Yesterday was an interesting and fun-filled day. BC and I decided (or rather I asked and he concurred) that since we will be going our separate ways for the next two weeks (coincidentally, for wedding related reasons, neither of which are our own), we would spend the evening doing... something. That something was kind of hard to come up with. Partly because the weather forecast looked rather unpredictable. The other reason being the fact that both of us signed up to give blood, which makes a whole array of activities off limits for at least 24 hours. (side note: I successfully banked my pint, but BC ran into some problems with his phlebotomist, who apparently could not get the rather large needle in his much larger veins, on both arms, and getting more blood on his pants than in the bag. He looked like a heroin addict with bad aim - sorry BC) So after going down the list of our usual activities (golf, drink, food, etc.), nothing seemed to jump out, at least not in the immediate area around work. So, we decided to hang by his house, up in Hagerstown, giving us plenty of options to do anything or nothing at all (if the weather decided to be evil).
Leaving work a little early to beat the traffic, I headed to BC's place (BC had already left since he gets in at 6am - crazy). First things first, when I arrive there is the tour of the house - or rather a tour of all the improvements made to the house since the last time I was there: the really cool yellow, fish bathroom; the newly cleaned, primed and stained deck, complete with tiki torches; newly built pieces of furniture; a cute little flower patch, freshly weeded; and of course the new alarm system - which talks.
Now, what to do, what to do? Bowling. We drive over to the bowling alley to discover that it will not be open for another hour... change of plans. Time to kill. Stomachs growling. To the grocery we go. BC said earlier in the day that he would amaze me with his cooking skills and make shrimp penne with a vodka cream sauce, which happens to be one of my favorite pasta dishes. So, off to get supplies and then home to cook. BC definitely knows his way around the kitchen (and around his mystery spice rack, as I call it, as none of the spice jars are labeled) and the dinner did not disappoint, as much as he may insist that it was only average. A short plop in front of the TV to let the food coma pass and back to the bowling alley we go.
They didn't have any regular bowling lanes open. Apparently there was a league getting ready to start. So we decided to give duckpin bowling a shot. What a strange game. We didn't quite get the rules. Thank goodness for the counter guy coming over when we looked obviously confused. Basically, you're throwing a shotput at pins, which are not set up like regular bowling, and the pins are about half the size of regular bowling pins. It's much harder than it looks. The ball definitely doesn't go where you want it or where you even think it will go. And we found out very quickly that throwing it harder or faster doesn't really help all that much. It's also really easy to throw the ball down the lane, think that you're going to get a lot, and just end up picking off one pin at a time. It's very hard to get a strike (although BC did manage 2 in 3 games). Really quite irritating, yet strangely fun. We didn't do so bad. BC scored 110, 106 and 120, while I scored 74, 72 and 97 (woohoo). We obviously were saving ourselves for the last game... yeah, that's it. We almost played a fourth game, but it we were there for an hour and it was about time we left. Besides it was still light out, there were plenty of other things to do... namely, the motorcycle.
Aaahhh, the motorcycle. Sun going down, balmy summer evening, and us on the bike. BC decided on the cruiser since we'd be going up and down some fun hills and he didn't want to bottom out his V-max. We were out for a good long ride, about 30 miles or more I think, from what I could see on the odometer. Jumped on the highway for an exit, which was a little scary at first, but I got over it. Hit some really fun hills, which BC didn't take quite so fast for my benefit - I would not have minded getting some air and I told him that for the next time. It started to spit a little while we were out and I was a little worried, but the rain stayed away. Riding at night is a different feeling than riding in the day. Headlights coming at you, the road lit by the your one headlight, cool breeze... I don't know. Just different. And just as fun, if not more so than I remember. Far too much fun to really describe. It just makes me more excited for my class at the end of the summer.
End of the night. Time to go home. Bye bye, see you in two weeks. (and BC, as much as I enjoyed your play by play description of what should go in this entry, I think my way is better)
Wednesday, June 29, 2005
Monday, June 20, 2005
Are you for real?
Well, sometimes it takes science to discover. This article raised my eyebrows today, if not for the subject matter, but by the means the subject matter was being tested. What have we learned from this very interesting study?
1. Women are really good at faking it when asked to.
2. Men cannot tell the difference in general.
3. Fear and emotion centers of the brain are deactivated when a woman has an orgasm (makes sense).
4. Part of the cortex (part of the brain involved in consciousness is also deactivated).
So we can conclude that when women want to, they can fake it, and men can't tell the difference. We already knew that. But when an orgasm is real, fear and emotion are turned off as well as consciousness. So essentially, when a woman is having an orgasm, she is out of her right mind.
I think that the thought that Felumpfus brought up is even more amusing - the picture of "participating" in this study while having all sorts of wires and stuff attached to you. What could possibly go wrong?
1. Women are really good at faking it when asked to.
2. Men cannot tell the difference in general.
3. Fear and emotion centers of the brain are deactivated when a woman has an orgasm (makes sense).
4. Part of the cortex (part of the brain involved in consciousness is also deactivated).
So we can conclude that when women want to, they can fake it, and men can't tell the difference. We already knew that. But when an orgasm is real, fear and emotion are turned off as well as consciousness. So essentially, when a woman is having an orgasm, she is out of her right mind.
I think that the thought that Felumpfus brought up is even more amusing - the picture of "participating" in this study while having all sorts of wires and stuff attached to you. What could possibly go wrong?
Sunday, June 19, 2005
Hope springs in turtles!
And if hope can spring in turtles, it can spring in me!
Yes, I make no sense. But there is a reason for this really insane quote. Last evening, JS and I want to the Lyric Opera House, not to see an opera, but to see comedy. Specifically, we went to see, perhaps one of the foremost commentators on pretty much everything, Lewis Black. Not familiar?? If you have ever watched The Daily Show, then you probably know Lewis Black. All I can say is that I came out of the show sides and tummy hurting from laugher.
JS and I stood on line for a bit to get an autograph. It is really interesting the things you hear when standing in line. These two older ladies standing behind us in line were commenting on "all the dirty language" Lewis Black had used during his act. "He didn't need to use all that dirty language. I saw him on TV and I thought he was funny. I didn't think he was that funny tonight." We found this really amusing because, dispite the fact that they found the act quite dirty, here they were, standing in line with a poster, waiting to get his autograph. People!
Note: The above quite was from the opening act, John Bowman (the one on the left in the picture).
Yes, I make no sense. But there is a reason for this really insane quote. Last evening, JS and I want to the Lyric Opera House, not to see an opera, but to see comedy. Specifically, we went to see, perhaps one of the foremost commentators on pretty much everything, Lewis Black. Not familiar?? If you have ever watched The Daily Show, then you probably know Lewis Black. All I can say is that I came out of the show sides and tummy hurting from laugher.
JS and I stood on line for a bit to get an autograph. It is really interesting the things you hear when standing in line. These two older ladies standing behind us in line were commenting on "all the dirty language" Lewis Black had used during his act. "He didn't need to use all that dirty language. I saw him on TV and I thought he was funny. I didn't think he was that funny tonight." We found this really amusing because, dispite the fact that they found the act quite dirty, here they were, standing in line with a poster, waiting to get his autograph. People!
Note: The above quite was from the opening act, John Bowman (the one on the left in the picture).
Friday, June 17, 2005
Parlez-vous francais?
Je ne parle pas bien. Long ago, in what seems like a millennium ago (and it was, sorta), I did speak and understand the, so called, "language of love" with some confidence and skill. That is no longer the case. And it's very frustrating. (I still know Latin pretty well, but I doubt I'm going to run into Julius Caesar any time soon)
So, in my continuing efforts of improving all aspects of myself (physically, mentally and emotionally), I am attempting to relearn French. I've gotten books, references, a dictionary, and a practice partner (namely, BC, who is fluent - this venture was, in fact, sparked by BC who would write notes to me in French, which would then take me far too long to translate). I think that I remember more than I believe but have definitely forgotten more than I realize. It's quite sad really.
Well, I've been working on this very seriously for about a week. And I have learned two very important things - my vocabulary sucks and I speak/write like a child. How do I know this? Well, BC decided since my efforts in emailing him in French were obviously aided with a dictionary (some of the words I would use are not used commonly), that I needed to make an attempt to read and write emails "sans dictionaire". As with Chinese, I understand more than I speak and therefore cannot make equivalently good responses. So, understanding BC's email requesting that I write him without the aide of a dictionary, I had a go with my 20 word vocabulary. (It is also worth noting that, in my brain, all verbs are in the present tense.) Although the result was somewhat understandable, I believe it was also quite embarrassing. As I said, with a 20 word vocabulary, I speak/write like a child.
But this is learning. And it's fun, which is the whole point of this venture. I'm certainly not doing this to torture myself. Although others may feel tortured with my constant unintelligible speaking attempts!
C'est la vie...
So, in my continuing efforts of improving all aspects of myself (physically, mentally and emotionally), I am attempting to relearn French. I've gotten books, references, a dictionary, and a practice partner (namely, BC, who is fluent - this venture was, in fact, sparked by BC who would write notes to me in French, which would then take me far too long to translate). I think that I remember more than I believe but have definitely forgotten more than I realize. It's quite sad really.
Well, I've been working on this very seriously for about a week. And I have learned two very important things - my vocabulary sucks and I speak/write like a child. How do I know this? Well, BC decided since my efforts in emailing him in French were obviously aided with a dictionary (some of the words I would use are not used commonly), that I needed to make an attempt to read and write emails "sans dictionaire". As with Chinese, I understand more than I speak and therefore cannot make equivalently good responses. So, understanding BC's email requesting that I write him without the aide of a dictionary, I had a go with my 20 word vocabulary. (It is also worth noting that, in my brain, all verbs are in the present tense.) Although the result was somewhat understandable, I believe it was also quite embarrassing. As I said, with a 20 word vocabulary, I speak/write like a child.
But this is learning. And it's fun, which is the whole point of this venture. I'm certainly not doing this to torture myself. Although others may feel tortured with my constant unintelligible speaking attempts!
C'est la vie...
Monday, June 13, 2005
Yin and yang
I saw two movies this weekend. Two movies that could not possibly be further apart in terms of theme and thought. Friday, JS and I went to see Mr. and Mrs. Smith. I was hoping it would be funny, since the trailers made me laugh so much. But I was definitely afraid that it was going to be one of those cases where all of the funny parts of the movie were in the trailer... well, no. I don't think that I have laughed so much in a movie in years. Practically from the first minute of the movie. It was smart, quick, witty, with lots of explosions, and about as deep as a puddle. Just wondrous, mindless fun. And I can't recommend it enough.
Felumpfus came down of Saturday evening and on Sunday Fel, JS and I went into DC to see Howl's Moving Castle, another Miyazaki masterpiece. A beautiful movie, very charming and fanciful. And as with all Miyazaki movies, a story difficult to fully comprehend until the very end. Themes of good and evil and the lines between that blur. This movie had a charm more similar to Kiki's Delivery Service than his more dark films.
It's interesting to me how the mind can find very different levels of enjoyment. Something can simple as going to a movie can be mindless or profound, humorous or anguishing (is that a word??). That in all aspects of one's emotions, one can find enjoyment and satisfaction.
Felumpfus came down of Saturday evening and on Sunday Fel, JS and I went into DC to see Howl's Moving Castle, another Miyazaki masterpiece. A beautiful movie, very charming and fanciful. And as with all Miyazaki movies, a story difficult to fully comprehend until the very end. Themes of good and evil and the lines between that blur. This movie had a charm more similar to Kiki's Delivery Service than his more dark films.
It's interesting to me how the mind can find very different levels of enjoyment. Something can simple as going to a movie can be mindless or profound, humorous or anguishing (is that a word??). That in all aspects of one's emotions, one can find enjoyment and satisfaction.
Friday, June 10, 2005
To have and not to hold
Sex.
Okay, now that I have your attention, I wanted to talk about this article that was mysteriously sent to me yesterday (and whoever sent it, thanks). There is apparently a larger than previously thought population of people out there who consider themselves asexual. Not non-sexual, but asexual. As in not at all interested in or have a desire to engage in sex with another person. There are parts of this article that I find interesting and yet strange, among them:
1) an asexual as someone who "does not experience sexual attraction."
2) asexuals might have sexual urges and even masturbate, but they do not want to have sex with other people
3) asexuals often feel romantic attraction for other people, it just doesn't involve sex
4) some asexuals have spent - or will spend - some time being sexual (actually enjoying sex for a time)
One of the other things the article said is that supplemental hormones can actually increase an asexual's sex drive and desire for sex. So the question becomes, is it causal or an effect... did the brain structures develop that way naturally or did some other external factors contribute to this?
Sexuality is never an easy thing. And almost always, we have no control over who (or what in some cases) we are attracted to. So is it possible that being attracted to no one is meant to be? Is this one of those Darwinian cases of culling the gene pool?
Okay, now that I have your attention, I wanted to talk about this article that was mysteriously sent to me yesterday (and whoever sent it, thanks). There is apparently a larger than previously thought population of people out there who consider themselves asexual. Not non-sexual, but asexual. As in not at all interested in or have a desire to engage in sex with another person. There are parts of this article that I find interesting and yet strange, among them:
1) an asexual as someone who "does not experience sexual attraction."
2) asexuals might have sexual urges and even masturbate, but they do not want to have sex with other people
3) asexuals often feel romantic attraction for other people, it just doesn't involve sex
4) some asexuals have spent - or will spend - some time being sexual (actually enjoying sex for a time)
One of the other things the article said is that supplemental hormones can actually increase an asexual's sex drive and desire for sex. So the question becomes, is it causal or an effect... did the brain structures develop that way naturally or did some other external factors contribute to this?
Sexuality is never an easy thing. And almost always, we have no control over who (or what in some cases) we are attracted to. So is it possible that being attracted to no one is meant to be? Is this one of those Darwinian cases of culling the gene pool?
Tuesday, June 07, 2005
Speaking fools
It is a fool's prerogative to utter truths that no one else will speak - Dream
This quote inspired the changes in this blog that have taken place since v1.0. But honesty is hard. Trying to be honest with others and especially trying to be honest with yourself about who you are and what you want. Sometimes in uttering truths one can feel foolish, silly or embarrassed. Those times when a thought passes through the brain, somehow bypassing that filter that would usually keep that thought in, and before you know it... "Why in the WORLD did that come out of my mouth?!" But I resolved long ago to try to live without regrets, as long as what I am doing or saying comes from an honest place. And that sometimes foolishness is the price you have to pay for being yourself.
This quote inspired the changes in this blog that have taken place since v1.0. But honesty is hard. Trying to be honest with others and especially trying to be honest with yourself about who you are and what you want. Sometimes in uttering truths one can feel foolish, silly or embarrassed. Those times when a thought passes through the brain, somehow bypassing that filter that would usually keep that thought in, and before you know it... "Why in the WORLD did that come out of my mouth?!" But I resolved long ago to try to live without regrets, as long as what I am doing or saying comes from an honest place. And that sometimes foolishness is the price you have to pay for being yourself.
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