Story of My Life

Back from Tokyo now; working on uploading pictures - should be forthcoming shortly.

We have this internal "just-for-fun" typing test thing and apparently it's a reasonably big deal at the office in Tokyo since that's where it originated. I happen to have the best "real" (not-cheating) score on there and it shows your badge picture so pretty much everybody I met in Tokyo already knew who I was - strange being recognized from something so random.

Right before I left for the airport, some of the engineers came over and asked me to give a demonstration... so I did. Pretty bizarre return to performance after so long. :)

I'm going to Tokyo from June 21 (next weekend) til July 2. I know there are people on my friend's list that have been there... any recommendations? :)

I went with Rose to watch 27 dresses last night. As beckmart put it, it was *satisfying* - in a way completely unexplained by its hackneyed, insipid plot and uninspired acting. It satiated that same part of me that "awww"s at pictures of kittens, puppies, and babies (the real things too, I suppose, but these are often too smelly to be completely fulfilling) or smiles broadly at a well-executed dominant-tonic resolution.

I understand all the "bad things" about these movies - it sets up completely unrealistic expectations, the woman is typically neurotic to the point of near-insanity, while the man is so ridiculously patient and romantic you figure he must actually be insane as well. These movies often make me question my real-life relationships ("Why don't you ever do things like that for me?") even as I realize that I would never trust it ("Why? Who're you cheating with?") or even really like it ("That's so corny and cheesy, are you serious?").

But even as I realize that I'm being manipulated, I can't help... enjoying it.

I hate the Seahawks. Go Colts!

In case you'd like to see them, I put the photos from Spain up here:

http://erinearl.smugmug.com/gallery/3871854

Really haven't done much with annotations or sub-categorization yet.

Also, lisa, they're pretty blurry but I put up the pictures from when we went to that roller derby bout here:

http://picasaweb.google.com/erin.earl/RollerDerby

I hate driving to work in the morning when it's still dark out.

... makes it into the top 25 horror movies of all time (according to Time).

http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/article/0,28804,1676793_1676808_1676840,00.html

Er, yeah. Not sure what metrics they're using there.

I got nine hours of sleep last night and feel fantastic - but still made it into work before 9 and in time for fried rice! Yum!

I finally got around to watching one of the Netflix I've had out for a couple months.

Tonight I watched Remains of the Day. I found it incredibly beautiful and heartbreaking. Still dwelling on it an hour later. I've been meaning to read the book for a while; I'll probably have to bump it up in the queue.

I totally <3 these kitties. Best cuddlebuddies evar!!

I'm in Pennsylvania visiting my sister at Swarthmore. We're probably going into Philadelphia today and tomorrow. Any recommendations on what to do?

Today is Recess At Work Day apparently. How are you celebrating? :)

I'd like to go to this:

http://www.sfsymphony.org/prokofiev/radPop.html?tr=y&auid=2741262

on either Thursday or Friday next week. Anyone interested? Anyone? Bueller? Bueller? I know it's the symphony but the music is pretty awesome so I'm pretty sure it won't be too boring...

My cell phone has decided to start eating my SMS's and telling me about missed calls, so if you've called or SMS'ed me over the past few days, I haven't seen it... :( I'm going to try to figure out/fix the problem tonight if I have enough energy after 6 dives this weekend.

We had our first scuba class today - it was the classroom session, where we reviewed all the stuff in the book, turned in our knowledge reviews, took the quizzes, and the final exam. Turns out there are people other than Griff, Apu, Andrew Mohebbi and I in the class (bleh) and they, uh, were not the sharpest crayons in the crayon box.

It was pretty annoying, but I did get 100% on all four quizzes and the final exam. I probably get an unhealthy amount of glee from that given that the tests were pretty mind-numbingly easy.

I've just discovered Something Positive. I especially love this one and its follow-up.

Maybe it's just because her name is Erin. :-P Whatever, there are worse reasons...

Hope this script finishes running soon.

Dear everyone on my friends page bitching about the Valentine's day LJ style,

I still use dystopia. So I don't see it.

Neener neener.

Also, here's an inane meme to seethe about:



Love,
Erin

Deep thought of the day: It's kind of odd that being "up for something" and being "down for something" mean the same thing.

"So, X, you played football - what's longer, a half or 5/8ths?"

Via beckmart

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/31/arts/music/31thom.html