what am i doing here, again?

"I have no idea what I'm doing," I tell her.
"Yeah. Well, me either," she replies.
"You know, I heard someone say the other day that your twenties are like a personal Vietnam--people are shooting at you from trees and you have no what the hell is going on."
(We pause. She looks at me.)
"So. It's not just us?"

he's right, you know.

Interactions with random people: yet another reason why we should all use public transportation! Conversation with kid on the train today:

"I went to the zoo today!"
"You did? What did you see?"
"I saw a camel! And I got to feed it!"
"Wow! So, what do camels eat?"
(pauses, thoughtfully.)
"Camel food!"

maybe we can't save the world.

But maybe we can at least save the chocolate. Because, you know, there just isn't enough stuff in the world to get bent out of shape about.

Post about petition currently before the FDA to re-label waxy, oil-based choco-imitators as "chocolate," now up at Green Girls Global.

"Because what we SHOULD be asking of our chocolatiers (a.k.a. “Big Chocolate”?) is to make chocolate that is sustainably produced and slavery-free, rather than more waxy and less tasty."


Small chocolate covered treats need your help!

putting it off.

So, I signed up for a few graduate courses at this place this semester. Being "back in school" has put me squarely back in this awkward place where I mentally skate around the idea that I have papers to write and readings to do. Mainly by developing a keen interest in all activities unrelated to whatever it is I'm supposed to be doing.

Ah, my old nemesis. Procrastination.

"What are you doing, Miwa?"
"Avoiding a paper I'm supposed to write."
"A paper?"
"For this geography class I'm taking."
"Geography?"
"Geography."
"Couldn't make it though a whole year in life without being graded, eh?"
"Erm, yes. Something like that."

Procrastination tends to throw off my schedule, eat into my sleeping time, and generally do some sucking of the joy from my life. I do it anyway. Perhaps the only good thing about recent experience with procrastination, is: Flickr. VERY addicting, internet.

Recent research has put the price of procrastination by Americans at somewhere around $650 billion. I would venture to guess that Flickr can claim a decent chunk of that. On the other hand, maybe we should be looking at procrastination as the reallocation of time/welfare/dollars from WORK and THE MAN, and back to ourselves. For, um, things like flickring. At least, that's what my ranty inner economist tells me. And I have two degrees in econ. That's right. TWO.

So, a little flickrphotowebzen for your day:



To distract dog from eating shoes, fed panda. Panda is understandably freaked!

the world, it is ending.

Don't get me wrong. I love public radio. I love it so much that I am a member of not one, but TWO, public radio stations.

But maybe what I love most about public radio is that you can tune in--as I did this morning--and hear some humorless hipster from some northeastern state say that something is, "like, the neo-existential prelude to the end of the world."

And know that he is referring to an ipod.

happy bunny day.

This is mostly just an excuse to post a picture of a bunny. Because it IS easter, internet. And because studies show that viewing bunnies lowers blood pressure and stimulates high level brain activity. (I may have made that up. But isn't he cute?)



Actually, Motz and I met this little guy yesterday, as part of an intermediary exchange--between a professional boxer turned bunny breeder and a middle school teacher--that took place in my driveway. Don't ask.

In other bunny news, Motz has discovered that he can buy a harness leash for his own bunny--whom we will call Stinker--and walk him around the neighborhood. He is delighted. Stinker, on the other hand, is still a little unsure about the whole idea. I haven't yet met Stinker, but I imagine he is the type of bunny who will cast a dubious eye on the outfit you picked out for your blind date--Like, really? You're going to go out in THAT?--before chewing through all of your computer cords.

Here's wishing you all an Easter filled with good things. Like bunnies.

Oh, and candy. Lots, and lots. Of candy.

making up my own double standards.

"Miwa, this girl is psycho. I've got to get her to stop calling me."
"You told her you just want to be friends?"
"Apparently, 'being friends' involves her calling me all the time and getting mad when I don't want to talk."
"Well, tell her you just can't be the kind of friend she needs right now."
"Can I do it in a text message?"
"No."
"But didn't YOU do that once?"
"When I do it, it's humorously harsh. When YOU do, it's just mean."
"You sure?"
"Yes. I already checked the bylaws."

it's all relative.

This story was all over everywhere last year, and my friend Jay and I just never got over it. "Nude man on crack in alligator rescue" is now our code for "could be worse." Because, you know. It's all relative.



"Jay. You realize it's noon on a Wednesday and I think we're drunk?"
"Yup."
"But we're still not nude man on crack in alligator rescue. Right?"
"Nope." (pause) "At least, not yet."