Words of wisdom

My 13-year-old niece sent me an e-mail yesterday with this little gem: "I hate stuff right now." As the "grown up" in our relationship, I knew that I should be all "Now, you don't really 'hate' anything." But even as I thought it, I knew it was a lie. Instead, I ended up saying, "You know what? I hate stuff sometimes, too. Just don't let it get you down for too long. Being 13 sucks sometimes. It gets better. I promise."

I remember how I hated when I was a kid and an adult would tell me those were the best years of my life. Being 13 was not the best time of my life. It may have been easy in terms of not having a job or bills or debt. But it's such a weird awkward age -- especially, in my humble opinion, for girls. We deal with the crazy changes our bodies are going through, wondering if what we're experiencing is "normal" because even though our friends are going through it too, it's never quite the same for any of us. Am I too big, too small, too short, too tall? What is happening to my skin, my boobs, my hips, my body? Why do I feel like crying all the time and why the hell did I have to be a girl? Ok, maybe not everyone felt exactly like that, which is kind of my point. (I imagine there were girls out there who had all the answers and were sure of themselves and didn't worry about the changes they were going through. If so, they were the freaks, not me.)

At the time, I thought, "If this is the best time of my life, that means it goes downhill from here. Oh that sucks. I hate everything." So, my advice to my niece was to hang in there. Sure, there will be harder times in her life (as in all lives) but that doesn't diminish how hard it is to be a 13-year-old girl. I only hope she knows how amazing she is, how much I love her and that she can always come to me for advice -- even if the best advice I can give her is to grab some chocolate and ride it out.

What I drove: Mazda 3

Not every vehicle I test drive can be a fully-loaded luxury car. Some are just good old-fashioned, reliable, economical, affordable sedans, like this week's Mazda 3.


It's your basic compact sedan, with one significant difference: This $18,000 car is really fun to drive. It's got a lot of get up and go, with its 2.0-liter, 16-valve, four-cylinder engine pumping out 148 horsepower (more than many of its competitors). And that's plenty of power for this small car that likes to go.

This is a car I would actually consider buying and could actually afford -- unlike many of the vehicles I get to test drive.

The Mazda 3 is sporty and fun to drive. It craves the curves, zipping along equally well on twists as it does on straight-aways. The car feels connected to the road with responsive steering and handling, thanks in part to the four-wheel independent suspension. And if you have to end the fun and stop quickly, electronic brakeforce distribution evenly sends brake power to the wheels to prevent nose dives.

Equipped with variable-valve timing, the Mazda 3 gets good gas mileage — 22 miles per gallon city/30 mpg highway, with the automatic transmission and 24 mpg city/32 mpg highway with a manual transmission.

What I read: "Watchmen" by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons

I finished reading "Watchmen" last week and have been putting off writing about it, because, frankly I'm not sure what to say about it. With all the buzz surrounding the upcoming movie based on this graphic novel and the fact that TIME Magazine has named it one of the 100 best English-language novels since 1923, I'm a bit intimidated to say anything negative about it.

I should start by saying this is the first graphic novel I've ever read. And yes, I'm a bit of a snob about it. I don't think a graphic novel should be classified as a "novel" on a list of best novels. I don't think it's fair. Regardless of how great the graphic novel is, I feel like it's a bit of a cheat -- if a picture is worth a thousand words, how many words did this author not have to write to tell this story?

That said, I didn't hate "Watchmen." I found it intriguing and the characters likable and unlikable in turns. Good and evil are not black and white, and there are some funny moments, some scary moments and nail-biting moments.

On the other hand, I can't say I would put this book on par with titles like "1984," "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," "The Great Gatsby," "Beloved" and "The Grapes of Wrath." I think the editors of TIME Magazine might have wanted to show how cool they are by including a graphic novel.

I'm not sure if I would have included "Are You There God? It's me, Margaret" either. I always preferred "Tales of a Fourth-Grade Nothing."

Check out TIME Magazine's full list here.

(And no, I haven't read every book on the list.)

This is probably why we don't have kids

Ripley's a pretty good sport when it comes to tolerating our game of Let's Put Packing Materials on the Dog. She will demand treats when it's over.

I imagine kids put up with such nonsense until a certain age, but they can hold grudges and have the power to put you in a bad nursing home when you get old.

What I drove: Ford F-150

Although it doesn't really make sense for most of us to own a full-size pickup truck, they are pretty fun to drive. I recently drove the newly-redesigned Ford F-150. It gets ridiculously low gas mileage (14 miles per gallon city and 18 mpg highway) and is almost 20 feet long. But it has a presence, and if you need a truck, I think the Ford is the way to go.

I'll probably get grief from my GM-loving family, and my practical- (and green-) minded friends will probably scold me for promoting this truck. But I can't help it, I just really love this truck. I would never own it, but it was a sweet ride. The test truck was loaded with goodies, like 18-inch bright aluminum wheels, dual-zone automatic temperature control, power-adjustable pedals, leather-trimmed seats, a leather-wrapped steering wheel with audio and climate controls, as well as power-adjustable, heated sideview mirrors, with integrated turn-signal indicators and auto-dimming driver-side feature. Additionally, the test vehicle has heated and cooled front seats — to keep you comfortable no matter what the weather’s like — with 10-way power-adjustments.

Not only is it not practical for me, but with a price tag of more than $43,000, it's priced way beyond my means.

History

January 20, 2009: The swearing-in of President Barack Obama

If you missed it, The Huffington Post has video and the full transcript of the new president's speech.

"For we know that our patchwork heritage is a strength, not a weakness. We are a nation of Christians and Muslims, Jews and Hindus - and non-believers. We are shaped by every language and culture, drawn from every end of this Earth; and because we have tasted the bitter swill of civil war and segregation, and emerged from that dark chapter stronger and more united, we cannot help but believe that the old hatreds shall someday pass; that the lines of tribe shall soon dissolve; that as the world grows smaller, our common humanity shall reveal itself; and that America must play its role in ushering in a new era of peace."

What I watched: "Wonderfalls" The Complete Series

"Wonderfalls" is a quirky little gem that only lasted four episodes on Fox back in 2004. I missed it then. I only found out about it because "Pushing Daisies" is getting canceled, and Bryan Fuller, one of the writers for "Pushing Daisies" and "Dead Like Me" was a writer/producer/creator of "Wonderfalls." Three excellent series, all gone before their times.

Thanks to the magic of Blockbuster (or Netflix or Amazon if you'd like to buy it), the entire 13-run series of "Wonderfalls" is available on DVD. And I'm glad it is. It's fun and funny and romantic, and if the episodes seem to be tied up in too-neat-little packages, well, that's sometimes how it should be. It's exciting to wonder what the hell is going to happen next on a show like "Lost," but sometimes it's nice to just have everything tied up. It reminds of sitcoms when I was a kids.

Like "Pushing Daisies," "Wonderfalls" is visually vibrant, with interesting sets and a cute female protagonist, her cute male love interest. There's also an array of supporting characters -- from odd to outlandish-- that includes Lee Pace, Ned of "Pushing Daisies." At the end of the final episode, while I wished for more, I was left feeling satisfied with the outcome and happy to have discovered this show.

"Wonderfalls" may be a bit too quirky for some people, but those who like either "Pushing Daisies" or "Dead Like Me" (or both) should enjoy it.

Meet Lucy and Opal

I've mentioned before that my mom was pretty crafty. She was talented at sewing, crocheting and baking and decorating cakes, as well as a wide variety of other crafts.

A few years ago she started making dolls (like the ones to the left here). I think she must have really enjoyed making them -- even though she called them ugly -- because she had a whole roomful of them. People would ask her to make them with various themes: sports teams, NASCAR racers, John Deere. I have one featuring the logo of my alma mater and another with (crazy cat lady?) cat theme.

I know I'm probably old enough that I shouldn't be naming my dolls and stuffed animals, but I still do. (Don't you judge me.) The one on the left is Opal, and her companion is Lucy. They grace the shelves in my office.

Their spindly legs, hand-sewn faces, crazy hair and floppy slippers make me smile. They also serve as a reminder of the importance of creativity and trying new things.

But mostly they make me smile.

What I drove: Hyundai Sonata

Last week I test drove the 2009 Hyundai Sonata. It's a nice sedan -- and not just in a nice-for-a-Hyundai sort of way. It really is nice, with lots of extras, like heated leather seats, an Infinity sound system with six speakers, XM Satellite radio with free three-month subscription, a USB jack and an auxiliary MP3 input jack inside center console storage. Equipped with a 3.3-liter V-6, the Sonata pumps out 240 horsepower and 229 foot-pounds of torque. Not shabby.

As I wrote in my test drive story:

With Hyundai’s line up of good-looking, reliable cars, it is no wonder customers have such loyalty. When I mentioned I was test driving a Sonata, several people told me how much they love their Hyundais. In the past, Hyundai may have been considered a low-end economy car, but no longer. I guess I’m going to have to stop being surprised by how much I like nice a Hyundai is when I drive one.

My test drive of the 2009 Hyundai Sonata published Jan. 9 in The Gazette.

It just goes to show you

I was all set this morning to do my kettlebell DVD, write a quick blog post about the car I test drove last week, then head off to another test drive. (I still plan to post about the Hyundai Sonata later today.)

Instead, when I went to get my pets their breakfast, I was greeted by standing water in my basement. Thankfully, it wasn't deep and it wasn't waste water. The feed from the water softener became disconnected somehow -- we're trying to blame the cat for that one -- and leaked. It may not be poo water but it was already starting to smell mildewy and it seeped under the carpet at the bottom of the stairs. So, instead of a kettlebell workout, the S.O. and I got a workout by carrying boxes, running the carpet cleaner and the wet/dry vac and moving the washing machine and dryer out of the way (O.K., yes, he did most of the heavy lifting).

And the whole time all I could think of were the immortal words of Roseanne Roseannadanna: "It just goes to show you, it's always something."

If you're not familiar with Roseanne Roseannadanna, you should be. Gilda Radner was one of the funniest ladies of all time. Check out this video from a live performance. Classic.


Update: I realized later that most of you don't know that I had to have my windshield replaced yesterday and were probably thinking, "What's she on about with this 'It's always something' crap. Well, between the crapped-out laptop, the cracked windshield and the flooded basement, I was feeling like karma was out to get me a little. Nothing major. Just like "it's always something."

The pros and cons of working from home

As a freelance writer, I do most of my work from home. (There's the occasional journey into the real world for test drives and interviews.) Although there are some great benefits to being self-employed and working from home, there are some major downsides, as well. Funny thing is, some of the pros can just as easily also be seen as cons.

Pro: I can wear whatever I want.
Con: Because I can wear whatever I want, I often spend entire days in my jammies, sweat pants or baggy jeans.

Pro: I get to spend time with my pets and the Significant Other (who also works from home, but has a "real" job).
Con: The pets and S.O. can be mighty distracting some days, what with their constant demands for food and attention.

Pro: I can take a break and play solitaire or do a crossword puzzle whenever I feel like it.
Con: Crossword puzzles, friends' blogs, solitaire, books and the warm, inviting glow of television (including reruns on Hulu) are constantly calling to me, like sirens luring my ship of motivation to death on the rocky shores of slackerdom.

Pro: My work hours don't have to be limited to 9-5, Monday through Friday.
Con: Short turn around times are not limited by the traditional work week.

Pro: I have a fridge and cupboard stocked with healthy snacks, rather than a vending machine filled with processed fat and high-fructose corn syrup.
Con: My kitchen is just a few steps away, making it easy to munch all day long.

Pro: I don't have to deal with the gossip and drama from co-workers.
Con: It can be isolating, and when I do talk to someone face to face, I can yammer on and on.

Pro: My office can double as a guest room.
Con: My office doubles as a guest room.

Pro: I can start work later in the morning, which allows me time to work out before I start my day.
Con: I have no excuse for skipping the gym.

Pro: I set my own hours and decide what work I want to take.
Con: As I've noted above, I'm a lazy slacker and would rather follow my friends' blogs and read books 14 hours a day.

Pro: There's less stress.
Con: I never know when I'll have an actual assignment that pays, you know, actual money. It's a different kind of stress. Thank goodness the S.O. loves me enough to support me being a 40-something slacker with aspirations as a writer.

I'm going to be a rock star

Nevermind that my guitar is acoustic, I don't know how to play it and for that matter, haven't played an instrument since 7th grade. Nevermind that the only women older than I am who are still rockin' have been doing so for three decades or more.

None of that matters, because now that I have held this guitar in my hands (a birthday gift from the S.O.), I will be a rock star.

Becoming a rock star was inevitable, really -- all those hours glued in front of the television during the heyday of MTV (back when they played music videos 24 hours a day), the endless lip-synching sessions in front of my full-length mirror with my hairbrush microphone and my audience of adoring stuffed-animal fans. And -- the best part -- I probably already have some hearing damage thanks to Sony.

I know how to read music (mostly) and I already have the start of callouses on my finger tips (due to not being able to put the guitar down yesterday). I've already learned one chord. So it's just a matter of time before you're all stealing my music off the internet and begging me for front row seats to my next concert.

That, or maybe, by next Christmas, Lisa and I can perform a duet that doesn't suck.

Reflecting

Less than a week ago, most of us probably spent at least a little time reflecting on the past year. Having a birthday so close on the heels of the new year, usually means I spend a few more hours this time of year reflecting on the past 12 months than people with birthdays in, say, June or July.

The past year hasn't been one of my best. I lost my mom. I lost my job. I found out I can't have a baby of my own. A bunch of my friends lost their jobs.

On the other hand, people I met at my job are still some of the best friends I have. And I'm not at a job that stresses me out every day. I feel like I have a closer connection with members of my family (loss can do that). And I'm still writing and making something of a living at it.

I don't really make new year's resolutions, but I try to set some goals, even if they are just to stay healthy and active, be kind and learn something new. My hopes for the coming year are that I will have more laughter, fewer tears, less stress and more love, health, wealth and happiness. I also hope that this year will be less eventful than the last couple. And I pass that wish on to those who read this blog. (Because you deserve some kind thoughts if you put up with my ramblings.)

Because it's my birthday, I am giving myself this lovely(?) giraffe(?) cake(?), courtesy of Cake Wrecks, one of my favorite sites. I believe it was posted on my birthday just for me.

I can laugh because someone didn't actually spend money on this disaster for my birthday.

So, happy birthday to me and a better year to all of us.

But I refuse to do the Chicken Dance

You know those women who fight to catch the bouquet at a friend or family member's wedding? Yeah, I have become that woman.

To be completely honest, I didn't really fight anyone for the bouquet, but only because I had a good 3-inch reach on the competition and didn't have to fight.
The Significant Other and I don't have plans to be married and don't talk about it all that much. But after a really unique ceremony, including the maid of honor singing "Fields of Gold" and even the groom tearing up, combined with a couple glasses of wine and a champagne toast, I guess I was thinking about marriage more than I care to admit.

Although I didn't actually elbow anybody out of the way to catch the bouquet, I was more enthusiastic than I should have been, causing the S.O. to get a little embarrassed when everyone looked around for him.

But that was a couple days ago and the glow of champagne and catching the bouquet has dimmed. I assure you I'm not clipping pictures out of bridal magazines or checking venue dates or picking out the song for our first dance. And I'm not hounding the S.O. for a ring.

On the other hand, my birthday is just a couple days away ...

What I read: "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen

Perhaps I was taken in by the subject matter or maybe it's because I finished this book on a cold snowy day when I was feeling pretty crappy. Whatever the reason, while I normally seem to have a similar taste in books as my friend Kate, on this occasion, I'm going to have to disagree with her.

I once fell inexplicably in love with someone based solely on his love for horses. And although I've never imagined running away to join the circus, there was that one summer when I dreamed of running off with the rodeo.

So, I do think I was drawn in by the subject matter and the romantic nature of the circus and the characters involved. And maybe the writing itself isn't deserving of gushing praise, but I really liked this book -- in an escapist, love-at-first-sight-even-if-it's-wrong, completely-lost-in-the-moment kind of way.

I'm sure Kate's assessment of the lack of character development is correct, but I still liked the characters. I especially cared about Walter, Queenie, Bobo and Rosie -- not to mention the main characters, who I didn't see as completely "good." They made dumb decisions and were lucky enough to have them turn out OK in the end.

Yes, in the end everything does get wrapped up in a too-neat little package. But that's part of why I thoroughly enjoyed the book. As I've admitted, maybe it's just my state of mind today and the snow falling outside the window and maybe I'll come back to this book at a later day and scoff at my own critique.

But not today. Today I'm awash in the warm glow of cotton candy, sawdust and the receding sound of the circus calliope.

They know me

A couple of friends gave me zombie-related gifts this Christmas. "The Zen of Zombie" offers "better living through the undead." And the corporate zombies were given to me so I "wouldn't forget what it was like to work in a cubicle."

It's nice to know others share my obsession with zombies and that my friends accept me despite this obsession. In fact, I recently attended a bachelor/bachelorette party, complete with strippers -- "Zombie Strippers." It's not what you think. Well, maybe it is. It's an awesomely bad zombie movie, starring Jenna Jameson and Robert Englund (of Freddie Krueger fame). There's not much plot to the movie, but it has plenty of gore and cheesy humor. It's not for the prudish or easily offended though. But throw in a group of rowdy friends, some pizza and beer, and it was a good time.

On a sad note, my laptop recently joined the ranks of the undead -- it beeps and whirs but it isn't cognitive. I'll be working on a Frankenstein PC until I the laptop is repaired (or indefinitely). It's not that the PC is out-dated, it's just been pieced together. I have a hand-me-down monitor, a brand-new wireless keyboard and mouse and an essentially homemade CPU. But it works ... well.

The thought of being without a computer was scarier than any undead thing could ever be -- especially with four writing assignments coming up. And as a person who works from home, I couldn't imagine not having e-mail and the internet to connect me to the outside world. And it is nice to type on a full-size keyboard and look at a full-size monitor.

What I drove: A year's worth

I put together a little slide show of the cars I test drove this past year (although I think I may have missed one).

Here, for your viewing pleasure, is What I drove: The year in review.

When in Rome

It has come to my attention that many people don't know how to use chopsticks -- or are uncomfortable trying to use them in front of other people. I thought I was the only one who made it into my 30s without being able to use chopsticks well. I suppose living with someone of Korean descent made it easier to learn quickly. (Even though I still only know a few words of Korean.)

I could pick up a chunk of chicken or a nice solid vegetable before. Now, I can eat just about anything with chopsticks. And for some reason, some foods really do taste better when you eat them with chopsticks, instead of a fork.

Over at eHow.com, they have a little tutorial on using chopsticks. Before you start, here's what eHow says you'll need:

Things You'll Need
A pair of chopsticks.
A hand with fingers and an opposable thumb.
A little patience.

Despite the silliness of that list, the article is somewhat helpful, but this video is better:


Or go rent "Kung Fu Panda" and watch the lesson on using chopsticks in the special features. The little girl in the video is adorable.

Trying my hand

Last month, I decided I was going to try to learn to crochet. My mom crocheted a lot, and I wanted to be able to do it, too. It was a bit of a disaster. I've been told knitting is easier and I should take a class. My mom tried to show me how to knit and crochet and sew and all those things when I was a kid. But I was too much of a tomboy to sit still for such girly pursuits. She did make me take Home Ec in junior high, so I learned some sewing and cooking -- no matter how hard I wanted to try not to (I couldn't stand to not get an A).

I'm no good at knitting or crocheting and only passable at sewing and cross-stitching. But I still always want to do crafts. I have a desire to create. So I'm trying my hand at a little jewelry making. I gave a friend a pair of earrings I made for Christmas, and she was gracious enough to say they looked good. I worry that she's just being nice.

Yesterday, I went out and bought a new pair of round-nose pliers. They seem to allow me to twist the wire more easily than standard needle-nose pliers. The earrings to the right are my latest attempt at jewelry making. They need a few minor adjustments, but I think they look pretty good.

On the other hand, my photography skills still leave something to be desired.

What I watched: "Bender's Game"

Fox may have canceled "Futurama" years ago, but the hilarious antics of Fry, Leela, Bender and the rest of the gang live on in feature length DVD movies. The latest one is "Bender's Game," a weird mix of Dungeons & Dragons, the Lord of the Rings and Star Wars.

I'll admit the humor in "Futurama" may not be for everyone, but I laughed out loud through most of the movie, because of lines like this:

"Oooh dreadfully real. If you die here you'll really be dead. But instead of science, we believe in crazy hocus-pocus. It's like Kansas."

If you're a fan of "The Simpsons" or "Futurama," this is definitely worth the price of a rental. If you're not a fan, I have to wonder why. "Futurama" has a foul-mouthed beer-swilling robot, an ass-kicking red hot cyclops chick and a slacker from the 20th century. What more could you want? Hermaphrodite centaurs? Dragon battles? Love triangles? Oh, yeah, this movie has them all. And more.

Check out the trailer: