanding, priming and painting (but for the trim and ceiling). Wow, huh? I brought her some socks from Monterey, think its a fair trade? Yeah, me neither. We'll finish the trim and ceiling this week, and hopefully get started on the walls in the other half of the room.
I finally watched Kill Bill 2 -- wow, no wonder everyone was saying it was so much better than the first one. It had so much more narrative and character development, and David Carradine was fantastic. I really liked it.
Today I bought a portable, large capacity clothes dryer that runs on alternative energy. Okay, it's a clothesline, but a really nice one. See, it it one of those old school pole ones with a big square of clotheslines. It holds a lot more than just one line running across the yard, and has the added advantage of not drooping so far down in the middle that your clothes are hanging on the ground. Plus, the only really LONG space in my yard totally bisects it, so that if there's laundry on the line, you really have to duck underneath to go into another part of the yard. This one is much more compact. I already had a concrete block in the yard with a hole in it, so all I did was open the thing up like an umbrella and stick it in the hole. Naturally, it's more labor to go hang all the laundry, but once it's up, it doesn't really take any more time. Plus, it doesn't cost anything on the old SMUD bill, and doesn't heat up the house (which is a good thing, since our AC is on the fritz).
Tonight is my bachelorette party, tomorrow our band plays a show (see thegynas.com for details), Monday there's a block party on my street, Thursday (we think) Toltec 1 arrives in town, and Friday Piggs and I are gettin' hitched. Then Saturday there's an art show and a birthday party (for Webgyna and Monkeygirl respectively) and Sunday is Wedding Weekend Waterworks (i.e., rafting.) You think I'm busy enough? It's hard to tell.
I'm sure there's interesting stuff I'm forgetting, but I have promises to keep and miles to go before I sleep. Take care,
CM
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