pedestrian saga » Simple Pleasures

For Cryin’ Out Lloyd!

pedestriansaga — Fri, 02 Sep 2005 07:03:28 +0000

Leo: (July 23â€”Aug. 22)
Delightful changes that will transform your life into a giddy playground may still be ahead for you, provided you can summon the gumption to get out of bed before 3:00 in the afternoon. [From the Onion, August 10, 2005]

Lloyd delivered this most appropriate birthday present for a languorous Leo. Such a delightful little package of truth wrapped in (atypically subdued) tough love. I had a lion’s laugh, squeezed out a couple of tears, then retired… only to sleep through my alarm yet again.

Here are 10+1 things that make me giddy. Seems a good time to recognize some of the myriad reasons to crawl out of bed, to take a spin on this equipment in my playground of life, lest it begin to rust. Yes, warning all lactose- (and lachrymose-) intolerant readers, beware the cheese.

A full moon, low and rising; a half moon, high in a clear day sky

Seeing a Jack Russell or fox terrier runrealfast at the park

When Maddy (or Gordon!) hits warp speed

The Onion, every time

A solid rally in a Ping-Pong match in the middle of a sleepy workday afternoon. (Muchas gracias a Wooster for the link.)

Crunching dry leaves as I walk

Riding my bicycle fast down Riverside Drive toward HOME late on a Sunday night

The scent and texture of fresh basil

Feasting on the Decemberists’ delicacies after a month-long fast

Sinking into a brilliant (or extremely bad) movie real big at the cinema or on a blanket in the grass under the stars

Digging Ted Leo + Pharmacists– loud– in the living room with my dogs or in a dark nightclub among a crowd of strangers

_____________________________________

But do you believe in something beautiful?
Then get up and be it!
Ted Leo + Pharmacists, “Me and Mia”

A big shout out to Scott and CJ at the TL/Rx show in Portland tonight. Oh, how I wish I were there!

Spider Woman

pedestriansaga — Wed, 15 Jun 2005 06:27:43 +0000

Mild-mannered whoever I am by day, by night I emerge from my lair to crawl the streets of Burbank’s equestrian district. Here the houses crouch behind perfectly groomed lawns, but where are all their people? Most certainly not out sidewalking with me, for the spiders are left free to weave every which way! As I move, I catch the webs and gather special spider strengths to me. They cling to my arms and my chinny chin chin, and they’re mine, all mine, mysterious neighbors! Mwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!

Oh, no! Will Spider Woman use her powers for ill deeds? Will she wander, confused and naive and lonely, until she finds redemption in Nick Fury and teams up with Wolverine? (Damn! Somebody neutralize her mutant pheromones fast!) Or will she mature into a benevolent goddess of powerful wisdom? (One can only hope.)

The Simple Pleasure of a Palindrome

pedestriansaga — Thu, 08 Jul 2004 20:00:00 +0000

Tuesday evening I was helping my 15-year-old pupil with her pre-algebra review. As we dryly recorded the multiples of 9, I was suddenly overcome by the resulting pattern of 9 times 4 through 9 times 7: 36455463. My student was all big eyes and confused looks as I gestured wildly and exclaimed, "Look! It’s a palindrome!" Once I copied the number and drew lines and explained the (almost) mirror image she relaxed into a smile and said, "That’s cool!"

Zit Kid

pedestriansaga — Fri, 11 Jun 2004 20:00:00 +0000

The little 7-year-old boy had pinched his hand between the chair and table, and I leaned in to inspect the damage and offer whatever consolation I could. Looking up at me, he stopped crying suddenly, furrowed his brow, and said with deep concern for my well-being, "Miss, you should know that you have a big zit on your forehead."

Hey, hey, good lookin’ – whatcha got cookin’?

pedestriansaga — Sat, 08 May 2004 20:00:00 +0000

Long live legumes! Before heading out to an evening of good ol’ country music, I spent last Sunday afternoon making three kinds of soup: split pea (best), cumin-spiced lentil barley (not nearly as yummy but all right), and garbanzo beans with garlic and mint (very close second). Freezer is packed with single servings enough to keep me for a month.

A word in Spanish

pedestriansaga — Sun, 18 Apr 2004 20:00:00 +0000

una tertulia, feminine noun = a social gathering, a tea party, a salon. As in "Una tertulia inesperada", the first chapter of El hobbit. That would probably make the first chapter of El señor de los anillos "Una tertulia muy esperada". I think maybe "Tertulia" is an interesting translation of one of the Web sites I’m most addicted to: Salon. Someone who knows better correct me if I’m wrong about the usage of this word! At any rate, I like the way it rolls off my tongue. Ideally I’d have the discipline and stamina to find a Spanish word a day to study in depth this way. Too ambitious a plan destined to disappoint!

Petrichor

pedestriansaga — Sat, 17 Apr 2004 20:00:00 +0000

‘Petrichor’ [PET-ri-kuhr] is the most important word for me today. It is "the pleasant smell that accompanies the first rain after a dry spell", the vital essence of Greek gods, stored in the dry earth and released by the rain. Thanks again, Anu Garg! I deeply appreciate the rare rainy day in LA, and now I’m empowered to explain more specifically why – the petrichor is the olfactory indication of relief and renewal, a well-needed wash of the concrete and drink for the parched plants.

A quick Google search reveals some interesting folks who appreciate petrichor too, in their own way: you’ll find them here and here and here.

Thank you, Emerson!

pedestriansaga — Tue, 10 Feb 2004 20:00:00 +0000

Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could; Some blunders and absurdities crept in; Forget them as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; You shall begin it serenely and with too high a spirit to be encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher (1803-1882)

Thank you, Emerson for this advice; I needed to hear it! And thanks of course to Anu over at AWAD who collects and shares such incredible words.

Favorite household appliance du jour

pedestriansaga — Sat, 17 Jan 2004 20:00:00 +0000

Our rotary cheese grater has surpassed the manual milk frother as my favorite kitchen tool. Ever since I obsessively revisited Le fabuleux destin d’Amelie Poulain a few months back, I’ve been wishing for a cheese grater like Amelie’s – Bob indulged me and picked one up for a Christmas present.

We are now proud owners of a cheese grater much like this one.

Amelie fantasizes about a domestic life with Nino in my favorite scene in the film.

Simple Pleasures

pedestriansaga — Fri, 16 Jan 2004 20:00:00 +0000

We ran out of our usual store-bought bar soap today, so I tried instead the awesome lavendar soap that my neighbor makes. There is nothing quite like a fine bar of homemade soap (er, unless it’s the kind the Fight Club guy makes). I try to buy local products whenever possible – looks like for my soap I’ll just walk next door from now on!