this is so me…
“I think sometimes that being overly type-sensitive is like an allergy,” said Michael Bierut, a partner in the Pentagram design group in New York. “My font nerdiness makes me have bad reactions to things that spoil otherwise pleasant moments.” One of his (least) favorite examples is the Cooper Black typeface on the Mass sign outside a beautifully restored 1885 Carpenter Gothic church near his weekend home in Cape May Point, New Jersey. “Cooper Black is a perfectly good font, but in my mind it is a fat, happy font associated with the logo for the ‘National Lampoon,’ the sleeve of the Beach Boys’ ‘Pet Sounds’ album and discount retailers up and down the U.S.,” Mr. Bierut explained. “I wouldn’t choose it as a font for St. Agnes Church even as a joke. Every time I go by, my vacation is, for a moment, ruined.”
The rest of the article on mistakes in typography, here.
i wave
Just to let you know I’m alive. The new year has brought many wonderful changes that take up much time, hence the radio silence on my dear blog. But I haven’t forgotten you! I’m starting to figure out how to manage my life better…and that includes resuming uber goober, and of course, all that falls between.
spectacle
As some of you are well aware, I have a knack of paying attention to extremely inconsequential things. Case 392: Delta Airlines safety video. Every time I see it, I can’t focus on the message – I am so distracted by flight attendant Katherine Lee’s overly highlighted cheek bones (and highlighted from the bottom??) and tragically Botoxed lips. See below.
:)
I try my best not to reveal any touchy feely emotions (eeks! yikes! uncomfortable!) on a public blog, but I just have to say…life is so good right now. I’m on a business trip to the Pitts, and am having a tremendously valuable, productive experience here. I leave a night before everyone else, and for the first time ever on a business trip – I want to stay that extra day to be with my colleagues. Amazing, huh? I’m happy with my job, happy with my friends and fam, happy with my traveling, happy, happy, happy.
And, scene.
Switching over to something completely unrelated…I’m so disappointed in Daschle. The whole situation is infuriating. Argue all you want of his political assets (which, from the little I know about him, actually seem like they would prepare him well to revamp health care) – but in such a high profile position, “inadvertently” forgetting to pay taxes is unacceptable. The whole situation is unfortunate, but we must not set precendent time and time again, forgiving public servants for their seemingly deliberate omissions of fact.
so about this working thing…
Day one on the new job. Basic sequence of events:
(1) Unwillingly wake up at 7am.
(2) Try to find the cutest outfit possible, as I am determined to be stylish at work. May my DM colleagues never discover my downward spiral of frumpiness at JM.
(3) Go to work (yay!). Cube: not so bad after all. Team of all women plus one guy: super nice and friendly (phew). Number of times checking Gmail: too many. Some things never change.
(4) Finish work day around 6:30pm.
(5) Promptly go shopping to buy new outfits. Please see number two.
(6) Dinner with cousin, who is amused by aforementioned shopping spree.
(7) Back home. Am sleepy. Hence incomplete sentences on blog.
(8 ) And, repeat. 
fibonacci
Oops. After my loud proclamation that I’d write while on vacation, my blog fell asleep. I apologize! All the wandering around Tokyo made me quite the vapid soul by end of day, leaving me uninspired to write. And obviously, given that the purpose of this blog is to inspire you, I couldn’t possibly pen anything at such moments. (And there goes my grand idea to start a separate travel blog.)
So I must back-peddle into the caves of my memory, which is a scary thought. I might as well start making up my trip.
But first as a quick aside, let me share a rare moment of pride for my alma mater:
Brandeis is planning to sell off all pieces in its Rose Art Museum to save itself from a dire financial situation, as its endowment has tumbled due to the economy. I have never been to the museum, but the Times tells me it has one of the most important postwar art collections in New England, counting Lichtenstein, Warhol and lovers Rauschenberg and Johns in its collection. The dear director of Northwestern’s Block Museum is quoted denouncing the decision, calling it a “detriment to all our institutions.” Bravo. There must be other solutions out there. Only selling part of the art collection? Freezing salaries? Art is meant to be shared, not shielded.
Ok I just read that and had to write about it. Back to Japan. Actually, the little bit above provides a nice segue – one of my favorite parts of the trip was a visit to the Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, where a very cool Jim Lambie exhibit was showing. While in transit to the museum, I started doubting my decision to go as it was off the beaten track, but the show was definitely worth it.
My other favorites: watching the rockabilly greasers in Yoyogi Park, hanging out with a friend’s friend and his friends (and subsequently my friend’s friend’s friend’s friends ha!), sampling an unhealthy amount of food, wandering the side streets and little districts with my friend (and host. Thanks!)
I think that because I’ve been to China, Taiwan and Hong Kong a few times, Tokyo was not as much of a culture shock as I had expected. It also wasn’t as crowded as I imagined it to be – only certain shopping districts were teeming with people. I love how clean the city is though. Americans are just shameful in comparison – we (they?) must learn that it is not that difficult to keep your gum in your mouth, your trash in your hand, your smells in the bathroom. I wait for the day I don’t sit perched on the edge of a BART seat for fear of its grime. What else did I love…ah, the general public is so polite! After purchasing anything, the saleswomen (all women, sadly) will stand there and bow at you as you walk away. You’ll get one extra bow if you turn around to look at them. And probably another if you turn around again.
Pictures on Facebook/Picasa…I’m getting sleepy again and must get some rest for my first day of work on the new job tomorrow!
hi, hola, konichiwa
As I trekked through Belize and Guatemala last week, I was constantly drumming up thoughts about my travels and very desperately wanted a canvas to express myself – but never had blank paper or enough time on a computer to record my musings. I am better prepared on this trip to Japan, and brought along my personal journal (and the great fear that I will lose it!) to note ideas on the plane, as well as the great hope that my memory will start working. For me, Tokyo is an urban playground to gawk at, so I am not hard-pressed to squeeze in your typical touristy sights, preferring to wander aimlessly and return to my friend’s apartment for breaks. Which gives me more time to relax and write.
As some of you know, these trips are extremely out of character for me, having been booked last minute with minimal research beforehand. Quite the daunting situation for a planner by nature. It’s amazing, then, how a thousand disparate pieces collected from theinternetfriendsguidebooksnewspapersetc can so neatly fit together in just a few days worth of travel. In Belize, I was able to articulate the various regions and their offerings after a few days; in Guatemala, I quickly familiarized myself with the local terrain; in Japan…well, you’ll have to cut me some slack as I’ve only been here for 24 hours. But I have faith that the puzzle pieces will form a picture soon.
Before we dive into Japan, however, some quick notes about Central America:
- Highlight – A six hour guided hike to Tikal, in Guatemala. With all the climbing up and down the ruins, I felt like we were playing on a giant jungle gym.
- Lowlight – All the RAIN! It rained every. single. day. minus…the day I left. Yes kids, it was bright and sunny and hot and beautiful and warm and lovely and I was en route back to the U. S. of A.
- Greatest moments of joy – Sadly a reflection of the Western world ingrained in me: in San Pedro, picking up my freshly laundred clothing and in Flores, realizing the electricity had returned, having been out for 45 minutes. I am only exaggerating slightly – our activities (snorkeling, kayaking, biking) were quite enjoyable as well, but these two incidents nearly made me dizzy with happiness.
There’s more to say, but this entry is treading dangerously to its limit and I must get ready to meet some friends out in Tokyo…so till later, dear readers!
pardon me waiter, there’s a squirrel on my plate
Dining on squirrel is evidently a trend in the UK. No wonder the British have weird teeth. Serves them right for eating weird things.
blagoavoahfkldjh
I just watched a clip of Blagojevich announcing his appointment of Roland Burris to IL’s vacant Senate seat…arg!!! Makes me so mad. The guy is deranged. Seriously. He looks incredibly smug and assured, is all shifty and jumpy as he talks…how in the world can he even believe he has such a right?
happy new year
That’s it.
