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See previous post about pre-new years resolutions
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
pre new years resolution
I don't do new years resolutions. I never keep them. The things I have the willpower to keep are things that I decide to do spur of the moment. Like quitting smoking. I got pissed off because I couldn't hike up a hill in Nepal without coughing and heaving so I quit. Right there. Never smoked again. That was March 3rd 2003. My new thing is to go back to seeing more live music. As much as I can do while still being a mum and not spending a fortune anyhow.
Tonight I'm going to see Passion Pit. Just because.
Tonight I'm going to see Passion Pit. Just because.
Tuesday's Truth - He was...irrepressible!
My all time favourite tv show when I was a kid was Monkey Magic. When I lived in Japan I used to talk about it all the time with the students and learnt it was called "Sayuuki" and that the model who played the boy priest Tripitaka had died of cancer. I saw Pigsy and Monkey everywhere on tv but Sandy not so much.
We would play out the characters all the time and there wasn't really a girl so I liked to pretend I was Monkey. No-one ever wanted to be Sandy. I was always confused about the sexual tension between Monkey and Tripitaka. He was a boy right? Or was he? He sounded like a girl and looked like a girl. I still don't really get it but who cares, Monkey is irrepressible!
Here's the intro:
And for kicks here's a great best of collection for you:
We would play out the characters all the time and there wasn't really a girl so I liked to pretend I was Monkey. No-one ever wanted to be Sandy. I was always confused about the sexual tension between Monkey and Tripitaka. He was a boy right? Or was he? He sounded like a girl and looked like a girl. I still don't really get it but who cares, Monkey is irrepressible!
Here's the intro:
And for kicks here's a great best of collection for you:
and yes, I still do do the cloud call when I'm alone.
Monday, December 6, 2010
Go Kings Go!
The sport I may have been the best at when I was a kid was hockey. Field hockey. It was a me with a big stick staring down another girl in a pleated skirt. No ice, just grass and MUD! I played defense so I'd watch them bring the ball down with their kangaroo sticks. They'd weave in and out. I'd stare them down and then swiftly steal the ball and drive it down to the offensive players. That's how I remember it anyhow. I also remember when I almost got banned. I may have hit the ball extra hard on a line drive when I was playing and knocked a girl in the head....maybe. I'm sure it was an accident....
Now I live in LA and my love for all things Blue (Dodgers) has been rapidly replaced with all things, purple, yellow, grey, black, silver, white. Go Kings Go! I rock the 91-93 era black and silver jersey because its super comfy and worn in. Like I told everyone on Sat, I wear it to LAKings games and when I'm feeling sick. Yeah I know. Strange. I get kinda giddy when I go to games too, as evident from photographic proof below:
People ask me, "Why do you like hockey Susan?"
It's a simple reason really.
Because the players are tough guys who skate really fast and fight really hard. They also happen to be hot.
I finally got to my first LA Kings game of the season this past Saturday night at Staples. I've been to a heap of games before but this was my very first one where I felt that the visiting team had an actual presence in the center. There were a lot of Detroit fans. Lots of red. We went with some Twitter friends (of course) and got to hang out in the Hyde Lounge. From that lounge I could see 307 where I sat less than a week earlier for the Roger Waters The Wall concert. I have to say that there was a significant difference in type of crowd and the number of people actively smoking inside. Here is the view from Hyde:
I finally got to my first LA Kings game of the season this past Saturday night at Staples. I've been to a heap of games before but this was my very first one where I felt that the visiting team had an actual presence in the center. There were a lot of Detroit fans. Lots of red. We went with some Twitter friends (of course) and got to hang out in the Hyde Lounge. From that lounge I could see 307 where I sat less than a week earlier for the Roger Waters The Wall concert. I have to say that there was a significant difference in type of crowd and the number of people actively smoking inside. Here is the view from Hyde:
We had been led behind the black curtain and into the bar. There was a complete row of Russian guys and girls wearing Redwings jerseys with most of them strangely having #13 on them. We drank and perved on the hostesses in their fishnets and dresses only barely covering their asses and then decided that we'd go and sit over at the Platinum Lounge instead. At this stage the Kings were down too so we wanted to sit.
Platinum Lounge was pretty cool too. There was a light right in front of the goal from where I was sitting but when they were closer to scoring I would move. I drank cherry coke. I wasn't buying a $25 burger.
There were tables of RedWings fans below us and Redwings fans walking past us. At one stage Nate who had no idea how to act at a hockey game which was funny in itself yelled random noises at a woman walking past.
For me hockey is kinda strange. It's quiet. Of course you yell and cheer and chant but its not like football. It's strangely quiet. But then, when the good stuff happens the crowd goes freaking insane which makes it more dramatic and scares the shit out of my kids.
My kids hate overtime. My son rolls his eyes at any game we go to that ends in overtime. If there is a shootout its the end of the world.They are more than happy watching Bailey and the blimp but for them it is a long game to watch. We cheat and bring the DS's to make them quiet. No kids on Saturday so it was perfectly fine for there to be overtime.
And even better for Kopitar to score so KINGS WIN!
We are going again on Saturday. So excited. Getting ready to see some more hot boys on ice. Hopefully there will also be a fight. I hate seeing people fight. I hate pub brawls. I'm not a fan of boxing or UFC. For some reason the hockey boys beating the piss out of each other does it for me. Can't explain it, it just is.
GO KINGS GO!
<3 Thanks to Ryan, Ryan, Christine and Nate for taking us! <3
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Brave New World Mini Kiddie Con
Brave New World Comics hosted a fantastic event down in Newhall today with six local kids artists/authors. I am all about books and art so you know I want my kids to learn to love to read like I do. The store is my new favourite place in Santa Clarita and I am going to almost single handedly support Portlyn. I love her because she gives me a hard time whenever I walk in the door - "oh look what the cat dragged in." She's my kind of girl. So today just in time for the holidays they hosted the Mini Kiddie Con. The artists were there to sign and sell their books and other things. I loved it. The kids did too.
We bought a book from everyone and split them between the kids but I am keeping the Beth Slevin one. She drew a amazing monster in the back of the book for me. So talented.
The greatest thing was free. The store created 6 square grids that the kids took to the artists to get their own little sketches drawn on. Wow. LOVE THEM! And now I need to buy frames. Have a look:
And then this happened in the car which was even better, Teagan was demanding I read her books and Troy had his nose stuck in his.
And THAT's what its all about. Thanks BNW.
Artists:
Crystal Chesney-Thompson - Haminal
James Burks - Gabby & Gator
Michelle Harshberger - Owlcorns
Chris Sonnenburg - Go Pea, Go!
Beth Slevin - her site
Ray Friesen - Cupcakes of Doom!
Support - Shop Local Revolution and Read Local too.
Friday, December 3, 2010
WTF?!
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I did it. I wasn't paying attention and I did it. I rode 20 miles. Thats 32 kms.
I've now ridden 43 miles this week. I know its on a bike in a gym but I'll take it. I really, really want a bike to ride out there in the big wide world because when I ride I am calm. No stress. No anxiety. No worry. Just calm.
I love it.
I however do not love the idea that Jay put in my head of me riding on a bike at the gym that old guys with sweaty balls sit on too. Old balls on the same seats as me. ew. ew. ew. Thanks mate. Now I can't get that freaking image out of my head.
I've now ridden 43 miles this week. I know its on a bike in a gym but I'll take it. I really, really want a bike to ride out there in the big wide world because when I ride I am calm. No stress. No anxiety. No worry. Just calm.
I love it.
I however do not love the idea that Jay put in my head of me riding on a bike at the gym that old guys with sweaty balls sit on too. Old balls on the same seats as me. ew. ew. ew. Thanks mate. Now I can't get that freaking image out of my head.
Dear Santa,
Please get me a bike so I don't have to sit where old sweaty man balls have been,
Thank you!
Love Susan
Please get me a bike so I don't have to sit where old sweaty man balls have been,
Thank you!
Love Susan
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Children Collide
I heard this for the first time as an acoustic version which I actually almost like better than the original version. Here's a link to it - http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/tomandalex/blog/s3083503.htm - go to the bottom of the post and click on the Like A Version link. They also do a great cover of Reckless. Oh and of course they are Melbourne boys. Here is their site -http://childrencollide.com.au/
Christmas in the land where "No-L" is a reality. (originally posted 12/12/02)
Do you remember Christmas when you were a kid? Our family had to go to mass on Christmas Eve or our mum would kill us. The only thing that me, Andrew, Sarah and my dad seemed to look forward to about the whole experience was us singing the Christmas Carols with our own (well everyone's really) words. An all time classic was "Noel". What a boring song. All you seem to do is repeat "Noel" about 50 times. It's funny that in the land of no "l" they seem to celebrate Christmas with almost as much passion as us in other countries.
However, there is a fundamental problem. The problem is that they don't understand it. The stranger thing is that for most of us in western countries, we don't get it either. Sure, I like seeing my family and friends and having Christmas BBQ and all the rest that comes with celebrating in Summer but I care just as much about the real meaning of Christmas as everyone out here in Japan. (Thunderbolts are going to hit me very soon).
In the Kansai area, the thing to do for Christmas is to definitely go to Kobe and see the Luminarie. You and about 5,000,000 other people walk down a street that is beautifully decorated for Christmas - and in memory of the Hanshin Earthquake. The Luminarie is beautiful...it's just very, very busy.
For Japanese people Christmas Eve is more important than Christmas Day and Christmas Eve is a night that is often spent with a girlfriend or boyfriend. From what I gathered, the usual arrangement is that the guy reserves a table at a really expensive (French is best I've heard) restaurant, they eat "gorgeous" food, then they eat Christmas "cakey" and then, hopefully I suppose, if the guys took the girls to the right restaurants, they head off to the Hotel de LURVE!
Families tend to sit down and eat their bucket of KFC that they pre-ordered as they assume that's what foreign people do to celebrate Christmas. Dunno about you but I've never eaten KFC on Christmas Day! Kids get presents, although maybe only one or two in a stocking, and most families now seem to have a Christmas tree too! Although none of the trees are real full-size ones. The usual are plastic and sometimes even Hello Kitty themed - pink and white - oh how quaint!
To their defense, they are Japanese and the concept of a Japanese Santa is still a bit weird for me. I have never seen a Japanese Santa Claus but there are a hell of a lot of the hip-swinging dancing Santas out here. Man! I hate those things!!!! Christmas decorations also go up in about the second week of November so by the time Christmas comes you're sick and tired of it already.
New Years in Japan is kind of like Christmas in Australia. Mind you I use the term "kind of" very lightly. It's very different actually but it is the time when everyone meets as a family and celebrates by going to their version of mass - a temple or shrine.
If you are lucky I will tell you about Christmas in Australia soon too. But only if you're very, very good or you'll just get some coal in your stockings!
Merry Christmas everyone! Have a safe and happy New Year!
However, there is a fundamental problem. The problem is that they don't understand it. The stranger thing is that for most of us in western countries, we don't get it either. Sure, I like seeing my family and friends and having Christmas BBQ and all the rest that comes with celebrating in Summer but I care just as much about the real meaning of Christmas as everyone out here in Japan. (Thunderbolts are going to hit me very soon).
In the Kansai area, the thing to do for Christmas is to definitely go to Kobe and see the Luminarie. You and about 5,000,000 other people walk down a street that is beautifully decorated for Christmas - and in memory of the Hanshin Earthquake. The Luminarie is beautiful...it's just very, very busy.
For Japanese people Christmas Eve is more important than Christmas Day and Christmas Eve is a night that is often spent with a girlfriend or boyfriend. From what I gathered, the usual arrangement is that the guy reserves a table at a really expensive (French is best I've heard) restaurant, they eat "gorgeous" food, then they eat Christmas "cakey" and then, hopefully I suppose, if the guys took the girls to the right restaurants, they head off to the Hotel de LURVE!
Families tend to sit down and eat their bucket of KFC that they pre-ordered as they assume that's what foreign people do to celebrate Christmas. Dunno about you but I've never eaten KFC on Christmas Day! Kids get presents, although maybe only one or two in a stocking, and most families now seem to have a Christmas tree too! Although none of the trees are real full-size ones. The usual are plastic and sometimes even Hello Kitty themed - pink and white - oh how quaint!
To their defense, they are Japanese and the concept of a Japanese Santa is still a bit weird for me. I have never seen a Japanese Santa Claus but there are a hell of a lot of the hip-swinging dancing Santas out here. Man! I hate those things!!!! Christmas decorations also go up in about the second week of November so by the time Christmas comes you're sick and tired of it already.
New Years in Japan is kind of like Christmas in Australia. Mind you I use the term "kind of" very lightly. It's very different actually but it is the time when everyone meets as a family and celebrates by going to their version of mass - a temple or shrine.
If you are lucky I will tell you about Christmas in Australia soon too. But only if you're very, very good or you'll just get some coal in your stockings!
Merry Christmas everyone! Have a safe and happy New Year!
