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July 29, 2005
Trek Family
Ok, I fully admit this is a TOTALLY dorky and Trekkie thing to think about (and do), but last night, I was thinking about which of my family members resemble Star Trek characters in some way or fashion. Of course, I only came up with a few, but I doubt every single person in my family resembles a Star Trek character. However, it did occur to me that:
Mom is like Capt. Kathryn Janeway. She's the matriarch of the family and is definitely the one that "runs the ship".
Dad's like Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy. They're both doctors and they both do things the "old school" way.
My brother, Koset, is Cmdr. William Riker. They're both very sociable and take-charge people, but also know how to let loose.
My sister, Sirasa, is Dr. Beverly Crusher. Both are smart female physicians and very sensitive to the family needs.
Don and I are Miles & Keiko O'Brien. We're Asian women married to Caucasian men (in fact, I believe they're both of Irish descent) and both men are highly-trained experts at computer repair. (But don't expect to see any Molly's or Kirayoshi's running around.)
My cousin, Grace, is Lt. B'Elanna Torres. An expert female engineer, except without the fiery temper.
Don's cousin Kevin is definitely a Lt. Tom Paris, a prankster who loves to have fun and play games.
Don's other cousin Jim is Constable Odo. Both officers of the law who keep us all in order.
John Schonder Sr. is Capt. Jean Luc Picard, not just because of the bald head, but also a diplomatic leader.
What Star Trek character most represents you?
Posted by Amy at 02:00 PM | Comments (1)
July 27, 2005
Interesting Times
It occurred to me while visiting my parents and nieces that though I'm only 34 years old, I've seen some very interesting times. I've lived through the prime technological evolution of the late 20th century. For instance:
* I remember a time before walkmans and CD quality sound
* The first radio receiver we had in the house used vacuum tubes
* I remember what it was like to have only about 6 or 7 channels on TV before cable television invaded every household
* I knew what it was like before PCs and the internet were everyday things
* I learned to type on an electric typewriter--yes, that thing you put paper into, hit keys which moved metal arms with letters on them and printed words in real ink
* I remember what it was like to live in a world without cell phones
* I used to play with something called a "Speak & Spell" and "Simon Says"
* I learned to cook without a microwave and I remember what a real TV dinner tastes like
* I remember when we we had to record shows on a VHS tape (I still know what SP, LP and SLP stand for)
* I used to listen to music that was recorded on a cassette tape
* I remember using computers that ran in DOS, having to type in commands and how magical it seemed when Apple invented an operating system using a mouse where all you had to do was point and click
* I played video games like Space Invaders and Lock & Key on the ATARI and my brother had Colecovision hand-held games
* I used to collect these funny black discs called 45's which you could play on something called a turntable
* I've seen movies that didn't have CGI special effects--they actually used to use scale models of buildings and ships set against a blue screen (not green screen)
* I remember when the price of movies cost less than a gallon of gas does today and milk was only 10 cents (15 cents for chocolate milk). I know, not a technological innovation, but definitely worth mentioning.
Makes me wonder what kind of innovations or changes we'll see in the future and whether they'll be for the better or not.
Posted by Amy at 08:44 AM | Comments (1)
July 26, 2005
Return to Flight
Today's launch of the Discovery shuttle was a very exciting and successful event. Several people including myself were gathered in the lunchroom watching it on TV. I tell you, just watching that thing take off with rockets fired and smoke belching out was really a beautiful sight. I half-expected something to happen before the rocket boosters separated from the shuttle, just as it did a couple years ago and in 1989. But it just kept rising up and up and up without incident. Then, the rockets dropped away and the shuttle became a white dot in the sky. They had REALLY cool images from a camera that was mounted right on the ship and you could see part of the shuttle's wing and the edge of the earth and space in the background.
I remember when the Challenger blew up. I watched that ship explode over and over all day on ABC News and I still have those images burned in my memory. I'm glad not to have seen that happen with Discovery this time.
Good luck astronauts! We'll see you back safely in 12 days!
Posted by Amy at 11:00 AM | Comments (0)
July 25, 2005
Sore
I guess I really should be careful what I ask for! One day I watched Steve "Killer" Kolasa give a private lesson on crescent kicks to Don and said casually, "I want a private lesson from Kolasa on kicks!" Well, I didn't get a private lesson from Kolasa, but I did get a lesson on kicks...a 2-hour lesson! It started out on Saturday during advanced class when Joe Palms was teaching side-thrust, round-house, front and back kicks. Then Don taught his usual Saturday class and did all crescent kicks. UGH! My legs are still sore today! But I saw Dr. Jay this morning and I'm mostly better.
We also went to see The Wedding Crashers on Saturday night, which is SOOOOOO funny!! If you have a chance, definitely go see it. There were some very hysterical and outrageously funny scenes. I won't say anymore so that I don't give anything away, except to say the theater was PACKED!
And Sunday, Don and I finished up a couple of chores we'd been putting off since we moved in. I finished painting the trim in the red room which meant we were able to put the doors back on. Now I just need to paint the guest bath to match. Maybe next weekend or something. Plus Don hung all of our pictures and paintings. The house looks a lot homey-er now. We picked up one cool dragon watercolor painting at the Ann Arbor Art Fair and I think we just need one or two more things to hang in the master bedroom. Woo hoo! We also get our new couch this evening and I can get rid of that junky one I got from the jerk!
Posted by Amy at 11:30 AM | Comments (1)
July 22, 2005
Rant: Idiot Drivers
Ok, last night makes 3 times in 2 days that I thought I might die or at least get into yet a SECOND accident in 6 months.
Wednesday, I was driving home from downtown Ann Arbor and had just touched the accelerator pedal after my light turned green. When all of a sudden, this guy in an old pickup truck just blasts right through the intersection. If it had happened just one second later, he might have totally T-boned me and he would have slammed into my side of the car! I could tell as he passed in front of me that he was TOTALLY not paying attention!
THEN, I was on my way home from work yesterday and I almost had a complete REPLAY of the accident I had in February. I was in the middle lane and preparing to get into the left lane. I've been VERY paranoid since the last accident that someone will jump in front of me out of the right lane where people are stuck in line trying to enter I-275. Well, whaddya know, it happened! This bitch who was on her cell phone and not paying enough attention to traffic decides to jump in front of me out of the lane going to I-275. I slammed on the brakes and honked at her. She didn't even hear it!
AND THEN! I was driving home from Karate after work and I was just about home. There was a guy in front of me and we were just about to go through the light at Zeeb Road. It had started raining and the streets were just getting wet enough to be hazardous when yet ANOTHER guy blows through the red light on Zeeb crossing Jackson, right in front of us. When we realized he wasn't stopping, we both slammed on the brakes. I avoided rear-ending the guy in front of me by mere couple of inches! WHEW!! That would have sucked! I was completely expecting to hear that loud crunching sound you hear when you hit someone. Thank GOD it never happened. The thing about this incident was that our light had been green for almost the entire cycle! So that idiot blew through a light that had been red for at least SEVERAL seconds!!
WHAT IS IT WITH PEOPLE BLOWING THROUGH RED LIGHTS??? Why can't people pay attention to driving??!! And if the light's about to turn, why can't they slow down and STOP like they're supposed to?????!!!!! MORONS!!!
Posted by Amy at 01:00 PM | Comments (4)
July 20, 2005
Remembering Scotty
This is a tremendously sad day in history for Star Trek and sci-fi fans alike. James Doohan, the actor who played Scotty on Star Trek: The Original Series has passed away. Cause of death was listed as Alzheimer's disease and pneumonia. Everyone, fan and non-fan alike, knows the command given to him by Captain Kirk, "Beam me up, Scotty!" And he would respond with something like, "Captain! I'm givin' it all she's got!" in his almost-perfect Scottish accent.
I have to give a big thanks to my brother, Koset, for getting me so interested in Star Trek. The fact that he "forced" me to watch the show (because there was only one TV in the house and he was bigger than me) really got me interested in the sci-fi genre. I remember we would watch other really great sci-fi shows as well, like Battlestar Galactica and The Twilight Zone. Of course my love of Star Trek grew tenfold when they created the spinoffs Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Star Trek: Voyager. I love them all! And, as some of you know, I've completed my DVD collection of DS9 and Voyager (my 2 favorites). And I'm currently reading a book written by Wil Wheaton (Wesley Crusher on TNG) called Just a Geek.
Not sure what else to say except this: May peace find you and find you well, wherever you are, Jimmy. We love you and we'll miss you!!
Addendum:
Interestingly, there is talk that his ashes will be sent to outer space in September on a rocket called Falcon 1.
Posted by Amy at 01:59 PM | Comments (1)
July 14, 2005
Beginning of Weapons Training
I almost didn't make it to advanced class last night, but I am SO glad I did! Scottsan taught me my first bo lesson. For those of you who don't know, a "bo" is a 6-foot staff used in Karate (seen above). You may have heard that all the weapons in Okinawan Karate were actually farm implements. I'm not sure what the bo was used for, but the sai (steel three-pronged hand weapons like you see in the movie "Elektra" and which I'm also supposed to start learning at brown belt) were used in harvesting rice. The Japanese ruled the Okinawans with such a stern hand that the Okinawans weren't allowed weapons, so they used their farming tools to fight.
So last night, I was taught the basics of how to hold it and strike with it. It seemed very strange to me after all this time of doing karate with nothing in your hands. To actually hold it feels a little weird at first, especially when transitioning my grip from one side to the other. And the fact that it's a 6-foot long weapon makes it a little weirder. It seems like for someone as short as me, the bo should be shorter. But I guess it has to be the same for everyone. It's different with the boken (wooden sword)--the length of that is relative to the length of your arm so it's easier to draw.
And since I don't have one of my own, I am, of course, using Don's. I can't wait till tonight because I'll have time after class while waiting for Don to get out of Aikido to practice what I learned last night. Feels like I've been waiting a long time to get to this point in my training. I still have a LONG way to go, but it's exciting anyway!
Posted by Amy at 10:00 AM | Comments (2)
July 12, 2005
Aaaaaack!!
Ever have one of those days where you just feel completetly discombobulated? (I love using that word!) I haven't had one in a really long time...until today.
When I got up this morning, I went looking for my watch. Couldn't find it anywhere! I usually put it either on my nightstand or on the bathroom counter so that when I take a shower in the morning, it helps me make stay on time for work by not wasting time with my morning routine. I realized I must have left it at the dojo last night. I'm not worried about it getting stolen or lost--someone will put it in the office desk for safekeeping and I'll get it back. It just annoys me everytime I look at my wrist to check the time or date and there's nothing there.
PLUS, when I got to work today, I realized I must have left my work badge at the dojo as well! So I had to get a temporary pass. No big deal, so long as I can find it again. Thing is, I'm not sure it's at the dojo cause I don't remember unhooking it from my pants. I checked my gym bag and it's not there either. If I can't find it, I'll have to pay $10 bucks to replace it. It's not much, but I HATE LOSING THINGS!
OH! And I lost my credit card last week! No, it didn't get stolen, I just misplaced it. Never found it, but I had it replaced.
ADDENDUM:
Well, good news is I got my watch and my work badge back. The watch was right where I'd left it, hanging on a hook in the lockerroom. And my badge had fallen between the driver's seat and the console. Glad I don't have to shell out the $10. I hate losing things, but I love finding them again!
Posted by Amy at 03:00 PM | Comments (5)
July 11, 2005
I Love Summer
This is turning out to be quite an enjoyable summer, in my book. The weather is nice and warm and although it's been pretty steamy and humid, I can't really complain. Most people have been, but we get this warm weather for such a short time every year, that I have to soak it up no matter how it comes.
We've been to lots of weddings, basketball games, baseball games, and barbecues. I took this picture while we were walking back to the car after the Tigers' game. I'd been playing with my phone and found new ways to take cool pictures. And this weekend was just as fun, even though we didn't really do much. Friday we went to a barbecue at our friends' house on the other side of the neighborhood (we were able to walk there). And Saturday, we just did our normal dojo routine. Sunday, Don went to a dojo seminar and I spent the entire afternoon reading a good book outside on our deck and tanning.
Usually, summer passes by so quickly...I think because most of them don't give us so many warm days. So the more we have, the slower it seems to go and the more I get to enjoy it! For once, summer's not running so quickly past me; it's actually letting me come along for the ride!
Posted by Amy at 05:00 PM | Comments (0)
July 05, 2005
"War of the Worlds"
Don and I saw War of the Worlds yesterday. And I must say it was a darned good movie! (Don't worry, I'll try not to give spoilers.) It wasn't as good as Independence Day, mind you. But I was definitely on the edge of my seat for nearly the entire time and the special effects were very good. It's pretty frightening, if you let yourself believe that what happens is possible at all. I like to do that to get into the story of any movie...makes for a better experience. In fact, I kept grabbing at Don's pantleg when the action became heightened.
I thought it was kind of interesting that Tim Robbins was in it while Morgan Freeman was the narrator in the beginning. Brought back memories of our other favorite movie, Shawshank Redemption. Though, in the middle of that scene, the theater kept losing power and the movie would stop. It was during a really scary part and it was driving me nuts! .
WotW was sort of 9-11ish in terms of mass destruction and death. Plus there's a scene that's reminiscent of Titanic. Cruise does a good job, I think, but the part could have probably been played by many people. Dakota Fanning, the girl, is great at acting, especially acting scared and freaked out. (I realized today she spends nearly the entire movie in Tom Cruise's arms.) And I thought the ending was kind of clever--not like a plot twist, but just an interesting way to end it. I was still wigged out a bit when we got home and had a bit of trouble falling asleep. But, all in all, it was a VERY good movie. I highly recommend it. Probably it's going to be one of the best this summer.
Posted by Amy at 01:00 PM | Comments (0)
July 03, 2005
A Warm House
This, for those of you who couldn't be there, was the weekend of the big barbecue—our big housewarming party. We had many people there, maybe 30 or so showed up and there were still many people we wished could have been there.
We had hamburgers, brats, hot dogs, watermelon, salad, chips, pop, beer;...the works! And many people who came brought a bottle of wine or scotch. There was no shortage of things to eat or drink! A few people even brought us gifts (which I wasn't expecting). Joe & Sara brought us a really cool tree that will look great in our front room. And the Hoppinator brought us a bottle of Dom Perignon! We'll have to save that for New Year's Eve!
I was really happy that so many people showed up and that everyone had a great time. Above, you can see Kate, Lisa and myself having a snarky moment for the camera. After it got dark, most people had already left, but the rest of us retired to the basement and watched Star Wars Episode III on our big 80" projection screen. The movie ended at almost 1am in the morning so I was pretty tired by then.
Don and I had to get up to go to a Tigers' game with Greg & Sue. I didn't sleep very well since Don snored pretty bad—he usually does when he's been drinking. He woke me up at 5am and just when his snoring would subside, the birds would start chirping VERY obnoxiously. Then the birds would die down and Don's snoring would take over. UGH! So I had to go down to the basement to sleep on the couch. Ahhhh! Peace and quiet!
Except I got up at 9:30 to make breakfast for Don, Nancy and myself. She had to drive back to St. Joe and we had to be out the door at 11am to meet Greg for the Tigers' game. I had a good time at the game, but I was very very tired. So much so that I had to call Kate and tell her Don and I were too tired to come to her barbecue. I feel really bad about it cause she was so kind to come to ours. But I'm so wiped out, I just didn't have the energy for another party. We've been so busy the last 2 months with things to do virtually every day of every weekend without a break and without having a day to sleep in—something Don and I are VERY fond of.
So tonight, we're just going to watch TV, then sleep in and maybe go to the park tomorrow. It is DEFINITELY time to start taking it easy!
Posted by Amy at 10:00 PM | Comments (2)
July 01, 2005
Ode to Summer
Summer makes my heart go free
The warming Sun, the grass and trees
Comforting and so dear to me
Ah, Summer my good, good friend
Comforting till the very end
More time with you I wish to spend
Summer visits, so quick and gone
Till Winter comes to settle long
Why must you go, can't I come along?
Posted by Amy at 03:34 PM | Comments (0)
Too Cute!
This was so cute, I just had to post it. This morning, like every morning, Princess wanted my attention. She always waits for me outside the bathroom door until I've finished my shower. That's when I open the door to let the steam out and she comes in purring and cooing to be pet. She'll come in with that adorable kitten-face of hers, rubbing her cheeks against the cabinets and door frame.
I try to pet her as much as I can without taking too much time since I'm always trying to get out the door to work as soon as possible. So I pet her a little, then do my thing, then pet her a little more. Once in a while, she even follows me into the closet as I get dressed. And sometimes, she'll even offer her belly for me to rub.
This morning, she was needing some extra loving and she jumped into the bottom cubby-hole next to the toilet where we keep our towels. Then she jumped up onto the counter and curled up right in the sink, as you can see. I hate having to leave her to go to work. She's so absolutely crazy adorable!
Posted by Amy at 11:00 AM | Comments (1)