if I had a million dollars...

...I would buy a whole lotta books.

While perambulating through Borders on Saturday evening, I was suddenly struck with a new understanding of why people spend hours reading in a bookstore rather than make a selection, purchase their tome, and read at home: they can't afford the price of books these days. There's much public grousing about the ever-rising cost of movies, but they're a bargain compared to a book. Even paperbacks are costlier than a movie ticket. Granted, if comparing satisfaction/minute/cost, clearly a book's a better deal. But for those of us that scramble through books like Wal-Mart shoppers at 5 a.m. on Black Friday, reading becomes an awfully costly enterprise.

of landfills and garage bands

Garage (not garbage) bands first: check out Chrisser's temporary band site for goodbye matt (yes, that's the name they chose). It may be operating sporadically as it's renovated, but stay tuned for more news from the funk-punk front.

Next, I'll pose a question that has been bothering me for quite some time. It resurfaced recently in conversation, so I'm writing it here now in case I'm on to something:
For the benefit of the environment, where should paper products used as facial tissue (may or may not be kleenex) go:
a) in the garbage?
b) down the toilet?
c) in the paper recycling bin?
What is the most environmentally sound option? If anyone has an idea, or knows to whom I could address this question of world-shaking import, please let me know.

jen and the art of scooter maintenance

Okay, so this is flirting with deteriorating into a scooter blog, but my Vino's the only thing working semi-reliably in my life right now! I find myself daydreaming about how to best keep my chrome clean of fingerprints and whether I should buy a rear basket or wait until the hard top cases are available...and I am looking forward to participating in the SF Scooter Girls' maintenance day which is now t.b.a....and I let out an undignified squeal last night when I found my scooter's license plate had arrived in the mail.

Though my little scooter's not worthy of the highway, I've been fantasizing about hitting the road for a little trip. The nice weather doesn't help, nor does Euan's recent perusal of my empty sketchbooks. This is obviously not the best time of year to go kiting off to lord-knows-where between school, holidays, and all the other stuff that seems to pile up at the end-of-year, but now's when I seem to need it most. Just pack a bag, and go. I know this a perfectly natural impulse, but it oddly becomes overwhelming in the late afternoon, about the time that most people go for a coffee. 'Round that time, my mind gets very restless (a very different kind than 'round midnight) and I contemplate where I might go. Drive north or south? Are there any discount plane tickets available? How many days could I be absent before anyone would notice?

comings and goings

Despite a recent conversation in the lab concerning faddishness of the blog phenomenon, I continue to post, in the hope that those of you who read this occasionally find occasional amusement. If this isn't the case, then for Pete's sake, people, go out and get a life. Or go do a Sudoku puzzle.

Sunday: Bryan and Dave took me for a great ride on my scooter. They got me all pumped up by watching a motorcycle track race, then we hit the road, going through Golden Gate Park, cruising through the Presidio, and then trailing down the Great Highway to end up at the Daly City DMV. It was a gorgeous clear day, and I felt foolishly queenly being escorted by two hot rods manned by PhDs. Ridiculous. But fun.



Later that night, I met up with ex-Regent now-lowly-grad student-but-fabulous Jodi at the Claremont for drinks and dinner. Jodi has such an effortless charm in such places; it's no wonder that she was conversing with an investment banker when I arrived (who bought her a glass of wine and plate of calamari) and when we left, we'd had some free shots and were receiving life advice in the form of family anecdotes from a "developer" who hinted at major connections with both the LA music industry and Bay Area sports. It was lovely to see Jodi and well worth the trip across the bay.

Monday: My first day as a scootercommuter went well. I bussed to UCSF in the a.m. and Bryan drove my scooter in, so I just had the trip home to manage, and I did it just fine. Dad IMed me some last-minute advice and I gave him a call after I made it into the garage. I then jumped in the car and waited about 75 minutes to get on the Bay Bridge -- fun fun -- so I could go to Stockton to hear Chrisser's yet-unnamed band. It was worth the trip. They are still a little raw, but there's definitely talent there, and it was entertaining to meet, finally, the rest of the crew. Stay tuned for samples of their music, and perhaps some band-naming. Anyway, I had plenty of music in my head to keep me awake for the long ride home.



Tuesday: Scootercommuted both ways! I don't know why my eyes tear up so much when I ride (no it's not fear or joy, though I do feel a little of both when I ride) but every time I ride, it's more and more comfortable. (BTW Dad called late to check up on me.) And fun. Speaking of which, I heard from Hannah, back from Korea and now in the south bay. We'll try to meet up this weekend, and I can't wait to see her.

Wednesday: Another successful ride to/from UCSF. Unfortunately, I won't be able to ride for the next two days as I have all-day meetings at UCOP in Oakland. I have also joined the San Francisco Scooter Girls, a club of fab scooter chicks that meet for scooter mentorship and drinks and rallies. Should be fun, and I look forward to receiving advice from some experienced riders. I ordered a jacket based on their recommendations today; can't wait to get it!