Ashamed as I am to admit that I’ve given it any more thought, I am thoroughly freaked about having my hair dyed tomorrow. Over the past week I’ve been paying attention to all the colors out there, and it’s only made me more terrified… Am I making a big deal out of nothing?

Maybe it’s crazy to ask for nothing more than a richer, shinier version of my natural color. Is that too boring? As girlie as I claim to be, I’m afraid that I fall short in this category. I’m counting on some haircolor veterans like Crystal to pipe up and allay my fears with good advice.

11 comments August 19th, 2005

It’s been three months since I first metioned this PC game, but I finally purchased Guild Wars last week as an early birthday present to myself.

Deciding to brave the learning curve without the aid of online guides was an easy choice since the last time I really enjoyed a RPG it was ironically the painful trial and error (ie. a whole lot of dying) that brought about a sense of accomplishment which kept me beating that dead horse for over a decade.

So far its living up to its promise not to demand much time… Which is good, because tinkering with this site is almost a full-time job. But as MMORPGs go — Guild Wars is heaps o’ fun!

7 comments August 18th, 2005

Long ago, in a galaxy far, far away… Some cave-dwellers set aside their polyhedral dice and ventured forth to Radio Shack where they obtained hardware known as a modem and one of the free computer magazines sitting in a heap outside the store …This was the dawn of the BBS era.

Or at least that’s close to how it all started for me. I’ve been a BBS junkie since 1990, when I received a hand-me-down modem and a cheapass 386. So imagine my delight when I heard of a documentary being made about BBS culture.

The four-year project was finally released on DVD this year, but there’s tons of footage that didn’t make the final cut. However, the whole ball of wax was released under a Creative Commons license and soon the complete archives will be available online.

Check out the official website for blast-to-the-past details.

7 comments August 17th, 2005

Not only was this girl born in Pasadena, California… She never left! As a graduate of their schools, an occassional volunteer, a former docent, local newspaper employee, and performer – I may be uniquely qualified to respond to this week’s topic:

Ten Things I Love About My City

1. Caltech – It’s nice being home to so many brilliant minds, and the California Institute of Technology brings them in by the truckload every semester. When we’re lucky, they stay on to work at JPL.

2. Art Center – Not just any college of design, but arguably one of the best in the world. Art Center continues to churn out stunning works in everything from automobile design to filmmaking.

3. Restaurants – Maybe what’s nourishing all this young talent is nothing more than the amazing food! What else do you expect when the US campus of the famous Le Cordon Bleu is right here in town?

4. City Hall – We have the most beautiful civic building I’ve ever seen. Built in 1927 by Bakewell & Brown, this elegant feature of our local skyline is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

5. Kidspace – Newly redesigned, this children’s museum is unique. Every exhibit is a functioning work of art with lessons for kids to learn by the best of all possible methods… Play!

6. Architecture – We’re fortunate to live in an adorable little home in the historic area of Bungalow Heaven. Craftsman homes are the rage right now, and we take them for granted because they’re everywhere!

7. Huntington – Library, art collections, and botanical gardens… It’s a wonderful place to take the ladies for afternoon tea. Or go by yourself for some quiet contemplation amidst your pick of lovely surroundings.

8. Tournament of Roses – Forgive me for putting it so low on the list, but it’s not as big a deal for the locals as it is for the rest of the world when they invade on New Year’s Day for the Rose Bowl game and parade.

9. Mountains – Living at the foothills of the San Gabriel mountain range makes great hiking adventures easy. Of course, if you’re a clutz like me you might want to make your expeditions less frequent.

10. People – Compared to most of Los Angeles we’re pretty laid back. I knew a guy who moved from out of state to the west side. He grew homesick until he found a place that felt more like home in Pasadena.

6 comments August 16th, 2005

Twice a year I pick up a few fashion magazines and eagerly scour them to find the best of what’s new. This time, however, I find myself rather perturbed… What is up with this frumpy, bohemian madness?

The colors and styles for Fall 2005 seem desperately unflattering. Something is amiss. I can’t find anything in stores that looks even remotely attractive, and I’m worried… My wardrobe is looking thin.

When I lost weight, I sold all my suits at a consignment store. Since then, I’ve been trying to rebuild my business wardrobe… To little avail. Once in a while I’ll find something from Nanette Lepore, Kay Unger, Ann Taylor or Tahari, but mostly it’s been a bust.

I made this resoution that I’d only buy pieces I absolutely love. That’s turned out to be a tall order, and one that’s left me with less than ten outfits in rotation. Maybe it’s time to re-think my strategy.

11 comments August 14th, 2005

Happy Left-Handers Day to all the sinister creatures out there. I’ve always been glad to be a leftie, even when it wasn’t easy. As it turns out, my love for being a southpaw wasn’t without justification. Apparently our brains are more balanced, and we can kick your ass.

On this special day, I’d like to express my gratitude to my mom and dad for defending my left-handedness when that crazy first grade teacher tried to make me switch on the first day of school. Thanks for making sure I kept something in common with these amazing people.

11 comments August 13th, 2005

Added some new images to my Photo Albums in the “Polar Lights” category – Depictions of both the auroras borealis and australis. Remember that once inside the gallery you can click on a thumbnail to view the complete image. Happy Friday!

9 comments August 12th, 2005

Maybe I need to wear a burqa. Nah… Too oppressive, especially in this August heat. Or how about a ninja mask – Yeah! All I know is that I can’t stand another day of the pink, peeling mess that’s looking back at me in the mirror, without some kind of cover.

Anyway, I only have one skin treatment left to endure, but these last two in the series are a downer. If the next one wasn’t medically important, I’d do anything to avoid it. A face that looks like molting snakeskin wakes you up to a new world of shy embarassment.

Murphy’s law kicked in today:

Never in the history of this company have they called an impromptu leadership meeting, but today they did… Twice, and for trivial crap. All my colleagues got to take a nice long look. I guess working in my office in the dark with the door closed wasn’t working for them.

5 comments August 10th, 2005