Cartoon Daze

This evening, I was inspired to sort through old school papers to see which are still good enough to keep and moon over, and which need to go. (When I say old, by the way, I mean everything from first to third grade.) Among those documents which will be in a recycling bin tomorrow are spelling tests, math quizzes, and Sunday School lessons. These are not interesting anymore. The more fortunate scraps of history include short stories, valentines, and all drawings that illustrate my genius as a young art prodigy.

One such picture reminded me of friend Corey's recent posting of what he would look like if he were a cartoon. His was more anime-ted (double entendre here, gang. His is anime style, plus he's in mid-leap/growl.). As you can plainly see, If I was in a cartoon, I would look like this->

Notice the bold lines and coloring. Probably I was channeling Picasso's rose period and cubism at the same time (note the square shape of the torso and legs). Other influences would have included Klasky-Csupo's Rugrats for the simplified mouth and Snee-Oosh's Hey Arnold for the round shoes.

Obviously, I drew heavily from classical and contemporary sources. I also drew with crayons.

Mio Bello Cilantro

Have you ever been to the grocery and smelled the most exquisite aroma of fresh cilantro? I can't even describe- it isn't musty and thick like oregano, but it's soft and invigorating, and it begs to be mixed into salsa with warm tortilla chips. And I cannot stop thinking about it. It also used to be known as coriander, which sounds delicate and European. But let this other word wrap around your tongue: my beautiful cilantro.

Mad Old Bat

It has become increasingly apparent that I am going to be a very looney old person. I've always wanted to be a cool grandma, not the type who drives in a comically dangerous way, but the type who does fun things with the kids (This sentiment is equally applicable to when I'm a mother). But now I find myself acting out in public, most notably at the grocery store. Sometimes it's more noticeable, like when I dance quietly in the aisles. Sometimes it's the subtle things, like saying hello to the cheesecakes (as they are soo attractive). Sometimes it's the maddening things, like audibly asking Mum if she's noticed the lacking news coverage on Bush's push for optional filling of birth control as we walk away from the skinhead at checkout.

I don't know why it is that I should be so fanciful when in public, especially when shopping with my mother. Perhaps it's a result of pent-up energy that comes from internetting all day and reading all night. After the mind and body have settled and stewed, I need to run about in the same manner as I have for the past 15 years. I'm still the youngest person at home and in the neighborhood, so the same immature history is still in the background of my mind. I no longer run around in the puddles after a rainstorm, but I always linger when walking through with rain boots. I don't stick fight in the woods anymore, but I carefully examine every tree for climbing capacity.

These feelings will continue into adulthood (whenever that's supposed to happen), and I joyfully embrace the golden strain of childishness that will accompany the silver streaks in my hair.

My Christmas Music List

"I Won't Be Home for Christmas" Blink 182
(Hy-larious. Please listen.)


"Wizards in Winter" Trans-Siberian Orchestra
(Please listen to this also- it just rocks so hard. The band played this after I had graduated, and a student played lead guitar.)


"Merry Christmas, Baby" Bruce Springsteen
(The great BRUCE on the Conan O'Brian Show)


"Do They Know It's Christmastime" Band Aid
(Musicians saving the world!)


"Eight Days of Christmas" Destiny's Child


"The Chanukah Song" Adam Sandler



"All I Want for Christmas is You" Mariah Carey


"Carol of the Bells" TSO again
(We played this once in band. Imagine our conductor, who has a Santa beard, playing a green electric guitar. It was wicked.)


"Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer" The Temptations


"Sleigh Ride" Instrumental- I really wish I knew who did this arrangement
(I don't know who these people are)


"Mistletoe Jam" Luther Vandross
(Listen to the first 40 seconds. Very funny)


Now just add every classic Christmas song (except for "Still, Still, Still) and that's the complete list of my favorites. Happy Christmas!

What's In a Name?

Msn.com has recently alerted the masses to- what I believe to be- a very important study: Top Baby Names for 2008, courtesy Parents.com. I'm no baby-namer, but as a writer, I think it's necessary to see which names are popular (for characters), and avoid them like the plague or stash them secretly away.

After studying the lists carefully, I've decided to add my comments immediately after the names themselves.

GIRLS
1. Isabella - Number one! I actually like this name (it grows on you). That Portuguese (or Spanish?) queen would be proud that my baby cousin is named after her.
2. Ava - Okay.
3. Emily - Same^
4. Elizabeth - There are about a million or so nicknames for this one: Liz, Lizzy, Lizzard, Eliza, Beth, Betsy, Betty, Virgin Queen, etc.
5. Abigail - Adams.
6. Madison -I'm certain that a fair amount of my readers had a Barbie of the same name.
7. Emma -I adore Emma Thompson, don't have any opinion on the name otherwise.
8. Addison -Misspelling of Madison so as to appear unique. This method was so successful as to have gained two spots on originality.
9. Madeline -Very pretty. I accept.
10. Olivia -I never really thought about this name until another baby cousin was born. Same family. Very pretty name also.

BOYS
1. Aidan - Why do I feel that I'm related to someone of this name? Must look into that.
2. Jayden - One step away from being jaded.
3. Jacob - Sturdy name which will probably last another six thousand years.
4. Michael - Good name. Wasn't he an archangel?
5. Ethan - I only know one person with this name. Plus Ethan Allen.
6. Caden - Suffers from Madison/Addison syndrome.
7. James - Had a giant peach and two very mean aunts.
8. Caleb - Makes me think of cale, which is probably a leafy vegetable related to spinach.
9. Andrew - Boss Man!
10. Matthew - Mark, Luke, and John.

It looks like most of the girls' names are English-based with lots of flowy sylables, while the boys' names are old or new testement-based and limited to two syllables.

Something to think about when naming your next child or lead character.

One Day She Didn't Wake Up At All

I enjoy sleeping. I don't require ten hours each night, and often make due with 6-7, but sometimes it's just so hard. (That's what she said.) So when I am so tired, I just don't wake up.

Freshman year, I found a huge metal clock with bells on top at Roses discount store, and kept it on my bed next to the pillow. That clock was beastly and exquisitely loud. Yet Alisha would still end up yelling at me from across the room to wake up. Meanwhile the clock itself would just be ringing and ringing in my ear. Alisha marveled that as the clock exploded in cacophony next to my face, "you didn't flinch." I don't know how someone sleeps through that. Except-

Last year in Harford 3C, there was a fire alarm in the middle of the night. Alisha and I took no notice to the blaring sirens in the next room. Finally Erin came in to get us, and we thought she was angry at us for something, and that's why she was shouting and making siren noises at us.

Then this year, someone got sick in the hall bathroom, so the RA knocked at everyone's door in the middle of the night. Loudly. According to Claire, the girl pounded multiple times on the door, but of course, I have no recollection of this, or any such pounding. I rather hope I don't die in a catastrophe that requires me to wake up (fire, earthquake, Communist attack).

So I don't hear some alarms, and ignore others. Most mornings I fumble for my cell phone alarm, hitting snooze if I'm lucky, and turning it all off if I'm not. Every morning, something in me firmly believes that this action of turning off my phone will be immediately followed by the action of waking up. This is not true. Instead I doze indefinitely. This lasts until I hear Claire or one of the elephants upstairs moving around. I often arrive at my morning destination just in time.

But lo! tonight I found the most fantastic contraption evah. Let me introduce you to my soul mate. His name is Effective Alarm Clock.

I found this machine at a very coowell website called ModCloth.com. The whole thing buzzes until you put the puzzle pieces in (aka Snooze button). Then they pop out, and it buzzes again until you wake up and use your mind to put it back together, thus effectively waking the heck up.

I've tried to fool myself with alarm clocks before. I've done the classic out-of-reach trick, where you place multiple alarms around the room. No good. I would probably climb down from a lofted bed to turn off a clock, then climb back up and fall asleep. I've even tried sticking a thumbtack on the Off button, then taping a box over that so I literally had to dig and maneuver for the button (that's what she said?). But this cannot continue. One day I'll have a job where I have to BE THERE at 8 am (I mourn the day).

But the ModCloth.com clock does the trickery FOR you. How great is that? I think it would guarantee my waking up for a good two months, at least. So this is at the top of my Christmas list, friends and neighbors. Perhaps I'll start a clock fund to promote the cause of waking up early. Until then, Alisha and Claire can exchange horror stories about my radio alarm.