Baked Fresh

Not Bad

2004-01-28T16:54:00.000-08:00

Click Here

2004-01-23T18:57:00.000-08:00

Hey Ya, Charlie Brown. Brilliant. Check it out.

Friday Five

2004-01-23T12:26:00.000-08:00

Haven't done a meme in a while and Friday Five was always my favorite.

At this moment, what is your favorite...

1. ...song? It's a three-way tie between Outkast's "Hey Ya!" (which is the ringtone on my cell right now), Dido's "White Flag" and Gary Jules' "Mad, Mad World."

2. ...food? Type of food = Thai. Favorite dishes = good ol' pad thai and pineapple fried rice.

3. ...tv show? Oh, a tough one. I'd probably have to say Arrested Development in the comedy category and Alias for dramas. That is, for shows that are currently on. Sopranos, Six Feet Under and The Shield are all due to return soon.

4. ...scent? That's an easy one. Philospophy's Cinnamon Buns bath and shower gel. It's delicious.

5. ...quote? I'm not one for quotes, really. At least, I have a hard time remembering them. I read or hear good ones and think "I need to write that down," and never do. I do like the fortune I got with some Chinese delivery last year that is taped to my computer monitor..."You will find good fortune in love."

Year 4702

2004-01-22T07:40:00.000-08:00

Happy Year of the Monkey! For those of you in Los Angeles, the 105th annual Golden Dragon Parade will take place this Saturday from 2-5 pm. Every year I say I'm going to attend and then miss it. Maybe this year will be different.

Strangers with TV Candy

2004-01-21T16:53:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed that many of my favorite blogs listed to the left are related to television. I watch it, I read about it, I post about it, I love it. And I am not ashamed. Just added to the list is the TV commentary site Too Much Free Time. I've read a bit from the three bloggers (Max, Freakgirl, and J.Go) writing the site and I've always been amused.

On another note, Amy Sedaris continues to rock my world in this recent Onion A.V. Club interview. If you've never seen Strangers with Candy, the heartwarming story about a 40-something former user, boozer and loser returning to high school for a second chance (okay, it really is a hilarious after-school special parody), you're missing out. This obsessive site will tell you more than you've ever wanted to know about the short-lived Comedy Central series.

Can't we all just get along?

2004-01-20T14:39:00.000-08:00

An article in today's NY Post asks:

Do you find the following funny or not funny?

1) A wife who gives her husband permission to cheat as an anniversary present.

2) A blind man who breaks up with his girlfriend because she's not pretty enough.

3) A blind date between said blind man and a Muslim woman in a burqa.

And I answer yes, yes, and yes.

I like Sex and the City as much as the next urban, hip chick, but Larry David cracks my shit up, too. I hate articles like this. Sure, it's fluff entertainment "news." But quotes like this..."It's got such a bleak view of human nature. That kind of humor appeals to men"...irk me to no end. Hello, some of us XX chromosomes find dark humor funny, too. And this last week's ep was so absurdly funny that I just about lost it when Larry accidentally ripped off the woman's burqa. And the Larry David/Ben Stiller car rant was brilliant. Screw you, NY Post.

Memories...

2004-01-13T15:36:00.000-08:00

After seeing this post over at Pop Culture Junk Mail, I searched at Ebay for my own high school and found this sweatshirt. While I didn't run track (though I did play varsity volleyball) I vividly remember my track-running friends wearing them. What gets me is that it's listed as "vintage." Now, I haven't seen what today's Gauchos (the Narbonne mascot) runners are wearing, but these were being used as late as 1990, if not later!

I feel so old.

New email

2004-01-08T11:56:00.000-08:00

Send all emails to bakedfresh at earthlink dot net.

One of my New Year's housekeeping items has been to clean up all my email accounts and start a bunch of new ones to keep things compartmentalized.

Also, clean up my financial accounts. In the last few days, I had the L.A. Times change my newspaper subscription to Saturday and Sunday only (the weekday papers pile up and I can read them at work), changed my lond distance carrier to get miles on Continental (my new favorite airline), and simply called DirecTV to request a discount I heard about at the TiVo Community Forums of $6 off my Total Choice Plus package for six months. Got it in five minutes.

The Bitch is Back!

2004-01-07T07:46:00.000-08:00

My poor Jack Kitty (named after Special Agent Jack Bauer, btw). While I was watching 24 last night, I yelled so loudly and repeatedly when Nina came back on the scene that he just about killed himself trying to get off my lap and away from the loud sounds. I was totally going to give up on the show if she didn't make her way back in to the storyline...glad my faith in the writers, who really aren't wowing me with the President or the Tony/Michelle storylines, was well-placed. Also, Jack has more chemistry with Nina's pinkie toe than any of the other women on this show.

New Year's Musings

2004-01-06T15:08:00.000-08:00

Almost a week into the new year, 2004, (so very futuristic sounding) and somehow, for some reason, this new year feels charged with life. With vitality. With power. Nothing in my life is any different today than it was on December 6. Yet, I can't shake the distinct feeling that something wonderful is right around the corner and it's all withing my grasp. My mundane tasks, even, have taken on a renewed vigor.

On New Year's Eve, some friends and I made our declarations for 2004. While a resolution is all about something you will do (or not do, as the case may be), a declaration is a statement about what is and what will be. Actions to bring that declaration into being naturally follow the declaration.

Here are my four:

1. Acceptance in to the Director's Guild of America's Assistant Director's Training Program and having a blast getting there. The program is supercompetitive, but I plan to have a rocking time going through this process.

2. Steady commitment to my health and well-being. Actions so far: back to my normal workout routine. Back to a more balance eating approach, influenced by Bill Phillip's Body for Life program.

3. Being a certified instructor in Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan. This is more than simply completing my certification steps (teaching hours, paperwork and essays, weekend long test). Really, it's carrying myself and taking actions consistent with not only being a martial artist, but also one who is an example and leader to other martial artists.

4. Sex, sex and more good sex. All around me. For everyone.

I like that last one a lot. In the days after New Year's Eve, I realized that there was more than just the having of sex in the declaration. It was being sex. Being sexy.

So when I read Jessica's entry about the Year of the Sexy, I knew I was on to something or at least catching it's wave. A zeitgeist, if you will. The electricity I feel in the air is the Power of the Sexy and I am ready for it, wherever and however it shows up in my life.

Jessica borrowed the brilliant concept from her friend, Jason, in whose blog the idea of the Year of the Sexy has been brewing. Jason has these tips to impart to all us sexy wannabes (yeah, I'm taking it straight from the sexy horse's mouth):

1. Smell Delicious.

2. Brush and floss with reckless abandon. Plaque-o is wack-o.

3. When somebody looks, does, or says something delicious, tell them. Keeping the positive to yourself is unflattering.

4. Add delicious to your lexicon. Use sparingly. And deliciously.

Good advice all around. Read Cosmo. Learn a new thing. Take chances. Share yourself. Acknowledge people. It's all sexy. I plan to keep posting about the sexy things I'm doing this year, conventional or not. I challenge you to do the same.

It's delicious.

Please, for the love of gawd...

2004-01-05T16:40:00.000-08:00

Vent to my lovely co-workers: sweets everywhere? All over the office? Don't you know I have declared my commitment to my health and well-being in 2004?! Don't you know that those truffles from Trader Joe's are sinfully delicious and I'm not known for my willpower?! Is it crack they put in the middle of those delectable See's candies?

2004 is Year of the Sexy, people. (More on that in a bit). And there is nothing sexy about scarfing down a box of chocolates. Get it out of here or heads will roll.

Signed,
Your lovely officemate who knows martial arts and will kick you in the head if you offer her one more damn piece of chocolate.

Miss me?

2003-12-18T09:25:00.000-08:00

Yeah, probably not...but I'm back. With a vengeance. Or something.

Really, more posts, more updates, more...junk for the new year!

I super duper with a cherry on top promise.

For now I leave you with something that explains a lot about me...

What Kind of Drunk Are You?

Where in the World is a Baked Fresh Update?

2003-10-09T08:49:00.000-07:00

It's been a busy, busy week, folks.

On Tuesday, I worked a polling place in my neighborhood. It was a very long day, but I had a great team and we rocked. The vote. (Sorry.) What was great was that I was away from any media outlet, so when I finally got home and saw that the Governator won, well...I was too tired to care. Don't get me started about how I'm a bit ashamed to be a Californian right now.

I'm waiting on pins and needles to here from a friend later today to confirm that her friend was able to purchase a block of tickets to the Ringathon at the Arclight Cinema. I hadn't been to those theaters since they opened a year? (two? time flies, I have no idea) ago. Two weekends ago, I saw Scarface at the Dome and it was a great moviegoing experience. Assigned seating. Ushers. Fancy food. The apple-chicken sausage on a baguette with watermelon BBQ sauce I had (a perfect hangover cure, btw) was not your usual movie theater stale hot dog fare.

We're Number 1!

2003-10-01T16:13:00.000-07:00

CNN's city traffic congestion ratings. It's nice to be the best at something.

What's On...

2003-10-01T09:44:00.000-07:00

What's On My To-Do List Right Now? Well, here's my personal list for the week since my work one is boring as hell.

Buy Frederic Fekkai's A Year of Style

Get a pedicure

Use my Gap gift certificate to buy new fall sweater

Finish reading at least one of the four books I'm in the middle of

Attend pollworker training and actually pay attention this year

Swim!

Buy cat food and litter

Arianna Huffington Drops Out of California Recall Race

2003-09-30T20:14:00.000-07:00

Damn, there went my vote! I mailed my absentee ballot in early, since I will be a pollworker next week (actually, I'll be the inspector, in charge...hope I don't get a whole bunch of old biddies). What a waste. And what a joke this whole thing is. Hope we are really amusing the rest of the country. But remember: we start trends in California. So don't be surprised if a recall election comes your way soon.

Go!

2003-09-29T22:28:00.000-07:00

You must watch the Return of the King trailer if you haven't already.

It's My Birthday, It's My Birthday...Yay!

2003-09-21T20:19:00.000-07:00

Well, it's in four hours actually. Having some wine. About to hop in the shower before my friends get here. And I am actually going out to a club! Believe it people and mark you calendars, because this ain't happened in ages. Who knows when it will happen again, too. Kinda like Halley's Comet.

I just got back from a restorative yoga class. Love the class (this is the second time doing it). Very relaxing and opening for my body. Which needs it because I am suffering from crazy back problems. Over three weeks now and I can't bend forward at all, I have a hard time getting up from sitting, and I have to sit down to put my pants down. I'm turning 31, not 81! But I am seeing a chiropractor and working to do everything I can to get healed.

The Emmy's are on right now, and I find myself just not caring. The only Must See Awards Show for me are the Oscars. And as much as I love TV, I'm just not in to the awards for them.

Speaking of TV...new fall season starts for most of my shows next week! W00t! Very excited. As busy as I am right now, that damn TiVo is going to get worked out.

Shows I'm looking forward to, basic network-wise:

Law & Order

Law & Order: SVU (this show is so depraved. I love it.)

Friends (last season...sigh)

Scrubs (with Scott Foley back! He needs to come over to my place. He'll be saying, "Jennifer Who?")

CSI: Original Recipe (If all of those articles hinting at a Grissom/Sara thing don't come to fruition, well, Bruckheimer, I'm coming after *you*!)

ER (I know...but I still am a sucka for this show)

Alias (Two years?!?!)

24 in October

Notice there are no new shows on that list. Nothing I've read about so far is intriguing me. Let me know if there's anything I should set the TiVo for.

September 11

2003-09-11T13:27:00.000-07:00

Help Sarah find Don.

I Do Love the 80's!

2003-09-11T07:13:00.000-07:00

Really. I do. And, of course, I love VH1's series by that name. But lately, everytime I turn on the music channel, the newest series I Love the 70's is on. And you know what? I just don't love the 70's. I love 70's cinema and I love a bit of the music. But for the most part, I only *like* the 70's. Born in '72, I just wasn't aware of much that was going on in the world of pop culture then. Except Sesame Street and Electric Company, maybe. That's not to say I don't get most of the references on the show. I do. But I just don't have the nostalgia for the 70's like I do for the Reagan-era, acid-washed, Facts of Life-watching, bad-hair 80's.

So I was happy to read that this fall, VH1 is launching a new series called I Love the 80's Strikes Back? Well, I just hope it will be smurfilicious.

This Disc Will Self-Destruct in 48 Hours

2003-09-10T15:48:00.000-07:00

I think I have to agree with the environmentalists on this one. Fer crissakes, does everything we buy have to be disposable and are we so lazy that we can't even return a DVD to Blockbuster?

What's On...

2003-09-10T15:19:00.000-07:00

What's on the top of my refrigerator right now, you ask? Well, let's see. A plastic yellow wine rack from Ikea with no wine in it. A bottle of gin, about 1/4 full. A bottle of triple sec about 1/2 full. An unopened box of Trader Joe's Soy Milk. That's it. I don't keep too much up there.

Finally, it has happened to me...

2003-09-10T14:35:00.000-07:00

Ok, nothing really has happened to me. Just that song running through my head today.

Don't you wish you had a pack of these with you every time you went to the movies?

The new fall TV season is rapidly approaching and there is only one new show that really has me excited and it's not even on a broadcast channel. But it is HBO. ::cue up HBO theme song:: And if HBO makes a cross between Twin Peaks and Something Wicked This Way Comes, I'll be planting my fat ass on the couch Sunday nights. I'm talking, of course, about Carnivale. EW gave it a mediocre review, while Matt Roush (TV Guide) loved it. Other reviews have been mixed, but who cares. I am very excited for it. Love the period, love the atmosphere, love freaks and carnies.

Funk

2003-09-09T14:56:00.000-07:00

Seems like I'm in another blogging funk. Not that there isn't anything to say, I just don't have quite the energy to really get started. This happens every few weeks, doesn't it? (Too lazy to even look through my archives.) And I probably won't be able to get to it until later this week.

In fact, let me just say I'll have an update tomorrow. Give myself a deadline that I will have to keep (since I know there are a whole three people waiting anxiously for my entries).

Until tomorrow...

Back Off, Be-yotch!

2003-09-02T18:11:00.000-07:00

You're Gangsta Bitch Barbie. You're tough and you
like it rough, and of course you like to pop a
cap in any wiggers ass.

If You Were A Barbie, Which Messed Up Version Would You Be?
brought to you by Quizilla

A Weekend Under the Influence...of laziness.

2003-09-01T08:46:00.000-07:00

If I was posting every day this past weekend, it might bore you to tears. "Sat on my couch and watched a movie. Sat on my friends couch and watched tv. Went to gym. Came home." etc.

But it's been a great mellow three days, so far, and I badly needed the time to recharge my batteries before next week's round of running around (two nights in Las Vegas and an overnight trip down to Carlsbad).

I've caught up on some of my TiVo finds. Namely A Decade Under the Influence. A great documentary that was at the movies recently, but is now being shown on IFC over three nights, about the American film revolution of the 70's. Without a doubt, many of the movies and directors interviewed or discussed in the doc are my personal favorites (Coppola, Scorcese, Cassavettes, etc.) and it was inspiring to hear about the take over of Old Hollywood by these then-young turks. It also inspired me to pull Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex-Drugs-Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood off my shelf to finally read. I'm looking forward to reading some of the scandals behind the genius of 70's cinema.

Interview, Part 2

2003-08-28T08:20:00.000-07:00

My second set of interview questions (see rules below), from the scrumdidleyumptious Texas T-Bone:

1. How were you first introduced to the world of blogging? Why do you blog?
I vaguely knew of the blog concept, had read a few, and decided to start my own on a whim, really. I enjoy letting people in my life know what's up with me and my life. I thought at first my blog would be more a collection of links to movie/tv/pop culture news, but I find that I also enjoy talking about what I'm up to in life.

2. If you could have one wish come true, what would it be?
Right now, I would love to disappear my debt. That's the practical answer. But my real one wish is to have an incredible relationship. I can work the debt myself, but finding the right guy and all of that...well, a little more elusive.

3. What's your secret? (Interpret this any way you like).
If I told you, I'd have to kill you. (Such a cheesy stock answer.) Damn, I don't really think that I have any *big* secrets. Some things only a few people know about me, but for the most part I'm an open book. So I will reinterpret the question by saying that my secret to a fairly happy life is to just let things go.

4. List five things that make you a special and unique person.

My best recipes are all breakfast foods and baked goods.

I've both been enlisted in the Coast Guard and lived in a vegetarian co-op in Berkeley.

Get some wine in me and I will sing karaoke 'til I can sing no more.

I won my 6th grade spelling bee.

I love liverwurst.

5. What is your passion?
I've always envied people that have passions in life. For many years, while I've happily tried new activities, it seems I've never found my one true passsion, if there even exists such a thing. Really, I've got a number of them:

My martial arts training.

Reading, especially sci-fi.

A few certain tv shows, past and present.

Loving my life and the people in it.

Good coffee. And fried foods.

What's On...

2003-08-27T14:50:00.000-07:00

What's On My Mind Right Now?

Well...it's that I've just realized that I really don't know how to flirt. Or more accurately, that I just don't do it.

See, there is this guy I've had a huge crush on for ages. I've been good at keeping it under wraps. But recently, we have started spending some time away from the normal thing we do in a whole 'nother social milieu. (Cryptic, I know.) Anyway, I'm crushing hard and in two different conversations I've had about it I've been asked if I flirt with him. It then dawned on me that I don't even know what to do. That's not to say that we aren't comfortable when we chat and laugh and all that. And I did find myself once or twice last night punctuating a sentence with a touch on his arm, but that's it!

I missed so many verbal opportunities. Witty comebacks are almost always on my lips, but never flirty ones. And I'm just realizing that there is a difference. What to do, I wonder...

Interview, Part 1

2003-08-27T09:11:00.000-07:00

The latest blogging phenomena is the “Interview.” And because I am not one to shun a fad, I’ve got a few questions to answer.

But first, the rules:

1. If you want to participate, leave me a comment saying, "interview me."
2. I will respond by asking you five questions - each person's will be different.
3. You will update your journal with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview others in the same post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

My first interview, with questions posed by the lovely sassylittlepunkin:

1. Do you think it's still relevant to teach a class like home ec in middle or high school?
I never actually had the opportunity to take home ec when I was in school. But I suspect I might have learned something more useful in my daily life than I did in honors trig. As much as we think “home ec” should be taught by parents in the home, that’s not always the case. Kids need practical skills and even if the classes are a little goofy, I see them as important.

2. What is your favorite card and/or board game? Do you enjoy games--why or why not?
I adore games. In fact, I’m going to spend time playing games with friends this weekend. I’ll play just about anything – trivia games, card games (especially poker), classic board games. Can’t say I really have a favorite. But I do love the way games bring people together and have many fond memories playing Monopoly or Risk as a kid. And, I like to win.

3. What is one rule of etiquette or manners that was instilled in you that you stick by firmly?
This is a strange, minor one, but I was told by mom that whenever you give a wallet or purse as a gift, it’s bad luck to not put some money in it. So I always put a token $1 or $5 in the billfold.

4. Do you think you can ever really 'know' someone completely?
No. People never cease to amaze me.

5. What is your computer's wallpaper/background theme? Do you think it accurately reflects your personality?
At home, the wallpaper is Gollum (see my post last week on the new Return of the King posters) and the screensaver is a 3-D Matrix thing. Here at work, I’m using the Gandalf poster from RotK. And generic stars screensaver. Can you guess what two movies I’m looking forward to?

Bonus: what is your favorite Katharine Hepburn movie?

Philadelphia Story.

Later today I will answer the questions posed by another blogger.

New Comments

2003-08-27T07:39:00.000-07:00

I know the enetation comments are not the most stable, so in tandem, I'm giving another system a try...so give me a shout out with the the feeling hits.

Some TV News

2003-08-26T13:06:00.000-07:00

Bob Newhart will be guesting on a few episodes of ER this season. I still can't get enough of him on TVLand. Let's just hope he doesn't wake up next to George Clooney saying he's just had the strangest dream. (Of course, that would be impossible, since *I* wake up next to Mr. Clooney.)

USA has picked up Dead Zone for a third season. I love how this show is so earnest and so cheesy sometimes, yet is quite powerful. And Anthony Michael Hall grew up really nicely.

Back again

2003-08-26T13:00:00.000-07:00

I have returned from yet another wedding and long weekend away. This time the oldest of my four younger siblings, my brother Andy tied the knot. The wedding was quite fun, in their friend's back yard. A short and sweet ceremony followed by lot's of great food, drink and dancing. Good times. Andy and his wife, Amy, are now off to Thailand for a two-week honeymoon, of which I am quite envious.

Never have I really taken a vacation and travelled just for travelling's sake. I'm always running off to visit some friend or family member around the U.S. And I've gone to Vegas many times (in fact, I've got two trips planned for September), as well as a white water rafting trip last year on the American River. But I've never had the need for a passport or spent 18 hours on a plane. Never have I been in a foreign country (Tijuana doesn't really count) where I couldn't speak the language.

So next year -- I'm making this happen. Where, I'm not sure. But it will happen.

It's Funny, 'Cuz It's True

2003-08-20T16:10:00.000-07:00

From The Onion:

Is it December, yet?

2003-08-20T10:54:00.000-07:00

More great Return of the King posters.

Sweet transvestite from Transexual, Transylvania

2003-08-18T15:57:00.000-07:00

Tim Curry really is my idol.

For my sister's birthday, I took her to see The Rocky Horror Picture Show, put on midnight every Saturday at the Nuart Theater by Sins of the Flesh. She was de-virginized a few months ago and for me it was my 5th or 6th viewing overall. The cute little, young, "we think we are so transgressive" crowd amuses me.

But really, it's all about Tim Curry. The facial expressions, the prancing, that he actually looks hot in fishnets and heels. Total sex on wheels.

On October 17, Sins of the Flesh is reprising their enactment of Clue. More Tim Curry goodness.

Sick, but funny

2003-08-17T09:42:00.000-07:00

Heard about a new drink called a "Jon Benet": vanilla vodka, ginger ale and splash of grenadine, with a cherry split on the rim of the glass.

Internet Habits

2003-08-16T08:16:00.000-07:00

1. How much time do you spend online each day?
Hmm...at work I'm on and off all day. At home and on the weekends...well, it all depends on how much I have going on in my life that day. Some evenings, not at all. Others, two hours. Same with the weekends.

2. What is your browser homepage set to?
Yahoooooooooo!

3. Do you use any instant messaging programs? If so, which one(s)?
AIM and Yahoo! Messenger. But not really that much.

4. Where was your first webpage located?
This is it.

5. How long have you had your current website?
Too lazy to look at the archives, but I think I started in May 2003.

--Friday Five

What's On...

2003-08-13T08:44:00.000-07:00

What's On your kitchen walls Right Now?

I'm not home, so I need to visualize right now...ok. There is a bulletin board filled mostly with baby/kid pics of all my friends' and family's young 'uns. Pinned on the board, also, is a pair of Dodgers tickets for September and some theme park discount coupons. On another wall is a poster of the Andy Warhol banana (appropriate for the kitchen). There is another framed print of a Matisse with some abstract fruits and vegetables. The last thing on my walls is the one thing I don't want to really admit to...a David Duchovny calendar. Yeah, I know. But he's a hottie and I still can't get over my little X-Files obsession.

More Leo Birthdays!

2003-08-12T20:18:00.000-07:00

If you've ever read any of Ray Bradbury's novels or short stories (I have too many favorites to name), then you must sign the giant birthday card to celebrate his 83rd.

Quiet Time

2003-08-11T17:07:00.000-07:00

The past few days have been some down time for me. Really, all I did was hang out with friends, drink some Two-Buck Chuck, and watch a bit of tv. Took a hilarious trip down high school memory lane with a couple of friends and spent a good hour googling people we knew ten years ago. The most fruitful find was the recent wedding pictures of a friend/nemesis of mine. Though seeing her pictures and being happy for her, I realized how over that old shit I am.

Did have some good workouts, including an hour-long turbo kickboxing class and an hour and half yoga class in one day that really whipped my ass. And I did manage to get a nice, long nap on Friday, completing one of my ten to-do things. Damn, I love a good nap.

Speaking of my to-do list, after doing some searching and playing, I'm going to stick with Blogspot and this design, at least for a while longer. A body at rest will stay at rest and all. And remember, my birthday says I'm lazy.

2003-08-11T16:58:00.000-07:00

According to PressAnyKey, this is what my birthday (September 22, people...mark your calendar):

Accepts what life dishes out in a composed way

hates fighting

stress and labor

tends to laziness and idleness

soft and relenting

makes sacrifices for friends

many talents but not tenacious enough to make them blossom

often wailing and complaining

very jealous

loyal.

So very true, actually.

(Thanks to sassy little punkin for the link.)

2003-08-06T10:05:00.000-07:00

Looking for a new Wednesday meme to do (I haven't kept up with any of late...) I found "What's On...Right Now?" and though I'd give it a whirl even though this week's question isn't as interesting as some of the past ones.

What's On My To-Do List Right Now? (really, this is for the weekend):

1. Find new blog template or hosting site (possibly TypePad).

2. Clean crack house.

3. Study new Ikea catalog and think of ways to re-do my bedroom.

4. Fix dangling bike headlight so I can ride it to the beach this weekend and enjoy the great SoCal weather.

5. Shop for new dress for brother's upcoming wedding.

6. Wash car inside and out.

7. Burn Leona Naess CD for friend who went to concert last night with me.

8. Workout this weekend, including two yoga classes. No excuses.

9. Nap.

10. Finish Return of the King.

2003-08-06T07:54:00.000-07:00

You Say It's Your Birthday...

There are a lot of folks I know celebrating their birthdays today. My sister is turning 21! (I feel sooo old.) My friend's sis and my cousin also share this birthday. And that female icon of comedy, Lucille Ball, would have turned 92 today. Best wishes all you Leos.

2003-08-06T07:50:00.000-07:00

Music

Last night, I saw some live music for the first time in ages. And free! Which is always good. Leona Naess opened a show at the Troubadour and I scored tickets from her mailing list. I’ve been a fan of hers for a few years now, and though she plays a lot of small, local gigs, I had never taken the opportunity to see her live. She played a 45-minute set that included many new songs off of her upcoming self-titled third album (September 2003). A few of which are on a cd-sampler handed out as my friend and I were leaving. I was most happy when she did rocked out doing “Charm Attack,” from her first album Comatised. All in all, a great way to spend a Tuesday evening.

Because we didn’t stay to watch the headliner (a band called Hem), I was home in time to catch this week’s Queer Eye for the Straight Guy. This was the first ep that I found a little disappointing. But not much could compare to last week’s tearjerker marriage proposal. I still adore the Fab 5 and am loving this little oasis in the middle of the dry summer TV season.

2003-08-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

For all you Sex and the City fans...how to make an Absolut Hunk:

4 parts Absolut Vanilia, 1 part simple syrup, 1 part fresh lime juice and a splash of pineapple juice. Pour Absolut Vanilia over ice in a shaker. (Create simple syrup by mixing equal parts water and sugar and stand mixture aside until it has dissolved into a simple syrup.) Add simple syrup, fresh lime juice and pineapple juice. Shake or stir well. Strain and serve in chilled martini glass. Garnish with a lime.

2003-07-29T09:08:00.000-07:00

Soo Bahk!

As Alex mentioned in the comments yesterday, I am, indeed going to NY/NJ this weekend. Thursday, actually, I'm leaving on a jet plan for beautiful East Rutherford, New Jersey, site of the 2003 Soo Bahk Do Moo Duk Kwan National Championship and Celebration. This will be my third trip to Nationals and second time to the lovely Sheraton Meadowlands, where I am staying and the event is being held. Also, this is my second year as the female member of the Region 9 sparring team. Yay me.

After competition on Friday, my chariot...no, bus...will be awaiting to take me a few short miles across the Hudson and into Manhattan. There I'll be meeting many of my "imaginary" online friends for the first time ever. Very cool. We will be grubbing down on some Italian food and then hit the lanes for bowling in Greenwich Village...it's "New Jersey in New York" in honor of my accomodations.

Last year, when I came to Nationals, well...that's another story for another time. Let's just say that not knowing where you are going and driving hours around northern New Jersey looking for some crazy hotel and restaurants in the middle of nowher and then later having a meltdown at the America West terminal when they tell you your flight has been cancelled and rescheduled 20 hours later...not so fun. Though getting yummy ice cream in Brooklyn, very fun.

This year, though, the adventure should prove to be much more enjoyable and much less challenging.

2003-07-28T10:21:00.000-07:00

TiVo!

Friday morning, the installer arrived at 9:20 am to set up my DirecTV satellite and receiver that has TiVo built in. I have been lusting after TiVo for a long time and, already, it's transformed the way I watch television. No more being tied to the broadcast schedule! No more having to remember (and forgetting) to set the VCR! Between the DSL I installed a few weeks ago and the DTiVo, well, I feel like I finally joined the 21st Century.

Interested in learning more about TiVo? Check out the TiVo Community Forum. Also, last week I came across PVR Blog, with a great layout and easy to read posts on TiVo and other digital recorders.

2003-07-23T08:06:00.000-07:00

McSweeney's Questions for VH1's "I Love the 80's" celebrity comentators. And an interesting article about how marketers are bringing back 80's icons to get the Gen X nostalgia-dollar. Have you seen the resurgence of Strawberry Shortcake and Care Bears merchandise? I find it rather odd, actually. But then again, icons like Gumby and Betty Boop have been around for ages. (via Pop Culture Junk Mail)

2003-07-23T07:49:00.000-07:00

24 will be return for it's 3rd season 3 years in the future! Read a few other Day 3 spoilers here. I don't usually read spoilers for this show, which would have ruined many great surprises for me (She killed Teri! You bastard!), but I'm finding that I need some pre-season ones this year to quell my fear that the show has run its course and should have stopped after one season. Oh, and the Kim thing, if you read the article...please shoot me now.

And it's nice to know Kiefer hates those promos at the end of each episode that give away too much of the plot as much as I do. I won't watch them and if a commercial comes on during week, I close my eyes and sing loudly to my self...lalalalala...until it's over. The Fox monkeys are asshats and they give away too much.

2003-07-22T08:36:00.000-07:00

Update?! Update?! We Don't Need No Stinkin' Updates!

Ok, I know I've been a bad blogger. No update in a week. Boring. Losing readers.

And I don't really have a reason/excuse like I've been too busy. Just...well, not feeling the bloggin' love. What can I say but to humbly beg for your forgiveness.

I promise today I will scour the web and bring you all sorts of fun stuff. Really.

2003-07-15T11:43:00.000-07:00

Return

Home and happy to be back out of the humidity. The trip was great, but I'm back at work trying to catch up while suffering from a sinus infection...so the update will have to wait. But I will post the details and even some pictures this weekend. Time to dust up the non-existent HTML skills and put together a photos page. Stay tuned!

2003-07-06T20:42:00.000-07:00

"Kathy Bates Naked Bathing"

Some anonymous web user did a search for the above set of terms and managed to get to Baked Fresh that way. The search results hit this combo of posts:

... is not in the habit of bathing regularly. ... Kathy Bates is once again behind the camera directing ... Unconcious Mutterings: Naked::Lunch; Singular::Sensation; Particle ...

The odd thing about this fact is that I just watched About Schmidt this evening for the first time.

We rented the movie, along with picking up some pizza (all free...my brother works at Domino's and gets free movies at the video store next door) after a day of fun in the water and sun. My dad, step-mom, sister and my folks' two best friends and I rented a pontoon, packed the coolers full of snacks and beer, and spent the afternoon on a nearby lake.

The flight in yesterday went well. This was my first time on Continental. They have an all-new fleet and great in-flight movie/tv show selections each individual gets to pick from and watch in the back of the seat in front of them. I caught episodes of Scrubs, Absolutely Fabulous, and CSI as well as bits of Old School. Watching the guy next to me watch it, I knew when to flip channels to the most amusing parts.

Last night, I had the pleasure of meeting my almost one-year-old niece. She is a doll! Fussy when she's tired (who isn't?!) but a pleasure nonetheless. She likes to be held a lot, especially by whomever is standing up. I finished my dinner before most of my family was still eating, so I took her for an early evening stroll up and down the street. We waved at neighbors, smelled and touched still-wet-from-the-afternoon-rain flowers, and saw some dogs. As simple as that sounds, it was incredible for me. My uterus did a little flip-flop everytime I looked at her.

2003-07-04T22:00:00.000-07:00

You say it's your birthday

Happy 227th Birthday, America.

I'm all packed up and ready for a 7am flight tomorrow morning (which the airport shuttle is picking me up at 4:45am for! 4 fucking 45 am!) to Arkansas. My youngest brother is getting married in a week and I'm heading out early to spend time with my family, especially my niece who I haven't met yet. What I'm not looking forward to is the humidity and heat. My little Southern California self hasn't been in that kind of weather in a while.

I will update later as the travelling happens. Maybe even with some pics...stay tuned!

2003-07-03T07:47:00.000-07:00

I think I'm turning Japanese...

The wonderful Matrix essays gives us this link to the Japanese Agent Smiths. Scroll down the entire page. The captions are as amusing as the photos.

2003-07-03T07:33:00.000-07:00

The Blob

It's this kind of thing that freaks me out a bit about the deep sea and what kind of creatures are lurking down below.

2003-07-02T07:59:00.000-07:00

Long Live the King

You can send the teaser poster to a friend or download it as desktop wallpaper at the Official Site.

2003-07-02T07:57:00.000-07:00

More Bouncy Summertime Goodness

I just can't seem to get my posts on the right days...but who really cares?!

1. Lemonade or Ice Cold Beer? Really, lemonade. With some gin added.

2. Swimming pool or beach? If I had my choice, probably a pool. But I don't know anyone with one, so I'm at the beach more often.

3. Long weekends here & there, or a 2-week vacation? Long weekends here and there. More trips to look forward to.

4. Destination: Acapulco or Hawaii? Somewhere in Hawaii, off the beaten track.

5. Destination: Mountains or Beach? In the summer, definitely the beach. But it's only 10 minutes away, so not much of a special destination. I take it for granted.

6. Hotel/motel/B&B or camping? Camping.

7. Carefully planned vacation, or play it by ear? Too much Virgo in me to play it by ear.

8. Sneakers or sandals? Sandals most of the time. And pedicures, to keep the feet looking nice.

9. Air-conditioning or fans? Since it doesn't get that hot here, really, fans work much nicer.

10. Concerts in the park or baseball games? Gotta love the boys of summer!

--This or That

2003-06-30T15:07:00.000-07:00

Rage!

I thouroughly enjoyed 28 Days Later. Sure, there's nothing new about the end-of-the-world, humans-can-be-monsters theme, but I'm Danny Boyle's bitch and I found it quite interesting. IMDB has some trivia tidbits on how the movie was filmed. SPOILERY!

2003-06-30T14:36:00.000-07:00

Summertime and the Living's Easy

In the "better late than never" category, last week's Friday Five:

1. How are you planning to spend the summer? Well, there is this pesky full-time job thing I've got going on. I'm also going to three weddings, two of which are my brothers. In fact, I'm leaving this Saturday to go to Hot Sprinks, Arkansas for over a week and attending one of the weddings. In August, I head to Santa Cruz for the other brother. I also have a trip to Vegas and kayaking Black Canyon, a few waterpark trips and whatever else comes my way in the next coupla months.

2. What was your first summer job? Yeah, you'll love this one. Hot Dog on a Stick. With the hats. And the shorts. And the making of the lemonade. Hey, I was 15 and in 1987, while minimum wage was $3.75, they started at $5.00 an hour. Yes, I am a whore.

3. If you could go anywhere this summer, where would you go? I would love to spend a week in a small fishing village down in Baja. Sleep late. Swim and lay around the beach. Read a lot of books. Eat fish tacos and drink cold cervezas.

4. What was your worst vacation ever? Can't say as I really have a worst vacation story. Nothing horrible comes to mind. I've been sick and missed a trip or two, however.

5. What was your best vacation ever? Most of my vacations involve visiting family. I've taken few purely in the spirit of vacationing. Last 4th of July, however, I went white water rafting on the American River near Sacramento and had a blast!

2003-06-30T14:00:00.000-07:00

We're All Damned

Gimcracker posted this link to a hilarious 70's Scientology manual.

2003-06-30T13:46:00.000-07:00

Best friends

Who was your first "best friend"? Do you still keep in touch with them now?

My first "best friend" was a girl named Julie whom I met in junior high school. I had had my share of friends in elementary school and the first two years of jr. high, but none that could be deemed the "best." Julie, however, in the ninth grade declared us "best friends" above and beyond the other girls in our group. In some ways, it was like having a first boyfriend (but not like *that*...get your mind out of the gutter!) I felt special. She had *choosen* me and we were thick as thieves that year. High school came and we attended different schools. We were still close for about a year or so. And then, as friendships have a way of doing, we drifted apart. (Well, it was a little more deliberate than drifting on my end...but that's another memory for another time.) I ran in to her a few times in the years after high school. Last I heard, about five or so years ago she moved to Colorado. Now and again I wonder what her life has become and I think about stopping by her parent's house to inquire, but I never do. Maybe one day...

--Monday Memory

2003-06-27T08:03:00.000-07:00

Bad Girl

I've been a bad blogger this week, with my lack of updates and all. I wish I had some great, wild stories to regale you with now that I'm actually posting. But alas, there is nothing of the sort. I've just been busy with work and training at the martial arts studio. And procrastinating, as well.

My big news is that I've finally joined the 21st century and installed DSL last night. Don't even get me started on the ineptitude that is Earthlink customer service and the big fuck-up they made by charging me $221.60 for two units (that is still not resolved and removed from my bank account)...but the speed of the DSL service is incredible. Can't believe I've been living with dial-up for so long.

I should have been on the open road this morning heading to Yosemite, but the Earthlink snafu and a few other financial things have kept me home. I'm definitely bummed about missing the Half Dome hike and spending time with my brother, his fiance, and their wonderful friends...but sometimes life just gets in the way.

I do have some fun plans for the weekend. In a few hours, after I drag my sorry ass to the gym, I'm spending the day in Long Beach with a friend. Lunch, a matinee of 28 Days Later, and some time at one of my favorite used bookstores, Acres of Books. I haven't been there in years, but I remember the tall, narrow aisles, the musty smell of the old books, and the feeling of "you never know what book you just might find" feeling of that store fondly.

2003-06-24T10:23:00.000-07:00

Quote of the Week

When the student is ready, the teacher will appear. --Buddhist proverb

2003-06-23T17:01:00.000-07:00

Summer

When you were a kid, how did you spend your summers? Did you go to camp or stay home? Did your family go on lots of vacations?

Summers were mostly about *not* being in school. Not that I didn't enjoy school, but it was great to have a break. My family was never rolling in dough, but we were always able to take a camping trip or two. I also spent a lot of time at the beach with my mom and younger brother, Andy, when I was little. Twice I went to the YMCA gymnastic camp for a week. And a day camp or two, as well. As I got older and was more independent, Andy and I would often ride our bikes down to the park. There was a regular group of kids we would hang out with, shot caroms, play tag, buy junk food at 7-Eleven and generally kill time with. Those couple of early junior high summers were definitely my favorites.

--Monday Memory

2003-06-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

Dodger Blue

I saw the last two Dodger games versus the Angels in a sell-out Dodger Stadium. Both were fun, with the Dodgers winning 4-2 on Saturday and losing 6-3 yesterday. Now, my body is recovering from the junk food fiesta. Here's a list of what I consumed at the park over two days:

Two Dodger Dogs

One Chip's It ice cream sandwich

Shared two nachos

One beer

Two Krispy Kreme donuts

Some Cracker Jacks

Buuurrrrp!

2003-06-20T11:20:00.000-07:00

Hair

1. Is your hair naturally curly, wavy, or straight? Long or short? My hair naturally has a bit of a wave to it. It's long now, for me, which is just below my shoulders.

2. How has your hair changed over your lifetime? As a kid, I had very long hair. It got shorter and shorter over my childhood years. In ninth grade, I went very short. And it stayed in some version of short for over 10 years (with a few aborted grow outs and perms thrown in) until I decided it would be nice to grow it out right, with my hairdresser's help, about 3 years ago. I've had spiky, wavy, permed, straight, and lots in between. If I had a scanner, I'd post a few.

3. How do your normally wear your hair? I'm pretty low-maintenance. More often than not, it's in a ponytail. Or just blown out, with little product in it. A headband holds it off my forehead other times.

4. If you could change your hair this minute, what would it look like? I need to trim it about two inches. Which I'm doing in two weeks. And getting highlights for the first time ever, which I'm really looking forward to.

5. Ever had a hair disaster? What happened? I had successfully grown my hair to my shoulders from a short cut back in 1996 or so. I went to get a trim at a cheap shop and next thing I know, the hairdresser has layered and feathered it! I looked like Farrah Fawcett. I sat in the car after, cried, and decided that *no one* was going to see it. I immediately went to another shop and told them I had decided to go short and had them chop a ton of it off.

--Friday Five

2003-06-19T07:20:00.000-07:00

June Gloom

It's getting to me today. For those of you who have never lived in Southern California, it's not all sunny skies and hot weather in the summer. Every year, we experience an early summer full of gray skies and cool temperatures, especially near the coast. This can last well into July and can make for some dreary summer months. True, we're not baking. And I'll wish for a few of these days come those hot, late summer, Santa Ana wind-full days. But right now I'm ready for a little sunshine to pick up my spirit.

2003-06-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

Bada Bing Reloaded

The Washington Post is reporting that, actually, one prinicipal cast member of the Sopranos was not invited to discussions about returning for a sixth season, though David Chase is reconsidering that decision. Interesting considering that person's storyline this past season and possible upcoming storylines for the fifth season. Don't want to say much more to spoil it, but read the article if you are interested.

2003-06-18T14:08:00.000-07:00

Bada Bing

The Sopranos is adding a slightly-shortened, 10-episode Season 6. All principals are signed on, it seems. Unless they get whacked during the upcoming Season 5. And with this show, ya' never know. R.I.P. Ralphie.

2003-06-18T13:56:00.001-07:00

You say you want a revolution...

A new poster for Matrix Revolutions is up at the official site. 11.05. Marked in the calendar.

2003-06-17T09:36:00.000-07:00

Literature

1. Newspapers or magazines? I read fewer magazines now than I have in the past. And newspapers usually only on the weekend.

2. Books-on-tape or regular books? Regular books most definitely. The only time I listen to books-on-tape is on a roadtrip.

3. Paperback or hardcover? Generally paperback. Hardcovers are expensive.

4. Fiction or non-fiction? Fiction. Hands down.

5. Sci-Fi/Fantasy or romance novels? Romance?! Ugh. No Fabio here.

6. Borrow from library or buy books (either new or used)? Mostly buy used. And re-sell online if I don't want to hang on to it. I do use the library for more current fiction.

7. Subscribe to magazines or buy on newsstand? Subscribe. I love having treats in my mailbox.

8. Current best-sellers or classic literature? Classic lit. Little of the current stuff appeals to me.

9. Read books once, or re-read favorites every so often? Mostly once. There are a few books I've re-read. Great Gatsby is one, The Sun Also Rises is another.

10. Here in the U.S., we have two hot best-sellers...former First Lady Hillary Clinton's memoirs, and the new Harry Potter book (coming out June 21). If you had to read one, which one...Hillary or Harry? Why? Easy. Harry by far. I'm psyched for this book. Sometimes I think how fun it would be to be about 11 years old and reading these books. When I was that age, I was caught up in things like The Chronicles of Narnia and the Madeleine L'Engle books.

--This or That

2003-06-16T13:28:00.000-07:00

Quote for the Week

People become what they expect themselves to become. -- Mahatma Gandhi

2003-06-16T13:24:00.000-07:00

Huh?!

Somebody got to Baked Fresh by googling "Half Dome Strippers".

2003-06-16T11:26:00.000-07:00

Busy weekend

Attended the Regional Soo Bahk Do Tournament on Saturday. Spent most of the day judging the lower (Gup) levels, both children and adults. Black belt (Dan) competition was later in the afternoon. Unfortunately, in the last few years in our region, not many of the dan women have been competing so the competition has been slim. Same thing this year, but I do get to move on to Nationals in New Jersey as the female member of the Region 9 sparring team the first weekend in August.

Yesterday, I hiked Peak 2049 in Malibu State Park. 6 miles roundtrip with about 1500' elevation gain on the way up. My friend and I then headed to Will Rogers State Beach for a little relaxation and sun (that was hiding a bit in the coastal haze).

Got home tired and a bit achy. After a long, hot shower and dinner, I settled on the couch and read the last 100 pages of A Game of Thrones. Wow. Great book. I don't read much fantasy but a friend raved so much about the series I knew I would love it. The second book, A Clash of Kings is on my coffee table and waiting to be cracked open tonight.

Which is good, because on Friday I was sad to see my *cough* free *cough* cable is gone. With all my travelling over the next couple of months, getting DIRECTV/TiVo combo will have to wait until later in the summer. Time to get the rabbit ears out.

2003-06-13T19:12:00.000-07:00

Potpourri:

1. What's one thing you've always wanted to do, but never have? Hmmm...last year I white water rafted, which was on the list. But now I think the next activity that I want to do is camp in the Grand Canyon.

2. When someone asks your opinion about a new haircut/outfit/etc, are you always honest? If I like it, then of course I'm honest. If I don't think an outfit is very flattering, I will say something, because clothes can be returned. Haircuts, though...there's not much that can be done so I would definitely soften by opinion a bit.

3. Have you ever found out something about a friend and then wished you hadn't? What happened? Nothing comes to mind, right now. No cheating spouses or anything that would cause me to be uncomfortable with the knowledge.

4. If you could live in any fictional world (from a book/movie/game/etc.) which would it be and why? The first thing that comes to mind is the world of the X-Files. But only if I can be Scully circa Season 5-7. 'Cause she has a hot partner and her clothes/hair were styling then.

5. What's one talent/skill you don't have but always wanted? I'd like to be able to play guitar, but have put absolutely no effort in to learning.

-- Friday Five

2003-06-12T07:50:00.000-07:00

Off with her hands!

After having been reported to the authorities and her children taken away for abuse, a Toronto woman proceeded to chop off her reporting neighbor's hands. With a machete. Who the hell has a machete lying around?

Too bad, Yanks

And go Astros! A record six Houston pitchers delivered the Yankees first no-hitter in 45 years. At Yankee stadium. Joe Torre said, "Tonight was an ugly, ugly performance."

2003-06-11T10:21:00.000-07:00

Here's your chance to feel like a prepubescent girl!

An online version of MASH. You know...a list of boys, cars, cities, number of kids. Then they are eliminated one-by-one until you find out that you will live in a Paris shack with Joe, have 12 kids and drive a Volkswagen. Yeah, that game.

2003-06-11T07:32:00.000-07:00

The Matrix Retitled

Check out other franchise options for The Matrix at Fametracker (a truly wonderful, snarky site). My two favorite titles for the Matrix:

The Matrix Redondo Beach Party (I'll take it as a shout-out since one of my best friends lives there.)

The Matrix Re: My Memo of Last Week (Another shout-out since I'm always writing memos at work.)

2003-06-10T16:26:00.000-07:00

Single White Female

Thanks again to Alex, for posting Forbes' Best Cities for Singles 2003 article. Alex commented on his home, New York, which was ranked 8th overall. Los Angeles came in right above at 7th. And we are up from 15th in 2002. The article points out:

L.A. sings its siren's song to the beautiful and talented. Imagine a highway-strewn, sprawling Eden packed with fame-seeking attention addicts. Annoying, yes, but also incredibly exciting. Los Angeles has the third-largest ratio of singles on our list, behind Austin and New Orleans. Whether celebrating the landing of a cameo on Everybody Loves Raymond, or drowning their insecurities with shots of Grey Goose, young Angelinos go out a lot, and there's a massive infrastructure to support them.

I need to get out more and meet some of these singles. Or move to Austin.

2003-06-10T10:50:00.000-07:00

Braaiiins!

Thanks to Alex for reminding me about a movie I'm eager to see -- 28 Days Later -- a zombie (or not quite) movie from Danny Boyle. From the BBC review:

London is a graveyard. Once-packed streets are deserted. Shops empty. An eerie silence reigns. And, no, there's not a tube strike. There's a zombie invasion...

The creatures in "28 Days Later", though, are rage-fuelled humans with unusual strength and speed.

Sweet. Need to dust off my Night of The Living Dead DVD to prepare.

2003-06-10T07:17:00.000-07:00

TV Show/Movie This-or-That:

1. "The Munsters" or "The Addams Family"? Now I'd say the Addams Family, but I watched a whole lot of Munsters on Saturday mornings when I was a kid.

2. "The Sopranos" or the "Godfather" movies? Too hard to choose. I love them both. I'm a sucker for the gangster genre.

3. "The Jetsons" or "Lost in Space"? Jetsons. Much better doodads.

4. "Superman" or "Batman" (either the TV shows or the movies)? Superman, most definitely.

5. "Sex & The City" or "Friends"? Tough one. Love them both in different ways.

6."The Wizard of Oz" or the "Harry Potter" movies? Wizard of Oz is a beloved classic, but I really dug the last Harry Potter movie.

7. "The Simpsons" or "King of the Hill"? The Simpsons. Though I love Bobby Hill.

8. Grease" or "Saturday Night Fever"? Saturday Night Fever. I don't dig musicals all that much.

9. Old prime-time soaps: "Dallas" or "Dynasty"? Most definitely Dallas. I was a tad too young for either, but did watch Dallas. Can't get much better than "Who shot J.R.?"

10. Not very thought-provoking this week...do you prefer TV shows or movies? Tough call. Love them both, but they meet different needs. Can't really choose.

2003-06-09T23:11:00.000-07:00

Late night Monday Memory:

What was your favourite food when you were younger? Was it something you typically had for dinner, or lunch, or even breakfast? Do you still love it?

My all-time favorite food when I was younger was my mom's version of meat and potato pie. I now know it as shepherd's pie, but we never called it that. Her version was literally meat, mashed potatoes, and cheese melted on top. It was my special meal...the thing she would make for dinner whenever I had a big event the next day--dance recital, karate testing, spelling bee. Or my birthday. I still ask her to make it for me, and once in a while, she does.

2003-06-09T08:39:00.000-07:00

Quote for the Week:

Master your past in the present, or the past will master your future.

(from Open Your Mind, Open Your Life, the little one.)

2003-06-08T22:46:00.000-07:00

Recovering

From the bachelorette party. My friend and I ended up going to the Pleasure Chest in West Hollywood (my old, brief 'hood, I've missed you!) and picked up some Kama Sutra kit for the gift. And Emotion Lotion (I love the cheesy late 60's logo on the bottle). At the party, the food was great and the company even better. The pink panties were very yummy and I highly recommend. Throw a bunch of gin in a blender with ice and pink lemonade concentrate. Blend well and pour. And the strippers...well, I feel like it's Fight Club or something. First rule of bachelorette party, don't talk about bachelorette party.

Hiking

Did a six-mile hike in Topanga State Park, today, to the Parker Mesa Overlook. Not much to overlook, however, since there was a thick layer of fog today. But it was a good little hike and a warm-up for Half Dome in a few weeks.

Watching

Just got back from seeing Matrix Reloaded at the Imax theater! It was absolutely amazing to see it on such a huge screen. Though I don't know if I needed to see *every* pore on *every* face. I'm getting the whole thing a little more and picked up on previously unnoticed details (all the 1's and 3's, for example). The pacing worked better for me, too, and it seemed like I was only there a half an hour.

2003-06-07T08:40:00.000-07:00

Shake your groove thang

Today is all about breakfast with some friends, turbo kickboxing at the gym, and a combo bridal shower/bachelorette party for a friend! Hopefully, I will have some raunchy tales for you tomorrow. Another friend and I are hitting the Hustler store for the gift beforehand...which will be a first for me. Also, I'm told we will be drinking Pink Panties: gin and pink lemonade, frozen and blended. I googled it and found other similar recipes. But that's what we're drinking, whatever they are called.

2003-06-06T10:52:00.000-07:00

Friday Five:

1. How many times have you truly been in love? Once.

2. What was/is so great about the person you love(d) the most? He was funny, considerate, and beautiful to me.

3. What qualities should a significant other have? Honesty and trust are huge. And a great sense of humor. Also, he shouldn't mind taking the trash out.

4. Have you ever broken someone's heart? I think so. One, at least.

5. If there was one thing you could teach people about love, what would it be? It ain't easy.

2003-06-05T15:10:00.000-07:00

A few weekends from now, I will be briefly visiting Yosemite. I've lived in California about 26 of my 30 years of life and have never visited one our our nation's best national parks. A three-day camping trip and a hike up Half Dome...any advice? Have you done it before? Drop me an email or comment and let me know what to expect. Also check out the Half Dome Cam for current captures.

2003-06-04T17:51:00.000-07:00

Now you, too, can combine your love of the mysteries of the tarot with such 80's icons as Prince, Morrissey, and Corey Hart. (Link courtesy of Pop Culture Junk Mail.)

2003-06-03T15:36:00.000-07:00

Sweeeet!

You are Trinity, from "The Matrix."

What Matrix Persona Are You?
brought to you by Quizilla

2003-06-03T07:06:00.000-07:00

This-or-That time:

1. Cats or dogs? Easy one. Cats.

2. Butterflies or birds? Butterflies. I love to find them in my little garden.

3. Horses or cows? Cows. I'm a milk drinker.

4. Turtles or snakes? Snakes freak me the hell out. So turtles. Definitely.

5. Frogs or grasshoppers? Grasshoppers, grasshoppa'.

6. Lions or tigers? Lions. Kings (and queens) of the jungle.

7. Elephants or mice? Elephants. The whole memory thing and all.

8. Porcupines or aardvarks? Aardvarks, for the sheer joy of all those a's.

9. Unicorns or dragons? The power of the dragon is hard to deny, but I think today I'll go with the magic of the unicorn.

10. Thought-provoking question of the week: You live in a rather dumpy apartment. A friend offers you a chance to be a roommate at a new place s/he is moving into, but they don't allow pets. You have a pet. Do you find your pet a new home and take the new place, or do you keep your pet and stay put? I have a cat named Jack. There is nooooo way I'd give him up just for a better apartment. Nope. Not gonna happen. I'll find my own better place.

2003-06-02T17:37:00.000-07:00

Alien Miracle Baby?!

2003-06-02T17:31:00.000-07:00

I'm moving to Portugal.

2003-06-01T08:07:00.000-07:00

Short note to say I hope everyone out there in bloggy land is having a great weekend.

2003-05-30T00:49:00.000-07:00

Baked Fresh is on a short hiatus and will return some time next week.

2003-05-27T06:13:00.000-07:00

This-or-That: Personal Habits, Quirks, Routines, etc.

1. Do you prefer silence or do you like background sound (music, TV, etc)? I like background sound, usually music.

2. Bathe/shower in morning or evening? Shower in the morning. Need it with the coffee to wake up.

3. Sleeping in complete darkness, or with a nightlight on? Complete darkness.

4. Lay out clothes the night before, or just grab what's closest in the morning? Usually I have an idea of what I'm going to wear but I leave it in the closet.

5. Hang up/fold clothes neatly, or just toss them wherever? Usually neatly, or at least in the drawers, which can get a little messy.

6. Work out at a gym, or at home on your own (or do you not bother with exercise)? Definitely the gym or it won't happen.

7. Talk on the phone, or via IM/e-mail? A little of both.

8. Are you usually on time, or late? Depends on whether I actually want to be where I'm going.

9. Spendthrift or frugal? Spendthrift, though I'm trying to work on that.

10. Thought-Provoking Question of the Week: You work with someone who is not in the habit of bathing regularly. The smell seems to be getting worse and worse! Would you: 1. try to do something about it, or 2. try to grin and bear it? If you said 1, what would you do? 1. But I might say something to my boss about it and see if he can do something. That's why he gets paid to big bucks.

2003-05-26T09:11:00.000-07:00

Monday Memories:

Do you have a special memory about Sunday mornings?

Funny I should be thinking about my dad a lot these last couple of days. After my parents divorced when I was eight (and my brother, Andy, was six), we spent every other weekend with my dad. Most Saturdays, it was donut day. But Sundays were bacon and eggs mornings. I vividly remember waking up to the smell of sizzling bacon on those mornings. I couldn't wait until the bacon was done, the eggs were fried, the toast buttered...I still make that meal many Sunday mornings on my own.

When I talked to my dad yesterday, that was exactly what he was doing--making breakfast for the family. I said to him, "I wish someone was making breakfast for me." He replied, "If you were here, I would." That's all I needed to know.

2003-05-25T10:36:00.000-07:00

Earlier this morning, I spoke with my dad. He, my step-mom, and younger brother and sister have lived in Arkansas for almost ten years now and I don't get to see them nearly as much as I would like. Most of the conversation we talked about my brother's upcoming wedding in July. And we talked about his baby, my niece, Kayla. I can't believe she's going to be almost one when I finally get to meet her!

I am more than thrilled to see her and just had to post some pictures. Both of these were taken about three months ago.

Those cheeks!

Sleeping baby

2003-05-25T09:51:00.000-07:00

My chest cold is still in full force. I had a lull yesterday and felt better. Then I went on a hike in the Santa Monica Mountains, at Zuma Canyon, and there was so much fog and mist that I felt like I was hiking on the rim of the world. We got soaked. Don't think that helped the cold any, but I had a good time nonetheless.

Later today, I will celebrate Memorial Day like most Americans, with grilled meat and beer.

2003-05-25T09:45:00.000-07:00

Unconscious Mutterings:

Badminton :: Shuttlecock
Obsessive compulsive :: Stern
Prosthetics :: Faux
Sophistication :: Elegance
Hiphop :: Style
Stammering :: Nervous
Property taxes :: High
Lowrider :: East L.A.
Blowtorch :: Welder
Formality :: Fancy

2003-05-23T18:57:00.000-07:00

Ok, so Yahoo News totally lied earlier in the day, when I posted that Annika made the cut. I swear they had an article that said that. But, sadly, it's not true. Better luck next time.

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