nina turns 40

The kidlet has discovered that just about any character or toy that he thinks is cool has a website (usually with games!), so we've been spending lots of time at bobthebuilder.com and looneytunes.com and of course thomasthetankengine.com.

There's a new trend here in Seattle that has me a bit disturbed. When I'm walking down the street from where I park to the office there's a distinct odor in the air these days, and it ain't roasting coffee. No, it's something far less appealing, the smell of donut grease. Why are donuts all of a sudden so popular? Despite the fact that they gleefully say "fuck you" to the low carb thing, and I'm all about that, as far as yummy things to eat go, donuts are pretty far down on my list. I blame it on Krispy Kreme, which first opened in this area a couple of years ago and is now expanding like crazy. All these tranported East Coasters got all jazzed about the arrival of KK's, and Seattleites, always trying to prove how hip and cool we are jumped right on the bandwagon. I have a problem with Krisy Kremes on a couple of levels. First of all, how can something be crispy and creamy at the same time? They can't, folks, that's the sad fact of it. And the donuts are neither. Second, it's just a donut. Just a glazed bit of fried dough. Nothing that special. Tasty, but yeah, big deal. Now all the coffee houses are frying up their own. Nothing gives you a nastier crash than having coffee and a donut for breakfast. And it leaves that greasy feel in your mouth for hours. No, thanks. Not even the chocolate frosting can save most of them. When I have my coffee shop (that's my new favorite phrase) there will be no donuts EVER.

postcards

I love getting postcards. Whenever anyone from the office goes on vacation, I always request a postcard, and my cubie is now decorated with mementos of Paris and tropical islands and the Maid of the Mists. Postcards tell you where people are going, where they have been. They are a cheap way to travel vicariously, and a way to bring home some good fotos (instead of crappy snapshots) of your trip. Postcards are about the only personal mail I get anymore. I can't convince anyone to send me a letter, but I can usually coax a postcard out of someone. The above is the most recent postcard I've received. I love it for obvious reasons (check out that pump machine on screen!), but the sentiment on the back just ended up getting me in trouble.

I have some ultrafine sugar that I use for making yummy vodka drinks (and no, I'm not knocking back one now). I noticed the following instructions on the box: "To avoid clumping, store in a cool, dry place away from moisture." Ummm, what part of "dry" does not include the sentiment "away from moisture"? Is it really necessary to add that descriptive term? And to think someone got paid to write that. Damn!

teenage mutant ninja spiders

For those of you who've been around for awhile, you know that I dubbed my apartment arachnilandia soon after moving in (and if you want to catch up, do go check out the old nt40 on blogspot). The spiders must have been hibernating or something for the winter, cuz I really hadn't seen too many around. Well, they're baaaaaaack. Saw a different kind today, even. When I blew on it, it jumped from the wall onto the counter. When I blew on it again (insert nina blows spiders joke here) it curled up, rolled over and was back on its feet in attack mode quick like a ninja! I blew again, she curled, rolled and jumped up again. I have teenage mutant ninja spiders! At least this one had eight legs.

Cowtown Pattie Rocks!

I was welcomed home with an awesome care package from my friend Cowtown Pattie today. It contained something really beautiful, something quirky and funny, and some great zydeco music that I'm enjoying now. It was especially wonderful to have this to open up as one of the other things in my mailbox was a subpoena...

Funny how some movies withstand the test of time, and some just don't. Saw Mississippi Masala again last night, and was totally disappointed. I remembered the movie as this great love story with lots of beautiful people and interesting things to say about interracial relationships. My brain must have been fogged by all that Denzel, cuz seeing it again after all these years did nothing for me. It was pretty lame. The characters have nothing in common and supposedly fall madly in love with each other after knowing each other approximately one week. Denzel, although beautiful as always, seems very stiff and uncomfortable in his role, and Sarita Choudhury's character just seems anxious to leave her dreary life. I was more touched by the story of the father who is forced to leave his home in Uganda, and spends the rest of the movie trying to recover his lost property. Anyway, I was bummed. Sometimes, it's best to leave your memories undisturbed.

Why does St. Patrick's Day make people act so weird? You should see some of the get-ups I've seen people wearing today. I don't get it.

cubie with a view

There's a large square billboard that always catches my eye as I'm staring dreamily off into space instead of working. It's had some really horrific ads, some really forgettable ones, and sometimes, something that actually makes me smile. Right now, one of my favorites is back. The concept behind it is kind of cheesy, but it makes for a very striking visual. It's a large hand, palm out, on a black background. It looks like it's waiting to be counted, or for someone to call on it in school. It seems to be saying, I'm here, this is me, take notice. It's as if someone came and left their colorful mark on the gray city, and I can't help but look at it.