Rant: It really annoys me when people are not direct.

Especially if, when you've asked them for clarification on a matter of delicacy, and they feel awkward or uncomfortable about telling you the truth, they give you a very confusing and convoluted answer, or completely circumvent the issue by not answering your question at all. 

Indirect-ness and passive-aggressiveness absolutely infuriate me in both the professional and personal realms.  Those of you who like to side-step issues and keep people guessing: DO YOU EXPECT US SIMPLETONS TO READ YOUR MINDS!?

I'm thinking of a different recent situation, but one good example is when you apply for a job somewhere and they give you some trite answer like, "we did not find you to be a fit at this time."  What I want to know is, what the F does at this time mean?  That they might review my application at a later date, and THEN would find me a fit?  That I should try applying again? 

If what they REALLY mean is: "Given your current qualifications,you are not good enough to work for this company in this capacity, but you are welcome to apply again if a different opportunity arises or if you gain significant experience/skill in X area, and good luck with all your endeavors," then they should just SAY it.  What people often need to hear most is that there is NO HOPE, ever, and they should just get over it and move on.  I'm sure if everyone were more direct (and truthful--not hurtful), we would all be spared a lot of heartache.

Don't even get me started on how some people behave in romantic relationships and are afraid to "Just Say NO" to people they have zero interest in, and wind up stringing those poor people along.  Cowards.

Ate at McDonald's today for the first time in over a year.

I'd never even been inside the McDonald's near my apartment, so the renovations Garry appreciated were lost on me.  We had a very light lunch, having grazed on junk food all throughout our second-hour class at church. 

Had a double cheeseburger, a surprisingly delicious snack, especially for the delicious price of only $1.  Also had a Caesar salad with grilled chicken--using only about a third of the dressing, it was pretty darn tasty, and pretty healthful besides.

PS. The burger and salad looked nothing like these pictures.  But they were still enjoyable =)

One of the best things I brought back from London in 1999

I spent all of 2.5 days in London as part of a cheesy 10-day tour around Europe after my senior year of high school.  This meant grievously mediocre food and barely any chances to stray off the beaten path.  We did get one afternoon to ourselves though, and while most everyone else in my group headed to Harrod's, I went by myself to Covent Garden, where I wandered around and came across Bebeto, this very exuberant string quartet with scrappy instruments and a lot of attitude. 

I loved them so much that I bought one of their tapes (yes, of the cassette variety...apparently they hadn't been able to record onto CDs back then) and brought it back home with me.  Definitely one of the best purchases I could ever have made on any travels, because I can listen to it an remember the time fondly. 

My senior year of college, I converted to DVD format and I have now ripped it for your listening pleasure.  Also throwing in a few pictures taken by Ray Pettit (I am totally using these without permission, and I hope he doesn't mind, because they are very excellent photos).

Early 90s Monday: No end in sight.

I feel like I've barely scratched the surface of the great gobs of warm cheesy goodness that is early 90s pop music.  I'm going to start re-capping past favorites at the bottom of these posts.

Mariah Carey, "Vision of Love," 1990
Her very first single, ever.  I can't believe how wide-eyed and humble she used to be, and it's always refreshing to hear just how amazingly talented she has always been, though her voice these days sounds like it's petering out on her.  Still one of my favorite songs, and always a good one to order up in the KTV room. 



Color Me Badd, "I Ador Mi Amor," 1991
Nope, I canNOT keep a straight face watching this video.  I can't believe we all used to think these guys were so smoking hot!  Especially the one that looks like Kenny G!  One thing I gotta give them, though, is how multicultural the group is.  Impressive.

3. Mr. Big, "Be With You" and Mint Condition, "Breaking My Heart (Pretty Brown Eyes)"
2. PM Dawn, "Die Without You" and Mista Grimm, "Indo Smoke
1. Boyz II Men, "Motownphilly" and Paula Abdul, "Opposites Attract"

Sticks & stones won't break my bones: a lesson in geology and jewelry.

I've always had a special fondness for gems and minerals...one of my favorite parts of any Natural History museum, I'd always make a beeline for that section with all the glittery mineral growths hidden inside/outside unassuming rocks.  Anyway, like most of my interests/lusts I've been nurturing this for a while, and tracking all kinds of eBay auctions and etsy listings.  I can't deny how attracted I am to beautiful gemstones, but usually not the most common ones (I'm pretty indifferent to diamonds etc.).  My favorite of all time is Sleeping Beauty turquoise from Arizona, but the stuff is not cheap, no siree.

I came across this lady who does long knotted necklaces and thought seriously about dropping $50 for one of her creations, when I realized how simple her necklaces looked, and that I could probably figure out how to make one (or three) myself with less than $20 and just the right materials.  I mean, her descriptions are so detailed that I feel like I have a ready-made how-to guide right there.  So I started scouring eBay and other sources for some 10mm round gemstones, and feeling out what I needed in terms of threading material and clasps.  Who knows, maybe I'll actually jump on the jewelry-making bandwagon.

Anyway, the first couple of things I bought included, in no particular order:
  • Some creamy blue chalcedony beads (chalcedony apparently is not naturally blue, but has to be heat-treated to bring out its blue color...otherwise it comes in a plethora of shades from pink to green to yellow). 
  • Also stumbled across someone selling some gorgeous African blue opal nuggets.  I have never seen this stone in my life, but I was immediately captivated by its beauty--sky blue with artistic gray/beige veins. From the same seller I bought some imperial jasper too.
  • Since I want a necklace that looks similar to ones that woman sells, I've been eyeing aventurine in red and blue (see below).  Both gorgeous paired with another favorite stone, smoky quartz (often mistakenly called smokey or smoky topaz).
  • I also realize that one thing I need to round out my wardrobe is a dramatic long white necklace of some kind.  For this I've been considering riverstone, white turquoise, howlite, and alabaster.  I bought a big chunky plastic necklace from Old Navy and my coworker Brent said it looked "terrible and fake."  After looking in the mirror I had to agree.