Summer's Near

I'm researching places to camp this summer, and came across a description I really liked. Spicer Reservoir Campground is, according to The Best Tent Camping -- Northern California, "like an ugly dog you've got to love because he hunts so well. The whole place looks like it was made by a drunk on a bulldozer run amok."

Gotta keep looking... .

Reprint

People getting fired is on my mind, so I posted this comment on Phil's and DDS's recent employment posting on the Very Serious site:

Did you all hear about the Whole Foods worker in NY who got fired for TRYING (as in attempted!) to eat a sandwich that was supposed to go in the trash?

Not being in a union or living in another country, the worker did not have a right to his job. Absent of race/gender discrimination, most workers can be fired for any reason in this country. The horrible thing about the WF worker is that his employer tried to block unemployment benefits over the trash eating incident. Obscene!

I think people should have more rights in employment. I think bosses should have to prove there’s a good reason to fire someone. I think tenure should be easier. Don’t UPS drivers get over probation in 6 months or something? Why so long for educators? Not fair.

Gay Debate Stuff

In case you missed, it there's a terribly pathetic ad out that's anti-gay and anti-gay marriage:

[found here on youtube since I can't let something so lame mess with my style.]

Luckily, for my psyche and my stomach, there's an excellent parody:

Back From Trip to Outer Limits

I've just returned from two days in the way far north of California. I had to attend to work at Humboldt State University. I smelled burning marijuana only once in the entire 2-day trip. It was 7:30 in the morning, and I was running around the streets surrounding the downtown plaza. Only once is on the low side of what I had expected. I think things are changing in the the north north of California.

Home Stretch

Lent is almost over, and I'm reflecting on the last 46 days of blogging. For the most part, it was easy to come up with something every day. I'm bummed that Elias refused to be my sub on days I wasn't feeling up to it because I think people really missed out on his wit and charm. Even as I type, he's thinking of some really great things.

I hope some of the advice I've dispensed lately helps to make the world a little bit better. Another highlight for me is my prediction about the importance of pirates. Remember, I tried to hip you all to the story of modern day piracy a month ago.

Now, I have cupcakes, bread, and all of Easter Sunday to dream about!

Good (God) Friday

One of my favorite cuss word phrases is Jesus F------ Christ (JFC!!!). Sorry. I can't help it, but I love it.

There are so so many reasons for me to feel justified. For example, all f------ coverage of Michelle Obama's fashion choices makes me feel ok about it. JFC, stop it already.

On a side note, the White House rhubarb won't be usable until the second year after planting.

Another Funny TV Ad

I think it's dubbed into English on my t.v., but it requires no dialogue to understand.

We Did It Again!

We just wrapped up another visit from family members. Elias's dad, James, and step mother, Cindy, visited, and we had a lovely time.

Elias and his dad went into scholar mode to work on James's article about the church and homosexuality. James has the faith, Christian community, and good heart to know that "the Church" is messed up, and Elias has the ability to read old texts like the earliest versions of the bible in Greek and church writings in Latin. Elias also has all sorts of secondary texts that clutter up our bookcases and available surfaces. They wooped it up big time!

Cindy and I enjoyed watching the men get along so well, and we had great talks over gardening and shopping trips.

In two days, my brother Richard comes to town.

Funny Ad

The Burger King ads with the creepy King dude are funny. Check this one out!



There are other ads that perhaps should not be so funny. For example, I got a comment on my last post about a single and looking ad (profile in on-line dating site to be precise). She says that her most wry description, "Self-Loathing Intellectual Seeks Sparring Partner," resulted in a match that ultimately did not work out so well. Another friend says she's recently listed quality film makers she likes -- Wes Anderson, Charlie Kaufman, and Michel Gondry. I love Michel Gondry. I would totally ask her out if I came upon her profile. Elias says he'd go for someone who proclaimed admiration for Charlie Kaufman. Truth be told, neither of us has ever done this type of thing, so I'm just speculating here. That said, other interests that would attract either one of us, and that you might want to mention, include bridge and singing or playing an instrument.

Housekeeping Advice (Instead of Love Advice)

I took a homemaking quiz on the Martha Stewart web site. Unlike the facebook quizzes, I know this one is scientific and accurate. I scored 6 out 10 on questions testing my cleaning knowledge. See (as in see me, where I live, the lack of real clean) -- accurate. I was advised to go to Martha's homemaking page to learn more. There are some good things on the MS site. For example, you'll find tips for treating stains, advice on preparing for guests, and kitchen cleaning information. I do almost none of the things advised, but I can dream.

Latest Request For Advice

I received the following message from a dear friend:

Hi Kathy,

So, my friend forwarded me the following craigslist personal ad [omitted due to objectionable language, however fancy, about particular sex acts*], which riffs off the opening of Pride and Prejudice. After reading it, I thought maybe you could give advice about how to write a successful personal ad on craigslist.

Yours,
D

I'm afraid I'll have to research this matter further, but I wanted to put it out there now for feedback. I don't really know what to put in an ad, but I don't think craigslist is really the place to find templates. I do think that people should act fast when they see an ad they like, say on Match.Com or something less random playish. If you wait, he or she might take up with someone else and have no interest in you due to the mere fact of timing.

* If you really must read it, here it is. Be warned; it's really nasty.

My Current Food Fantasy

Finally, there's a Oaxacan restaurant in the bay area. Even though I don't like to travel into SF much, I'm scheming to get over there pronto. I love tlayudas and Oaxacan moles, so I'm psyched to put them back into my diet.

I'm curious if anyone's tried it yet. Let me know.

Lament

I didn't get the 4/3/2009 post out by the date promised, and for that I apologize. I'm still out of town for work, have sketchy internet, and had to do serious cockblocking last night. That's all I can say, but I'm willing to follow up with anyone who's interested. Off line and off the record of course.

To make up for all of this, I plan to think of something really good to post about later. In moments, I must start Day 3 of sitting through meetings and trying not to get too bored or embarrassed. At least yesterday at the State Bar Labor/Employment Law Section meeting, I was joined by old friends York and Rocio. I miss and love them dearly.

In other news, Go Iowa! (For recent civil rights victory; I don't know about their college basket ball teams in this momentous weekend.)

Neil Gaiman!

Did anyone catch the Neil Gaiman appearance on Colbert? I totally missed it, but here it is. I don't care for him in a suit, as I prefer his usual rock star outfits of all black. But no one asked me.

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Neil Gaiman
comedycentral.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor NASA Name Contest

(I may replace the embed with a link if it looks like other comedy central embeds. If you can't view, check here. I'm in Sacramento for work and don't have a lot of time to make things pretty, but I'm keeping to my pledge of a blog posting a day.)

Bored Meeting

I have to sit through a lot of meetings in my professional and personal life. I'm always trying to figure out ways to deal with my extreme discomfort and embarrassment when some people talk (and talk and talk and talk) without conveying anything that interests me. Lately, I've taken to scribbling what's really on my mind in the margins of my notes. I use super-short hand so no one knows that "tgiai" means this guy is an idiot, or that "pstfu" means please shut the f--- up. At my wit's end in a recent meeting, I wrote "dtgddtd" for does this guy drink during the day? Then I had to check myself with "dislt" -- do I sound like this?