Update to Observations and Tangents

Well, I reviewed three senior projects last week and was incredibly disappointed. The first girl did hers on becoming a bakery chef. She created a concoction called "Dirt." The recipe for which included vanilla pudding, crushed oreos, and gummy worms all mixed together in a flower pot. Now, I don't fancy myself the cooking/baking expert, but I don't think any of the above ingredients actually require BAKING. Not to mention that the rest of the sub-2 minute presentation didn't appear to have involved any research or effort.

The best of the three presentations was about the life and times of Tupac. The presenter used a tri-fold presentation board with uneven lettering and poorly cut out Internet photos as his "visual aid."

Who will take care of me in my old age?

Observations and Tangents

Thanks to my job at The Record I have paid many visits to elementary, middle, and high school classrooms to do presentations on the newspaper. One consistency I have found in every single classroom is that there is never a clock with the correct time. I have a difficult time understanding how kids (or speakers for that matter) are supposed to keep track of class time without a properly functioning timepiece. It is very disconcerting. Do they just wait for the bell to ring? Does the teacher have to wear a watch? After so many hours in such close proximity are they all functioning on the same internal clock? I don't know the answer, but I do know that it is very problematic if I forget my watch.

On a related note:
Tomorrow I get to sit on a panel to review high school senior project presentations. Let it be known that I LOVE high schoolers (and junior highers for that matter), so I cannot wait to hear what creative things they come up with.

On an additional related note:
I chaired the Lodi Chamber scholarship committee a few weeks ago. We met with six AMAZING high school seniors and were forced to narrow down our choice to three. It's so much fun to see these kids at the cusp of their futures . . . and to wonder if any of them will actually end up in their chosen field after 4-5 years of college.

Tangential Path #1:
Speaking of futures. Back when Sommer was graduating high school and Justin and I were graduating college we used to joke that the favorite question at friends/family get-togethers was "so, what are your plans for after high school/college." We always thought it would be funny to make up some really grandiose or complex answer that would get us off the hook. I had an intern this semester who did exactly that. Her response was "I want to be the CEO of a Fortune 500 company."

Hmm.

Can't really compete with that.

I asked her to give me a job.

Professor Perry

I got the graduate assistantship I applied for at UOP, so I get to teach a section of public speaking next semester at UOP.

I

AM

SO

EXCITED!

Don't Make Me Hate You This Summer (at the movies edition)

Special Thanks to Entertainment Weekly for following refresher:

With the summer movie season in full swing, it's a good time to review proper movie theater etiquette:

1) No matter how bad the movie is, no one wants to hear you talk through it.
If you go to the bathroom during the film, you are allowed one 5-second recap upon your return. If you can't hear it or don't "get it," sorry.

2) Try not to laugh when a fellow audience member yells out something funny. You will only encourage him.

3) If you show up after the previews have begun, you've forfeited your right to ask someone — especially an elderly person — to move seats so your six-person party can sit together.

4) While we appreciate you leaving your seat to make that call on your cellphone, we can still hear you if you're standing inside the theater doors. Step outside.

5) If you're one of only a few people in a theater, do not sit directly in front of one of them. Even in stadium seating.

6) Do not spend five minutes looking through your bag for something after the movie starts. It's dark. You're not going to find it.

7) Open the candy quickly. Yes, it will be loud, but only for a second. As opposed to what happens if you try to do it slowly. And you make noise anyway. And your friends feel the need to laugh at you.

--My own personal additions

8) If it is occupied, under no circumstances should your foot come in contact with the chair in front of you. Chair kickers are the worst!

9) Do not bring your small child or baby to a late night showing of any film. There's nothing worse than having an epic film or summer blockbuster ruined by crying, incessant chatter/whining, or frolicking in the aisles.
(Clearly I'm not a mom yet.)

Anything I missed? Have fun at the movies this summer!

RIP Big Red

Justin's loyal Ford Ranger was the innocent victim of a traffic incident on Tuesday.

The Ranger sustained fatal injuries.

Justin's were less serious, but still got him an exciting ambulance ride to the emergency room at Dameron.

We mourn the loss of our red friend.

The driveway doesn't look the same without him in it.

The Library

I love to read.

Unfortunately, you would never know it because I make so little time in my life for recreational reading.

When I was a kid I would check out stacks of books from the Yuba County Library, so excited at the prospects that awaited me there.

I rediscovered that excitement yesterday at the Cesar Chavez branch of the San Joaquin County Library. Sure, I'd been there before. I even have my own library card. But it is very rare that I remember it as an option.

Needless to say, I totally geeked out at the library. My first stop was the children's side. A little embarrassing for a grown woman to check out a book over there, but I had been longing to revisit an old favorite by Louisa May Alcott. (Not Little Women.) I also stopped by the main library to pick up The Kite Runner. (I know, I know, I'm a little late coming to the table on this one.)

The best part is - they were free! And now I have poolside reading material for my cruise this weekend. Hooray!

Mix Tapes

I just have to share my great love of the mix tape (CD doesn't have the same ring to it), a process much expediated by fabulous "new" technology from itunes.

Thanks to my amazing sister Som (she of the aforementioned leopard print ballet flats) and the always-helpful itunes I now have a plethora of stellar songs for the road trip preceding Nancy and I's cruise adventure in Mexico.

Just a few of my road trip picks (in no particular order):
1. My Lovin (Never Gonna Get it) - En Vogue
2. Motownphilly - Boyz II Men
3. In da Club - 50 Cent
4. I Wanna Dance With Somebody - Whitney Houston
5. Interstate Love Song - Stone Temple Pilots
6. Groove is in the Heart - Deelite
7. California - Phantom Planet
8. This Ain't a Scene (It's an Arms Race) - Fall Out Boy
9. Summer of '69 - Bryan Adams
10. Ain't Goin' Down Til the Sun Comes Up - Garth Brooks
And quite possibly . . . a selection by favorite tween queen Hilary Duff.

With the possible exception of the STP song, somewhere out there my dear friend Chris is dying inside.

Kermit is NOT Sad

Kermit is not SAD. A little pensive maybe, but sad . . . no.

Poser Doughnuts

The other night, on the way back from a bike ride to the gym, Justin decided he needed to stop for a snack at Krispy Kreme. Little did we know they now have a "healthy" alternative.

The Whole Wheat Glazed Doughnut.

This "healthy" little treat packs an artery-friendly 180 calories/11 grams of fat. As opposed to the regular glazed donut which weighs in at 200 calories/12 grams of fat.

I must say (with complete and utter sarcasm), that the 20-calorie difference would really make me feel a whole lot better about myself.

People! Don't fall for the marketing lies. Know your doughnut nutrition facts before indulging in a lackluster, pseudo-healthy, poser doughnut experience. It's only 20 calories, so go for the full-fat options with gusto!

But of course I don't eat doughnuts.

Only carrots.

And celery.

And the occasional ice cube.

Goodbye Lil' Buddy

(In the good 'ol days.)


Well, the inevitable finally happened.

After 1 year, 10 months, and 13 days together, our goldfish Binky left us for that giant fishbowl in the sky.

Binky was a good little goldfish, far surpassing our expectations of him. We gave him such a throwaway moniker because we didn't anticipate he and his partner Winky lasting more than a few weeks in our new fish tank. They surprised us all. From Winky's suicide attempt back in the Summer of 2005, through a move to a new home, through countless forgotten feedings and long vacations, we have been a family.

So, we say goodbye to you Binky. Thanks for being our pet. Now we flush.

Binky Perry
5/14/05 - 3/27/07
Binky was preceeded in death by his cousins Mr. Sucky and Mr. Sucky 2. He is survived by his brother Winky.

I can see my toes!!!

I can't tell you how excited I've been about this recent turn in the weather! I've actually gone hose-less these past two days for work. I'm sure my co-workers' retinas are less than pleased with this new development.

Look at my fun pink toes. Yay for spring! :)

And the winner is . . .

I had the opportunity to stretch my brain a little bit last Friday night as a member of Team Record in the Library and Literacy Foundation's annual Trivia Bee.

For my first time out at "the Bee," I think we did an excellent job, coming in 6th out of 39 teams. The theme was "California Dreamin'" and the highlight of the night was the Veronica Mars-themed question. Only one of my favorite shows EVER! I'm happy to report that ours was probably the only one in the field of teams to answer that question correctly.

See, watching excessive amounts of TV does pay off!*

Fortunately I was joined by teammates Jack Jacobs and Phyllis Orosco who more than helped carry us to our almost-victory.

*As a sidenote: I've totally been weaning myself off TV the past couple of months. I've actually let several episodes of Lost, Prison Break, 24, and Veronica Mars pile up in my Media Center. I'm gearing up for the fall when I won't be able to watch due to Grad School. (Fingers crossed that UOP lets me back in!)