Ever since I did the LA marathon a couple of years ago, I've been hankering to do the NY marathon. The bookend syndrome, if you will. So I'd applied in 2006, 2007, and 2008 and didn't get in--it's a lottery system, not a time-qualified system (thank goodness, otherwise I don't think I'd ever get in). Their rule is if you get denied 3 years in a row, you're guaranteed entry the 4th year. Well guess what, 2009 is my 4th year, baby! I sent them an email asking if I'm eligible and I just got back a reply saying YES!! I'm amazed at how excited I am, actually. Well, I'm thrilled about going to NY again (I haven't been back in like 5 years), and the timing is really good. I'd just paid off my student loans so saving up for the trip should be a breeze. It'll be great to see all my old NY friends from my grad school days and some blog friends too! I'll have to train during the summer and all that but I know I'll make it happen. Anyway, can't wait.

I have a thing on my iGoogle called "Random Cat of the Day" and a cat popped up who looks exactly like Yuki. Same name, too (before I changed it). Most white cats seem to have blue or green eyes, so I noticed Casper's golden eyes right away. I liked his story, too, very much like Yuki's. Casper doesn't have stud tail, tho, like my poor Yukes.

Picked this up from Amy's blog:

Without further ado, The Very Good Taste Blog  list of the top 100 foods every omnivore should try. 

Here’s what you do:

1) Copy this list into your blog or journal, including these instructions.
2) Bold or color or whatever all the items you’ve eaten.
3) Cross out any items that you would never consider eating.

The VGT Omnivore’s Hundred:

1. Venison
2. Nettle tea
3. Huevos rancheros
4. Steak tartare
5. Crocodile (alligator, but same thing, right?)
6. Black pudding (does Korean soondae count?)
7. Cheese fondue
8. Carp
9. Borscht
10. Baba ghanoush
11. Calamari
12. Pho
13. PB&J sandwich
14. Aloo gobi
15. Hot dog from a street cart
16. Epoisses
17. Black truffle
18. Fruit wine made from something other than grapes
19. Steamed pork buns
20. Pistachio ice cream
21. Heirloom tomatoes
22. Fresh wild berries
23. Foie gras
24. Rice and beans
25. Brawn, or head cheese
26. Raw Scotch Bonnet pepper
27. Dulce de leche
28. Oysters
29. Baklava
30. Bagna cauda
31. Wasabi peas
32. Clam chowder in a sourdough bowl
33. Salted lassi
34. Sauerkraut
35. Root beer float
36. Cognac with a fat cigar
37. Clotted cream tea
38. Vodka jelly/Jell-O
39. Gumbo
40. Oxtail
41. Curried goat
42. Whole insects (does larvae count?)
43. Phaal
44. Goat’s milk
45. Malt whisky from a bottle worth £60/$120 or more
46. Fugu
47. Chicken tikka masala
48. Eel
49. Krispy Kreme original glazed doughnut
50. Sea urchin
51. Prickly pear
52. Umeboshi
53. Abalone
54. Paneer
55. McDonald’s Big Mac Meal
56. Spaetzle
57. Dirty gin martini
58. Beer above 8% ABV
59. Poutine
60. Carob chips
61. S’mores
62. Sweetbreads
63. Kaolin
64. Currywurst
65. Durian
66. Frogs’ legs
67. Beignets, churros, elephant ears or funnel cake
68. Haggis
69. Fried plantain
70. Chitterlings, or andouillette
71. Gazpacho
72. Caviar and blini
73. Louche absinthe
74. Gjetost, or brunost
75. Roadkill
76. Baijiu
77. Hostess Fruit Pie
78. Snail
79. Lapsang souchong
80. Bellini
81. Tom yum
82. Eggs Benedict
83. Pocky
84. Tasting menu at a three-Michelin-star restaurant.
85. Kobe beef
86. Hare
87. Goulash
88. Flowers
89. Horse
90. Criollo chocolate
91. Spam
92. Soft shell crab
93. Rose harissa
94. Catfish
95. Mole poblano
96. Bagel and lox
97. Lobster Thermidor
98. Polenta
99. Jamaican Blue Mountain coffee
100. Snake

54 out of 100--halfway there!

So I noticed a few months ago that a mole on the hubby's chest was looking different. It used to be a small skin-colored mole/wart thing, but it seemed bigger and redder. Uh-oh, I thought, what if it's skin cancer? When I mentioned that I thought it looked different, he brushed me off, saying that it's always looked like that. I wasn't convinced, and bugged him to go see the doctor about it. Actually, I've been bugging him to go see a doctor and get a physical ever since he turned 40! Mind you, that was like 4 years ago. Anyhoo, he finally got a physical a couple of weeks ago (clean bill of health), and went to see a skin guy on Monday. Wouldn't you know it, it's carcinoma, the non-deadly type of skin cancer, thank goodness. The doctor said that had it been the bad kind, he'd be dead already. The hubby's response to this was, "See, I told you it wasn't serious," rather than, "Holy fuck, it was cancer! Thanks honey for saving my life!" Gotta love men sometimes. Well maybe now he'll take me more seriously if I say I notice something. Jeez.

This holiday kind of snuck up on me, so we hadn't made any big plans. Saturday my stepson had a little get together with some friends for a belated bday thing, so it was a bunch of 17 and 18 year-old boys in the house talking smack and playing Rock Band. I slipped out later in the evening for a game and wine night with some friends in Long beach--that was a lot of fun. We were originally supposed to play scrabble but there were too many people so we ended up playing Catchphrase instead, which is much better for a group (and more raucous). Didn't get home til after midnight, and that made me sleep in on Sunday. After a leisurely morning, Curtis and I met up with an old friend of mine for a pool party at 1pm, and then it was back to the house to meet up with a Yelp friend for dinner at Kappo Sui in Costa Mesa (good, but it didn't knock my socks off--plus, i was expecting more of an izakaya place, like Kappo Honda, and it really wasn't). I got to introduce her to Joe's Italian Ice--another convert!

This morning Curtis and I went for a long walk at the Back Bay in Newport Beach, and almost got into a fistfight with another motorist on the way down there. I was exiting from the 73 fwy at Irvine Ave, and didn't see this black mustang coming up really fast on my right. I'd looked over there a second before and didn't see him, so he must've been going pretty damn fast, or cut over from another lane or something. Anyway, we both had to swerve to avoid hitting each other, and he honked at me and did all this stuff, and then got in front of me and braked hard, just to be an asshole. So of course we're both getting off the fwy, and we're at the light, and Curtis is all pissed off, and we look over and it's this young-ish guy who's all acting like he's tough and shit, and Curtis takes off his seat belt and is totally ready to go over and there punch this guy out. I was really afraid he was going to do it! When the light turned green we made a right and he went straight and that was that, but man, I was really glad Curtis was there. This looked like the kind of jerk who wouldn't mind totally terrorizing a girl. With crisis averted, we had a pleasant walk and got back to the house by around 9:30am. I had all kinds of ambitious plans to do a lot of work on these paintings and stuff but didn't really do a whole lot. Instead, I took a nap in the backyard under the big umbrella and ended up knitting and watching the Star Trek TNG marathon all afternoon. Well, I think it was a holiday well spent--I feel relaxed and almost ready to go back to work, :P

This is something that Lil Curtis discovered! Apparently Yuki goes nuts for paper napkins. I guess Curti was on the couch eating something and when Yuki came to sit next to him he waved a paper napkin in front of him and he started going crazy. This has been confirmed by Big Curtis, who took some pics, which I thought were totally kawaii:

keke, this one's my fave--he's holding it like a blanket!

Stole this from a friend's site--I think it's pretty accurate!

Determined Realist (DR)

Determined Realists like to bear responsibility and welcome challenges. They are stable, reliable persons. External contacts are very important to them; they mix well and are very active. They are excellent organisers and are very happy when things are done correctly and punctually; they can quickly react impatiently if others are not as conscientious, orderly and dutiful as they are. They prefer structured work which produces visible results quickly to abstract, long-drawn-out processes. Determined Realists have no problem with routine as long as it serves efficiency. However, they very much dislike unexpected and unpredictable occurrences which mess up their careful plans. Once they have committed themselves to a cause they do this with dedication and are willing to make considerable sacrifices for it.

Determined Realists do not avoid conflicts and criticism but face up to them and look for solutions. As they have a keen eye for the errors and shortcomings of others and are often quick at expressing criticism, they sometimes rub people up the wrong way especially when they lose their temper and jump to conclusions. Due to their marked sense of justice they are quickly willing to correct themselves and never take offence if someone speaks to them frankly. You do not have to seek hidden motives with them; you always know where you are. Determined Realists are often found in executive positions as they combine commitment, competence and the ability to assert themselves. In their spare time, they often also accept responsibility in clubs and other institutions.

Traditions rate highly with Determined Realists. They attend every family event and never forget a birthday or wedding anniversary. Family and friends are very important to them. With their open, communicative manner, they find it easy to get to know people and have a large circle of friends and acquaintances. They are never superficial, but reliable and loyal friends who are always there when they are needed. Determined Realists take their relationships very seriously - they dream of finding a partner for life. In a love relationship, they seek above all stability and loyalty and here, too, they are willing to invest a lot in a harmonious togetherness. Determined Realists master crises or difficult phases with composure; they would never think of breaking a promise given. As a partner, one can always rely on their support.

Adjectives which describe your type

extroverted, practical, logical, planning, direct, structured, conscientious, responsible-minded, self-confident, critical, honest, orderly, reliable, controlled, objective, able to concentrate, resolved, purposeful, communicative, with a sense of duty, tradition-conscious, stable, able to deal with conflicts, solution-oriented, relationship-oriented, efficient, impatient, warm-hearted, competition-oriented

These subjects could interest you

clubs, associations, going out, sport, travel, music, trekking, camping, hiking, cooking, handicrafts, nature, strategy games, politics

( Take the free test and determine your personality type!)

My friend Patt Nicol organizes an art show every year at the Magic Castle in Hollywod, and I'll be a part of it again (I was there at the inaugural show 3 years ago). It's happening on Friday, June 6th, 2008, from 7pm to 10:30pm. The admission is $25 per person, plus a $6 valet parking fee. This entitles you to the art exhibit/reception and any of the magic shows, except for the main show in the Palace of Mystery, which is reserved only for those who choose to have dinner there. Attendees must be 21 and over, and there is a strictly enforced dress code (refer to the Magic Castle website for details). You need an invitation to get in, which you can request from me. I have a limited number of them, so email me asap if you'd like some :)

http://www.steph-han.com
http://www.magiccastle.com/

Went up to Santa Monica this morning to hang the latest show. Had to meet at 8:30 am! Yikes, nothing like having to get up early on a Saturday... But the show looks really good and I'm thrilled that I'm showing at Bergamot Station, which is a pretty prestigious gallery complex in LA. Well, even if I'm in the cafe, I figure I'll probably get more foot traffic!

I just finished watching Kanon--it's a super-cute series and I really fell in love with it. It's a gentler, kinder kind of harem series, I suppose. I didn't really like the art style at first (I don't like super-duper huge eyes), but the quality of the animation is such I got over it quickly. Have there ever been snowfalls as beautiful before? Plus, the actor who does the main guy's voice is the same one that does Kyon on Haruhi Suzumiya, and I really love his voice, for some reason--must be that wry, sardonic quality. I thought it was going to be just another high school-type series when I started watching it, but there are some supernatural elements and surprisingly moving emotional drama. What can I say, I loved it.

Here's the main dude, Yuuichi

And his bevy of beauties who all love him, of course. But it's not a creepy harem series--it's really sweet!