EUREKA!

WARNING: This image is not for children.

I think I have found the reason why so many children are afraid of clowns. See example to the left. It's a crocheted clown. Seriously frightening.

Look who I was sitting next to!

No, it's not Obama. It's Louis Ortiz, an Obama impersonator, who
looks just like Obama. It really was uncanny how much he looked like
Obama.

SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER SUPER easy sorbet recipe

And it seriously works:

Super Simple Sorbet recipe by Mark Bittman

For the mens out there

My bro, Frike, has a blog which I don't totally understand (I think it is because I am from Venus and he is from Deep Space 9), but I have to say is well-written. Check it out: http://golfism.wordpress.com/


And note to Frike: you don't need the Porsche.

Holiday greeting 2008

HAPPY HOLIDAYS
FROM
MICHELLE'S GIANT PORES!

WE LOVE YOU!

A Star Is Born

This is from my friend Frabney would got it from Frucy's dad Frathan.

And we're back...

Ok, I have had many a request (aka complaint) for a revival of the horoscope email. I have heard your loud, whining voices. And so we're back. It may not be weekly, it may not be biweekly, but it will be in your inbox.

+===================+
I still haven't found a job, but it's cool.

+===================+
Frob and I were joking around that people are becoming dumber by the hour. Seriously, we talk in abbreviations. People are monosyllabic. Our language is degrading fast, people. Soon we will be speaking in grunts. Which is what Frob and I did one night. It was quite entertaining. See what I mean?

I can even see TV becoming stupider. I mean, reality tv shows are the most-watched. What's that about? Soon, someone is going to produce a show where people just do things. For example, a woman will sit down, pour a drink and drink it. And people will be fascinated by this. They will say, I do that too! Or, I can do that! And it will be the most watched show on television.

Seriously. It's coming, people.

+===================+
So my job search continues. That's all I have to say about that.

+===================+
This week's horoscope goes out to me. Because I can.

+===================+
Check your weekly horoscope at Free Will Astrology
By Rob Brezsny
Horoscopes for week of December 4, 2008
© 1995-2008 -- Rob Brezsny. All rights reserved

Thanksgiving eats

I made this! This is my first turkey all by myself. I have co-cooked turkeys in previous years. I have even had the pleasure of cooking turkey legs. But this was my first turkey. It was pretty small, just 11 lbs. But it was all mine.

And then I made the sides: green bean casserole, stuffing and mashed potatoes - all of which rocked.



And of course, there was leftover turkey - but don't worry. It will be eaten. O yes, it will.






The next day, my dad decided he needed to outdo me, so he made me lunch. He cooked denjang chigae - a bean paste based soup with vegetables and tofu:



Bulgogi:


And his own kimchee:



Needless to say, he beat me in the cooking department.

Talbots Surges After Credit Deal With Japanese Banks

THANK GOD! Talbot's is temporarily saved. My mother would be DEVASTATED if Talbot's closed.

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=ad1_HJKpMIls&refer=japan

Nooooo!

ABC: Don't cancel "Pushing Daisies!"

Happy belated birthday, Frabney!

Blogging regularly is HARD

Let's see what I have been doing while I have been laid off:

• Haven't watched as much TV as I thought I would be watching
• Been on a slew of interviews; still no job
• Questioning the prices of Whole Foods and why green onions are so expensive
• Wish that there were triple coupon discounts at grocery stores in NYC
• The Duggers' (the family with 17 -- and one on the way -- children) faith sorta scares me
• My gym now costs me $36 for 6 months
• My friends are awesome
• I really can cook
• My nasal passages are failing me
• I can make plants grow
• I love free things
• I almost got pickpocketed last weekend
• My body does not like the cold. At all.
• I like to read crappy novels. A lot.
• I almost finished my afghan
• I really like quiches
• I hate cleaning my apartment
• I really love my friends
  

What I Did While I Was a Giant Statistic (aka Laidoff): Week 2

I am going to catalog the things I do while I am laid off. This will be a visual diary and I will spare you every little detail of my journey. So, on week two, I found out the Freethan was in town from Froulder, CO, and dragged him to dinner:



Went to JERSEY (!!!!) for election night and spent time with Frike V and his partner Fraul. Frike made Obama cookies to celebrate:



And then on Friday, I got to meet up with my favorite secret agent, uh, I mean analyst, Frynn. We had tea and sympathy and ran into bunnies with mustaches (shout out to Frannie and Frabney):



Oh, and I had a job interview and other interviews scheduled for week 3.

File under "Whaaaaa?"

So I understand the need to get people to eat more vegetables, but broccoli and cheetos?

Michelle's Aphorism for the Week

Smile and the world doesn't see you snickering

YAYAYYAYAYAYYAY - O-BAM-A!

WE DID IT!!!!! YAYAYYAYAYYAYAYYAYAY! President Barack Hussein Obama!!!!!!!!

TODAY...

vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote vote obama

If Palin named me...

Michelle Park, if you were born to Sarah Palin, your name would be:
Mole Valdez Palin

What would your name be? Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator

Thanks for the tip, Frannie!

turn your clocks!

Turn your clocks back one hour on Saturday night (11/1)/Sunday morning (11/2)!

At Kripalu Yoga Retreat

It's so beautiful here. The leaves have changed but not everything is
gone. I spent the afternoon dozing on a couch reading. Hows that
different from home? It's a bigger couch.

Dinner was fantastic with the most amazing spelt bread I have ever
eaten. I also ate real vegetables. That may sound weird, but I
haven't had a fresh vegetable that wasn't a garnish in a while. Of
course the downside to that is I have to, well, go. Which I guess is a
good thing and THANK GODS I didn't have to do any serious yoga poses
tonight or there would have been some major consequences to deal with
in class tonight.

Namaste.

bring on the good stuff

I try to limit the amount of bacon I have, and it's been a bit of a dry spell until this morning. And OMG, why don't i have bacon every day?????

Recent Amazon delivery

I think I have a chick flick-lit problem. It may be time for an
intervention.

Obama v. McCain

Lion Brand Yarn comes up with fun patterns for knitting, crocheting, crafts, etc. However, somehow, I think this project, Obama and McCain finger puppets, is way wacky and I can't tell whether I think it is awesome or offensive. Not sure yet.

MMMmmm, donuts.

I am so easily swayed. As soon as I saw this photo, I wanted a donut. Now all I want is a donut. The power of suggestion is upon me. Thank goodness I have DVR and can skip through TV commercials because otherwise I would own PedEggs, that weird foam stuff for kids, pet nail trimmers, and a ton of RonCo products.

Unauthorized use of photo: photographer Melissa Hom

Yodel-e-woohoo!

Heidi Klum yodels and she is quite good!

BACON CORN DOG ICE CREAM! YAY!

I heart bacon. And now there's bacon corn dog ice cream. Here's the full pork at Serious Eats by my fav blogger Robyn

http://upsidedowndogs.com/

upsidedowndogs.com

Happy Belated Birthday to Frandy and Happy Birthday to Freven!

HAPPY BORTHDAU to TOI
HAPPY BIRDJSAY TO YPU
GAPPY BIRTHNDQU TO ATVMWN
HAPPY BIERHSSAY RO YOU

Iphone keyboard stinks.

Have a great day!

Dare I dream?

Someday my washer/dryer will come!

But not anytime soon. Sigh.

YUMMY GEEKS

Frannie sent me this awesome link for GEEKCAKES.

Now I know Frannie would like an iphone cake.

My nephew, Fraham would like a Darth Vader cake:

And I want a Jabba cake.

Hawaiian BBQ chix. Yum.

It doesn't look like much, but the bbq is really good. This would have been more appetizing looking if I took a before-I-scarfed-it shot, but I was hungry. L&L Hawaiian BBQ is a takeout joint and I got this delivered. Overall, it's awesome. I tried their spam saimin (fried) yesterday and, although I am familiar with the spam oeuvre, that dish was way too salty. Inedible salty. However, yesterday I was famished and I ate it anyway.

And yet another reason to love National Geographic...

I love National Geographic and have ever since I was a kid. But this particular article just slays me.

Project Runway: The Neanderthal Challenge

If I was sitting in the round at the Presidential Debate...

I would totally be the one with their head nodding off to sleep. All those lights? All the rhetoric? I would be the head bobber in the front row. Definitely.






© All rights reserved. thiagoleon

Darnit

I thought L&O would be filming on my work block but they were in Deep
Soho instead. Poo.

My not so pretty qualities - UNLEASHED!

I was searching through my blog to see if I had written about my morning bed ritual before. It must have been in an email horoscope. Well, either way, I found this list of my analness from February 2003 and thought it was time to update it. http://girlladyfriend.blogspot.com/2003/02/ah-sweet-of-mystery-of-life-at-last.html#links

How Anal I Am: A 2008 Update
1) I wash my hands before I eat, after I eat, when I get somewhere new, when I am about to leave somewhere to go somewhere else, when I am about to touch food - well, basically all the time.
Now I only wash my hands before I eat and when I get somewhere new. All other times, I let my disgusting germy hands everywhere.

2) I do have a germ-phobia. I carry antibacterial Wet Ones in my purse.
Don't do this anymore. Except when I am around my mom, who is immunosupressed so it just makes common sense to keep the hands, nose, mouth, everything clean when I am around her.

3) I put two pillowcases on each pillow, as well as a pillow case cover on my pillows. I also put a mattress pad and two fitted sheets on my bed.This is my germ barrier.
OK - I still do this. I am not sure why I do this, but my mom made me do this for YEARS and I can't seem to or want to get out of the habit.

4) Most times, I pack several days in advance of a trip. This includes putting my clothes and under things in my Travel Space Bags(http://www.myspacebag.com/ ) as well as awell-stocked medicine bag (the bag is a Ziploc bag). Again, protectivebarrier.
LOL - I can't believe I used to pack in advance. Somewhere between 2003 and now, I have forgotten the art of packing. I think it was because back then I was traveling a lot for work and had gotten it down to a science. An evil, perfect science. But now? I am lucky to remember underwear or a toothbrush.

And forget the space bags. I now just throw crap in and hope for the best. The Ziploc medicine bag has been scaled down to some alcohol wipes and benadryl cream (see old posts about mosquito bites).

5) I always bring my Japanese wash towel. It's made of this fibrous tough plastic mesh that really does slough off dead skin cells. I really don't feel clean unless I have that with me.
This I still do. I just like the clean feeling after sloughing off dead skin cells.

6) I don't like sharing drinks.
I still don't like sharing drinks; however, I do share drinks especially if they are yummy alcoholic wonders.

7) If you need it, I might have it in my purse. Really, this is true.
No longer true. OK, maybe just a little true. But only if you need lipstick or Lactaid pills.

8) I cannot wear most clothes twice.
So over this one. I have gotten around to only doing my laundry every other week (and those of you who know me know that THIS is REALLY unusual) so I can wear my clothes more than once, dare I say even three times.

9) I smoke, but I hate the smell of smoke, especially on my hands (see No. 1).
This unfortunately is still true.

10) I wash my hair everyday because I hate the smell of smoke and fear that it is in my hair (see No. 9) - all the time.
This is no longer true. I started getting my haircut at Devachan, this curly hair place, and their philosophy (I know - what kind of snobbish freak am I if I go to a hair salon with a philosophy about hair?) is to not wash curly hair more than once a week if you can help it. Feel free to condition it all you want, but don't wash it. Well, I can get by for a couple of days (max: 4) without washing my hair, but after that, the suds are on.

Ah, too much information sharing again. That's what blogs are for, right? Verbal diarrhea?

I got "Super Magic Finger-ed"

I know, that sounds so dirty. Well, I was desperate for a massage and last time I got a massage at Super Magic Fingers (description below), I couldn't walk for two days. Why, you may ask. Well, they do Tui Na there, which is essentially having someone massage each joint and vertebrae in your body. So why would I go there again? Well, even though the last time I went, I couldn't walk or lift my arms for two days, my muscles were extremely relaxed. A little swollen, but relaxed. They are such professionals that I didn't have any muscle spasms. You would think once your body has been tenderized and pounded into submission that your muscles would revolt, but I seriously was never so relaxed in my life. Which is saying something. Not sure what, but something.

So I went again. This time, I expressly asked for LIGHT massage, not too hard. And only asked for 30 minutes. At first, it was light and then it got harder and then i wanted to cry and scream in pain. But after 30 minutes, I actually asked for 15 more minutes. I know, I am a glutton for punishment. I left there tired but feeling great and I felt great for about two hours, after which I felt like I had been pummeled by a 500 lb sumo wrestler. But despite this, I was a in a great mood for the next three days. Sure, my neck and shoulder area were swollen, but I felt fantastic. Such a rush. I wish I could go back, but I need a few more months to completely forget the traumatic, torturous part.

Oh, and it only cost me $35.

From Citysearch description of Super Magic Fingers:



Tui Na Therapy is one of the ancient arts of traditional Chinese medicine. It is a rigorous hands on body work that not only treats the muscles and joints, but more importantly, goes to a deeper level, affecting the flow of vital life energy in the body. In Chinese theory this life energy is Chi. Super Magic Fingers specializes in this type of deep, intense body work that will leave you feeling competely restored and revitalized. Accupressure, Acupuncture, Shiatsu, and Reflexology are also available.

Morning Ritual

I have a strange morning ritual that I think I blogged about before, but I am bringing it up again because I still can't seem to shake it. My alarm goes off at 6:30 am and I hit snooze until 7 AM. Then I get up and take a shower. I get out of the shower and then GO BACK TO BED for another 15-30 minutes. Technically I could get to work by 8:30, but because of this weird morning ritual, I get to work by 9:30. I have tried hard to stop doing this. I had tried making my bed after waking up. Doesn't work. I have tried not sitting down after the shower. Doesn't work. So far, this ritual hasn't gotten me into too much trouble but last week, I did go back to sleep and I woke up an hour later. Luckily, I had gotten up at 6:30 that morning so I wasn't too late for work. I am going to see if I can shake this habit this week. I'll let you know how it goes.

Card/celebration count for week of 10/6

2 cards, 1 party

Total cards as of 9/8: 10

Total team parties as of 9/8: 2

If this doesn't give us another reason to vote for CHANGE (OBAMA), then I don't know what will.

Green card applicants mandated to get HPV vaccine

By ANABELLE GARAY Associated Press Writer © 2008 The Associated Press

Oct. 2, 2008, 1:32PMDALLAS — A new mandate requiring girls as young as 11 to be vaccinated against a sexually transmitted virus before they can become legal U.S. residents is unfair, immigration advocates say.

The federal rule, which took effect July 1, added Gardasil to the list of vaccinations that female immigrants ages 11 to 26 must get before they can obtain "green cards."

The series of three shots over six months protects against the strains of the human papillomavirus blamed for most cases of cervical cancer and genital warts. But the vaccine is one of the most expensive on the market and controversial.

"This is a huge economic, social and cultural barrier to immigrants who are coming into America," said Tuyet Duong, senior staff attorney for the Immigration and Immigrant Rights Program at the Asian American Justice Center.

At a cost of $400, Gardasil places an added burden on green card applicants already paying more than a thousand dollars in form fees and hundreds of dollars for mandatory medical exams, advocates say.

The mandate potentially affects tens of thousands of women and girls annually. More than 200,000 women and girls ages 10 to 29 were granted legal permanent resident status each of the past two years.

Past efforts to require the vaccine for American girls has stirred emotional debate and complaints that such mandates intrude on family decisions about sex education.

In Texas, lawmakers last year fought off an order by Gov. Rick Perry requiring the shots for sixth grade girls amid questions about vaccine's safety, efficacy and cost. Similar programs were proposed in many states, but only Virginia has signed such a mandate into law.

"What surprised us the most is that this requirement is for immigrant girls and women, but not for the general population of natural born citizens," said Jessica Arons, director of the Women's Health and Rights Program at the Center for American Progress.

Despite objections by immigrant advocates that the law is invasive and unfair, a spokeswoman for U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services said the agency must enforce it.

"With regard to this particular issue, it's in the law," said agency spokeswoman Chris Rhatigan. "We don't have the authority to hold off on the requirements."

The route by which the measure became law, however, was both roundabout and — according to the head of the committee that prompted the change — unintentional.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Gardasil vaccine, made by New Jersey-based pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co., Inc., in 2006. Then last year, an advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the vaccinations for girls 11 or 12.

For U.S. citizens, the committee's recommendations serve only to provide guidance on immunization issues. But a 1996 change to the nation's immigration laws required anyone seeking permanent residency to get all the vaccinations recommended by the committee.
Jon Abramson, who chaired the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, said the panel never intended to require Gardasil for immigrants and wasn't aware its recommendation would become mandatory.

"This is an unintended consequence," Abramson told The Associated Press. "We didn't even know about the law."

Abramson, chair of the pediatrics department at Wake Forest University School of Medicine, said he supports Gardasil for its potential benefits to women and girls, but believes it should be optional.

Gardasil should be removed from the list of required vaccines for immigrants, he added.
Unlike highly contagious diseases like polio, measles and meningitis that green card applicants must be vaccinated against, HPV is spread by sexual contact.

"It's not like when someone goes into a high school with measles," Abramson said.
Merck spokeswoman Amy Rose said the drug company did not lobby the government to require the vaccine for female immigrants and that it wasn't aware of the mandate until after the rule took effect.

Sarah Palin Debate Flow Chart from The Atlantic

Totally. Thanks, Frasha H!

MERCURY IS IN RETROGRADE, AGAIN?!!!!!

From my friend Frasha, aka astromuse.com:

Fall Equinox & Mercury Retrograde in Libra: Time to Find Balance
I don't know about anybody else but it feels like I've been on some sort of cosmic "Mr. Toad's Wild Ride" from some nether region of the Solar System. The eclipses of August are still being felt it seems. Change and the unexpected, from the Presidential Race to Wall Street continues to be the norm. And now things are just going to turn even more upside down with Mercury going Retrograde this coming Wednesday the 24th of September.

I wish I could say I was going on vacation soon and could ride the three weeks of retrograde out on some Spanish speaking island far away where siestas rule, but no, I will be here to experience everything this retrograde has to show us. Exactly what it will show us will most likely be individual but as the sign this retrograde is occurring in is in Libra, everyone will have to figure out how to balance some big issue in their lives.

It could be in regards to relationships as Libra is the sign of partnership, but Libra is also the sign of justice and the law. The symbol for Libra is in fact a woman holding two scales and is almost the same as the symbol of the woman of justice holding a sword blindfolded while holding scales. Decisions will most likely be unable to be made until after the retrograde on October the 15th, although the "shadow" which has gone on since September 4th will continue until October 31st. Only at the start of November may we get real clarity on things that will happen in late September though mid October.

In addition to all of this the equinox, the exact balance of light and dark is coming up quick on September 22nd. Take this time to breathe in and let go of the massive changes that have happened over the Summer. Find a point of balance even if it's for a moment, for more change this Fall is likely to happen. Breathe in, breathe out, and let a new Season of Harvest, Reflection and turning inward begin.

Another card and a b-day party

Also on Monday, we received a card from a client. Therefore, this week's card count is up to 2. And we had a b-day party for a team member.

If anyone is keeping count...

remember my "cards" complaint? Well, this week, one card. And it's only Monday.

Everybody wants something....

My coworker/friend Frune and I just walked down memory lane. We both actually watched the original "Degrassi Jr. High" in the late 80s. There aren't many people who actually caught the original series which was filmed in Canada, eh? But this is the show which introduced me to the the great Canadian word "aboot."

Frune had (unfortunately or fortunately, you be the judge) this particular Degrassi song in her head. Enjoy!

pooing where I eat

OK, I promised to never say a bad word about work, but I have to share this. I am on this team at work that loves to send celebratory cards, like birthdays, congrats on your promotion/anniversary/new cat, etc. or sympathy cards, e.g., get well soon, sorry to hear about your cat, etc. We have at least one card to sign a week and they get routed through the team as quickly as possible. I just never knew it was possible to send your team members so many cards in so short a period of time.

The only reason I bring this up is because two weeks ago, two cards. Last week, one card. This week, two cards. I am not kidding. I don't know how much we spend at Hallmark, but they are making LOTS of money from my coworkers.

iPhone takes weird photo

Oprah socks will change my life

My coworker Febra brought back goodies from Oprah and I got these
great coolmax socks. Frannie (we im a lot) call them magic Oprah socks
and if I put them on, I will live my best life. That would be awesome!!!!!!

Don't mess with the fire team

Frannie wanted to see my fire team outfit. Like the vest? My office is
having a fire drill today and I get to herd the cats.

My 2-hour haircut

Yes, my haircut takes two hours. When people say, whaaaa? My response is, have you seen my hair? Well, my hair is naturally curly, which is strange in Asian people, but it's also ridiculously thick. I wouldn't be up for Russian presidency this term. I would have to wait for the next bald man before I can have a go.

Anyway, Frannie wanted photos so I am indulging her here.

Here is the photo of the start of the process. I unfluff my hair and Friyoko at Frevachan on Broome and Crosby Sts. starts by dry cutting my hair.




This takes about 30 minutes or so. Then I go for a wash/condition with their No-Poo and Conditioner. seriously. No-poo. And it takes about 15-20 minutes.



Then, when I come back, we go through the drying process. This entails me flipping my hair over and Friyoko scrunches out the water from my hair. And then I sit under the dryer foooorever...



And this is me post-dryer, but it's not over yet.



Friyoko then makes me flip my hair over and fluff it out.



AND THEN another dry cut:



AND THEN two hours later, NEW HAIR!