Blog Master G

While in Poughkeepsie on Tuesday of this week to meet with the minister who will marry us, Jen and I had lunch at one of my favorite joints from college: Chan’s Peking Kitchen III on Raymond Ave.

When I was Contributing Editor for The Miscellany News (after my reign as Editor-in-Chief came to an end), I did a lot of writing for my college paper. To date, my review of Chan’s on April 24, 1998 remains the only piece I’ve ever written that has been blown up, laminated, and hung up for public view (by someone besides my Dad, of course, who did just this — minus the public view part — when I had a letter published in the Chronicle in 2000). I’m happy to report that nearly 5 years later, Chan’s is still proud of that review — as am I.

In the latest example of white men oppressing women, some jerk by the name of W. David Hager (hmm…is the “W” in his name merely a coincidence?) has been appointed to an FDA panel on women’s health. What’s wrong with this picture? Here are some hints:

1) He believes that “specific scripture readings and prayers” can “fix” headaches and PMS. Riiiight.
2) He’s anti-abortion.
3) He’s anti-birth control pill.
4) He’s anti-abortion.
5) He’s a man on a women’s health panel.

What the fuck is wrong with this world?? Oh yeah: George W. Bush and his posse of 70-year-old Stupid White Men.

Jen and I just returned from 10 long days in New York. It feels really good to be home. Being away for a while really makes one appreciate what one might otherwise take for granted: The soft, clean carpet on my feet, the fresh, clean air, our own place…

This is the first posting in my new books category. Why? Well, a few reasons. First, that was a category that was blatantly lacking here in my blog. I have just about every other possible category covered that reflects anything I might write about, but a books category was a gaping hole. Secondly, I’m embarrassed to admit that up until the past week, I hadn’t really done that much reading lately. My reading habits in recent years have shown that I tend to read a lot when traveling or commuting by BART. Since I haven’t ridden BART on a regular basis since 1999 or so, that leaves me with traveling.

And my final reason for this being the first post in the new books category: I not only finished reading Fast Food Nation over vacation, but I’m most of the way through Michael Moore‘s Stupid White Men, an eye-opening, disturbing, sometimes funny look at the real America — the one controlled by government and big business that the media won’t let you see — which will make you fume with anger. The truth is hard.

But the point of this post is just to open up the new books category (think I’ve linked to it enough already in this post?) — not to get into too much detail just yet (at nearly 1:30am after having just flown across the country) about what I think about these books. I have lots of thoughts about both these books (and books in general) that I will eventually write about in this new category (ha ha! one more link to it! it must be getting late).

In fact, these books, along with Jen’s ever-present passion about important issues facing the world today, have inspired me to create what will soon be a new section of my Web site: politics. My politics and how I feel about certain issues in the world and in this country. But that’s a new project for a new day.

Today marks the first day of a new year. It is 2003. That’s hard to believe. By the end of this year, I will be a married man. At the Jensens’ New Year’s party last night, James gave a memorable and heart-felt toast that was the last one of 2002: “To Gabe and Jen.”

Later on in the evening when talk of resolutions came up, I declared that I don’t really believe in them; that people should set goals for themselves throughout the year rather than setting themselves up for failure once per year. But the one resolution I did and will declare is this: To be a good husband. Partly because I hope I will. And partly because it just sounds so crazy to hear that word referring to myself. (And partly because my future mother-in-law said I have no choice.)

I’m sort of cheating in getting this posting up on 1/1/03, which I was hoping to do before midnight here in New York. It’s slightly after midnight here due to a just-ended game of Hearts, but this post will still appear as January 1 since my blog defaults to Pacific Time. That differs from my posts during the last few days in New York since for each of those I went back and changed the time to reflect where I am. But tonight, I take liberties, since I wanted to have a New Year’s Day post.

Happy New Year! Here’s to a kick-ass year to come.

Yesterday Jen, James, Tracy, and I ventured up to Albany for some winter adventures. The fun began at Hooters, where we had a couple pitchers and some appetizers. I even got my picture taken with our Hooters girl Jen. It was a lot of fun. James and I had each been to a Hooters before, but it was Jen and Tracy’s first time.

We then walked around the mall a bit — to Best Buy and H&M, where Jen bought me a new shirt. Then we had an early dinner at Ruby Tuesday (and James and I several more rounds of drinks). The food was alright. Nothing fantastic. But we continued to have fun.

The final stop before heading back was at David’s Bridal (at least my fourth time to a David’s in the past month; I’m beginning to enjoy the finer aspects of the chain). And a big stop it was, for Tracy tried on the bridesmaid dress of choice, and she liked it. So the decision was made: The bridesmaid dresses have been chosen! Another line crossed off the wedding to do list.

Next to do: Today Jen and I head to Poughkeepsie to meet with the minister who will marry us.

Jen and I just returned from a dinner party at Sue and Josh’s place. Karen and Joti were there, too. Jen made and brought her famous lasagne. We had a good time. We watched some footage of Sue and Josh’s wedding from the summer. I think Jen and I both got a preview of the anxiety that our wedding will bring. It’s funny to watch oneself dance on video. I think I’m not as bad a dancer as I used to be. We meet with the minister who will marry us on Tuesday.

Last night after getting home from a long and fun day in Connecticut with Heather and her family — and after meeting James at the Albany airport with Tracy and her family — I did some stretches for my back. Miraculously, the pain seemed to have vanished. I was psyched. Unfortunately, when I woke up this morning the pain was back and worse than ever. I could barely move or walk around. I’ve taken about 7 pain killers throughout the course of the day, and it’s a bit better. I just have to keep my fingers crossed that it will be healed enough to ski again upon returning to California.

Yesterday’s Nor’easter set a Christmas Day record here in the Northeast: More than 19 inches fell in some places. The snow has subsided for the time being and the roads are clear, but it sure was cool seeing all that snow come pouring down last night.

We just had a tasty salmon lunch and are getting ready to head up to Albany to hit David’s Bridal for some bridesmaid shopping. I think it’s funny that I’m going along to help out. Of course, I’ll just be standing around the whole time, but it should still be fun. Karen’s coming over shortly to join in the trip — being a bridesmaid and all.

Merry Christmas from snow-covered Upstate New York. Jen, Daisy May, and I just got back inside after romping around in a foot or two of fresh powder. It’s so beautiful. And romping in it is so much fun. Daisy was obsessed with tunneling into the snow, being the Siberian Husky that she is.

We’re right in the middle of a Nor’easter storm — where the rains from the Carolinas head north and meet the cold coming down from Canada right smack on top of the Northeast — on Christmas night. Jen, her parents, and I were the only ones who showed up at Jen’s grandparents’ house in Claverack today since everyone else was farther away and didn’t want to risk getting stuck in the snow. But we managed to get home before the roads were completely buried — and the minivan only slid around the road once.

After a night of playing games, which included Set, Hearts, and Scategories in an ongoing attempt to ease Jen’s cabin fever, I’m now making Jen hang out on a chair with nothing to read in the basement with me while I write this blog entry in XP’s Notepad, since AOL sucks and will not start. Later, whenever I can get AOL to work again, I will post this entry with appropriate date/time stamp.

Now Jen is laughing at me because I put every thought into my blog for the world to read. She accuses me of not editing. Little does she know that I need no stinking editing. I do occasionally go back and read over what I’ve written, as I’m sure I will do with this entry when I add some links to the games we played.

I sure do love the snow.

I returned from Tahoe this afternoon following 2 days of solo skiing. I skied both days at Sierra and got a dope deal at the stateline Travelodge: $29.99 for the night.

This trip marked the first that I got to break in all my new ski equipment and rack. The skis kicked ass. The poles were too short, but luckily are adjustable, so a quick stop at the mountain’s repair shop yesterday fixed that. Either the boots haven’t yet broken in or they’re just not comfortable. They’re Salomon Performa Sensifit 6.0, and apparently they look like the 9.0s, since at least a couple people asked me if that’s what they were. I didn’t know a whole lot about boots before I bought these. I’m actually a better skier than my boots allow me to be. Apparently they’re just intermediate skier boots. Being an expert, I should’ve bought a stiffer boot. Like I always say, though, I love to ski, but hate everything that surrounds skiing (all the hoopla, getting to the mountain, people who are all talk, knowing the gear, etc.). I don’t know the gear. I did research my skis, but not my boots. Now I know better.

But I digress. Sunday was awesome fun on the mountain. I skied everything Sierra has to offer, which isn’t a whole lot. I hadn’t been there in years, so I forgot how small it was. Overall, it’s a pretty easy mountain to ski — there aren’t really any chutes or steep ‘n deep that I could find. I did have a good time, though — until this morning while skiing some powdered moguls.

My shins were already hurting from my boots. I was cold and tired and was hoping to get in at least a few hours of skiing before heading out. Then I took a bad turn or landed wrong or something. However it happened, my left lower back started to kill. (And it continues to hurt like hell.) Ski Patrol wouldn’t do anything for me besides offer to strap me in a gurney, throw me in an ambulance, and drive me to the hospital. My back wasn’t that bad. It was just my recurring pain flared up. Now I just have to hope the pain subsides in the next couple weeks before hitting the slopes again.

I hope sitting on a plane across the country tomorrow doesn’t make it worse.

Think you can get Santa drunk? Give it a shot. The object of the game (using your keyboard’s arrow keys) is simply to move around and collect all the wine you can for Santa — without letting him fall off the rooftop, of course.