Happy Happy Joy Joy!

I just wanted to wish everyone a happy and safe New Years Eve! I'm looking forward to a new, fabulous year for all of us!

I feel that you are justified in looking into the future with true assurance, because you have a mode of living in which we find the joy of life and the joy of work harmoniously combined. Added to this is the spirit of ambition which pervades your very being, and seems to make the day's work like a happy child at play.

-Albert Einstein

Christmas Thank Yous.

Sorry, my last post was pretty depressing, I know. I woke up in a much better mood today, so I'll change gears.

Need to write out thank you cards for all those holiday gifts? I know I do. How about these from greener grass design (another one of my favorite websites):

There are two each of "Thank You", "Gracias" and "Merci" - all with beautiful modern designs.

Let them know you really meant it when you said "I love it!".

I'm Sad.

Last night we tried to save a cat that was obviously hit by a car. A friend called, in tears, having seen the cat while driving to meet us for dinner. What made her stop was the breath she saw coming out of the cat.

We met our friend, and put a towel over the cat while we waited for animal control. We talked to the cat, tried to be calming and let him/her know that help was on the way. We could tell he/she was in a really bad shape, though.

Help took too long. My husband carried her in the towel and we drove to the nearest emergency animal hospital. We got there and my husband brought the cat into the hospital, none of us saying what we were sure had happened on the car ride over. The technician did it for us. Unfortunately, the kitty didn't make it.

We cried, but told each other that at least the kitty's final moments were in a warm car with loving people.

I can't even imagine what the owners are going through. I hate whoever did this - I can't believe they didn't stop. I wonder if the kitty received care earlier, if he/she would have made it.

Farewell sweet kitty. We tried. We really did.

Obese Sleeping Boy and Drunk Rude Boy Go To The Movies.

Do I have "If you are rude, inconsiderate, and obnoxious then please come sit right next to me" tattooed on my forehead?

Let me explain. Mr. Johnson and I had a wonderful idea to go to the movies today. We've had quite the whirlwind last few days: his mother arriving from Charlotte on Thursday, La Fondue for his birthday Friday, a holiday dinner party at a friend's Saturday, driving to Sacramento to see my mom's church choir perform Sunday, my parents arriving at our house Monday for Christmas Eve dinner at Merit Vegetarian - everyone loved it! - and a two-hour Christmas light lookin' drive, and then hosting Christmas dinner for nine at our house (I got tired just typing all that out). So we were ready for a little alone time. We went and worked out first (after all the booze and sugar of the past five days, I had to get my butt up and do something), and then went to the movie theater to see Juno.

We got there fairly early but all the middle seats were already taken except for the last row - which we never sit in, but decided to try out.

Bad idea.

Apparently if you are 16 and ghetto and want to sneak beer into the theater, you sit in the last row. Which is exactly what two gentlemen did.

The loud talking started during the previews, which really annoyed me because I love previews. But then the obese one (in no means do I say this in a derogatory way. Just trying to paint a clear picture here, folks) of the two fell asleep like ten minutes into the movie, which I thought was promising. I was wrong. The rude one did not fall asleep and talked, laughed at inappropriate times, sent texts, threw popcorn at some friends in the row in front, and drank his beer throughout. Why go to a movie if you are going to talk and send text messages throughout? I don't get that. Can someone please explain that to me?

And Mr. Johnson brought another great point. Of all the movies that are out right now, why would a 16 year-old ghetto ass kid go to see Juno???? I can't even begin to wrap my head around that one, but whatever.

We've had some good experience ignoring annoying people the last few weeks due to an extremely inconsiderate neighbor (that's a WHOLE other story), so I am happy to say that after letting the blood boil for a few minutes, we were able to ignore Rude Drunk Boy and enjoy the movie, which I do recommend. It made me laugh. It made me cry. I loved it.

At the end, Obese Sleeping Boy woke up and asked Rude Drunk Boy to recap the movie. I am not kidding. To which Rude Drunk Boy said, "It was good, a 'quarky' (not a typo) kind of movie".

Wha- HUH?

This is the future of America, folks.

I Couldn't Make This Up.

If you haven't read the comments (two!) from my The WORST Christmas Light Display(s) post, miguelito brought up one of our country's favorite Christmas lawn decor, the precious nativity scene - with flood light pointing directly at baby Jesus Christ Our Savior.

Can you believe someone would have the audacity to steal one of these baby Jesuses! Well what about 12!

I just read this article about 12 baby Jesus figurines that were stolen from lawn nativity scenes, leaving only a note:

"Do not worry for baby Jesus is not gone, yet he is just not born, yet. You can find your dear Jesus at OLPH (Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church) on his birthday."

The horror. THE HORROR! Thankfully, the stealers came to their senses and brought them all to the church early.

And yet through it all, one person who suffered the tragedy was still able to think clearly and rationally about how she will protect her Baby Jesus in the future - just as any good Christian would.

"I think I'll nail it down."

Buy Handmade! Shop Etsy!

As a designer, you tend to be in infatuated with other designers.

Thus my infatuation with Etsy. I looooooooove Etsy. I could literally spend hours on this site. And lots and lots of money. (Oh wait, I have).

Today I came across these buttons:

They make me smile.

Owls and chicks - can anything be sweeter? These are done by inkjet designs, a fellow designer and blogger in England.

Did I mention my birthday is in January?

I'm easy to please.

The WORST Christmas Light Display(s)

Okay, I appreciate the attempt. I guess. But seriously, what is it with some people and their complete lack of taste when decorating their homes for the holidays?

Like the houses that do their Christmas lights in all red or green - or BLUE.

Now I know you are saying, "But maybe they are Jewish, Joy?". No, I know they are not Jewish. The forty foot inflatable nativity scene on their front lawn is a pretty good indicator.

I passed a house the other night that had a ba-gillion white stars all over, colored lights only around the garage, six moving reindeer, and an inflatable Frosty. Less is more people. Less is more.

Of course I'm not the first to complain. I found a website dedicated to Ugly Christmas Lights. The Redneck Xmas is my personal fav. Although the Foil House is a pretty close second.

What tops your Christmas light faux pas list?

Meet the Trollsen Twins.

This is AWESOME.

My New Favorite Restaurant.

As a vegetarian, my preference when eating out is always a vegetarian or vegan restaurant. I know they share the same ethical beliefs that I do. And I don't have to ask all those annoying (to the server, not me) questions: is the soup broth vegetable based; does this dish have any gelatin; is there any meat in this dish at all - and, yes, seafood is meat.

There are a few fairly good vegetarian restaurants in the South Bay (Happy Bamboo, Garden Fresh), but after awhile, as with any restaurant, you get bored. Plus the ambiance in those restaurants is nothing to write home about. So we were happy to discover a new one right on Lawrence Expressway, with wonderful decor.

Like the other veggie restaurants in the area, Merit Vegetarian specializes in Asian cuisine, incorporating a lot of "fake meat" dishes. Unlike the other veggie restaurants in the area, this one rules the world.

Mr. Johnson and I took my brother and sister-in-law with us - neither of whom are vegetarian. A breakdown of what we ordered, and our critiques:

Appetizers
Fresh Spring Rolls: Okay, starting off really well. The rolls were extremely fresh, as well as the vegetables. The tofu was perfectly cooked. And the peanut dipping sauce was to die for. My sister-in-law doesn't care to much for tofu, so she picked hers out, but wouldn't give up the rest of it.

Salad
Lotus Salad: Yum. First all, they don't skimp on the lotus root. And I don't know what kind of dressing they put on it, but it may as well be called crack dressing. As my brother said, "best salad I've ever had".

Soup
Spicy Noodle Soup: Okay, normally I hate fake ham. I never even liked real ham. But whatever they got going on in this soup is the bomb-diggity. As my brother said, "best soup I've ever had".

Entrees
Sauteed Garlic "Beef": Definitely the best dish of the bunch. As I mentioned earlier, my sister-in-law doesn't care too much for tofu. But apparently she is a big fan yummy garlicky tofu morsels pretending to be beef. We had a chopstick sword fight going on as the morsels started to disappear.

Curry Vegetables: Although a little too gingery for my taste, yummy just the same. The vegetables were amazingly fresh.

Sesame Eggplant Tofu: I love me some tofu. And I love me some eggplant. Needless to say I love me me sesame eggplant tofu. The eggplant was cooked perfectly - a pet peeve of mine.

I should mention here the service - which was fantastic. Our waiter was extremely attentive, and our water glasses were never empty. We even met the executive chef, Sam, and gave him the big kudos he deserved. He said they have a location in Oakland, and so many South Bay heads we making the trip out there, they convinced them to open one up down here. We love you South Bay heads!

And for my favorite part of every meal...

Dessert
Vegan Carrot Cupcake: The executive chef mentioned that they make 90% of their dishes fresh to order. Pretty much the only food they do not prepare there is their desserts. Which is fine by me, because they get them from Black China Bakery in Santa Cruz. The frosting was amaaaaazing. Not a small feat!

I know, I know. We're piggies. And we did eat almost everything. The salad and the beef dish were by far the favorite of the entire table (licked those plates clean).

So if you're vegetarian (or even if you're not) and in the area (or even if you're not), you must treat yourself to the tasty morsels at Merit. I guarantee you will be a fan.

I want it now!

Merit Vegetarian
548 Lawrence Expressway #2
Sunnyvale, CA
408.245.8988
Open daily: 11am - 9pm

Merry F'n Christmas

I'm trying really hard to stay in the holiday spirit. But there are so many a-holes in my universe that it makes it very difficult.

After a wonderful date night Saturday (the Cirque du Soleil show Kooza, enjoying the lights at Union Square, then dinner at Millennium), Mr. Johnson and I woke up Sunday ready to tackle a long list of to-do's. We spent the morning cleaning the house, did our Winter cleaning of the closet, then went out to run our errands.

First stop was Crossroads Trading Co., where we brought in FOUR bags of clothes and accessories. There was a line when we got there, so we looked around the store. We knew some of the stuff we brought in wouldn't be purchased, but once we started looking around, we knew quite a few would.

Looking around... looking around...Oh my gosh, I kid you not... LA GEARS. And not just any, but HIGH TOP LA GEARS. Okay, now I know they will be taking a bunch of our stuff.

So then it was our turn and the girl starts going through our stuff. Another employee - who hopefully was on her break - was trying on clothes and kept coming behind the register for her co-workers approval, which kind of bugged. A few minutes go by, then she calls me up. Did she really have time to go through all FOUR bags?

"Hi. I bought 2 of your items, for a total of $7.18."

"I'm sorry, what?"

"Ya, those were the only things we'll be buying."

"Okay, I know I had some Old Navy stuff in there, but what about the Betsey Johnson dress, the four Urban Outfitters jackets, the Chanel sunglasses, or the Dior scarf? Or the polo shirts that had never been worn?"

"Ya, they weren't really the quality we look for."

But dirty-ass neon-pink high top LA Gears from 1991 are? I'm so confused. And why did I feel like this twenty year old was judging my fashion sense? My handbag cost more than her rent!

But I'm not vain like that (ya I am). We were offended for about 5 minutes, and figured we'd probably benefit more from the Goodwill tax write-off anyway. I'm sure there's some kind of science to having your clothes purchased there (probably should have separated out the Goodwill stuff), but I just don't have the time for that. I barely got around to cleaning out my closet - now I have to go through and determine what some wanna-be hipster thinks other wanna-be hipsters would want to buy? Not happening.

So we took our $7.18 and went to our next stop - Cost Plus.

We had to go to Cost Plus because a few weeks early I had bought some wine glasses, and the top of one of them looked like some kind of crazy weapon. Meaning it was totally jagged and you could definitely hurt yourself with it.

While Mr. Johnson looked for the glasses, I walked up to the register just as the salesperson was putting up her "Closed" sign. To which she looks at me and says, "I guess I'll help you first". Off to a great start. So I told her the deal, showed her the glass, and she told me to just go grab one out of another box and replace it with the lip-cutting one, and that they'll just give the next person that buys it a discount.

Ummm okay.

So I go and find another box (where the heck is my husband?) and go to replace the glass. But then I start having these visions of some grandma excited to take her first sip of Chablis, and as she puts it to her mouth she cuts her lip open, blood starts gushing out all over the place, and she has to spend the rest of the night in the emergency room.

Yeah, I can't do this.

I bring the deadly glass and the new box of glasses up to another register, at which point Mr. Johnson joins me. I tell the new sales person the deal. And she says, "Oh ya, these aren't the hand blown ones, they're factory made, so you'll have some defects."

Nice. For the second time today my purchases are questioned by some twenty-something. Don't judge me bitch. We have a mortgage and student loans.

"Well someone could seriously hurt themselves on this defect," Mr. Johnson sternly says.

"Oh yeah, you're right. I'll put this in the damages." Oh, so she'll listen to him. But then she wrote "Scary Broken Glasses" on the box and that made me smile. You have redeemed yourself.

Off to OSH, to buy a carpet cleaner. We're merrily on our way, over the fashion judgments of Crossroads and the near grandma-lip-cutting at Cost Plus.

I'm feeling the Christmas spirit again; I've got $7.18 burning a hole in my pocket. Things are good. I turn the radio to the holiday station.

<singing>
"Oh the weather outside is frightful..."

We're first in line at a stop light. I look over and see a panhandler holding a sign:

MONEY.
ARM.
ANY THINY WILL HELP.

Me: "Wait. What does that guys sign say?"
Husband: "I think he's trying to be clever. He only has one arm."

Now, usually I try to avoid any indication that I acknowledge a panhandlers presence. But I was so confused by this guys sign, I had to make sure I was reading it right. And I was. But it was too late.

He saw me looking.

So he starts to do a little dance with his sign, and we pretend we see something interesting on the other side of the road. You know, the "look over there!" routine.

We were not to be let off so easily. He starts to walk up to the car.

"I know you know how to read mother f***ing english."

Oh. No. He. Didn't.

Yes, yes I do know how to read "mother f***ing english", kind sir. But last time I checked "thiny" was not part of the english language.

<sigh>

So there you have it folks, a day full of Christmas cheer.

Epilogue

This story does have a happy (in somewhat roundabout way) ending.

Mr. Johnson received an email today from one of his colleagues that a friend suffered an apartment fire over the weekend. They unfortunately didn't have renters insurance, and 60% of their belongings were lost. As the fire happened near their closet, 90% of their clothes were lost.

The husband happens to wear the exact same size as mine. And the wife, although of normal size thus not fitting into any of my pigmy-sized clothes, will be pimping some Chanel sunglasses and Dior scarfs.

The Best Christmas Light Display EVER.

This picture does not do it justice. When I say the two houses at 1164 & 1168 Tangerine Way in Sunnyvale are the best Christmas lights I have ever seen, I don't think you understand. I am talking the best. EVER.

Last year Mr. Johnson and I went, then had to go back a few times to show other people. It's that good. Tune into channel 104.1 FM when you get there and witness 55,000 computer controlled lights on 178 different channels, synchronized to MUSIC! I know, right!!!!

They have their own website where you can download the playlist with times (and also which songs are animated and when they do "low power"), some behind the scenes info and pics, and a bunch of other stuff. While reading through, I found this:

"Our dog Sparky passed away in the Spring of '07. He was my Xmas light buddy and loved to be outside working on the lights (or sitting on them) with me. In memory of Sparky, Rudolf is wearing his collar and tags this year."

I am seriously crying as I type this.

As if the lights and music and snow and Rudolf weren't enough, they also have provided a great opportunity to do some good this holiday season - by setting up a donation can for Second Harvest Food Bank. Opening night was the Saturday after Thanksgiving and they raised $16,362 and filled 1.5 barrels with food. Last year they raised $27,836 & 10.0 barrels, so help them beat it! All donations up to $500 will be matched! If you decide to bring food, please see the following recommendations from Second Harvest:

MOST NEEDED FOODS
The Food Bank needs nutritious, non-perishable foods:
Please avoid donating items in glass containers (they break and make a mess).

Powdered milk
Peanut butter
Pasta
Tuna
Low sugar cereal
Meals in a can (stew, chili, soup)
Canned foods with pop-top lids

Click here more info, and details on how to donate online.

So if you're not yet feeling the spirit of Christmas, pay a visit to these houses and I promise you you'll be ho-ho-ho-ing in no time.

Can you tell I love Christmas?

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum!

So now Thanksgiving is over, making it officially the most wonderful time of the year!!!!

We went back and forth on what to do about a Christmas tree this year. Last year we got a real one, but it just seemed so sad that first week of January, sitting in the gutter. So then we thought of an artificial tree, but found out that they're made of PVC. Ummm ya. That's not biodegrading like EVER.

So Mr. Johnson had the best idea! Getting a live tree! Per TreeHugger (and you know they got the tree love), "if you’ve got the space for it, getting a tree with roots and replanting it is obviously the most eco-friendly solution". Well we don't have a yard, but the nice lady at OSH told me it well be good in a pot for at least 5 years. Then we may need to think about transplanting it.

I loooooove my little tree! And we've picked out the perfect place for it on the patio once Christmas is over. Now let's just pray I don't kill it.

Thanksgiving is for Lovahs.

Well, Thanksgiving is over, and obviously from my lack of posts, I've been quite busy. So thought I would bring ya'll up to date!

First, Mom & Daddy came on Wednesday. Mom and I went for a hike, and came back to find Daddy nugglin' with the grandkids.

Then we had sushi for dinner. Daddy recognized that the server was Korean and started spittin' some Korea geography knowledge (No, my dad isn't Korean. He just knows everything about everything). He must have made an impression, as the husband and Daddy got some Kirins on the house. Not that this surprised me. Things like that happen to Daddy all the time.

Next day, Thanksgiving at Sissy and Keith's in Oakland.

First I made Tristan pose for me.

Renee made super yummy apps. Yum. Yum. YUM!

Keith took pictures. I took pictures of Keith taking pictures.

And Brother got kisses from Tristan.

Sissy did a Martha-riffic job of setting the table.

And here it is folks - the piece de resistance. Our first Tofurky!

Isn't it gorgeous??

Well it smelled like ass and tasted like nothing. Neither of us really cared for turkey when we were meateaters, so it was kinda destined for failure. Oh well. We tried. Next year just straight "tofu" minus the "rky". Thank goodness we had lots of these:

But everything else was wonderful, and I ate waaay too much. Dur.

So then the sun started to set, and made some bitchin shadows on the wall. Keith was jealous he didn't have his camera close by (and apparently walking up a flight of stairs is impossible after a Thanksgiving binge).

Game time! YAAAAAAAAAAAHTZEEEEEEEEEE!

Ahhhhhhh yaaaaaa. That was me biotches.

How my sister-in-law slept while we played Yahtzee I'll never know. Girlfriend was tired (or maybe drunk, but we'll just say she was tired).

And then Marie Claire proclaimed it was time for all of us to leave. "Out thee minions!"

To quote the great Ice Cube, "I gotta say it was a good day."

Friday was more eating and drinking and a 6 hour marathon of Rock Band. Papa Bear - AKA me (on vocals and bass), Mr. Johnson (on lead), Brother (on vocals and drums), Sissy (on vocals and bass) - made their first appearance in Campbell and rocked it. Keep an eye out. We're going to make it BIG. In our imaginary Rock Band world.

And then it was game night at our house Saturday night. Fun times. Lots more drinking and eating. Brother and I put together a puzzle of the Biltmore Estate - one of our NC summer vacation stops. Cat was not helping.

Mr. Johnson, Miguel, Chris, Steve, Amii, Nay, Jackson and Sarah all played Yahtzee. And apparently doodled.

Sunday was laying on the couch recovering. All day. It rocked.

And now here I am back to work and blah blah blahdiddy blah. Sad.

Amen.

"If you want to be happy, be."

-Lee Tolstoy

Absence makes the heart grow fonder. And wish you didn't have to take out the garbage.

I have always considered myself a feminist. I have always thought a woman should NEVER depend on a man.

Well it's been about nine days now since my beloved husband has been out of town, and it made me (sadly) realize how much I do depend on a man. <sigh>.

So with him leaving, naturally I was left with a to-do list. We don't have a set list of chores, but over the years we have kind of fallen into responsibilities. I pay the bills, get and sort the mail, plan our meals and make the grocery lists. He takes out the garbage, cleans the cars, maintains the fish tank. And then we have our shared duties - feeding the cats (this tends to be more him than me), cleaning the litter (this tends to be more him than me), watering the plants (this tends to be more him than me), and of course cleaning (this tends to be more him than me).

Okay, so now I have to all all those things?

Oops. I forgot to feed the fish one day, on their every other day schedule. What do I do? Do I feed today and start a new cycle?

Do I have to pull the car out before I put the garbage cans out, or is there enough room?

And then there was the issue of moving heavy things. We had the deck redone and all of our planters and furniture need to be put back in place. I'll need help for this one. Hey - I am just a little bit of a thing after all. (Thanks Adam and Amii!)

So here I am, nine days later, the night before he comes home. I can't wait. CAN'T WAIT! I've cleaned the house. Put out the garbage cans twice. Fed the fish. Did all the laundry. Watered the plants. Paid the bills. Moved the outdoor furniture around (wasn't quite right). I even changed the battery in the fire alarm.

So maybe I'm not a sad excuse of a feminist. Just tiny and lazy with the memory of a fish.

And excited to not have to take the garbage out anymore. <smile>.

The Greener Google Alternative.

Ideal Bite had the best tip today!

Can you help the planet just by searching the web?

The Bite
We don't just think you can. We know you can. Little search engines that could support your fave causes and save energy - and are as free and as easy to use as Google.

The Benefits

• The same good results. These search engines pull their results from the Google or Yahoo databases.


• Donating to charity. Get on the donation train - each search you do via a charity search engine generates about $0.01 for good causes (the money comes from the ads on search-engine sites).


• Saving energy. Some engines have a dark background color instead of white, which when viewed on older, CRT monitors - consumes 20% less energy than typical engines.

Wanna Try?

• GoodSearch - powered by Yahoo, it donates 50% of revenues to a charity you choose each time you search.


• Blackle - an unofficial black version of Google that uses less energy than the white version on some screens (for a more colorful option, try The Green Spider).


• CatchTomorrow - customizable news, weather, and search options; donates 50% of revenues to the public school district of your choice.


• Green Maven - though it's not for charity, this Google-based search engine yields results from green-related websites only.

If 10,000 people use GoodSearch just twice a day, in a year we'll raise $73,000 for good causes!!

Shameless BlogHer Plug.

Hey ya'll (Mr. Johnson leaves for Charlotte tomorrow, so I felt the need to speak in a Southern accent).

So BlogHer is a finalist in the 2007 Weblog Awards for Best Online Community. Of course we're against Daily Kos, Little Green Footballs and FARK, but it would be cool to at least have a good showing.

So vote for us here.

You can vote from one computer once a day. So log onto every computer in site and vote. Even that guy next to you at Starbucks. He won't care.

Why I love Japanese People So Much.

This is FANTASTIC.

I love how serious they are. They mean business.

And you have to watch all the way until the end.



You know that second guy is badass.

I watch too much TV.

There I said it. The first step is admitting you have a problem, right?

As if I didn't already have a long list of shows, this season has added on even more. One of which has topped my list. You have a list? Yes, of course. Duh.

So drum roll please....

JOY'S ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO ESSENTIAL T.V. WATCHING:

1. Pushing Daisies: Oh my God I LOVE this show. A refreshingly original plot line, amazing characters (as well as acting), beautiful wardrobes, and top notch cinematography. The vibrant colors and unique set designs make you feel like you are watching a gorgeous photograph (or as a dear friend of mine once said, moving picture on film. Give her a break, she was tipsy. "Video" is a hard word to remember). Rarely does a show make me *SMILE*. If you have not seen this show, you should not be allowed to watch television.


2. Life Very smart, clever show. The story of a cop who spent 12 years in prison for a crime he didn't commit. Each episode is a new case, but solving his setup is the ongoing storyline. Just the right balance of quirky humor and drama.


3. Moonlight I wasn't expecting a whole lot from this one, but thought I would check it out. I love me some Anne Rice, so a show about a sexy hot vampire peaked my interest. I have to admit, I was pleasantly surprised with this one. Really interesting, unique story line. Being is though its on Friday nights, and I am such a socialite (if playing Guitar Hero at my brother's counts as socializing), I tend to not watch until Sunday afternoon. I'm finding myself looking forward to watching this weekend treat. Oh, and I must have his apartment.


4. Dirty Sexy Money I was a HUGE fan of Six Feet Under, and such a fan of Peter Krause. He definitely carries this show (although having Golden Globe winner Donald Sutherland helps a bit too). For a nighttime "soap", it never takes itself too seriously, in fact quite the opposite. Fun, brainless television.


5. Bionic Woman As a child of the 70s, who didn't love Bionic Woman? And the preview for this remark got me pretty excited. I'm still kind of on the fence with this one, though. I started out really enjoying it, but not sure if it will keep me engaged...

Well since I noted my favorite new shows, I thought I should list those shows that are already on the DVR season pass list:

1. Dexter Probably my favorite show on TV. If a story about a serial killer sounds morbid to you, well it is. But with such fantastic story lines and clever dialogue, it never disappoints. Almost too good to be on TV.


2. Weeds Another great Showtime drama. Although its pretty dang funny too.


3. The Office I like to laugh. This show makes me laugh. Out loud.


4. 30 Rock I like to laugh. This show makes me laugh. Out loud. And hit my husband (I'm a laugh-hitter)


5. Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations You might think this is an odd choice for a vegetarian. After all, most of the countries he visits count some form of meat as their staple food. But I only have to close my eyes for a few minutes, which is worth it to watch the rest.


6. Hereos This was one of my favs last year, but this season has started out a bit slow. I guess it has taken a bit of time to introduce us to all of the new characters (why so many?). I'm just happy Peter cut his hair.


7. CSI & CSI:Miami Still one of my favs. And I think the writing on both shows are as compelling as ever. On a side note, as a student of electronic music, they always have such interesting sounds. Anyone else notice that?


8. Survivor, Amazing Race, and Top Model I hate to even admit I watch these shows, but I do, so shut it. I always root for the "good guys", so if they get kicked off, I tend to stop watching. I can't stand the yucky people winning.

And on that reality TV note, there are some that I watch religiously that are not currently on: Project Runway (love, love, LOVE this show), Top Chef, American Idol, So You Think You Can Dance, and Top Design.

Phew. I think that's it.

I told you I watch too much TV.

Some Friday Enlightenment.

"Live your life as though your every act were to become a universal law."
- Immanuel Kant

The iPhone vs. The Peebs.

The iPhone has changed my life completely. I cannot even tell you. I love it.

But I didn't realize how much my cats would hate it. Because now, whenever they are doing something even remotely cute, I have to take their picture and send it out to everyone I know won't care. I think the picture clicking sound has effected them in some kind of crazy Pavlovian way, but does that stop me - of course not!

This is how I was forced to leave Monsieur Peebs today. His eyes either say:

"No mommy, don't go to work! Stay here and nuggle me all day"

or

"Get out of my face you stupid stupid Neanderthal. Get to work and make that money, biotch. And don't forget my treaties."

Seriously, you know this is one of the cutest things you have ever seen. Don't fight the feeling.

I repeat, will the real Amy Winehouse please stand up?

Halloween used to be so much fun. Seeing all fun costumes, the candy, haunted houses, the candy, pumpkin patches, the candy. Ah! What revelry!

Now it just stresses me out. I start thinking weeks in advance, "what to be. what to be?!?!" Of course I don't start actually doing anything until about four hours before I'm supposed to be at a party. Although this year I did put some thought into my costume ahead of time, and even tried to start piecing it together about two weeks before. I found the perfect wig at about ten different websites - all of whom were sold out. So either Elvira is making a comeback in a serious way (stranger things have happened I suppose), or EVERYONE else had the brilliant idea of dressing up as the hot mess that is Amy Winehouse.

Uh oh. Perhaps my ingenious idea was not as ingenious as first thought. I mean, when you really think about it, its not particularly creative. Its pretty much stealing her costume idea (lets all pretend she doesn't really dress like that and everyday is Halloween in her messed up world). Is this the lamest idea coming from someone who considers herself a creative person? Ugh. Now I'm as depressed as Amy Winehouse. I need wine.

But not giving up (or maybe just too lazy to think of something else. ya probably that.), I decided to run with the idea, and ended up combing two wigs from Halloweens past (shout out to Amii for the help). In fact, most of the costume was recycled goods (I'm even green on Halloween! Hey that rhymed!) The only real purchase was the fake tattoos, which were actually pretty cool. I've always wanted an excuse to have boobies on my arms.

The tank top, bra, mini skirt and platform shoes were all mine. I'm a whore. :(

So ladies and gentlemen, without further ado (thats a weird word)... I give you... Amy Winehouse!
(or "The Asian Amy Winehouse" as my whitey white white husband so nicely referred to me)

So there it is. Me and eight thousand other Amy Winehouses.

Oh, did I mention someone at the party thought I was Cher? Why is that the most hilarious thing EVER?

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OCTOBER 2008 UPDATE: I've had thousands of hits to this post in the last few weeks, as I'm sure Amy Winehouse will be a popular costume choice again this year.  I've also had a lot of people emailing me asking how I put my costume together, so I wrote a new post with all the deets. Good luck and Happy Halloween!

Halloween Filler.

Sorry, midterms this week, so been a bit busy. So here's some filler. I'm a huge fan of stop motion animation, and this one does not disappoint. I'm really diggin the song, too.



Speaking of stop motion, the hubby promised to take me to see the 3D version of Nightmare Before Christmas (pardon me, the official title is Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas in Disney Digital 3D). This is Halloween! This is Halloween!

Has anyone seen?

And now for some BlogHer pimpin'

Thought I would update you all on some of the BlogHer goings on:

BlogHers Act
The BlogHers Act initiative for 2007-2008, that was voted on by members, is maternal health. If you are a blogger, please participate in BlogHers Act: Blog Day for the Mothers Act on October 24th. Oh, and all those neat buttons were designed by yours truly.

Preview of Earn Our Votes: Election 2008
The BlogHer’s Election 2008 get-out-the-vote campaign! Oh, and all those neat buttons were designed by yours truly.

If Oprah likes it, it must be good.

So remember all that talk of work and school and the hubby - well kind of the reason why I haven't blogged much lately. Sorry about that. I'll try to sleep less.

Anywho - I couldn't sleep again on Saturday night. Surprise surprise. (I know, I should have been blogging, but I was in bed and my laptop was all the way downstairs. So there.) So as Mr. Johnson lay in a dead sleep next to me, I flipped between Jon Bon Jovi hosting SNL (I know, right?), and a replay of Oprah (I know, right?). Oprah won.

So what could tear me away from the acting genius that is Bon Jovi? Believe it or not, it was a cook book, Deceptively Delicious, on how to "sneak" vegetables into meals, specifically targeted towards kids.

I know this might seem like an odd intrigue for someone without kids, and well, a vegetarian (a lot her recipes include meat). But it was her main solution to sneak in the veggies that sucked me in: purees. And not only purees, but pre-packaged wonderful little colored bags of goodness. I'm known to prewash, cut and bag my veggies, so seeing this was like heaven! I think I may have to buy it for the spinach brownies alone. Oh wait, she posted the recipe on Oprah's site!

Brownies (with Carrot and Spinach)
Created by Jessica Seinfeld (yes, that Seinfeld),
From the book Deceptively Delicious
Makes 12 brownies

Brownies (with Carrot and Spinach) These brownies fool everyone! You won't believe how scrumptious they are (or how good they are for you) until you make them yourself. Just don't serve them warm—it's not until they're completely cool that the spinach flavor totally disappears.

INGREDIENTS

* Nonstick cooking spray
* 3 oz. semisweet or bittersweet chocolate
* 1/2 cup carrot puree
* 1/2 cup spinach puree
* 1/2 cup firmly packed light or dark brown sugar
* 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
* 2 Tbsp. trans-fat-free soft tub margarine spread
* 2 tsp. pure vanilla extract
* 2 large egg whites
* 3/4 cup oat flour or all-purpose flour
* 1/2 tsp. baking powder
* 1/2 tsp. salt

1. Preheat the oven to 350°. Coat an 8" x 8" baking pan with cooking spray.


2. Melt the chocolate in a double boiler or over a very low flame.


3. In a large bowl, combine the melted chocolate, vegetable purees, sugar, cocoa powder, margarine and vanilla and whisk until smooth and creamy, 1 to 2 minutes.


4. Whisk in egg whites. Stir in the flour, baking powder, and salt with a wooden spoon.


5. Pour the batter into the pan and bake 35 to 40 minutes. Cool completely in the pan before cutting into 12 bars.

Oprah couldn't stop eating these - although I don't know if that is a testament to the brownies or not.

I was also pleasantly surprised when I went to the book's website. Super super cute!

I loved it so much I could never watch it again.

That dang History of Aesthetics class got me thinking again... This time about today's debates over representations of violence and evil. Of course video games is the topic that seems to come up the most, but then that leads to the discussion of art, literature and film. I guess I don't get why this is even an issue. Throughout history, masterpieces in both art and literature have focused on violence and the evil of humanity (Dante's The Divine Comedy, Picasso's Guernica). The beauty of human nature is that this duality exists, and that we recognize and challenge it. To show evil reminds us as to why being good and just is what we all seek, right? Just because technology has advanced in such a way that all this violence looks REAL, does that mean it should be censored?

I think today we see a lot more of the exploration of evil through film. And there are two films in my top 10 that fall into this category (both of violence and evil), that absolutely affected me - and yet I could never watch them again. Does that mean they should never have been made? Absolutely not. They had to me made. (Sorry... a lot of "absolutely"s. I guess I'm kinda passionate about this).

The first is Requiem for Dream. I watched this movie both horrified and captivated. It is a film about addictions, and forces the viewer to feel the pain, anguish and suffering that the characters go through. Literally. (I felt as if someone punched me in the stomach throughout most of the film). It was brilliant, brutal, intense and uncomfortable all at the same time. It's not until the ending credits roll (or even days after that) that you begin to see the beauty in such a dark, horrific story. Although I personally have never had an issue with addiction, I identified with the film in the sense that, it is through times of difficulty and despair that you truly find out who you really are. This movie is not for everyone, but it was a story that had to be told. And I can't imagine it being as powerful were it not as graphic and daring as it was.

The second film is The Green Mile (I realize this was a book first, but I haven't read it, so I can only speak to the film). It isn't often that a film is made of pure human emotion. That's the only way I can describe it. The story is told through the eyes of a man who experiences evil and violence within the walls of a 1930's prison. But in a world of cruelty and hate, he comes into contact with a truly GOOD man. I left this movie absolutely (there is is again!) heartbroken. It affected me in such a way that I cried when thinking of the characters for days afterwards. Like, tears. Streaming down my face. For days. An incredible film that I could never put my emotions through again.

Would I have been affected if these films were not as violent as they were? Doubt it. I needed to be put into those dark places - as harrowing as they were - to remind myself that even in the darkest moments of life, there is always hope.

And when you have someone like George Bush in power, hope is what gets you through the day.

Do Your Doody.

Some green tips from today's Ideal Bite:

• If 10,000 households replace one old-school toilet with a dual-flush, in just one day we'll save enough water to flush 350,000 number ones.


• Replacing one pre-1994 toilet (which use around 3.5 gal per flush) with a high-efficiency one can save a family of four $90 on their water bill each year

Check out this controllable flusher that converts your standard toilet into a low-flow toilet - for only $36! Seriously, thats only like 3 lunches. Do it.

Superflat meets Superego.

I saw a CD for Kanye West's single Stronger while shopping at Target yesterday, and thought the artwork was a complete ripe-off of Takashi Murakami. Well apparently it isn't a rip-off (really? <>).

I am a big fan of Murakami's work. Pre-LV (you know, the Louis Vuitton handbags with those cute little smiley-faced cherry blossoms - the most bootlegged purses in history). I first fell in love with his work when Art in America had an article on his 2001 "Superflat" exhibit at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles. The bizarre, vibrant paintings of mushrooms were absolutely captivating! Love at first site.

My first experience seeing his work in person was in 2004, when Mr. Johnson and I went to the Supernova: Art of the 1990s from the Logan Collection exhibit at SFMoMA. In one of the rooms was a giant sculpture of a manga-esque man, ahem, pleasuring himself and a woman with Pamela Anderson-sized boobies squirting a blue liquid out of them. Really, whats not to love.

Don't judge him on his Kanye work alone (although I hate to admit, as is the case with Kanye's music, it's all pretty bitchin'). Check out this Jonathon Ross interview. It's a really interesting look into what inspires Murakami. Plus the background music is rad.

Addicted to Pretty.

So if you know me, you know I like pretty things. I kinda obsess over it. And I'm trying really hard to curb my appetite. So a few minutes ago I was talking to my husband about the possibility of getting a new entertainment center. Yes. YES. Seriously, what is wrong with me?!? He had to remind me of the post I just wrote Sunday night for my History of Aesthetics course:

**********
I remember around this time last year coming across an article online in the New York Times about Annie Leibovitz's new book, "A Photographer's Life, 1990 - 2005". I have always been a fan of her celebrity photos in Rolling Stone and Vanity Fair, as well as her groundbreaking career as a female photographer, so was interested in reading about this new book's subject matter. I didn't actually know much about her life, and was sad to read that Susan Sontag, her long-time partner, died of leukemia in late 2004.

But what stuck with me all this time, what made makes me remember reading the article, was one particular photo of Leibovitz's. This is a photograph Leibovitz took of Sontag, post-mortem:

I believe two of the Five Reasons to Regard Beauty* apply to this image. First, because its existence is analogous to the good and the true it once symbolized. I think Kant's middle road aesthetic perspective is most fitting for this image, as I personally have conflicting thoughts. Part of me thinks this is image is a wonderful memorial to Sontag, completing Leibovitz's photographical chronicles of her life; part of me thinks that perhaps there is a story behind it that only Leibovitz and Sontag will ever know; part of me thinks that this image will touch someone else that has had a similar experience with the death of a loved one; and then there is part of me that thinks that the modern world has made death a bit taboo, and Leiboviz is showing us that Sontag will forever be beautiful to her - a perfect subject for a portrait - even at death.

I believe the second reason to regard this image as beautiful is, because is encourages a contemplative, appreciative, patient attitude in us and at least rebukes automatic recourse to appetitive desire. To be honest, at first look, I found this photograph really hard to look at. But it made me think, "why would she share such an intimate image of the woman she publicly proclaimed her love of, with the world?". I think Leibovitz's message, as layered and deep as it may be, is that through all of our desires to look picture-perfect, her love for Sontag and the woman that she was is the epitome of beauty. As someone that has made her fortune taking pictures of perfect, flawless, "beautiful" celebrities, with this image of Sontag, she is throwing all of those ideas of beauty out the window. She is telling us this is what beauty is. This woman that I loved, that has died before my eyes, is still beautiful even at death.

Changing gears for a moment, I also wanted to note that, Umberto Eco's passage from The History of Beauty really resonated with me:

"We can consider human beings to be most beautiful, even though we may not desire them sexually, or if we know that they can never be ours. But if we desire a human being (who might also be ugly) and yet cannot have the kind of relationship we desire with him or her, then we suffer."

I realized that all too often I have an inner conflict between appreciating beauty and desiring that which is beautiful. Last night I went to a dinner party at a friend's house who had a beautiful kitchen, something that have been wanting to redo in my home. I thought of this kitchen all night (sad, isn't it?), even frowning a bit at my own when I made my morning cup of tea. I said to my husband, "Their kitchen was amazing, wasn't it". And he responded, "Absolutely, it gave me some great ideas for ours whenever we get around to it." Not a bit of jealously in his voice, not the desire to rip the tile off the counter that very second (she says while whistling and looking around). Just an appreciation for a pretty kitchen. I know this story sounds pathetic, and trust me, its embarrassing to even admit it. I felt pretty teeny tiny.

I now I am reviewing the lecture, and reread Eco's quote. All too often I feel this need to feed my desires for the newest, the greatest, the best. I think both Eco and Leibovitz have taught me something very important. One, to be content with and appreciate being fortune enough to experience something beautiful; and two, to appreciate the beautiful things (family, friends, accomplishments) that I already have.

**********

Touché, Mr. Johnson. Touché.

*If you want to know these five reasons, you must pay the $1800 it cost me to take this course.

I like wine.

It's the most wonderful time of the year! That's right - BevMo's 5 cent sale!

I spent $60 and got 12 bottles. For all you non-dividing peeps, that's $5 a bottle. And all of them were 88 points or more (I'm not exactly sure that that means, but it sounds good, right?).

I suggest you get there quickly, before all that's left is crap (not that I could tell you what is crap or what isn't - hence me dependency on their point system). I also suggest placing your order online, as it will be waiting at the store for you. Seriously, one of the best marketing ideas ever.

It was inevitable wasn't it?

1. I work for a company called BlogHer, so I kinda felt left out.


2. I have insomnia, so this gives me something else to do rather than watch late night marathons of Rob & Big (don't get me wrong I love this show, but I've seen every episode a ba-gillion times).


3. My family is funny so I know they will post comments that are much more entertaining than my own.


4. Between working full-time (hour commute each way - yay!), going to art school, and maintaining a happy marriage, well why wouldn't I? Duh.


5. I like to pass on helpful, interesting information.

Speaking of which, my History of Aesthetics instructor included this quote from the great Socrates in a recent lecture:

There is only one good, knowledge, and one evil, ignorance.

Oh word.