"I may not be perfect but parts of me are excellent."
That saying not only gave me a chuckle but it's one I remember from time to time, like a self-affirmation, whenever I may get down about my shortcomings.
For example, I cannot read novels. The sub-plots and multi-layered personalities of various characters are too tedious to pile on top of my already-overloaded brain. Add in reverse-chronology, I am lost.
Prequels, sequels, trilogies? Forgetaboutit!!
I blame this on my attention-challenged psyche; easily distracted, it may take me three times to read one paragraph for full comprehension. That's no way to enjoy any book!
When "The Da Vinci Code" was all the rage, I wanted to understand why. Ditto "The Celestine Prophecy", "The Secret", and "The Four Agreements".
Still, no can do. I read for information or inspiration--not to escape. Just the facts, please and a few visuals like political cartoons suit me fine.
As for the NY Times bestselling novels, I'll wait for movie versions--even though they rarely do the original piece justice and may never be as exciting as cracking the spine of a fresh novel.
Still, it beats being out of the literary loop.
Excellence not perfection!
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Saturday, June 28, 2008
True Love
Some women love shoes; others have a weakness for handbags. I happen to fall into the latter group.
It's true. I am a Purse 'Ho.
It's not that I don't love shoes. I do. It's just that I tend to gravitate to the same ones everyday. I wear a favorite pair till I fall for something else. Such a fickle love affair I have with footwear!
But with purses: newer, cooler ones that trump all the others I own, keep coming into sharper focus. Sometimes I muse on it; sometimes, it's an obsession.
Must. Have. Bag.
But ultimately, I never go looking for the handbags I fall for; they find me.
Just like true love.
It's true. I am a Purse 'Ho.
It's not that I don't love shoes. I do. It's just that I tend to gravitate to the same ones everyday. I wear a favorite pair till I fall for something else. Such a fickle love affair I have with footwear!
But with purses: newer, cooler ones that trump all the others I own, keep coming into sharper focus. Sometimes I muse on it; sometimes, it's an obsession.
Must. Have. Bag.
But ultimately, I never go looking for the handbags I fall for; they find me.
Just like true love.
So Much More
Oh, Modern Technology, we thank thee...especially for machines that clean our things like automatic dishwashers and washing machines!
How spoiled we are, to shop at a corner store and chose our food instead of hunting and gathering for it like our ancestors did!
How blessed we are, to live in a city brimming with weekly farmer's markets in every neighborhood!
But still...
We may not have to grow our own food or debone a carcass (how disgusting!) but the daily/weekly ritual of getting groceries from market to table is, well, exhausting.
How did my mom do it for so many people, for so many years? I never heard her complain but, no doubt, she suffered in silence. It was, after all, her duty as well as her position as domestic engineer.
And smile all the while.
But that was then. Luckily, no longer is it a woman's-only department to shop and schlep provisions. Women may have a ways to go before attaining 100% equal rights, but we've come a long, long way from the days of being relegated to running a household only.
From CEO's to United States presidential campaigner, nowadays women are running multi-million dollar businesses everywhere.
Domestic engineer? You bet!
But Oh, Soooo much more!!!
How spoiled we are, to shop at a corner store and chose our food instead of hunting and gathering for it like our ancestors did!
How blessed we are, to live in a city brimming with weekly farmer's markets in every neighborhood!
But still...
We may not have to grow our own food or debone a carcass (how disgusting!) but the daily/weekly ritual of getting groceries from market to table is, well, exhausting.
How did my mom do it for so many people, for so many years? I never heard her complain but, no doubt, she suffered in silence. It was, after all, her duty as well as her position as domestic engineer.
And smile all the while.
But that was then. Luckily, no longer is it a woman's-only department to shop and schlep provisions. Women may have a ways to go before attaining 100% equal rights, but we've come a long, long way from the days of being relegated to running a household only.
From CEO's to United States presidential campaigner, nowadays women are running multi-million dollar businesses everywhere.
Domestic engineer? You bet!
But Oh, Soooo much more!!!
Friday, June 27, 2008
Loser!
I've lost a lot of things in my life but for sure, the most annoying loss has got to be my glasses, especially for the second time! These are not reading glasses, mind you, but prescription lenses needed for long distance.
Next, the TV remote has gone missing for a couple days which I'd easily live without if I could just find my glasses! (OK, maybe not easily; we are, after all, creatures of habit)
What's next? Car keys? Fortunately, I have a back-up set.
The first time my glasses went missing a few months ago, I did without them for weeks before realizing I needed to order another pair.
Of course, they were found the next day. Fortunately, I was able to cancel the new ones.
Last time I lost my glasses I swore I'd wear them around my neck from now on. But since I actually need them so rarely, it seemed impractical, not to mention, ridiculous-looking.
Now what? Vacation looms next week. Hhhmmm, I wonder how long I can go without them this time.
Next, the TV remote has gone missing for a couple days which I'd easily live without if I could just find my glasses! (OK, maybe not easily; we are, after all, creatures of habit)
What's next? Car keys? Fortunately, I have a back-up set.
The first time my glasses went missing a few months ago, I did without them for weeks before realizing I needed to order another pair.
Of course, they were found the next day. Fortunately, I was able to cancel the new ones.
Last time I lost my glasses I swore I'd wear them around my neck from now on. But since I actually need them so rarely, it seemed impractical, not to mention, ridiculous-looking.
Now what? Vacation looms next week. Hhhmmm, I wonder how long I can go without them this time.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Bu$ted!
I've lived in Portland for 28 years and today I had a first! Not something I'm proud of but something that was certain to catch up with me...eventually.
"Instant karma's gonna get you." And get me, it did!
Got pulled over for speeding. Yup! Had never been pulled over by Portland's finest...till today.
Not that I haven't deserved LOTS of tickets long ago for the same offense. I have been flying around the streets of Portland, especially Northeast...for almost 30 years. So, I consider myself lucky that it's taken the cops this long to get me.
After he introduced himself as Officer John _______________something, I didn't hear another thing until he said his "radar clocked me going 59 in a 45 mile zone".
O.K. Fair enough.
While sitting there waiting for my verdict, I entertained visions of Officer John giving me a 'warning'.
Ha. Fat chance! Adding insult to injury, some guy driving by in a red Volvo yelled at us, "Yeah, get her! She was flying!"
Ouch! OK, OK; Mea Culpa!
Just.
Don't.
Shoot.
Except for the economical crunch, it was fairly painless. He took less than 10 minutes to cite me for speeding and I was off, hoping I wouldn't get pulled over again in the same day.
As I drove away from the curb, I vowed to never $peed again!
Ha.
Yeah, right!
"Instant karma's gonna get you." And get me, it did!
Got pulled over for speeding. Yup! Had never been pulled over by Portland's finest...till today.
Not that I haven't deserved LOTS of tickets long ago for the same offense. I have been flying around the streets of Portland, especially Northeast...for almost 30 years. So, I consider myself lucky that it's taken the cops this long to get me.
After he introduced himself as Officer John _______________something, I didn't hear another thing until he said his "radar clocked me going 59 in a 45 mile zone".
O.K. Fair enough.
While sitting there waiting for my verdict, I entertained visions of Officer John giving me a 'warning'.
Ha. Fat chance! Adding insult to injury, some guy driving by in a red Volvo yelled at us, "Yeah, get her! She was flying!"
Ouch! OK, OK; Mea Culpa!
Just.
Don't.
Shoot.
Except for the economical crunch, it was fairly painless. He took less than 10 minutes to cite me for speeding and I was off, hoping I wouldn't get pulled over again in the same day.
As I drove away from the curb, I vowed to never $peed again!
Ha.
Yeah, right!
Oh, My!
Zip Cars. Flex-Cars. Smart Cars.
There are some very peculiar-looking vehicles on the road these days as everyone scrambles to find cheaper ways to get around the city.
I did a double-take recently when I noticed a three-wheeled auto resembling a go-cart, was driving alongside me. In my average-sized sedan, I felt like a giant. It was even small enough to be in the bike lane, though I'm sure bicyclists wouldn't hear of that.
With so many different modes of transportation to choose from, I am proud to live in such a progressive city (as Portland) which encourages us to move toward future solutions using these alternatives.
Yes, it makes city driving more challenging as nowadays we must be ever-vigilant of commuters on bikes, scooters and 3-wheelers. But considering their conscientious motives to tread lighter and use less oil, that's an easy concession.
We, the driving public, should be very grateful...and watchful of them.
There are some very peculiar-looking vehicles on the road these days as everyone scrambles to find cheaper ways to get around the city.
I did a double-take recently when I noticed a three-wheeled auto resembling a go-cart, was driving alongside me. In my average-sized sedan, I felt like a giant. It was even small enough to be in the bike lane, though I'm sure bicyclists wouldn't hear of that.
With so many different modes of transportation to choose from, I am proud to live in such a progressive city (as Portland) which encourages us to move toward future solutions using these alternatives.
Yes, it makes city driving more challenging as nowadays we must be ever-vigilant of commuters on bikes, scooters and 3-wheelers. But considering their conscientious motives to tread lighter and use less oil, that's an easy concession.
We, the driving public, should be very grateful...and watchful of them.
Friday, June 20, 2008
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