i think that maybe

the things i do over and over again

that i beat myself up for doing

and ask "why will i never learn?"

because i should have learned by now, because i should know better.

i think that maybe i actually like doing these things, and don't really care so much about the consequences. or i like doing them more than i care about the consequences.

i think that's why i haven't learned.

sparkles

i wore a dress today

first of the season.

changing times

when elephants use to bathe down the street.

from ucla's library digital archive of los angeles photographs from 1920-1990.

i went out to claremont this weekend

it's good to remember.

we've joked about it many times

but i never thought anyone would follow through with it.

those of us living in los angeles can now rent a pet.

answers at last

how men work

how women work

eucalyptus

i've never been a big fan of the gossip

but i've got to give it up for their cover of the aaliyah classic 'are u that somebody'

and their lead singer fucking rocks.


where were rock stars like that when i was a teenager?

XXX

cauliflower revolution

with the exception of its use as a base for truffled soup, i've been pretty indifferent to cauliflower for most of my life. it's a little bland and slightly creepy. but recently this has all changed: i've discovered the joy that is roasted cauliflower. and now i want to share it with you.

here's the deal (paraphrased from cooks illustrated):

make your way down to the store and buy a head of cauliflower. preheat oven to 450. cut off the bottom stalk, and then chop the head into 8 wedges. toss with olive oil, salt and pepper. cover a baking sheet with tinfoil and brush with more oil. add cauliflower (one of the flat sides down) and then cover the baking sheet tightly with another layer of tinfoil. put it in oven for 10-12 minutes. take the tinfoil off and cook for another 10-12 minutes. flip the cauliflower over to the other flat side and cook for another 10-12 minutes, or until they look done. take them out and don't eat them too fast or you'll burn your mouth.

its tastier than i ever dreamed cauliflower could be.

artifact

i have a friend date tonight

someone i met ages ago at a party. we exchanged numbers, talked on the phone a few times, but this our first chance to hang out.

i'm a little nervous.

its raining!

at last.

mas

so let me get this straight

we live in a country where the average joe can walk into a store and buy semi-automatic weapons without a problem, but a woman can't get a medical procedure that might save her life, because some repressed, self-righteous stranger might be offended.

yes, you neo-fascist, neo-conservative dickheads, this makes total sense.

jackasses.

something is in the air

almost everyone i know is in some sort of crisis: break ups, breakdowns, general malaise and ennui around every turn.

i'm thinking we should all just take cover until memorial day, when we'll reconvene for a giant barbecue at my house. i'll import fireflies from the east coast. we'll lie in the hammock, drink beer and pick each others scabs. everything will be fine.

in the alley

la isla de las munecas

i realized this morning

that the way i've been walking to get coffee is loud, smelly and trafficky. its the shortest path from my front door to the coffee shop.

but this morning i remembered that i have a back door. and this door leads to a less noisy route to the coffee shop. a route that, out of pure habit, i haven't been taking.

i know this isn't some revolutionary realization. in fact, its kind of obvious and dull. i just never cease to be amazing by the power of habit, or of anything that goes unquestioned for too long.