Roof Cat

Dawn captured this photo of the cat this morning. It is curious with bright blue eyes and a grey coat.

Grave of the Fireflies Double Feature

Via Wikipedia:

Its initial theatrical release was accompanied by Hayao Miyazaki's much more lighthearted My Neighbor Totoro as a double feature.

Wow. Having a hard time wrapping my head around that one. For an American audience it would be like pairing Schindler's List with Heidi, or Apocalypse Now with Annie. This is too weird.

UPDATE: ah I see. Here's the reasoning and aftermath of the decision to pair the movies, via Wikipedia:

• The movie was originally intended as a sort of front act of another Ghibli movie, My Neighbor Totoro. Ghibli's parent company reasoned that Totoro's tie-in with a movie with more educational merit would guarantee its inclusion in the list of summer's recommended movies for school children.
• In commercial terms, the theatrical release was a failure. While the two movies were marketed toward children and their parents, the extremely depressing nature of Grave of the Fireflies made most parents stay away from watching the film with their children. Subsequently, Totoro dolls became a phenomenal hit in Japan and this has covered the loss sustained by the theatrical release.

KYDS Songs

One song from last night:

Five For Fighting's "100 Years," from his 2004 album, "The Fight For Everything" on the Sony Music Entertainment label. Video.

Latvian Words for Dawn

I lived in Latvia for four months in 1997 and sadly my memory of Latvian is so rusty now. While at home I promised Dawn to write down some words we came across in my Latvian-English dictionary, and here they are:

paldies: thank you (pahl-DEE-ehss)
warrent: pilnvara (PILN-vara)
Daschund: taksis, āpšu suns (TAK-sees)
cat: kaķis (KA-cheess)
icicle: lāsteka (lahs-TAY-ka)
hazelnut: lazda (LAHS-da)
please: lūdzu (LOOD-zu)
greetings: sveiki (SVAY-kee)

www.lv -- how do you like that for efficiency?

Roof Cat

Caught this cat napping in the shade outside my window this morning. It noticed me making noise in my room, rolled over on its back, turned the other way, and went back to sleep. Very cute. As the shade receded the cat decided to find a cooler spot and left.

Be Positive

That's my blood type.

KYDS Songs

One song today:

Chicago-based Fall Out Boy's "Dance, Dance" from their 2005 album, "From Under the Cork Tree" on the Island label. Video.

Buckle Up...

...it makes it harder for the aliens to suck you out of your car

-Bumper sticker seen on a car

For Dawny

I think you were wonderful tonight. I love you.

I don't see my head ever getting achy like this but if it did, I'd be happy to have you with me.

Love

Kevin

It's late in the evening; she's wondering what clothes to wear.
She puts on her make-up and brushes her long blonde hair.
And then she asks me, "Do I look all right?"
And I say, "Yes, you look wonderful tonight."

We go to a party and everyone turns to see
This beautiful lady that's walking around with me.
And then she asks me, "Do you feel all right?"
And I say, "Yes, I feel wonderful tonight."

I feel wonderful because I see
The love light in your eyes.
And the wonder of it all
Is that you just don't realize how much I love you.

It's time to go home now and I've got an aching head,
So I give her the car keys and she helps me to bed.
And then I tell her, as I turn out the light,
I say, "My darling, you were wonderful tonight.
Oh my darling, you were wonderful tonight."
Link: http://youtube.com/watch?v=JSIQo4WXoRc

Curry and Rice Girl

In a previous job I worked with several contractors from India who shared stories of engagement and marriage from their culture. From my recollection, parents traditionally pick mates for their children, although things are becoming more progressive. This video plays on that cultural norm: http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-4532245984549289375&q=head+snap+tango

Tango

Dawn and I decided we would like to learn to dance, and the Tango would be fun to try first.

Linkees:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tango_%28dance%29

Vicini's Pizza

My favorite pizza place is Vicini's Pizza in Vacaville. Yum.

The Wild Onion Restaurant

Dawn suggested visiting The Wild Onion restaurant in St. Paul next time I visit. Writing down so I don't forget. Looks yummy. ^_^

KYDS Songs

Songs heard within the last few days:

Galveston, Texas-native Barry White's "Never, Never Gonna Give You Up" from his 1973 album "Stone Gon'" on the 20th Century Records label. Video. Barry White was a vegan.

Slab Fork, West Virginia-native Bill Withers' "Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone" from his album "Just As I Am" on the Sussex Records label. Video.

Ripley, Surrey, England-native Eric Clapton's "Wonderful Tonight" from his 1977 album "Slowhand" on the Polydor label. Video.

Philadelphia-native Mirah's "Apples in the Trees" from her 2001 album "Advisory Committee" on the K Records label.

Galveston, Texas-native Barry White's "Can't Get Enough of Your Love, Babe" from his 1974 album "Can't Get Enough" on the 20th Century Records label. Video.

Boston-based Extreme's "More Than Words" from their 1990 album "Extreme II: Pornograffiti" on the A&M Records label. Video.

Los-Angeles-based The Aquabats' "Danger Woman" from their 2000 album "Myths, Legends, and Other Amazing Adventures of the Aquabats!" on the Fearless/Horchata Records label.

Los-Angeles-based The Aquabats' "Martian Girl" from their 1995 album "The Return of the Aquabats!" on the Horchata Records label.

Late night waffle post

I enjoy toaster waffles and maple syrup anytime as a snack.

While eating I scan labels. Tonight I was scanning the syrup bottle label and noticed how similar "Sodium: 0mg" was to the Internet abbreviation "Sodium: omg" (oh-my-god):


It's a Valley thing.

21-inch flat panel monitor

Drool. My techno-lust for the day. Not in the budget in the near future unfortunately.

Running Journal, Friday, 2006-07-21

Running Journal, Friday, 2006-07-21
Resting heart rate: not available (forgot)
Weather: overcast, then sunny; 41% humidity
Temp: 30 C (86 F)
Time: 09:00-09:50
Terrain: mostly flat, mild hills
Comments: In the middle of a summer Sacramento heat wave. The National Weather Service has issued a heat advisory, which is issued when the temperature is 40.5+ C (105+ F) during the day and 26.7+ C (80+ F) during the night for two consecutive days. Yow. Today is the first day we've had 40%+ humidity and I felt it. Practiced landing on the heels of my foot today as I strode, and I felt muscles getting worked that I haven't felt before. It felt good to do this, given my recent history of my left toe hurting (I think my left foot is slightly longer than my right, so shoes are a bit tight). I found a frisbee in the grass at the parking lot on the south side of the pedestrian bridge. I said hello or good morning to a number of people today as I passed but people seemed focused on their own running. I started out in a relaxed, slow, comfortable stride and kept my focus far down the trail, and I enjoyed the sensation of losing myself and being in the moment without much other thoughts in my head. I am working on my form and found today that my arms felt a bit tingly, meaning I was a bit too tense in the upper body. Turned at the half-way point and ran the parallel trail back, briefly on the private trail of the residential community. The yellow thistle plants are everywhere and in full bloom. They leave me very itchy if I'm unlucky enough to scratch myself. As I ran back and watched the river to my right, I felt happy to have the opportunity to run there. The slow-flowing, low water of the river reflecting the bright sun looked so peaceful it seemed to have human qualities of laziness. It seemed to be experiencing the same reaction to the brilliant summer sunlight as the people running along the trail. So there was a sense of connection to the river this morning based entirely upon personifying it with human qualities. After I reached the parking lot on the south side of the river, I picked up the frisbee, when an asian man flagged me down and asked me for the name of the park. He described how someone had smashed three vehicle windows earlier that morning, and when he reported it, the person he talked to requested the location. So I shared with him the info he needed, and he thanked me and went on his way. As I walked back across the pedestrian bridge, I said hello to a biker who sat on the planks relaxing and watched a woman and a yellow lab play fetch in the water below. Fun. My red RaceReady singlet clung to my chest from the humidity, something that has only happened one other time, during Grandma's Marathon. I felt great, limber, and attributed that to running on my heels. I'll give it a try on my long run this Sunday, my last long run before the marathon.
Time: 50 minutes
Goal Time: n/a
Distance: 6.45 km (4 mi)
Total Distance For Year: 400 miles + (lost count)
Weight (after run): 80.2 kg (176.8 lbs), with clothes
Any irregular feelings, aches, pains, heart rate, and so forth?: none
Foods eaten today: Powerbar, Safeway frosted mini wheats in soy milk

Flowers for Dawny

Today's flowers are once again brought to you by my housemate's bottle of Anderson Valley Brewing Company's Hop Ottin' India Pale Ale.

I love you Dawn xoxoxo

Bonk

Dawn enjoys the way I use the onomatopoeia "bonk" to describe everyday actions when we're talking on the phone, so I thought she might get a kick out of reading this:

American hopeful Floyd Landis ran out of steam on Stage 16 Wednesday. He "bonked," as bicyclists like to say. He was the overall leader at that point, but fell eight minutes behind the pack as he pedaled up the last climb. He handed over the yellow jersey to a Spaniard, Oscar Pereiro. Analysts said Landis was washed up, terminé, for the tour.
Link: http://www.sacbee.com/content/opinion/story/14280314p-15088696c.html

D-Mod Hydroplane Racing

While on my walk this morning I noticed a stack of boats with the words "D-Mod Hydroplane Racing" on the side at the corner of Farmgate and Westgate. Wikipedia remarks these boats are also known as thunderboats. Hydroplane Boat and Race Museum (sound warning). Fun. D-Mod seems to be a category of engines, with the modified bit indicating customizations over stock. I think. I'm a newbie.