Will Work for Swords

I stayed out way too late for a Monday, which is completely my own fault. And then, my body said, "hey, let's wake up an hour before the alarm today!" But hell, it was worth it.

Last night was the Dandy Warhols Bike Ride and Karaoke Extravaganza, which I decided to head over to after work. I've been too overbooked to do any of this year's Pedalpalooza rides prior, but this one was pretty awesome. We cruised around to different spots around PDX where albums were recorded and videos were shot, and the organizers gave us little factoids about the significance of each place where we stopped. The particularly cool part was that one of the band members (Zia) was with us for the entire ride, so she'd interject with random corrections or insider details to go with the information the organizers told us.

We ended the ride at Dante's, where the Dandys had shot one of their videos, and had a little karaoke contest. They only karaoke version the organizers managed to track down was Bohemian Like You, which was, um, NOT one of the songs I knew well. Or at all. XD But, I'm never one to shy away from karaoke OR free swag, so I listened to a couple other folks do it first, and listened to a verse from the original recording through my futurephone, and then attempted to fake my way through it. Apparently, my efforts were good enough that Zia awarded me a Dandys t-shirt! WIN.

I also had a sort-of-date from the internet after the ride, which was okay, too. I don't think I want anything beyond friendship with this person, but I did have a good time, at least, and I didn't feel like a total clod while trying to make conversation. And biking home down Hawthorne is much nicer at night than it is during my usual commute time.

I don't know how I'm going to get through wushu tonight, but I'll certainly try. And then, I am going to sleep the sleep of the dead. Anyone who wakes me could very easily get punched in the throat. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

And, in conclusion, I've been left with the overwhelming feeling that I need a much cooler bike and helmet. Maybe I'll actually do something about that, eventually.

So I heard about this "30 Before 30" thing, and naturally, I like it, because I like lists. But, I'm already 30, so making such a list for myself would no longer be possible, right?

WRONG. I now declare this the 30 DURING 30 LIST. Here is the first half, in no particular order:

1. Read at least 30 books.
There are way too many things I want to read, and I'm also hoping that, if I read more, maybe I'll re-learn how to digest books quickly the way I used to. I figure, if I have to do one a month for book club, that's 12, so the rest is up to me.

2. Get myself a damned art show.
You know what? I *have* the photographs. And I'm taking more and better photos all the time. I don't care if it's a rinky-dink thing at a local Starbucks, I just need to get my work on display. This is long overdue.

3. Backpacking Trip.
I have never done this, partly due to lack of gear, and also partly due to doubting that I'd have the stamina for long hikes with gear on my back. Clearly, a few day hikes are in order before I can do this. And learning how to pee in nature without making a mess out of myself would probably also be a prerequisite. ;p

4. Lose 20 lbs.
The eternal goal, I know. Stupid body. But I got halfway there last year. And then I went to China and gained some back because, duh, vacation. And then I got back to the halfway mark again. And then my knee decided to start being a jerk, and around the same time, most other parts of my life went straight down the crapper. Medicating with food and alcohol is bad, but I think it's finally behind me. I can do this.

5. Run a 9-minute mile consistently.
I can bust out a 10-minute mile pretty well most days, as long as my knee isn't giving me grief. And, according to Mr. Treadmill, I've done a 9-minute mile once or twice, but it was sandwiched between two miles at a slower pace. To keep a 9-minute pace through a whole run? I WANT THAT.

6. Register for and run a 10K or possibly a half-marathon.
Whether it's a 10K or a Half depends entirely on my knee. I can do a 5K consistently, so a 10K would still be a challenge. But, if my knee holds up well enough for #4 and #5 to happen, I am absolutely going for the Half.

7. Japan.
This has needed to happen for what, ten YEARS? I think this year may be the one.

8. ROLLER DERBY.
I am SO going to try this. Some Saturday, I'm going to buy the pads and such, and then go there and roll around the track crashing into things spectacularly. But I'm convinced it'll be fun.

9. More bike rides that are not my current morning commute.
I really enjoyed my bike wanderings a couple Sundays ago, and when I take the "long way" home from work, I love it so much more. Biking down Hawthorne to work, with cars whizzing past me? Just doesn't compare.

10. Get better at biking.
Yeah, I know, I've been saying this for a while. But I should make it happen. Maybe then, I could A) go on longer rides, and B) take a less-direct and more enjoyable route to work. And maybe even C) have fewer knee problems because it will give me Quads of Steel.

11. Grow edible things in my yard.
Even though it was not my construction project to begin with, that greenhouse in the backyard has been sitting there unfinished long enough for me to know that it's obviously not going to be completed unless I make it happen.

12. Learn to Fight For Reals
I'm still not certain if this'll be in the form of traditional kung fu, or muay thai, or something else entirely. But, if I'm going to jumpkick the heads off of undead creatures when the zombie apocalypse hits, I'd better know how to do it right and proper. ;)

13. Take more photos of friends.
This is kind of a hard one, at times, because it's difficult for me to enjoy being in a moment while I'm photographing it. But, it's also wonderful to look back at those spontaneous moments of happy. Finding the balance will be tricky, but I suspect it'll be worth it.

14. Audition and get into a play.
We've been rehearsing for the Two Gents reading, and I've been having a *lot* of fun with it thus far. And it is, of course, making me miss acting. Whatever show I get into doesn't have to be anything big, I'm just in it for a fun ride.

15. Accumulate enough events to compete for All-Around Champion at Berkeley.
Assuming next year's tournament isn't scheduled after my birthday, this *should* be doable, if I nag Master Chen enough. I already have Nanquan and Nandao, and even if my Nangun form isn't competition-length yet, at least I've worked on that skillset. So, all I *really* need to learn from scratch is an additional empty hand form. My odds of winning the title are probably close to zero, but it'd be so fantastic to simply be able to say that I went for it.

As sick as I am of hearing about her, I do have to cheer: Paris is going back to jaaaaail! She basically just goes around being a rich and drunk waste of life all the time, so bah, serves her right!

Speaking of dumb famous people, I have to mention this whole "dress over pants" fad that seems to be seizing the fashion world, as evidenced by this and many other entries on Go Fug Yourself. Frilly dresses look really funny with jeans. *Maybe* you can get away with formal pants, but even that's pushing it.

The only time the look works at all is when the dress is short enough that it looks more like a really long shirt. Dresses are expensive, compared to your average shirt, blouse, halter top, or whatever else. So why not just wear the pants, and then... BUY A DAMNED SHIRT?

Of course, as shannidee and anyone else who knew me then can attest, I was rocking that dress-over-pants look... in 1994. I also didn't buy my own clothes yet, hated my legs with all the irrationality of a growing adolescent, and didn't want to give up the practical splendor of pockets for some silly dress. (what, you expect me to carry some prissy handbag around to all my 9th grade classes? Pshaw.)

But, yes, basically, a spazmo 14-year-old who was *never* on the bleeding edge of fashion already tired and fired this fad, and it should already be long dead. Please cease wearing ugly things and cultivate some taste. Kthxbye.

In other news? I biked to work this morning, and there was a guy set up on the Broadway Bridge, offering free coffee and muffins for bikers! Turns out it was part of the kick-off for this Pedalpalooza thing, which is basically two whole weeks of bike-riding events. I am *definitely* going to the bike shop tomorrow to get my ride fixed up, so maybe I can actually go to some of them.

On a less positive note, I've learned, sadly, that my landlady is apparently VERY anti-Dog. As in, if I were to dog-sit Gizmo for 2 weeks, she'd evict us all, as she outlined in the lease. Of course, Thomas (roommate) is the actual holder of the lease, so I didn't find that out until last night. Baaaahhh. I was looking forward to Gizmo-sitting, too. :p

Anyway, woohoo weekend! Tonight? No idea. Possibly an epic bonanza of vegan baking, because the food plans have been awesome so far! (we made this last night and it was very yummy) The weekend is pretty much open, and we might go sailing at some point. Maybe taking pictures at the Dragon Boat races, too. Whatever, I'm just ready to kick back and enjoy!

P.S. No, I am not becoming vegan. (seriously, the lack of cheese would make me cry) But those crazy vegans make some damned wholesome *and* tasty baked things, noawadays.