How soon is soon?!
Monday, August 16, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
King of the World, or just Maui
On Christmas day, I was Leonardo di Caprio (or Kate Winslet...), and I was the king of the world.
I spent Christmas in Hawaii, and I'm not gonna lie: spending Christmas in Hawaii is something I could get used to. There were a few moments of reluctance before my holiday, because change is always good, but I'm still a big tradition girl. But the reluctance all but disapeared when I felt the soft sand under my feet and hugged the family I've never spent the holidays with.
That family in fact arranged a snorkeling trip from Maui to the little island of Lana'i. I'm pretty much the opposite of a morning person, but waking up at 4:45 in the morning to catch that boat was worth it. There's something nice about drinking coffee mixed with hot chocolate on a boat, in Hawaii, on Christmas, and watching dolphins jump alongside you while the sun rises. We then took a tiny speedboat to reach The World's #1 Beach (of 2005) and I stood on the front, arms outstretched, making Leo and Kate look ridiculous.
Every beach in Maui was lovely, but the beach on Lana'i was like the Monterey Bay Aquarium thrust onto Hawaii's shores. Even if you don't like the hassles of snorkeling; the floppy flippers and the tight leaky mask, I promise you they all become worth it at that beach. I felt like a fish or a dolphin, gliding through the warmest water of December. I was so distracted gazing at the rainbows reflected on the sandy ocean bottom and trying to come up with my own names for all the beautiful fish, that I didn't even worry about checking around for sharks.
Perhaps more lovely than snorkeling on Christmas day is watching baby whales jump out of the water with their moms, or drinking a piña colada while frolicking in the waves. I can't really pick a favorite.
It was a good Christmas. I can't say the best, because there's so many more Christmases left to experience. But I enjoyed my holiday, I even enjoyed the company. I admit I couldn't stop thinking that it was mid-July, but that's what the climate in Hawaii does to you. I'm on a flight home right now, and the plane is twisting and turning and dancing around in the air due to bad weather and rainstorms in San Francisco. I can't exactly say I'd rather be in Hawaii when I love my city so much, but it was a nice change. There's a reason they call it paradise!
I spent Christmas in Hawaii, and I'm not gonna lie: spending Christmas in Hawaii is something I could get used to. There were a few moments of reluctance before my holiday, because change is always good, but I'm still a big tradition girl. But the reluctance all but disapeared when I felt the soft sand under my feet and hugged the family I've never spent the holidays with.
That family in fact arranged a snorkeling trip from Maui to the little island of Lana'i. I'm pretty much the opposite of a morning person, but waking up at 4:45 in the morning to catch that boat was worth it. There's something nice about drinking coffee mixed with hot chocolate on a boat, in Hawaii, on Christmas, and watching dolphins jump alongside you while the sun rises. We then took a tiny speedboat to reach The World's #1 Beach (of 2005) and I stood on the front, arms outstretched, making Leo and Kate look ridiculous.
Every beach in Maui was lovely, but the beach on Lana'i was like the Monterey Bay Aquarium thrust onto Hawaii's shores. Even if you don't like the hassles of snorkeling; the floppy flippers and the tight leaky mask, I promise you they all become worth it at that beach. I felt like a fish or a dolphin, gliding through the warmest water of December. I was so distracted gazing at the rainbows reflected on the sandy ocean bottom and trying to come up with my own names for all the beautiful fish, that I didn't even worry about checking around for sharks.
Perhaps more lovely than snorkeling on Christmas day is watching baby whales jump out of the water with their moms, or drinking a piña colada while frolicking in the waves. I can't really pick a favorite.
It was a good Christmas. I can't say the best, because there's so many more Christmases left to experience. But I enjoyed my holiday, I even enjoyed the company. I admit I couldn't stop thinking that it was mid-July, but that's what the climate in Hawaii does to you. I'm on a flight home right now, and the plane is twisting and turning and dancing around in the air due to bad weather and rainstorms in San Francisco. I can't exactly say I'd rather be in Hawaii when I love my city so much, but it was a nice change. There's a reason they call it paradise!
Monday, December 14, 2009
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Synesthesia
When I was about 11, I read a book called “A Mango Shaped Space”. It was about a girl who was diagnosed with synesthesia: a phenomenon where you literally see colors, taste things, or hear sounds, when you see, hear, think about, or feel an object. For instance, if someone tells a person with Grapheme (color) synesthesia to think about the letter “A”, they might see a red cloud in front of them, because maybe, in their mind, the letter “A” is always red. Or, if someone with Lexical (gustatory) synesthesia hears the word “car”, they might always associate cars with scrambled eggs, because scrambled eggs are what they taste in their mouth. It’s confusing to explain, and impossible to understand, but one of those things that is so fascinating that you wish you had it, just to know more.
For a while after I read that book, I convinced myself I had synesthesia. I was overjoyed when I realized that I TOO saw colors when I thought of specific letters and numbers; and I still see those colors, but I know now that it doesn’t mean I have synesthesia.
I think it’s one of the most fascinating phenomena out there. It would be incredible to spend a day, if not longer, with synesthesia… to see all of the beautiful colors in the world, to taste all the tastes of the world, x100. Imagine petting a cat’s fur and seeing shimmers of light blue or yellow in front of you, or tasting lavender on your tongue. I suppose it’s like a 6trh sense: but the best of all 6th senses.
For a while after I read that book, I convinced myself I had synesthesia. I was overjoyed when I realized that I TOO saw colors when I thought of specific letters and numbers; and I still see those colors, but I know now that it doesn’t mean I have synesthesia.
I think it’s one of the most fascinating phenomena out there. It would be incredible to spend a day, if not longer, with synesthesia… to see all of the beautiful colors in the world, to taste all the tastes of the world, x100. Imagine petting a cat’s fur and seeing shimmers of light blue or yellow in front of you, or tasting lavender on your tongue. I suppose it’s like a 6trh sense: but the best of all 6th senses.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Let it snow!
My dad woke me up this morning and told me to look outside. It was 6 AM, and it was pitch dark, but I stumbled, undressed, into the backyard. There was powdery white stuff in the trees, on the bushes, covering the hot tub. I ran to the front yard, and my car was absolutely coated with SNOW.
I think I might have screamed a little. Why?
1) It doesn't snow in Orinda,
2) It doesn't snow in Orinda,
and 3) It definitely doesn't snow in Orinda.
I live in a tiny Northern California suburb where it's sunny and 70 degrees on Christmas Day. Snow is not even a possibility. In second grade, it snowed, but nothing stayed on the ground. That was the day it snowed all over the state, even in sunny Los Angeles. But today, it actually snowed. And there was at least half an inch covering everyone's front yard. Driving to school was beautiful- it's about he time of year that everyone has Christmas lights up, and it was lovely seeing all the twinkling colored lights poking out of the sparkling snow. We had snowball fights and froze our hands making snow angels in English class- before it all started melting.
I don't know why the world decided to be so nice to me, but I am so thankful for the snow! I'm going to Hawaii for Christmas, and I'm happy about it, but I've never been on the beach, in the humidity, on Christmas itself. I'm kind of upset that I won't get a real Christmas with a real tree. So, winter decided to give me an early Christmas gift I guess- and sent me snow while I'm still here!
I think I might have screamed a little. Why?
1) It doesn't snow in Orinda,
2) It doesn't snow in Orinda,
and 3) It definitely doesn't snow in Orinda.
I live in a tiny Northern California suburb where it's sunny and 70 degrees on Christmas Day. Snow is not even a possibility. In second grade, it snowed, but nothing stayed on the ground. That was the day it snowed all over the state, even in sunny Los Angeles. But today, it actually snowed. And there was at least half an inch covering everyone's front yard. Driving to school was beautiful- it's about he time of year that everyone has Christmas lights up, and it was lovely seeing all the twinkling colored lights poking out of the sparkling snow. We had snowball fights and froze our hands making snow angels in English class- before it all started melting.
I don't know why the world decided to be so nice to me, but I am so thankful for the snow! I'm going to Hawaii for Christmas, and I'm happy about it, but I've never been on the beach, in the humidity, on Christmas itself. I'm kind of upset that I won't get a real Christmas with a real tree. So, winter decided to give me an early Christmas gift I guess- and sent me snow while I'm still here!
Saturday, December 5, 2009
Mr. Monk And The Goodbye
I've never had the chance to watch a show that I love end, simply because I haven't been alive long enough.
Monk ended last night. I've blogged about the show before, but this isn't just some run-of-the-mill episode review. It's actually over, done, finished. I think, as cheesy as this sounds, Monk inspired me in a way- it was the quirky, obsessive, incredibly annoying, but brilliant Adrian Monk who got me interested in using my powers of observation for something. I must admit I would make a very good detective- I don't think it's something I'll actually pursue any more, but it's something I would be good at if I tried. (that sounds more arrogant than I intended.)
I implore you to watch Monk if you haven't already. It's a show that combines suspense, affection, sadness, romance, and lots and lots of humor. I would absolutely love to go into a full-length synopsis of the final episode right now, but I'm confident that at least one of you will heed my advice and give the show a try! I wouldn't want to give anything away...
...okay, I take that back. I don't think I can help myself from writing at least a small review. Please abstain from reading past this point if you want to be smart and take my advice, and give the show a try. :)
......................................................................................................................................................................
The last episode was all a last episode should be. The only thing I can think of to complain about is how obvious a lot of it was (or maybe that's just me using my observation skills?). From the moment Judge Rickover used his pen to pick up Monk's wipe, it was blatantly obvious that the poison was on the wipes! Monk was the only one who touched them, they had been in the shopping cart at the grocery store, and the reason Monk's prognosis was looking up when he was in the hospital was because he didn't have his wipes with him. And when Trudy first mentioned the baby on the videotape, I was so sure that she was still alive, and that Rickover had lied to Trudy when he said she had died. I knew Monk would realize this too, and try to find his stepdaughter (is that what she was?); and he did do that.
I was surprised about who killed Trudy- that part wasn't so obvious. It was a good ending, though: not too stupid, not too unlikely and ridiculous. I thought Randy moving to live with Sharona in New Jersey was the cutest thing ever. They would make a great couple, however, I kind of doubt Randy's abilities as a police chief. He's lovable, but incredibly goofy.
The fact that Stottlemeyer and Natalie stayed with Mr. Monk made me happy. I was afraid the writers would do something ridiculous like make Natalie move somewhere with her sailor boyfriend, and have Monk just move on with his life and become normal. I was overjoyed when it ended with him going back to work at a crime scene, and, although his OCD wasn't as bad as usual, he still had a nervous tic here and there.
The montage at the very end of the episode was tear-jerking. It showed Monk's quirks and obsessions but also showed his rare "normal" moments. If you didn't cry when you watched that, I don't know what's wrong with you. (I'm looking at you, dad).
Overall, it was a lovely end to a lovely show. I hate to say "end", but I know this is it. It's just a shame that I only recently got interested in Monk- I would have loved to be fan in the Sharona era, right from the start.
Farewell, Mr. Monk! And good job, Tony Shalhoub. You deserve every television award out there. Besides the ones that should go to Arrested Development.
Monk ended last night. I've blogged about the show before, but this isn't just some run-of-the-mill episode review. It's actually over, done, finished. I think, as cheesy as this sounds, Monk inspired me in a way- it was the quirky, obsessive, incredibly annoying, but brilliant Adrian Monk who got me interested in using my powers of observation for something. I must admit I would make a very good detective- I don't think it's something I'll actually pursue any more, but it's something I would be good at if I tried. (that sounds more arrogant than I intended.)
I implore you to watch Monk if you haven't already. It's a show that combines suspense, affection, sadness, romance, and lots and lots of humor. I would absolutely love to go into a full-length synopsis of the final episode right now, but I'm confident that at least one of you will heed my advice and give the show a try! I wouldn't want to give anything away...
...okay, I take that back. I don't think I can help myself from writing at least a small review. Please abstain from reading past this point if you want to be smart and take my advice, and give the show a try. :)
......................................................................................................................................................................
The last episode was all a last episode should be. The only thing I can think of to complain about is how obvious a lot of it was (or maybe that's just me using my observation skills?). From the moment Judge Rickover used his pen to pick up Monk's wipe, it was blatantly obvious that the poison was on the wipes! Monk was the only one who touched them, they had been in the shopping cart at the grocery store, and the reason Monk's prognosis was looking up when he was in the hospital was because he didn't have his wipes with him. And when Trudy first mentioned the baby on the videotape, I was so sure that she was still alive, and that Rickover had lied to Trudy when he said she had died. I knew Monk would realize this too, and try to find his stepdaughter (is that what she was?); and he did do that.
I was surprised about who killed Trudy- that part wasn't so obvious. It was a good ending, though: not too stupid, not too unlikely and ridiculous. I thought Randy moving to live with Sharona in New Jersey was the cutest thing ever. They would make a great couple, however, I kind of doubt Randy's abilities as a police chief. He's lovable, but incredibly goofy.
The fact that Stottlemeyer and Natalie stayed with Mr. Monk made me happy. I was afraid the writers would do something ridiculous like make Natalie move somewhere with her sailor boyfriend, and have Monk just move on with his life and become normal. I was overjoyed when it ended with him going back to work at a crime scene, and, although his OCD wasn't as bad as usual, he still had a nervous tic here and there.
The montage at the very end of the episode was tear-jerking. It showed Monk's quirks and obsessions but also showed his rare "normal" moments. If you didn't cry when you watched that, I don't know what's wrong with you. (I'm looking at you, dad).
Overall, it was a lovely end to a lovely show. I hate to say "end", but I know this is it. It's just a shame that I only recently got interested in Monk- I would have loved to be fan in the Sharona era, right from the start.
Farewell, Mr. Monk! And good job, Tony Shalhoub. You deserve every television award out there. Besides the ones that should go to Arrested Development.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
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