Little & Big

TIL:

2011-03-27T07:33:00.000-05:00

The ADA (American Dental Association) notes that there are gum products that can be touted as cavity preventing because:

"chewing...20 minutes after eating, stimulates saliva flow, which helps to prevent cavities by reducing plaque acids and strengthening teeth."

Whoa sleep-deprivation-induced-Epiphany

2011-03-26T12:45:00.002-05:00

Prepositions.

An English staple. It's definitely a cog in the machine that is English grammar that I appreciate. Some things, I do not: British versus American spelling. I, for one, do not need the extra "u" in color. I suppose that's another distinguishing factor of my nationality asides from the obvious: citizenship, accent, nomenclature of common items(LINK).

Back to prepositions.

In grade school, my wholesome education used a generic tree to exemplify the wonders of the preposition. Now, as a free-thinking adult (or something like that), I've stumbled upon an epiphany.

Most prepositions can be applied to anything/anyone in relation to another anything/anyone.

Like people! Until you arrive at certain specific details. Such as biological mechanics...

Some applicable, common prepositions:

Around
Behind
Above
Beneath
Inside
Concerning
Following
Near
Through
Toward
With
Outside

Gender exceptions:

Inside...

Hello 2011. What can you do for me?

2011-01-02T10:58:00.002-06:00

As it does year after year, the eve and the 1st have come and gone. New Year's Eve, one of the only nights in the year when drunken debauchery is expected; a night full of expectations; a night riddled with reflections and projections. Then of course, New Year's Day: that second-born twin that gets its spotlights stolen. The lesser remembered day of the occasion; filled with inquiries of new hopes and resolutions.

Resolution: that thing people try to do to make themselves "start the New Year off right"; also that thing that rarely comes to fruition.

I've given up putting stock in new year resolutions. First of all, they're rarely formulated as goals: an actual goal containing metrics, milestones, reward system, consequences etc.

For some reason, the oncoming and arrival of 2011 has been anticlimactic. Quite frankly, 2011 and I have yet to become friends; I'm giving it the cold shoulder. I wouldn't call it separation anxiety from 2010; it was just okay. There isn't much to look forward to in 2011.

If anything, a new year resolution lends itself to a look-forward into the year; allows one to project a purpose. However, I do have a hard time understanding why there is so much significance to a change in number. Unless you deal in the financial industry, what big difference does it make? It's hardly a tabula rasa start to anything.

A present

2010-12-25T23:34:00.002-06:00

It's Christmas, and on the note of a somewhat momentous time of year, I feel something akin to a tug of obligation to post an arbitrary ramble.

To be honest, I've been a scrooge for most of the day. Let's just say the "holidays" paint a different picture for me than for a good many. So I've allowed the majority of the day to slip away and fade into the anonymity that is most of the other 360ish days in a year. However, here is my redeeming moment!

Tonight, I've stumbled upon a file of coveted quotes from one of my all-time favorite reads. If you ever find yourself in conversation with me over books, this title will be revealed to you: Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts. Pick up a copy, and thank me later.

Roberts and his almost divine way with words will charm you. Not with his perfect instinct for the rhythm and flow of his writing; not with his ability to completely entrance and enfold you into this story-telling; but with the pure wisdom he writes with. This is a wisdom gained through life. A life full and filled with pain, loss, love, you name it...this man has lived. He's lived probably two more lifetimes than I'll ever have the chance to experience.

If you want to feel and be floored by the moments of clarity stumbled upon through literature, read this book. **PS - try to purchase the more colorful cover (click on the link); it's worth it

The Update

2010-11-25T08:06:00.002-06:00

To my alienated readers and the stumblers-on: Happy Thanksgiving from the coasts of...America, to put it easily. A post meant for a simple catch-up from my last post, a mere eight months ago, is about to careen into a ditch of a jaded poli-ticked mind. Perhaps for a later "update."

Veering back to today's chosen path:

A quick reflection of the past eight months brings to realization of a rather tedious list of happenings to detail and share. Perhaps an outline format? No, I'd be depriving what little compositional motivation I'm currently reveling in; I wouldn't want to deprive myself of that. So to first explain this lack of motivation, one must understand the avenue which now commands my words and thoughts; work, perhaps the one thing that legitimizes "employment" (AKA adulthood). The culprit: Emails mostly. A demanding, fervent need from a virtual box, whether accessible or not, every now and then tickles me; I must diligently tend to and monitor, least it wither and implode on my watch. My corporate jugular beats strong, and at times it's dangerously simple and easy to immerse one's self into the deigned noble cause of whichever corporate entity one happens to resign oneself to. In all fairness, I continue to enjoy my work-laden self. The challenges keep me...well, challenged, and the landscape of my weeks constantly change. The travel helps, but no need to expound on this note: trust me, I go nowhere exciting.

On a more personal note: weddings, marriage, love and all things eternal and beautiful was a rather gargantuan theme these past few months. My involvement: purely as an attendant and observer; however, I did catch at least one bouquet. So...updates later? An exuberant shout-out to the lovely Katheryn Hawkins Salazar, Jerri Ann Jacob Yeh and to my sister Diana Shen Meek. In an attempt to not submit to my instinct for contemptuous, snide remarks in the face of all things love-related and eternal: I declare my well wishes, as sincere and genuine as any wish I've wished.

Without mention, everyone should know that a fall without note of NCAA football is a fall with a gap that needs filling; however, I shall bypass this notice and leave it fairly unspoken of: in hopes of a more redeeming season next year.

So I'm losing whatever steam I had at the start of this post. The major bullet points have been noted. The undertow to any productive year is (and was) ever present in 2010. Friends gained. Life lessons tripped over and internalized. Old friendships strengthened and cherished.

In spirit of the holiday, albeit almost an entirely commercial one, it is important to give thanks. A convenient yet shameful thing to do: to take things for granted in life. Especially things one allows one to feel entitlement towards. There are very few things in life that a single being has the right to; these nature dictates and after that, society oft decrees what counts and what does not. Speaking on a personal level, we (the people) have an ugly habit of feeling entitled to the simplest of things; things that make quite a difference when gone and lost. Every now and then (not just on Thanksgiving), consider what's more worth your time: an hour given to commercials and a TV program or time given to catching up with a friend. I know that I am a forever evolving form shaped by my experiences and memories, the life lessons learned from those experiences and the people who inspire me to laugh, cry, hate, ponder, try new things, be myself.

So thank you people.

Where there's demand; there shall be supply!

2010-03-17T20:38:00.005-05:00

Not quite a revolutionary call, but it certainly gives this post a running start:

Last summer guided by culinary guru, Jessica Lin, I became entranced by the French macaron. As French as any other French pastry, the macaron remains elusive to the American palate; with its precise measurements and instructions, the macaron's recipe proves to be more of a challenge than most bakeries are willing to handle. Elaborate and excessive in its all-too-complex directions, the process sets itself within thin margin of an art process. Magnificent in it's construction and thrilling in its versatility to embody flavors and colors, the macaron is by no question, French.

Kansas City is not France. Texas at least has a Paris. Missouri is sorely lacking of most thing Parisian. Not to be dampened by the lack of spirit, in true revolution fashion, I joined forces with a seasoned baker and fellow cohort, Sarah Connole. Last Saturday, a true enlightenment blossomed in a humble Missourian kitchen: with a harrowing leap and ferocious battle cry, a near-perfect macaron was born out of a noble quest.

O yes, thanks to Food and Wine mag, issue Dec 09'. Without the published recipe, we would've had to do conversions...not cool.

A Translation

2010-03-13T22:04:00.002-06:00

I've lost the original train of thought, but I suppose the train is rarely the interesting part. The meaty part.

This may be life changing. I haven't experimented with it yet, so there's no telling. However, there's that feeling; the one that tells you, "you're on to something."

I'm returning to economics. I posted a somewhat related post two months ago. That one was theoretic, of no consequence. This one, I'll let you guys decide.

||Concept 1:

Money: a bill, a coin, is a form of value. A dollar bill, a twenty is but a piece of paper. A coin is but...a coin. Remember Pogs? The game revolved around trades. A game of barter, a game of economics and values, it taught you what individuals valued, and what that meant for your game, your strategy. Slammers are worth more than your average pog. Some people took liking to particular styles, colors, pictures, themes.

Specific items hold varying values for each individual, because each individual's sense of value and worth is not inherent; it's learned, and everyone's experiences are different.

||Concept 2:

This part may be per opinion, so I think: for the average human being, the world's most limited resource is time. And almost everyone has a concept of how much their time is worth. You weigh it by deciding what to do with your time; you weigh it by deciding how much you're to be paid for a profession: a set of skill(s) and time utilized for the operations of another entity's gain.

||The Why Question:

If the ultimate limited resource is time, and as a consumer, currency is the translation of that resource for purchases in return for a good or service, then why is time not the primary metric for value instead of money? A dollar amount is but the translation of what you're actually expending for your purchase.

||The What Question:

Is time a better method of measuring how much something costs than money? Currency is but a translation of the time spent to earn the money. If the time spent to earn money was the primary metric used to understand what a good or service is actually costing a person, would people have a better understanding of how much something is costing him/her?

||The Example:

The consumer, Average Suzy, is paid $10/hour. She works 40 hours a week (for this example, we'll simplify and ignore taxes). Average Suzy pays $100 a month for her cable plan. She can't live without her programming. With her wage, Average Suzy must work 10 hours a month in order to pay for her cable. Of course, since the utilization of cable tv can be measured in time spent watching television; it's easy to say that Average Suzy gets her money's worth if she watches more than 10 hours of programming each month. That doesn't sound too hard, but what if it was something else like a pair of jeans? How do you compare the worth of an article of clothing to the worth of the time you spent working for that equivalent dollar amount?

Let's do some more math: For this example, there are 4 weeks in a month. In a month, Average Suzy works 160 hours total. Out of all that, 10 hours are spent purely for the reason of being able to watch cable television. In other words, 6.25% of her work month is utilized to pay for this good. This number may seem inconsequential, and it'll come down to your sense of value of 10 hours as compared to the value of a month's worth of televised programming.

Consider how much time it would cost to buy a car. When measured using time instead of currency, would the valued difference between a decent car and a luxury car be worth it? If the difference is priced at $5,000.00. That's 500 hours of work for Average Suzy. That difference calculates to a little over three months time at work for Average Suzy. By the way, that's not the cost of the car, that's just the hypothetical price difference between two cars. Of course, people usually take years to pay off a car, but time is time. It's the world's scarcest, most limited resource. You don't get any more of it than you do. The worst part is that no one knows how much of it you get.
_____________________________________________________________________________________

So does it make a difference? This translation.

If anyone can answer my questions, please do.

Channeling all Austinites

2010-03-11T18:43:00.003-06:00

Having yet the ability to call myself a survivor of a Mid-Western winter, I continuously taunt and torture myself, checking Austin's weather & reading the Austin Sub-Reddit. I'm a masochist.

Also, the Mid-Western winter is a cruel beast. We've finally crawled out of the wasteland that is 30 and below temperatures. Who knew people could survive -11 degree weather. Seriously though, I'm not made to live in these conditions. This really wasn't detailed out in the relocation package. So we're idling in the 50s right now; however people don't seem anymore hopeful and light-hearted. Probably because the sun hasn't returned from its ever-too-long hiatus. Winter's wear is starting to show. We've fought the good fight, and we're tired. The temperature's become more bearable, but our spirits have already been muted. It's a dreary picture; this one I paint. Now we wait. Toleration holds us steady. Hope keeps us waiting. When will this ever end!?

In actuality, I write not to gripe; the carefully veiled purpose of this post resides in this link.

iMeme Back Story

2010-03-02T17:31:00.004-06:00

The quiz below was created for a "weekly work quiz." It was not met with the grand enthusiasm I was expecting. For me, these memes hold cherished memories of laughter. I thought I'd share and challenge any and all who dare.

So far, the high score goes to Clay Rogers (Co-worker) with 85%.

Internet Memes

2010-03-02T16:02:00.001-06:00

Internet Memes » Create A Quiz

A Tribute to Taste Buds

2010-02-17T21:59:00.000-06:00

I didn't know Roger Ebert started battling cancer in 2002 .

His words haven't stopped. His voice continues to reverberate. His readers still look to his words for guidance.

Ebert's jaw is gone and cannot remember what he last tasted, what he last spoke. Read the article.

An incredible realization, how much of my day is devoted to the tastes I reminisce of and the tastes I'm looking forward to, I think life would be a little dimmer if flavors and textures eluded my tongue.

My foray into the culinary world has been more than limited up until these past few months. Expeditions that start in the markets and grocery stores do end up more than often successful in the confines of my spartan kitchen, but the excitement of future adventures has not yet waned. The next mission may have to be Korean jigae (soup). Having moved to Kansas City, MO from Austin, TX, I do miss the variety and diversity of dining options. Perhaps this is what's spurring my newfound culinary independence. Regardless, I must find a source for Korean supplies. I've found kimchee, but I still need the right chili, tofu and stone bowls. There's nothing quite like the bits of crunchy rice you get from the bottom of a stone bowl. Friend and former co-worker Stephen Liao is wandering into KC for some excitement KC-styled, this probably means lots of BBQ. Perhaps I can convince him to accompany me on this one.

Next, I plan on assisting Ms. Sarah Connole on her quest to master the venerable French macaron. I'll be her forever devoted fan if she pulls this one off. I'm already dreaming of all the flavors and colors these little treasures will (hopefully) embody. MMmmm

Crazy Thought needs attention.

2010-01-31T22:09:00.000-06:00

What if there was a show called: America's Next Top Ninja?

I'd watch that.

O Democracy.

2010-01-31T20:32:00.001-06:00

Capitol Hill is at odds, and it has been for some time. Our Legislature represents us, the people, but yet has no idea who we are. Politicians are more or less born and bred nowadays; they aren't the average American, you and me. Is that where the problem lies? Has Capitol Hill become so out of touch with the mission intended for them by our founding fathers? They've become so entrenched in the anxieties and demons of popularity, of re-elections, of appearances and legacy and party affiliations.

Finger pointing is easy. Politicians aren't elected to make changes; they're elected to bring our voices to the public forum, to make the changes WE vote for. So the question now is: how have we let Congress float away from us? They fret over their seats, their positions and their re-elections, because their constituents decide if they get to stay. They get on their soap boxes and rally with their catch phrases and shiny resumes, so that we may ensure their status quo.

Our power, the power of the people, are our voices, our opinions. This then translates to our votes: to not vote is to not care. To not care is to not know. TO not know is ambivalence and laziness. Do I think everyone should vote? No. An ill-informed, manipulated vote is a vote sways the people's cause, but there's no firm, valid metric to gauge who is ill-informed, miss-informed and informed. Democracy's not perfect. Nothing is.

So what of ambivalence? Every person has cares in this world. Should they be truly ambivalent to all things in life, then they've ceased to be a contributing member to society. So what of it? Where did it come from? People rally for their favorite sports teams; they rally when their favorite TV shows get canceled. So what about public policies incite such deference?

We've lost sight of our community. Public policies touch most everyone's lives: for better or for worse. The decisions that seem good and beneficial for all will inevitably hold consequences for some. That's the price we pay for the diversity that defines this country. In turn, we have allowed the plight of this country and its citizens: our friends, families and neighbors become lost in our personal wants and needs. I'm not saying these personal factors need to be shoved aside; most of an individual's opinions and wants are shared by others. Instead, I'm saying that we have lost sight of the bigger picture. Very few understand what that is anymore and what that means. I'm not sure I even know. Bottom line: people aren't willing to make the sacrifice for that bigger picture anymore: there is no single "greater good" for this country anymore.

People identify themselves with their families, their communities and their beliefs; all these things, we can share with others. You find allies in those you share an Alma mater with; you find these people at sporting events, in your office, at your community gym. More or less, the average person finds this unification and this sense of identity with others on a significantly small scale compared to the size of this country. I feel as if the identity and the name of being an "American" has become just that: a name. Don't get me wrong, there's still pride, but more than pride: there is a palpable sense of being disjointed.

Dear Mr. President;

2010-01-28T20:46:00.001-06:00

I still believe.

Chance for Travel

2010-01-28T19:45:00.003-06:00

This time last year, I was beginning the last stretch of my college years. Arguably, one of the greatest periods of any single person's life. An experience beyond any other: these years are of discovery and selfishness on a level most never know again. Yes, I miss college.

I digress: my reminiscing led me to the time within these college days filled with travel. This time two years ago, I had recently returned from having spent two weeks in South Korea. This was my "break" from my fall semester, spent all over Southeast Asia. Perhaps time in my life I'm thus far most proud of; the time in my life I yearn to rebuild and recreate. Almost a palpable yearning, I wish for the chance to travel, but caught up in Corporate America, I'm not sure I can ever regain the freedom I had two years ago.

I wish to rekindle the days when a packed duffle and backpack served as enough to pass 11 days in foreign territory, on a mission to pass through three nations merely armed with the knowing that you fly into Bangkok, Thailand and fly out of Singapore 11 days later. Those were the days.

Super Powers?

2010-01-18T19:12:00.002-06:00

So thrifty me has emerged (in light of the pending doom that is the repayment of student loans), and I've started collected jars and containers to use for storage. This way, I can save myself the dimes otherwise spent on tupperware and whatnots. So far, my favor falls to tomato sauce jars. They're usually glass, a good size and have sturdy lids; however, like many containers that used to store other foods, residue or odors are easily left behind. That's where white vinegar comes in handy. And lo and behold: white vinegar is the miracle solution. It cleans, it flavors, it can even be used to train the cat.

I spotted this link on the back of the bottle; I figured I'd be nice and share.

Vinegar Tips

TX Jumps

2010-01-15T18:50:00.002-06:00

Would you believe that winning shot only took 44 tries? It was a solid 10 minutes of cold huffs&puffs, laughs and of course, jumping.

Chicago Trip pictures available at my Photoshop album.

Economics Applied

2010-01-15T18:32:00.002-06:00

The weekend reunion was marked by the typical 'catch-up' conversations and events to mark those valuable memories down the road. To me, there was one topic of particular interest and validity to any individual, and I thought it'd be selfish to keep this to myself. Plus, I'm interested to hear other's takes and opinions on this specific bit of economics:

The simplest and lowest unit economics typically applies to is the average household. Essentially, the study of how a single unit, whether a household, a company, a society etc., utilizes limited resources. Economics is a social science; it concerns people's motivations and incentives when making choices dealing with scarce resources. Make note: this conversation in no way turned technical. Consider the intro a background explanation/definition for the actual subject: the importance of value and the cost of actions and decisions as applied to the individual.

The catalyst for this conversation bludgeoned our adventure-filled day via cellular theft. I think I face most adversities with a face of calm, armed with reason and rationale, but when it comes to havoc wrecked on my preferred sources of communication, I become frantic and harried. It's not pretty, so thank goodness it was not my phone that was taken. From this experience an interesting point was made: the point of loss and the hardest hit in losing a cell phone boils down to the data that is either irreplaceable or is a hassle to replace.

On the off chance someone applicable reads this post: consider leaving the SIM card behind if you're going to steal a phone. If not to assuage guilt then as a simple good deed.

So back to the economics: this tragedy eventually steered the conversation towards why someone would find and then keep a cell phone when it would be so easy to return it. Guilt was discussed as was karma, but things whittle down to incentives, motivations and an individual's sense of value and cost. It whittles down to simple economics. For some, the cost of a guilty conscience and fear of karma outweighs the benefits of gaining a $350 market-priced phone. For some, the cost would be bearable with the appropriate reasoning.

On a side note: I believe that the human ability to reason and rationalize anything is one of the most dangerous weapons we possess. I may save this for another blog post, for another slow day...

So, this post isn't as titillating as I thought it'd be; I guess you just had to be there. The actual conversation was enthralling. Regardless, it is an interesting angle to tackle the issue.

Eventually, the discussion wound down to what we value most. My number one value are the relationships I've fostered and grown. My proof and metric is the time spent insuring my availability in case the need for contact arises, as well as the time spent communicating. Of course, this blog somehow stands as evidence against this statement, but I wholeheartedly confess that all my relationships are valued. Granted, some are valued more than others, but who in this world isn't faulted with bias?

Xbox360 for cheap? Just say no. For now...

2009-11-12T21:17:00.002-06:00

Microsoft's fist of intolerance for piracy has locked thousands of Xbox fans from their online site Live. Not all of these fans are fair and good-hearted. Beware of offers selling cheap, used Xbox-es online right now. No one said they had to play fair, and they've obviously already figured that out.

Greetings. Friday the 13th.

2009-11-12T20:47:00.002-06:00

So another one crosses our path. Interesting fact: Every month that begins on a Sunday blesses us with a Friday the 13th. Of course, anyone who can count to 13 could figure that out, but you never thought to do so did you? Confession: I cheated; Wikipedia told me. Give it a go, do some research. The day really isn't as unlucky as you may believe. History teaches great lessons. I was almost a history major. Perhaps a smart move to deviate. Doubt I would've ended up in health care with a history major.

My kitchen & I

2009-11-10T20:46:00.004-06:00

I've never been one of them: someone who claims the kitchen as their domain. Ironic since my parents have worked in the restaurant longer than I've been alive. They even own a restaurant; my father cooks there. They're big fans of the food. How come this apple fell so far from the tree? I'm not sure. Perhaps the cooking genes fell to my younger sister. She's pretty comfortable near the stove; though she has been known for quite a few boo-boos in the kitchen (ex. leaving the stove on). I haven't dabbled in the kitchen enough times to come close to creating a cooking faux-pas. Although I do vaguely remember a near grease-fire incident this past Valentine. Does that count? Enough of the past, I'm gearing up for a new era in my kitchen: a new dawn for my kitchen and I.

I'm comfortable enough in the success that was Sunday to count that as my debut into the foodie world as a cook. Don't get me wrong, I've been a big fan of food for a quite a while, but on the other end: I eat well.

The menu on Sunday focused on tackling the items in my fridge on their way to perishing. I figured it was a good idea to start cooking by a method I'll need to be utilizing: being able to cook with what you have, not what you can purchase. Due to my affinity for the glorious establishment known as Costco, I had already had copious (Costco) amounts of certain ingredients:

Wheat pasta (penne and rotini)
6 large bell peppers
Spinach
Rice
Grape tomatoes
1 white onion
Pasta sauce

My main concern was for the peppers; they had been sitting in my fridge for about a week. The pasta...is something to slowly work through. I've still got 7 boxes of that stuff. Gotta love Costco...I definitely won't starve this winter. Given all this, I knew I wanted to cook two meals (what ambition!). This way, my leftovers would then be left to sustain me through a portion of the week to come. The plan eventually came to a baked penne dish and stuffed peppers. Early Sunday morning, I headed to the local farmer's market and returned home with:

6 heads of garlic (for $1!)
2 bunches of cilantro
1 bag of rosemary
Scamorza cheese (similar to mozzarella)
Italian sausage

Above are the ingredients used in the cooking adventure. I also picked up a bottle of raspberry vinegar, a bag of fresh pita bread and a container of yummy olives. Altogether, I paid roughly $30. Not too shabby I think. Alright now onto the recipes:

Baked Penne

4 cloves of garlic
1/2 lb of italian sausage
Penne pasta
Spinach
1/2 white onion
Cilantro (however much you want)
Scamorza cheese (however much you want)
12 oz Tomato sauce
Skillet
Pot
Casserole dish

1. Boil the penne
2. Preheat oven to 375 degrees
3. Chop up garlic into thin slices
4. Slice onion into long strips
5. Toss garlic and onion onto skillet
6. Add italian sausage into skillet
7. When sausage is close to done, put in the cilantro and spinach
8. When sausage is done, add the tomato sauce and turn down the burner
9. Drain penne and add to casserole dish
10. Top penne with contents in skillet and mix
11. Top mixture with liberal helping of the scamorza
12. Stick casserole dish into the oven for 20 minutes

So it's harder to post a recipe than I had previously thought. I'll have to update again with the stuffed peppers (I have pictures!).

For being a tease, I'll leave you with another Lady GaGa masterpiece: Bad Romance

Belated Boo

2009-11-08T21:20:00.004-06:00

As promised, here is my First KC Halloween:

Pictured: the four queens of the cards (from left to right: Megan of Hearts, Lisa of Clubs, Donna of Diamonds and Anita of Spades).

Apparently, I'm one of the lucky ones. Explanation? Simply because I'm happy. One of my oldest friends said this to me the other day. I've found a place in life and in the world to call my own. I don't think I've quite made it my own yet, but the project's definitely on its way to success. The job is great; I'm lucky to have stumbled my way into healthcare. The city is dynamic; I find new gems every week to rave about. Most of all though, the people are phenomenal. I've found some amazing people to surround myself with, and they are the defining factor of my happiness I think. Old and new, friends are what makes the world go round.

The end of the Internet?

2009-11-06T22:27:00.003-06:00

No. I haven't reached it. At least not yet.

However, I have once again established my familiar role of internet know-all at work. Hi UPO! You guys will be happy to know that I'm imparting my knowledge to others and inciting hilarity.

What I have finally reached, dear friends, is the end of Pandora's free monthly, 40hour session. This was last month's run of course. For those of you who count on music to pull you through your work days, you can sympathize. I had a mere week to go before the end of October was upon us and gone again, but time is petty and allows no free-bees. Alas, I used other resources of the great world-wide-web and braved my Pandora-less week. Rationally, paying an entire $0.99 to continue using the music genome project (linked provided on the Click-Worthys) is not completely unreasonable. So the rules are: once you've reached the end of your monthly 40 hours, you can either pay $0.99 for the rest of the month or abstain from Pandora until the next month rolls around. Thank goodness time never fails and that next month eventually always arrives. You may also pay $34 (I think) at the beginning of the month to receive unlimited Pandora usage for the whole month sans advertisements. Glorious? Only marginally so. I'd rather ride out the 40 hours and pay the $0.99 for the remainder. For this round, Pandora won, or so it seems...I saved myself that barely-a-dollar fee and relied on NOW! playlists on Youtube and Leekspin. I spun Leekspin for HOURS towards the end of the week, without pause.

And now, dear readers, I will leave on that note, and let that realization sink in.

Life on Track

2009-11-03T21:13:00.004-06:00

A title somewhat misleading. My life has no real track. However, it's a Tuesday night, and I'm sitting on my couch watching Supernatural (Shoutout to the Albers!) after an after-work yoga session plus dinner. Life's good. Work is going well. The learning curve is rather high. Higher than expected but I'm loving it.

The Midwest winter is slowly creeping up on this native Texan, but I think I'm acclimating quite well to the weather. I'm going to beat this thing. My rationale is that I sorta have to. I've got my gloves, my winter jacket (I think); now I just have to get myself a solid ice scrapper (so I've been told). I'll keep you guys updated on the weather front. So far so good.

OMG I Costco-ed that

2009-10-31T08:45:00.003-05:00

Those close and dear to me in KC are rapidly becoming familiar with my love for Costco; a love I must attribute to my friend Tiffany. It's a love/hate relationship; I know Costco is actually after my monies.

It's Halloween, and I'm ready to head to Costco to purchase candy that comes in a bag too large for one person to safely walk away with. Dentists have nightmares about candy in these volumes. Hopefully on this visit, I won't get sucked into their mystical world of over-sized pies and cakes. My fall for their $6 pumpkin pie was cleverly divided into fourths for friends to share. Completely worth it. This trip, I'm completely determined to actually get some sustainable foods. Rather than loads of carbs, pies, cheese and fruits. I really do need to up my grocery-shopping skills. I'm trying to be realistic and take this growing-up business slowly. First, I'll learn how to smartly shop for groceries; then I'll eventually work my way up to cooking some semi-basic meals. Perhaps I'll even document them for you guys.

After a decent but ultimately failed trip to Costco, I stopped by a Save-A-Lot after work the other day. This trip, in it's own rights, was likewise an abysmal failure: first it started off with the rain, so much rain; then the next sign of trouble came from passing on having a grocery cart (you have to pay for one); followed by the realization that 1. I didn't bring my grocery bag 2. you have to pay for store bags (which makes complete sense) and 3. I was left with buying whatever I could carry out of the store in my arms, I was once again not victorious.

Not surprisingly, I think my success lies upon acquiring some key ingrediants and foods,specifically key Asian food items. Now the challenge is finding a half-decent Asian market. The one next to the river market in town has serious sanitation issues. I would urge people to not get anything there that isn't pre-sealed and packaged. I've seen some questionable Asian markets in my days, but this one definitely needs caution notices.

A Happy Halloween to all! Perhaps the next post with come with some costume pictures.

A happenin' place, this new City of mine

2009-10-29T22:02:00.003-05:00

Visitors galore!

October has flown by. Sorry I've been neglectful, but sometimes a girl gets busy.

The month started off great with a trip back to Houston. I can't describe how big of a rush it was to be back in Texas or to be driving on Texas roads again. I can't explain it; don't ask me to, but it was glorious. I returned to KC disoriented and a tad sad to be leaving familiarity behind me. No matter, I've had plenty of Texas come to me!

Not only did I return with my sweet McCoy jersey, but I seemed to have inspired a few Texans to make their way up north. These past few weekends have been amazing. Whoever wants to fly north, hit me up!

I've got that Burnt Orange coursing through me

2009-09-20T20:38:00.002-05:00

The remainder of the first week of the last week of something (freedom?) went hitch-less. Instilled with respect, awe and a strong voice telling me to prove myself, I certainly hope the next several several months of training will go well.

Game day. Saturday. Longhorn country welcomed Texas Tech back to remind them what it's like to play UT. Of course, this was a game I couldn't miss. Without cable and a rally of solid Texas fans, I found myself at Dos Hombres, a quaint bar in Kansas City's Rivermarket area with a flair of familiar TexMex. I can't say it's ever been a goal of mine to watch a football game alone and at a bar. Not ideal but the experience has left me with a distinct air of curious satisfaction. To cap off a winning Saturday night, I was introduced to KC's salsa scene. I'll definitely be heading back sometime soon.

Sunday, like any and every other lazy Sunday, found yours truly lounging and bumming. However, the grace of friends and responsibility ultimately aided in wrapping up the day with productivity. Hurray! There was a tad of shopping (all necessary I assure you), a break for an oil change, a smidgen of reading, some must-have laundry time, my first solo grocery run and a truly spectacular viewing of Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. Allover family fun, humor for everyone and hunger inducing 3-D animated visuals. Good thing the supermarket was conveniently located in the same shopping center.

Mission&Vision

2009-09-14T21:35:00.006-05:00

My morning crashed landed on me at 6am; not nice when you've spent the summer bumming around until 9 or 10, well after the sun's already wooed and kissed the morning sky. The early start did afford me some languid time to bum around until I was good and ready for the short commute ahead of me. As true to fashion, despite address, Google satellite and street view, I found myself making a wrong turn and heading down a deserted road decorated by deserted houses and what looked to be an old mill of sorts. This is not all but one of the charms of Kansas City, MO. Part of the city is industrial, steely and the perfect backdrop for another Rob Zombie movie, but to be fair most of the city is expanding and parts remind me of Dallas and Austin; I've yet to find a bit of Houston here though.

Most have sat through new employee trainings, and you then will understand the monotony of rudimentary materials and forms that accompany these situations. Despite the heavy dose of cynicism, it's obvious that a lot of time, effort and thought was put into every step and minute of this entire week. The introduction did more than show me where the key bathrooms and break rooms were; a choice few moments reminded me of why I chose to find a path into health-care. I was reminded of the realization for the need of fulfillment and satisfaction that I know I will crave from my career. I need that sense of do-good self righteousness I know will be my saving grace once those 50+ hour work weeks settle into my schedule.

After all the paperwork, the speeches and the tours, I was exhausted and in much need of recharge. Hopefully it's not too late to reacquaint myself with the 'work week' life habits. We shall see. Tomorrow is day two of orientation week, and in other words, it's laptop day!

Pumpkin Carriage

2009-09-13T23:43:00.002-05:00

Tonight, along with what's left of it, is the eve of my first day of joining society's workforce as one of its official citizens. I'm paralleling this post and this day to my Cinderella fairy tale. For those who know me, you very well understand me and the fact that I'm not one to compare life to a fairy tale, but I can't resist the simile as the clock nears midnight.
I'm ready to take employment by the reigns and add my contribution to this world; I guess regardless of whether or not my life's nick-free streak/gilded carriage will end and turn into a pumpkin, which is soon in season.
Speaking of seasons. I think I'm about to witness a legitimate autumn. The leaves are turning colors. What wonder!
My tenure here in Kansas City has lasted a whopping week and a half so far, and I'm looking to discover more; however, this time spent has found me reminiscing of friends, events, moments, places, foods, street names and whatnot fondly and wistfully. Details are still fresh, and the memories are mostly clear and dear. I know that all the counts of memories, little and small, have afforded me the distance that I've traveled (literally and figuratively) thus far. For this I have only and all to thank those who have graced me with their lives, laughter, smiles, heartaches, stories, thoughts and time.
As the minutes countdown, I should probably scoot to bed. I'm hoping a tried and true cure of good wine, good fruits, good pampering and good conversations will lull me to sleep. Wish me luck!

The stars at night. Are big and bright...

2009-08-11T14:03:00.002-05:00

I'm proud to be an American.

But really, I'm honored to be a Texan.

I was in Trident Bookstore on Newbury St. the other day in Boston, passing time; I overheard the gentleman next to me at the coffee bar speaking to our waitress about Texas. She, the waitress, has plans to move to Austin. And he, the traveling musician, is from Fort Worth, TX. Eventually, the three of us came to the conclusion that we Texans are a breed of our own. Of course, in a state so vast, you find that there's quite a variety of types of Texans. Not sure which is my favorite; I've yet to meet them all.
Mr. Fort Worth (his actual name, I've forgotten) and I eventually went off on our own tangent reminiscing our home state. Of course, I've only been dearly departed for a week. Perhaps I'm now starting to realize how impending the move to Kansas City, Missouri is. The countdown is now down to weeks and soon to days. Clearly too soon. Mr. Ft Worth mentioned that he has a method to weed out Texan natives out of any crowd: Simply loudly sing "Deep in the Heart of Texas." Maybe sing it obnoxiously loud. He says it never fails. A Texan, if one is present, will start to clap. Quite the phenomenon.

Can I get a Yeehaw?

Mmm...Chocolatey

2009-08-07T16:24:00.002-05:00

I've scrapped the idea of filling in the blanks of my blog title. The idea's already too contrived for me. That and the blanks are no longer as clever as I had originally thought it'd be. Look forward to changes in the near future.

First day in Boston: took a run through Tran's neighborhood in Dorchester, MA, WALKED* to the grocery store for lunch provisions and made lunch! The meal comprised of grapes, mashed red potatoes, pork tenderloin and brownies to top. Credit goes to the exuberant & dazzling, Nicole Mullins, for the pork dish. She's a genius. The recipe for the brownies go to Instructables.com. I would recommend adding caramel to the mix, and if possible, peanut butter. Easy. Fast. Perfect portion.

Enjoy

My End of Summer world

2009-08-07T08:22:00.002-05:00

There seems to be a consensus that the reign of summer 2009 has ended.

Nostalgia hasn't tackled me yet, but the farewells have certainly stacked up.

To give a proper 'hello world' post, let me go through the customary whatnots: almost by principle, I'm against the blogs of the world that give daily play by plays of life and drama; however, I now publicly announce my hypocrisy. This blog and these posts are the chosen method to hold myself accountable to the promises I made to the goodbyes that I have been handing out this last month. I am a recently graduated Longhorn from UT Austin, about to journey off into the world to find my niche. Cliches galore! Anyway, so this blog is dedicated to the beginnings of my personal odyssey. May I cross paths with cyclops, sirens and tumultuous seas.

My Speed Racer world

2009-08-04T17:49:00.003-05:00

From Houston, TX to Plano, TX in 3.5 hours. Anyone itching to get me a radar detector pronto?