happy Valentine's Day

For Valentine's Day I wanted to spend as much time with Ryann as possible. I woke up early and went to her place, I made breakfast for us while she read to me. We had heart shaped berry pancakes that were pretty tasty, and then spent some time just sitting and talking (and cuddling) before I had to leave. In the evening she came to work for about an hour and we had chinese food from a place I like while she told me all that she had done since I saw her in the morning. I wish there was more time we could spend together but it is a matter of quality rather than quantity and the quality was very good.

worst fortune cookie ever

Tonight Ryann and I had Chinese food from a place in Rocklin that I like. We ate while I drove and she told me about her day. After an hour I took her back to her car and then realized we had neglected our fortune cookies. I called her planning to open first mine then hers but she did not pick up, so I opened mine, and figured she would call back before going to bed.

I had the thought, that it would be funny if the cookie said something about going to a hospital for lead poisoning or something along those lines. When I look down and read it my fortune said this: An interesting medical opportunity is in your near future.

frankly this may be the worst fortune cookie ever.

Ben Stein

I just heard the address Ben Stein gave at the California Commonwealth Club back in January. It is excellent, I would put it on my top ten list of public speeches (not including conference talks). This link will take you to the website you can download it from.
http://fora.tv/2008/01/24/Ben_Stein_on_How_Not_to_Ruin_Your_Life

Bacon

I have decided I want to try curing some bacon, so today I was reading some recipes. Of the four I read three called for saltpeter and this has really been messing with my head. Because, I know that traditionally saltpeter is made by composting urine or guano. This has been turning my stomach even though I also realize that it is now made in some chemical plant and all kinds of chemicals are in my food. I guess that knowing bacon has been around longer than chemical plants is the problem I have not reconciled.

Giving Girls Flowers.

I first met Ryann on February 6 2006 so Tuesday of this week I went by her place at the end of my work day and gave her a bouquet of roses. When she saw that I had brought her roses she beamed up at me. Her smile, her bashful downward glances and the way she danced around not knowing how best to show her appreciation of the flowers made me feel wonderful. I could see that I had made her happy and made me happy.

I learned back in high school girls are always happy to be given flowers, and it is such a little thing but there is a huge reward paid in smiles.

Stereotypes

Generally stereotypes are thought of as a bad thing in our culture, but they always come from somewhere.

This week I stepped into an antique shop, I collect cufflinks and antique shops can be the best place to buy them, and I met a gay stereotype. He was a well dressed, fruity little, antique dealer. He described things as lovely and gorgeous and did the thing with his wrist when he pointed at things.

Other than the many teenage girls who are valley girl stereotypes, I don't meet them often. Most athletes are not morons, most blondes are not ditsy, and most jews are not cheep. (I have met stereotypes of each of these, but not often). But does that make stereotypes bad. I don't think that it does. I don't mind when the Mormon stereotype is applied to me, at least as a baseline while someone gets to know me better.

this blog doesn't quite capture the thought I want, I might revise it later.