29
September
2009
This one may be a bit of a stretch, but I love this quote by Homer Simpson.
“One who knows that enough is enough will always have enough.” -Lao Tzu
“A big mountain of sugar is too much for one man. I can see now why God portions it out in those little packets.” -Homer Simpson
I would have to put my money on Homer. He is indestructible. If he can survive fighting with robots designed to kill other robots, he can survive fighting an ancient chinese philosopher.
Posted: Versus
24
September
2009
There is a Run to Feed the Hungry every Thanksgiving in Sacramento. My old bosses used to participate in it every year, and I always thought it sounded like so much fun. What a great way to start off a day that has become a day centered around indulgence. Sure, we’re supposed to give proper thanks for what we have (I usually give thanks that I am not a turkey), but I’m confident that most people skip over that part and focus primarily on the all day feast-fest. Okay, to be fair, there might be a few people out there that give a half-hearted thanks for having cable television and a TiVo to distract them from their daily lives. Ooh! I’m starting to sound like Henry Rollins! Alright, alright, I’m sure there are people who genuinely take the time to stop and reflect on the things that they are thankful for. All I’m saying is that “Thanksgiving” is a bit of a misnomer. Perhaps a more appropriate name would be “Foodeating,” or “Mouthstuffing.”
Anyway, I do think that, despite all of the crap that’s going on right now in the world, most of us truly have things to be thankful for. I know I do. And what better way is there to show that you are thankful than by giving back? Oh, listen to me. I already think I’m better than you! (Not really.) This year I will be giving (quite possibly) my blood, (certainly) my sweat, and (hopefully not) my tears. That’s right! I signed up to run the 5k! And since I know my couch-loving boyfriend will not do this with me, my best Peep Ashley volunteered to run it with me! It should be interesting! And all that running will make up for the feast that will follow, right?
Posted: Uncategorized
22
September
2009
John Keats can sum up my feelings about autumn much better than I can…
Ode to Autumn
Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness!
Close bosom-friend of the maturing sun;
Conspiring with him how to load and bless
With fruit the vines that round the thatch-eaves run;
To bend with apples the mossed cottage-trees,
And fill all fruit with ripeness to the core;
To swell the gourd, and plump the hazel shells
With a sweet kernel; to set budding more,
And still more, later flowers for the bees,
Until they think warm days will never cease,
For Summer has o’erbrimmed their clammy cells.
Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store?
Sometimes whoever seeks abroad may find
Thee sitting careless on a granary floor,
Thy hair soft-lifted by the winnowing wind;
Or on a half-reaped furrow sound asleep,
Drowsed with the fume of poppies, while thy hook
Spares the next swath and all its twined flowers;
And sometimes like a gleaner thou dost keep
Steady thy laden head across a brook;
Or by a cider-press, with patient look,
Thou watchest the last oozings, hours by hours.
Where are the songs of Spring? Ay, where are they?
Think not of them, thou hast thy music too, -
While barred clouds bloom the soft-dying day
And touch the stubble-plains with rosy hue;
Then in a wailful choir the small gnats mourn
Among the river sallows, borne aloft
Or sinking as the light wind lives or dies;
And full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn;
Hedge-crickets sing, and now with treble soft
The redbreast whistles from a garden-croft;
And gathering swallows twitter in the skies.
-John Keats
Posted: Uncategorized
19
September
2009
Methinks these two aren’t as different as they may seem…
(Photo cred)
“Thus it comes to pass, that our desires always increase with our possessions; the knowledge that something remains yet unenjoyed, impairs our enjoyment of the good before us.” -Samuel Johnson
(Photo cred)
“Reject the basic assumptions of civilization, especially the importance of material possessions.” -Tyler Durden
I think we can all agree who would win in a beauty pageant, but I wonder who would win in a fight?
Posted: Versus
18
September
2009
Good ole SJ turns 300 today!
(photo cred)
“Such is the emptiness of human enjoyment, that we are always impatient of the present.” -Rambler 207
“Thus it comes to pass, that our desires always increase with our possessions; the knowledge that something remains yet unenjoyed, impairs our enjoyment of the good before us.” -Adventurer 67
“To strive with difficulties, and to conquer them, is the highest human felicity; the next, is to strive, and deserve to conquer: but he whose life has passed without a contest, and who can boast neither success nor merit, can survey himself only as a useless filler of existence; and if he is content with his own character, must owe his satisfaction to insensibility.” -Adventurer 67
Posted: Uncategorized
18
September
2009
If you’re curious about the title of this post, YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN HENRY ROLLINS LAST NIGHT! I went in not expecting too much, as I don’t trust sixteen year old Tara’s judgement in books/writers. Well, I think sixteen year old Tara may have redeemed herself, because Henry was brilliant! He was intelligent, passionate, and inspiring (and not to mention dead sexy!). Henry (yes, we’re on a first name basis) has that wonderful talent of being able to tell stories that go from point A to point W, to point Q, and then wrap it back around to point A. Most people that try to do that end up being confusing and annoying, but Henry does it seamlessly. He talked about everything from first amendment rights to his travels to the Middle East, and everything in between. The best part was actually watching everyone leave after the show was over with starry eyes full of inspiration.
Posted: Entertainment
16
September
2009
“If I lose the light of the sun, I will write by candlelight, moonlight, no light. If I lose paper and ink, I will write in blood on forgotten walls. I will write always. I will capture nights all over the world and bring them to you.” -Henry Rollins
Okay, so, confession. I had a weird fascination with Henry Rollins when I was in high school. I thought he was such a badass. I read all of his books. Seriously. Who reads Henry Rollins? Ha! I loved them though! I probably shouldn’t have been reading them actually. They were far too dark for a young, impressionable, and somewhat troubled teenager like me. But I loved them. Especially because they were filled with profanity and naughtiness. I also watched his spoken word special that was on Comedy Central. I LOVED it, and watched it over and over. In my junior year of English we had to read a biography or autobiography, and then dress up as the person and act like him/her while being interviewed by the class. So, yeah, I was Henry Rollins! I’m certain my English teacher had no clue who he was! I basically just dressed up like a boy. But I totally channeled him while I was being questioned. I remember doing a way better job on that project than I did on others.
Oddly enough, I never really got into Black Flag or the Rollins Band. But I adored his writing, passion, and overall badassness. Oh, and I have proof that he is universally known as a badass. Kyle’s work has a motto: “Get things the fuck done.” And for no apparent reason whatsoever, that motto is accompanied by a picture of Henry Rollins. It’s as if having Henry associated with the motto imbues it with more authority.
Anyway, I really think reading him write so passionately about writing itself probably got me more interested in reading and writing. And look at me today, the little English grad student I am. I guess I owe it all to Henry!
In all honesty, once I got out of high school I stopped following his career. Sorry Henry! Don’t punch me! It wasn’t that I didn’t like his work anymore – I just started getting interested in other writers. No offense! God Henry, I love you, but I’m afraid of you too!
So, um, why am I talking about Henry again? Oh yeah, HE’S SPEAKING AT SAC STATE TOMORROW FOR FREE! Oh my god. SO. EXCITED. Who knows, I may go and think, “why did I ever like this guy?” But who cares. It’s Henry Bleeping Rollins!
Posted: Entertainment, Life
15
September
2009
Now that we have a new TV, it only seems logical that we get a handsome TV stand to put it on. The one we have now is a hand-me-down, and it has served its purpose, but it’s time to move on.
While I love rich, chocolately, wood furniture, I think I want to go with a white TV stand. Our coffee table, end table, and bookshelf are all dark tones, so I want to mix it up a little. I don’t want it to look like we won our living room off of the Price Is Right. However, I haven’t had an easy time finding white TV stands. The ones I have been finding are all sort of “shabby chic.” Yucky.
Here are two that I really like from West Elm:
(Imagine this one without the back panel )
I know they look very similar, and they are virtually the same price, but I like both of them for slightly different reasons. I would gladly buy either of them, but they are quite pricey. I mentioned to Kyle that maybe we can get one for Christmas!
Posted: Decorating
14
September
2009
Kyle has been flirting with the idea of getting a new TV for awhile now. He keeps trying to think of excuses as to why we should get a new one. However, it’s pretty clear that there is no logical reason to get a new TV when you already have one that functions perfectly well. Nevertheless, he kept going back and forth about it. He has spent hours on end researching different models, and has become pretty overwhelmed with all of the options out there. My advice to him was just to go for it. It was clear that he really wanted one, and he deserves to splurge every once in awhile. Plus, researching different TVs was keeping him up at night! But, alas, he still wasn’t sure.
So yesterday morning I told Kyle I wanted to go grocery shopping. We made a list and hopped into the car. We barely pull out of the driveway before Kyle said, “do you want to just go to Best Buy and get a TV?” Haha! I told him if he wanted to, we could. So we went to Best Buy, looked at TVs, and then I told him we should go to Target (which was right next door) to do a little comparison shopping. We got to Target and there was a pretty good deal on a TV that had excellent reviews. After mulling it over for awhile (okay, a long while), he went for it!
Enter TV beast:
It’s a 40 inch – freaking huge. Kyle actually wanted to get a 47 inch, but I quickly vetoed that. I think 40 inches is borderline too big, but he is quite satisfied with it. He spent the rest of the day enjoying his new purchase, while I was in the office doing homework. Must be nice to have a good job and be out of school!
Now we need a new TV stand. I have my eyes on one from West Elm, but it’s pretty pricey! We shall see…
Posted: Decorating
13
September
2009
My bookmarks folder called “Cute Stuff” is filling up with Etsy finds! Here are a few things that I especially like. Wouldn’t they look nice in the office? (Click image to go to the artist’s Etsy shop.)
I obviously have a thing for typewriters. I love how simple this pink one is.
And this blue one is adorable!
This is just perfect. The artist also has a boy version of the same print.
I obviously have a thing for owls as well. I’m not sure if this would look very good in the office (probably not), but it would look really cute in a nursery!
And I just love this chubby little guy.
Posted: Decorating, Etsy Finds
