what i’m reading now
26
Aug 10
A hodgepodge, mishmash, melange, medley, jumble, gallimaufry, farrago of a blog post
Working with words all day, of course I have to say more than just “hodgepodge.”
Earlier this week, San Francisco had a mini heat wave. Three days of temps in the upper 80s and low to mid 90s. Of course here it’s not too humid, but the sun is much stronger, and walking around on Tuesday was killer. MB and I had lunch in Union Square, and there was absolutely no one sunning himself. Everyone was hiding in the shade – aside from one drunk homeless guy – and all the birds were breathing with their beaks wide open, a definite sign of hotness.
It was tough to sleep even with both ceiling fans going and MB’s ghetto A/C (the bathtub filled with cold water). Thank goodness yesterday it started to cool down. By the time I got home, it was foggy and chilly, and last night was prefectly cool and comfortable.
Carolina Baker over at GirlHabits interviewed me, and the write-up is now up. It was a lot of fun, and some of my own answers surprised me. When I thought about what I wanted to be known for, I realized I didn’t really want to be known for anything. It’s funny how others’ perception of me isn’t that big of a concern anymore. I mean, in individual situations, sure. Are people interested in something I’ve written? Am I saying something different? Am I being putting myself out there enough before calling out other people? But I’m not too concerned with how I come off, or how I’m known, apart from my writing.
The superpower question was fun too. At first I thought, Of course I’d fly or be invisible, but then I realized more than anything, I want to be Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or Echo from Dollhouse. I want to be essentially normal except that I’m very strong and fast and can kick anyone’s butt.
We just started watching The Wire. I know: two years too late. I’d always heard it mentioned and thought it was about a newspaper for some reason. But it’s not. It’s about police in Baltimore and it’s a damned good show. At first I thought it was a little boring, but now I’m completely obsessed by it. We’re finishing up season 1 tonight. No spoilers please!
My boss lent me Kathleen Norris’ Saturday’s Child, a novel written back around 1915 and set at that time in San Francisco. It’s kind of fluffy but I’m enjoying it all the same. It’s basically a romance between a young working woman and a rich flighty dude. I love all the mentions of SF, as well as what everyone is wearing and what they’re eating.
Well that’s enough of this farrago. Off to the gym and yoga!
31
Jul 10
Random catching up
Mission: Lower Cholesterol
I’ve finished up week two of Mission: Lower Cholesterol, aka Fuck My Doctor and His Threats of Lipitor. This week was both a bit easier and a bit harder. Healthy choices have already become a habit, but I’m still tempted by bad snacks and desserts. Well of course: I always will be. For instance, yesterday at work, I saw an empty Frito bag in my garbage can, and thought, Fuck, I could really go for some Fritos.
I was sort of lax about my green tea habit, opting instead for another cup of coffee one day and just skipping a second round of caffeine altogether another day. I’m also getting sick of almonds as a snack. Need to get some mixed nuts.
I’m one day short of hitting my workout goal, unless I go to the gym later today. This morning I opted for an at-home workout of weight training and Pilates. My post-yoga recovery this week was much quicker. I wasn’t nearly as sore the next day, and by the following day was all better.
I also finally brought my yoga mat instead of just using the mats the gym provides. While the yoga mat is definitely better in that it’s not slippery and much longer, it doesn’t provide as much cushion and so the base of my hands started to get sore. However, they didn’t hurt afterward so maybe it’s just a matter of getting used to it.
Writing News
I had another piece published in The Frisky last week, I’m Sick of Hearing About Motherhood. I felt like I had written several “nice” pieces and wanted to write something more controversial. The comments range from, “Amen, sister!” to “Oh my God, how can you say such things? We mothers have to put up with SOOO much, and now we have to put up with bitchy attitudes like yours, Miss Angela Tung! We’re MOTHERS! Cut us a break!!!”
I rest my case.
Funny too are comments that say, “Wait till she has a kid!” while in the piece I basically say who knows, I may act the same way when I have kids. Shows that people didn’t take the time to read to the very end.
On the Nervous Breakdown last week, I published I Hate Reading About Music, which has been my most popular piece so far. There has been a lot of music posts lately so I think the subject is on people’s minds. I don’t know if those who don’t read the TNB regularly would be as into it.
This morning I had fun giving a video interview to one of my Nervous Breakdown friends. I’m always self-conscious about how I look on Skype. My hair was all wet so I kind of look like a seal in a pink shirt. Oh well.
At work I’ve been given a big month-long project. It will involve lots of writing, including on days that I’m not in the office. Yay! Getting paid to write!
What I’m Reading Now
I just finished The Book of Lost Things by John Connelly. It was a very interesting book, an interesting style. On the surface it seems to be a book for children or Young Adults because of the fairy tale aspect, but it’s quite gruesome at times and very sad overall. Now I’ve started Corelli’s Mandolin.
I wanted to pick up a copy of Mark Twain’s Life on the Mississippi, which I’ve never read before, but it was checked out at the library. I’ve always wanted to read it but just never got around to it. Then I started watching a documentary on Mark Twain last week and became interested again.
I didn’t realize Mark Twain could be kind of a jerk to his family, and had a lot of darkness about him, blaming himself for his brother’s and son’s deaths. I think a lot of “comedians” are like that, not a laugh a minute but actually quite depressed.
I also didn’t know that his first lecture was given here in San Francisco at the Maguire’s Academy of Music. I wonder if that theater is still around. I’m curious to go see.
24
Jul 10
Write, eat, read
First up, my Frisky piece from last month, “I’m Competitive,” is now on CNN Living. Thanks to my pals for telling me!
The range of comments is interesting. I can’t help but wonder how people would feel if I were a man.
In other news, I’ve just closed in on week one of Vanquishing My High LDL. All I have to say is thank God for dark chocolate and its cholesterol-lowering abilities. It saved me twice when I was craving something sweet. Also, I’ve been drinking tons of tea – green, chai, ginger, rooibus. No milk or sugar of course, which isn’t hard for me since I’ve always had plain tea.
If I go to the gym today, then I’ve met my workout goals for the week – hard cardio four times a week, at least a 20 minute walk the balance of the days, and some kind of weight training twice a week. I did yoga for the first time in a month earlier this week, and it KILLED me. My shoulders and upper back so sore I could barely dress myself. By yesterday though, I was fine.
I finally finished Gone with the Wind. Wow, that took me almost a month to read. While I’m not sure it was a great book – some parts are great, but the last third is sort of all over the place – I will say it was fascinating.
I knew that it was racist, but I didn’t know how racist. It’s one thing to portray the perceptions of the time in a knowing way, but it’s another for the author to believe those perceptions. For instance, that blacks were actually happy to be slaves, and that those who liked their freedom were “uppity” and “trashy.” That blacks were like animals and children, and needed white people to take care of them. I kept waiting for the other side of it, the human description to balance out all the descriptions comparing blacks to dogs, horses, apes, and elephants. But it never came.
Margaret Mitchell’s portrayal of women, on the other hand, is very well-rounded and fair. There are all types of women in the book, and not one is better than the other. There’s fierce and independent Scarlett, who pays a price for her independence. There’s seemingly timid and quiet Melanie, who shows surprising strength. No one is perfect (except maybe Melanie) and no one is a pure villain, not even the Yankees.
The book is also surprisingly anti-war. “A rich man’s war fought by poor men.” Sounds familiar.
Needing a break from romance, I’m now reading John Connolly’s The Book of Lost Things. Eerie and sad so far.
