Lunamania

One of my new job perks (?) is semi-regular travel to our office in Sacramento. Yesterday, I rode the Amtrak Capitol Corridor train and got back in touch with my love of rail trips. Spending time in Tokyo and New York City ingrained in me a love of that subway surfing sway, transit maps and the simple efficiency of rail transit. Luckily, I do not have to surf on Amtrak, but instead get my own large desk, bar car and unobstructed view. I also won some sort of Amtrak lotto thing and even scored a free soda and chips. My freebies and the friendly conductor on the way to Sacto actually made up for the Evil Conductor who closed the doors and pulled out AFTER we made eye contact. I had to wait another hour for the next train.
Hey, but at least that was only one wait. It's looking like the half million people who ride the A/C trains in New York are outta luck. If they get really lucky, MTA will get those lines running with about the same frequency as the G train. I read today that they are slowly computerizing the entire subway system--beginning with the L train. Now what series of decisions led to the L train being the pioneer computer line? Weird.
For the final train news, today in LA a suicidal man parked his car on the commuter rail track. At some point he decides this is a bad idea and bails. Sadly, it's too late for the train to stop and 10 people were killed as one commuter train collided with another train running on a parallel track.
OK, was that last bit gratuitously inserted to round out my train entry? I guess that's kind of sick...but not as sick as the HOT 97 tsunami song.

Posted by at 9:46 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

It's cold. I hear there's a huge blizzard in New York. I can't wait till spring comes around. There will be warmth and BASEBALL.
I know it's said every year but...this year the Mets are contenders. For real. Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran?! WHAT!!! Definitely going to SBC Park when the Mets are in town this season.

Posted by at 9:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jello peoples. It's been way too long since I last posted anything. We (the collective and ever mysterious "we") can blame that on my new full-time job. Last week was my first full week and I was struck by several things--you know you missed the Luna-lists...
1. Stringing together various consulting gigs was not lucrative, but it allowed me have some time to do fully engage in meaningful activities outside of work such as bathing and feeding myself. It's not as if I walked around stinky and malnourished while working other jobs, but it does take me a minute to adjust to living life by my palm pilot...or more accurately, my pocket PC. (For those who care, (Tony and Jen) yes, I converted. It was about the Wi-Fi. I know you understand right?

2. I had some great short term projects and I was having some committment issues about a more permanent set-up, but so far it's been great. For the first time in way too long I can say that I'm excited to go to work in the morning.

3. When are the Apple people going to develop a PDA? I'm waiting...

4. I have yet to be unhappy at a workplace that has a perpetual communal snack table. Causal relationship between workplace satisfaction and snack availability? I think so.

5. It's crab season! Christine, Mijoung and my Crabby Monkey set out to partake of the famous $39.99 crab course at New Loi's. Doh. CLOSED TO REMODELING! We picked our devastated selves off the floor and went over to PPQ's in the Richmond. The crab was fresh and tasty. I liked the garlic noodles better than Than Long's (which is way over rated and over priced.) The pepper short ribs were appropriately encrusted with fried garlic. However, we were oppressed by a wait staff poised to remove plates of food the nanosecond anyone of us put our utensils down. That said, it was nice to share an excellent meal and conversation with good peoples--and I'm not just saying that because Mijoung and Christine are 2 of 4 people who actually read this blog.

6. Speaking of good peoples. Lisa G. came to visit this weekend to provide in person input on the Cat Calendar. It's a work in progress. OK, yes, I've been outed. Part of the reason Lunamania has been neglected is due to the time spent on this lesbonic cat calendar project.

7. I so appreciate Eddie's cooking. Oxtail stew, mashed potates (with loads of sour cream, half and half and truffle oil), collard greens, proscuitto, buttery cheese, avocado and heart of palm salad all topped off by mitsumame and azuki ice cream. Don't you all wish you had friends who cook like this?

Posted by at 11:19 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

In Japan we flip the calendar on 12/31, but also get a jump start on the lunar new year and follow the Chinese zodiac. It's a mystery akin to the international date line. So, happy 2005 and year of the hen/rooster/non-flying--but tasty frying--bird!

Posted by at 7:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)