Baraking and rolling still going strong
8 years ago right now, I had traveled to France for the wedding of a close friend. I was worried , sure , and shocked at the recent election outcome. Who is this George Bush guy? Is he just like his daddy? I mean, can he be THAT bad?
Well, I remember being in a manor in Quimiac France , outside on the lawn in a flower dress, celebrating the day one of my closest friends got marrie.
Could you explain why you voted for that man? We’re all so shocked! He’s already turned down many measures internationally to help the environment!
I swear, I swear I defeneded myself. More importantly, I swore it happened due to corruption and fluke.
I promis you, that man will not get re-elected.
Fast forward 4 years …. FUCK.
I remember my first trip to Toronto for work. A cabbie picked me up with a collegue after a night out at a bar. He was African, and when he learned we were American, he almost wanted to refuse to take us to our destination.
What is it about Bush that made foreigners seem to hate us or feel so puzzled by our decisions? Somehow I felt that despite my actions and my choices, I was somehow lumped in with a segment that felt the enviroment was 2nd par, God only mattered, and spreading “freedom” was the sole purpose of our Nation’s being.
Well now I can call it out. Finally, when I tell them I’m American, there’s someone to be proud of.
That’s right France, I’m coming back for you. Didn’t your president marry a model? Pshhh.
my other brother
There was a time when I tried to make this blog non-personal necessarily. I wanted this to be about life and culture, and when the two tend to collide and how it affects people. But the more I continue, the more I realize that that happens almost on a daily basis.
Last weekend I went to Seattle for my step-brother’s wedding. Bill is over 2 years younger than me. I remember going on trips to Lake Tahoe, back when he was”my mom’s boyfriend’s son” and putting him in headlocks making him chant Leyla’s good, Leyla’s great, ra-ra Leyla. Now I saw him in a 2 piece suit walking down an aisle and saying his vows to his bride.
It seems like fall 2008 will be the Leyla Pacific Northwest Tour. After this trip, I’ll be heading to Portland in October, and Vancouver in November. But this trip has been different. I got to meet the people from my step-brother’s life, those who live on Vashon Island, where he grew up. And I realize so much of me screams Los Angeles girl. Like the way I insisted on wearing platform open toed shoes on wet gravel and grass.
One things for sure, my hair is NOT suited for rain and humidity.
Congratulations to Bill and his beautiful Sarah. May you never get jaded like a 29 year Angelina with attachment issues to her dog.
always a good side
Who said being fat was bad? Apparently, it might actually save lives.
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An inmate scheduled for execution in October says he’s so fat that Ohio executioners would have trouble finding his veins and he might not be properly anesthetized.
In other news, I finally got back my two rolls of 120 mm film. A few things about buying a Holga I would like to pass on to those wishing to take up this hobbey.
- There are like 4 places in all of LA that still develop traditional film, only one exists in Santa Monica. That would be Boulevard Photo on 12th and Wilshire.
- Of the 24 pictures I took, roughly 6 of them were decent enough. Those six pictures cost me $36 to develop. One set.
- Learn how to manually wind the film, apparently this is key to not exposing your stuff.
Otherwise, enjoy…
dear Jon
Did I mention I adore Jon Stewart? True, the Daily Show has gotten a little less funny in recent years, but it’s not to say they don’t have a good few moments now and again. I finally caught up on a little the other day as I realized I needed to clear some room from my DVR.
I don’t hate McCain, really I don’t. But this is a great clip of the DS ripping on him.
hey now
I’m getting back into the feel of things lately. This year SIGGRAPH won’t be the hell I normally have to prepare for. While I’m busy cleaning up some more categories (thanks M for pointing this out several times), why don’t you take a nice look at some of the lovely world news I’ve been reading lately…
- like how a drunken Swede tried to row home from Denmark, and failed.
- or how in China, all that birth moderation is making a bunch of single dudes unhappy
- isn’t it lovely that in Spain, human rights are going to the monkeys?
- and lastly, as I prepare for my 24 hour trip to San Francisco, they praise their leader in their own way
America’s Favorite Pastime
Sorry it’s been a while, but then again, don’t the apologies start to wear thin after a while? I know, I know … we need more quality time together. But the truth of the matter is that I’ve been too busy partaking in America’s Favorite Pastime - laziness. That’s right … mostly, I’ve just been ignoring this blog due to other thoughts.
So while I’m on that subject, let me expose you to all the things I’ve valued more than my audience here at Culture Mash.
- Cleaning - I’ve spent a great deal of time re-vacuuming over and over the “white” carpeting bestowed upon me at my apartment when I first moved in, and I feel a bit like Hamlet’s mother trying to get a spot out. It just won’t leave. Blah, renting … I hate slumlords.
- Shopping - Slowly but surely I’ve been building up my armada of attire for the summer season. The temperature here in LA went from 70 degrees to 400 degrees a few weekends ago, and I realize that I really didn’t have much clothing for the impending global warming looming around us in March. So naturally, after I purchase what little I could find, the temperature bounced back to the comfortable 62 degrees I’m used to here by the beach.
I’ve gotten REALLY obsessed with finding the perfect sandal this season. This is for a couple of reasons. First, my feet are wide and I look like I have duck flippers in most sandals, and second … I’m not a “bohemian” style person. I’ve explained this to Bex about a zillion times. When you’re brown, bohemian just makes you look like a worker. However, Melissa finally helped me find the most amazing pair of sandals ever. PROBLEM: they only come in size 5 and are NO WHERE to be found . Thanks Melissa, remind me to introduce you the perfect fitting bathing suit … encased in TITANIUM!
WANTED: If any of you know about the whereabouts of these two fugitives in size 38, please contact me ASAP.
- Trying to figure out a way to contribute to the Polaroid Apocalypse. Even though, Marie helped me out with at least one picture.
- Checking out some new blogs, mainly the one done my good pal Levon … aka The Friendinator. The man has taken ranting and story telling to a new art form. Bless his soul. Seriously, check it out though. I crack up just reading emails from him, so this is a real treat to share his funiness with common folk.
- Using my flip cam! Finally, only 4 months after buying it, I’ve begun to post some pretty terrible videos up. I apologize for the slight feeling of nausea you might feel, but remember, it’s ART. Yay Flickr for letting me bore more people!!!
