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marquee
Originally uploaded by Eglectrik.

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movie_seats
Originally uploaded by Eglectrik.

Much needed girl time

Chen
Originally uploaded by Eglectrik.

After my workout and shower yesterday/last night I rushed out to Ypsilanti to meet up with my old housemate and friend Chen. As I mentioned previously in this blog (May 2004 archives, Chapter 2), Chen is a sweet heart and a connoisseur of couture. I told her she is going to be my style coach soon (like when I have money). I think she would be awesome on one of those makeover shows like “queer eye for the straight guy”, only she’s not gay and not male. So instead I thought of a show she could start, it could be called “fabulous eye for the frumpy poor girl”. I think it could make big bucks! Speaking of “bucks”, Chen loves Starbucks, which I also previosuly mentioned in this blog. After getting some tasty chinese food, we made our way there for a tasty treat. It was crowded as all hell and we only briefly sat to enjoy our drinks (somehow we got lucky finding a seat). Then all I could think about was how small the coffee house was, how there was not enough seating, and how much pressure I felt to hurry up as there is always those people who are continually scoping the scene for any sign of depature. After a few minutes of sipping our coffee treats, Chen asked if I was ready to leave. Without hesitation I jumped from my seat. Literally, as I was reaching for my coat a vulture swept in and asked ” are you guys leaving?”. Its always a weird moment too. I’m always caught off guard and thinking, “geez buddy….give me a moment to make sure I have everything”. I do a quick glance over; “gloves? got em. Hat? oh thats right, I left it in the car. scarf? around my neck. Ok. guess I’m ready. Oh wait! I see some coffee froth on the table that must have dripped from my coffee rim. Should I wipe it up? The table isn’t really mine anymore technically. Oh my gosh, I’m taking too long to think about this, I can’t do it now”. So I walked away leaving the froth on the table feeling guilty about it but knowing I made a timely escape. Something would have felt wrong about making him wait longer as I went across the coffeehouse for a napkin. Its the pressure I tell ya! Chen and I headed out to downtown Ann Arbor where I was hoping to pop in to the Urban Outfitters store to have Chen evaluate cute overpriced clothing with me. It was closed when we arrived but we happened to notice “Sideways” was playing at the State. We were just in time as the movie was going to start in ten minutes. Only thing is, they only took cash and we didn’t have any on us. So we headed for the ATM a block or so away. On our way there, we saw that“A Very Long Engagement” was playing at the Michigan theatre and I grew very excited. I exclaimed “Ohh my gosh! I wanna go see that instead. I love Audrey Tatou! Lets just see what time and then decide.” Chen threw out a happy “Yeah, plus they take credit cards!” It was on. The movie was starting in 15 minutes. We sat there in anticipation. To pass the time we made small talk. After a while I asked Chen if she had some gum (well I saw it in her purse). It was the kind you push through the foil, dentyne Ice or something. As I was pushing one through, Chen blurted out “Take two. If you want. It messes me up when people take only one, cause I always take two.” I kinda gave her this look and said “what? but I don’t want two” She insisted and I took two with reluctance. I informed her this was not bubble gum and I did not plan on blowing bubbles with it. For a moment I just held onto the second piece of gum, staring at it with bewilderment. I just thought “What should I do with this? I could stick it in my pocket, but it will get dirty without something to cover it (I’m sort of weird about germs and stuff)”. I guess I’ll just have to chew it then”. So I popped it in my mouth with the other piece. At first it felt really wrong. Like I was breaking some kind of gum rule or something. Chen just reassured me “they feel too small when you chew only one, thats why you need two”. All I knew was that I had TWO pieces of dentyne ice in my mouth and I was VERY conscious of it. Until the second piece melded in with the first piece I couldn’t stop thinking about them as the two individual separate pieces they were and how odd it felt. Soon the previews and eventually the movie started and my mind wandered away from the gum (plus, the initial freshness gum gives off started wearing off). Because this blog entry is so long though, I am not going to go over the details of the movie etc. I liked it though. An especially nice surprise was seeing Jodie Foster in the movie speaking full blown extraordinary french (she has a small but important role). It was really nice seeing her in a movie again. The whole movie had a familar feel to it, aspects of it reminding me of the humor in Amelie (makes sense since both were directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet), but this movie had a much more serious storyline and feel to it.

By the way, we got our washer and dryer on Friday. You can see the pictures of them on Flickr. Just click on one of the photos here and it will take you there. Keep in mind you CAN click on the images on Flickr and they will show you a bigger version of the picture. I’ll put a picture of the washer/dryer here on my blog soon too!

Burn, sweat, shower

After a brief hiatus I was finally able to get back to Wayne State’s gym yesterday afternoon. The Christmas holiday really screwed up my routine( the school was closed for two weeks then I got lazy and sick). I hope to go every day now to get myself back into the shape I was before christmas. In addition, Jeff was telling me I should prepare my body for the snowboarding trip we have planned in February. I think I’m in far better shape than he thinks since I have been going to the gym for months prior to “the hiatus”. I am actually more worried about him. He thinks he’ll be fine, but I can betcha bottom dollar he’s going to be hurting. His skatboarding in Chicago last year is proof of that. He was practically crying after skatin’ like he did it everyday. Anyway, I absolutely love going to the gym. Also, there’s more incentive for me than just getting in shape. Just when I am about ready to give up, when I feel like my body might give, I think of the shower that is waiting for me at the end of the workout. Not usually a “reward” for most people. Especially the kind at recreation buildings. But for someone who does not have one at home currently, It drives me forward like I’m about to win the only shower available. I like to tease myself that if I don’t get through with my workout I don’t deserve to shower. Boy does it do the trick. I’m just worried about what will happen once our shower is finished in a month. Must find new reward. Mmmm…..chocolate carlatta? Ben and Jerry’s? Hmmm… I can see this reward thing might not work out for me much longer.

Time to pull the tooth out!

I don’t know what’s going on with my health lately. Maybe everything is interrelated. As I mentioned earlier this week, my throat was hurting. The sore throat then turned into a sore wisom tooth (inflammed gums) ,jaw,and now a throbbing headache that won’t cease despite taking aspirin. I made an appointment for the dentist for next week, but after going through the day with a miserable headache (and doing the same yesterday), I decided I needed something to happen NOW. I called Jeff ( I was at work) and asked him if he knew where I could go ASAP. Luckily, Jeff is the kind of person who knows people and just happened to know of someone he went to grade school with who is now a dentist (I was like, no way! Fo’ real?). He called and made an appointment for me after work (he treats me like such a princess). To shorten the story cause my head is throbbin’ so darn bad, the dentist checked my teeth out and said the one that is bothering me is definitely inflammed/impacted and it should come out. It, along with TWO other wisdom teeth. He gave me a prescription of antibiotics and I was soon out the door. They didn’t charge me anything for the visit today (hurray!) and I had two pharmacy gift cards that I used for the antibiotic (covered it all). So despite not having insurance I made out pretty well today. I am VERY grateful to Jeff for his hook up and I definetely gave him a huge hug when I got home. I have an extraction scheduled for next Friday (yikes!). I can’t wait to get this tooth out of my mouth. My sister told me she thought her wisdom tooth extraction was worse than giving birth. I’ve never given birth, but if its worse than having a baby for crying out loud, then give me an epideral and anything else that will help with the pain. She must be exaggerating. I really don’t think it would be worse than giving birth. I know its better to get wisdom teeth pulled when you are a teenager on into the early twenties because the gum tissue is a lot softer. But I don’t think I’m so much older that it will hurt more or anything crazy. Listen to me! I’m thinking/writing out loud and am actually contemplating what she said. Like I will really be able to tell her if it was worse than giving birth. Duh.

Fermi II Situation

I don’t usually post this late, but found it a little disconcerting to learn that the “Fermi II “ plant in Monroe had a “situation” earlier in the night for which they had to shut down. This is one of those things that REALLY freaks me out. Ever since my Understanding Technology class with Ron Westrum (I loved that class and that professor) that had a chapter on technological disasters such as Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, I have always had a huge fear of nuclear power plants. All those horrid stories about the effects of the radiation on those affected by the Chernobyl are so vivid in my head. The ecosystem. The genetic mutations. It all just freaks me the hell out. Apparently there was a near explosion here in 1966 at the Fermi I. There was a book written about it titled “We Almost Lost Detroit”, which talks about the near catastrophe and potential death of tens of thousands of people in the Detroit area. I think it would scare me too much if I read it. It came out before Chernobyl and The Three Mile Island disasters and was a bit prophetic in that the author described just how dangerous nuclear power could be. So scary to think we are so vulnerable and susceptible to something we have no control over. I wish I hadn’t saw this on the news. Its too late for me to be up (its 2:40 am) and this is where my mind is. Aye Aye Aye.

Regarding my “Hamtramck Blast Blog”

I was reading some other blogs when I came across this blog and his experience. Makes me realize “it could have been far worse here!”. Check out one of his pictures . Now mine. Freaky.

Help! I have spikes in my throat

Ohh my goodness. I’m in such pain. It all began yesterday morning, I woke up with a super bad sore throat. Felt like a thorn bush in my throat everytime I swallowed. It continued on into the day and night, where I continuously drank hot tea with honey. All throughout last night I woke up almost everytime I swallowed. In reality, almost every hour I remember waking up with this throbbing sore throat pain and glancing at the clock and then at Jeff as he slept soundly (so not fair). I’ve never woke up as many times in one night as last night. It kinda has me wondering if a rose bush is trying to bloom inside my throat. Its moments like this where I wish I had medical insurance and which also motivates me to want to take looking for a full-time job more seriously. Jeff took care of me with some hot tea (throat coat) yesterday and this morning as well as gave me a couple Excedrin. He thinks I have strep throat, but I don’t have a fever or other symptoms. I don’t recall ever having horrible sore throat pain like this in my life. If anyone has any advice on how to help my throat, please let me know. I don’t care if you’re a total stranger who just happened to come across my boring blog by mistake. If you have knowledge about throats, please share. Don’t just sit there as a bystander. I need some throat care tips!

Motown Winter Blast 2005

Gina & I with spirit of detroit ice sculpture
Originally uploaded by Eglectrik.

We stopped by the Winter blast in Detroit as you can see. Mitch and Gina came too! We got there an hour or so before it closed and it was very, very cold. So cold I decided to wear tights underneath some jeans, addidas pants (the kind that sound scratchy when you walk), a bright yellowish orange coat that screams look at me (unfortuneately), and some snow boots. Sometimes you gotta put style aside for warmth.
The winter blast was fun what can I say? Some kind of techno music welcomed us from the corner we entered from. We danced our way in, taking in all the sights. To our left children played on a hill of snow. To our right past the warming tents in the distance, was the “seven on your slide”. Yes, the station I interned for sponsored the slide. How cute. I planned on going on the slide but immediately put it aside after I heard the sleddogs were nearby. We walked over to the see the sleddogs. Some were more at ease than others. Some probably feeling more burnt out than others. At first I felt bad for them, thinking they had been pulling people all day,etc. Soon I realized there were trailors and more dogs were coming out and replacing the ones that had just gotten done with a run. This was reassuring. As long as they were able to rest and warm up. Next, we watched people ice skate. Somehow I was not so tempted to join in. Maybe it was the amount of people on the ice or maybe it was just the cold. All I know is I was ready to find the free hot chocolate I heard there was suppose to be somewhere ( tv advertised it). We looked but never found it. We did find a ton of vendors selling drinks for excessive amounts of money though. We also saw that the auto show seemed to have seeped into this event. There were huge blow up cars/trucks being held down by ropes, people walking around with auto show bags, and real cars on display in some of the tents. Looking back, I guess it makes sense. Ford did sponsor the event. By the time we decided to get back to that slide it was 11:00 signifying closing time. They would not let us go on the slide, saying “come back tomorrow”. Ohh well I thought. It was nice just seeing everything and not spending a damn cent.

Welcome!

Welcome!
Originally uploaded by Eglectrik.