... but they found me. They being all the places where I used to shop, even if it was just window shopping.
In the past week, I've gotten catalogs from places I haven't given much thought to (or only thoughts of too bad they're not here) since leaving Chicago last August - The Container Store, Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware.... I've even gotten a couple of 20% off coupons for Bed Bath & Beyond, for in-store use only - go figure.
They haven't figured out that my name has changed, as evidenced by the catalogs being addressed to my maiden name. It's still a little creepy that I'm so easily found. Somewhat comforting at the same time. But mostly depressing, since we don't have those stores here.
I like this guy!
It looks like Creve Coeur (also my husband's hometown) grows nice guys.
My favorite trash mail subject line this morning:
"Increase the size of your mangina!"
I think mangina is a word I could start using. It falls in the same category as chestacles, used by Claude on Less than Perfect.
Note to others: Feel free to ignore this entry
I have the best husband in the whole world. Last night, we had these plans to get up really early and go to Jamba Juice on the way to work - free smoothies between 6 am and 9 am. And how can we pass up an opportunity for free fruity beverages?
However, This morning when the alarm went off, I was more than willing to pass up the opportunity, as long as I could keep sleeping. Sam, however, got up, drove to Jamba Juice, stood in line, and brought a smoothie home for us to share. With energy booster to help me get going. So, instead of rushing to Jamba Juice and onto work, I got to sleep some more and then be gently awakened by a man holding a smoothie.
Did I mention that his trip coincided with our morning rain? And, he put the phone right next to the bed so that if he needed to call me, I wouldn't have to get out of bed. Remember this, Shokufeh.
My little to-do list, stuck on my computer today, says
Spend $
This amuses me.
While we're on our mats, basically making up half a W, with a partner making the other half...
Instructor: Do you know who created these exercises?
Student: Satan?
I love arare! I wasn't familiar with these yummy rice crackers, often flavored with soy sauce (or shoyu, as it's called here) and bits of seaweed, before I came here. But now I'm all about them.
And I just had these great cookies - Arare chocolate chip! I know, it sounds weird, but they were yummers! Maybe if you're lucky, I'll experiment in the kitchen and bake some for you.
Dear Four-Day-Weekend,
It was lovely while it lasted. I think we both knew, going into the relationship, that it wouldn't last forever. Really, it was just circumstances that threw us together - a state holiday for Good Friday, the first day of Ridvan on Monday. But I think we made the most of our time together, and I have no regrets. I hope you feel the same way.
The memories I will carry of you include... two trips to church - for Good Friday and Easter morning... two trips to the Baha'i Center - for the election of the LSA and the observance of the first day of Ridvan... my first visit to the Polynesian Cultural Center - I will remember you throughout the year, as I make use of my kama'aina annual pass.... I think my favorite part of our time together was snorkeling at Hanauma Bay - you seemed to enjoy yourself too, with the glorious sunshine and the colorful fish. And tonight was the perfect way for us to say goodbye - I will probably buy Bend it Like Beckham when it comes out on DVD, as it was brilliant.
With that, I wish you the best, until circumstances bring us together again.
love,
shokufeh
I really wish I had my camera today. We got our "epidemiologist in the movies" gear. Also known as a crazy suit. Respirator with bright pink filters on the sides, goggles, white Tyvek suit, gloves. I think I would be really nervous in a situation that requires this paraphernalia, but if we have such a situation it's better to be with than without.
I just saw a man in a motorized wheelchair, balancing his lady friend on his lap, whizzing down the sidewalk.
I've always been someone who liked to do my taxes well before the April 15 deadline, so as to avoid the stress of suddenly discovering I don't have the right forms or that my car won't start on the way to mail the paperwork. But I've also long loved passing the post office on April 15. I love to see the postal workers along the curb, waiting to collect everyone's envelopes. A beautiful system at work. Now that I think about it, I think last year I did my paperwork in advance, but waited to mail it until April 15. Best of both worlds.
This year, the best is of a different makeup. We did wait to do our taxes - doing them last night. Despite the stress, I was excited about doing them as a couple. (And I get a strange pleasure in writing those numbers on the lines.) Our first taxes as a Married - filing jointly! And then tonight I'll get my post office rush!
I like today's WHO update on SARS. It describes the unprecedented international cooperation to contain and better understand this syndrome of almost unprecedented international magnitude. I particularly like the last paragraph. I don't know if it will be exciting to anyone that doesn't get excited about diseases, like I do, but I put it here anyway.
The next weeks and months will tell whether the global alert and response will contain the current SARS outbreaks, preventing SARS from becoming yet another endemic infectious disease in human populations, or whether SARS will remain confined to its origins in nature, to re-emerge at yet another time and place. It is clear that the responsibility for containing the emergence of any new infectious disease showing international spread lies on all countries. In a world where all national borders are porous when confronted by a microbial threat, it is in the interest of all populations for countries to share the information they may have as soon as it is available. In so doing, they will allow both near and distant countries - all neighbours in our globalized world - to benefit from the understanding they have gained.
I got my legs waxed yesterday. This is the fourth person I've gone to here.
Two used strange wax dispenser wands, stored in a heating box.
One used a creamy pink wax, haphazardly applied, leaving a few patches of hair in its wake.
All were women.
But before she appeared, I was fearful that one was a man (misinformation from the receptionist), but was willing to challenge my comfort zone.
One used a room with only a blanket hanging halfway down the doorway. Not a fun challenge to my comfort zone.
One talked incessantly, including the telling of bawdy jokes and the teaching of Persian profanities, learned from other clients.
Two tried to get me to come back for facials.
One really liked my nose.
The search continues for that person I'm willing to pay, when I don't feel like waxing my own legs.
I just had the sensation of being a superhero.
I was in a cross-walk, crossing five lanes of traffic. Everyone was with the program, except for Lane 4 Car. But then I cast L4C a wide-eyed evil look, and it too halted.
Okay, maybe it had something to do with the driver behind the wheel of L4C not wanting to cause bodily harm to what he/she viewed as a human. But I prefer to think that it was my mutant power of poison dart eyes.
I just came back from the airport, where I started the process of getting an access badge. Something to use in case of a disease outbreak there. I had to get fingerprinted, so they can make sure I've never done something evil that would make them think I should not have access to the facility. The form that I had to fill out had descriptive fields - height, weight, hair color, eye color, race. There were codes to be used in these fields - like BR for brown (hair or eyes). For race, one had to choose from Asian, White, Black, or Unknown. I think there were only four. My issue was that there wasn't an option for more than one of the the choices, and there wasn't an Other or Mixed. So I didn't use any of the codes.
The woman working there told me I had to put one. It was not in a nice voice that she told me this. When I questioned her on this, she said that the finger-printing computer wouldn't move forward in the process without one of those four codes. Which sucks, because I'm more than one of those codes. So, then she suggests I put Unknown. I sigh, but agree, while muttering that I do know, so why should I put it. But then she says that if I put Unknown, it will take an extra 3-4 weeks to process the application. Why? Because then I can't be appropriately racially profiled?
I ended up putting Black, ignoring my father's genes, since I'm in the Black box (ha, ha) in the FBI's files anyway. And it's easier if one is consistent in misrepresenting oneself.
And then I come back from the airport, and this guy in the office makes a comment about my probably having caused some suspicions because I look Arab. He's made similar comments before, indicating to me that he prefers to put me in that (inaccurate) box in his head.
I get tired of boxes. Unless you have a box titled Shokufeh.
I am Shokufeh. I am short and brown.
SR: Hello, this is Shokufeh.
Panicked Person: Yes, hi. You know that mystery illness? I work with someone who flew from the mainland yesterday. But I know that he visited Chinatown while he was in Boston. So we might get sick. Should he be at work?
SR: Hello, this is Shokufeh.
PP: I'm planning a trip at the end of the year. But I'm concerned about being on the plane with other people. Do you know where I can buy a respirator with bells and whistles?
SR: Hello, this is Shokufeh.
PP: Hi. Um... I was wondering... you know how there's a lot of Asians here in Hawaii? Well, I take the bus to work. Do you think I have SARS now?
Okay... best one yet!
SR: Hello, this is Shokufeh.
PP: I just realized that most of things I buy are made in China. What if someone who had SARS made my stuff, and coughed on it? I'm especially concerned because I just gave a bunch of presents to people. What if they get sick too, and spread it to their family and friends?!